Whale Watching
around the Alor Islands

Kupang - Alor Island - Kupang

KLM Marco Polo
Scheduled Departure Dates

The fifteen islands of the Alor Group offer some of the most spectacular scenery above the water and below the water. Formed by volcanoes, these islands rise from the seabed where the Indian Ocean and the Java Seas converge.

The mixing currents of this isolated region of the Indonesian Archipelago creates a haven for diverse marine life, including a major migration track for whales and huge numbers of pelagic. Alor has recently gained the attention of the marine science community and while aboard the KLM Marco Polo, you and the crew will be collecting data, which is provided on a monthly basis to the Nature Conservancy in their efforts to fully understand the importance of this area.

While the Alor Island group is very isolated, it is a place that only a few people have come to know, ensuring you of a true "get-away-from-it-all" holiday.

While the Alor Island group is very isolated, it is a place that only a few people have come to know, ensuring you of a true "get-away-from-it-all" holiday.

Your hosts, David & Adriana, plus little Sarlin (The little one will most likely stay home with Grand Mom), are looking forward to welcoming you aboard Marco Polo to cruise the area of Alor. They live right in Kupang and will be your contact in that Capital of West Timor. If you want to clear your 60 day Tourist Visa, they can arrange for you to pop over to Dili, Timor Lorasae and you're back into Indonesia for another 60 days.

Adriana has been preparing fine foods for travelers for many years and her reputation is well known as being one of the best. Now that she as mixed her life with a true Cajun, the food alone will be worth the trip.

The dives in the area of Alor are some of the best in Indonesia. The reputation of this program's dives are targeted on big fish, unexplored sites, deep canyons, popped panicles and all of this is packed into a close knitted region of the waters just North of Timor.

Whale Watching Itinerary

FRIDAY: KUPANG - MONKEY ISLAND
On arrival you will be transferred directly to the vessel KLM Marco Polo. We will depart in the mid afternoon and cruise to Monkey Island for an evening meal at anchor and depart in the evening up the mountainous coast of Timor for the prime whale zone in the middle currents of the Alor Sea.

SATURDAY: ALOR SEA (WHALE WATCHING - PULAU PANTAR
At sunrise we will be already in the prime whaling zone, the morning and afternoon will be devoted to observing this migration phenomenon. It is not uncommon to see numerous pods of whale and Dolphins making their migration to the Pacific through these very waters. We will cruise for most of this day and scheduled arrival in Pulau Pantar is targeted for the late afternoon and overnight will be at anchor. Our anchorage is a special place with a fantastic hot spring hidden in a cluster of rocks directly one the beach. I know where you will be this evening !!

SUNDAY: PULAU PANTAR - PULAU RUSA
Early morning you will have the opportunity to take a short trek to observe some unique wildlife. Around 9am we will set sail into the bay that fronts this island, to look for the Spinner Dolphins. Our experience in this sector at this time of the year, it will be full of schooling dolphins numbering in the hundreds, clearing this wondrous show, we will head a little further out to see in search of more whales on their way North. In the late afternoon we will anchor at pulau rusa and try to catch some fresh fish or go snorkeling.

MONDAY: PULAU RUSA - PULAU LAMBATA
In the very early morning we will head back out into the Whale traffic, and make our way to the island of Pulau Lambata. We are scheduled to arrive here in the mid afternoon and make preparations for an evening beach BBQ of local fish. This anchorage is totally isolated and it is a great snorkeling spot.

TUESDAY: PULAU LAMBATA - LAMALERA, TRADITIONAL WHALING VILLAGE
After a good breakfast, we will go ashore and make our way foot to the traditional whaling village of Lamalera. We will spend most of the day here, interacting with the local community as they prepare their sailing boats for forays into the Alor Sea in search of their catch. It should be noted that the Global Conservation Community as approved the traditional methods of this village to catch whales and classify these people as Subsistence Whalers who only catch about 10 whales per year. We will return to the boat, for some snorkeling, beach time and an overnight about the boat.

WEDNESDAY: PULAU LAMBATA - CENTER OF ALOR SEA - PULAU MARISA
After breakfast we will head back into the prime whale zone in search of the big ones. From our upper deck viewing Gazebo, your photo ops will be numerous. Our schedule calls for arrival in Pulau Marisa in the mid afternoon for some snorkeling or diving if you are certified. We will overnight on yet another special beach.

THURSDAY: PULAU MARISA - KUPANG
Early this morning we will set sail back into the Alor Sea and the masses of our Whale Migration. We will cruise all day watching the Whales and Dolphins and as the night falls, we will continue or open sea transit back to our destination, scheduled arrival in Kupang will be on Saturday morning

FRIDAY: KUPANG
On arrival in Kupang you will allowed to terminate your trip or be transferred back to the afternoon air departure from Kupang International Airport.

Features and Departure Schedule for 2007"ARE PENDING":

• 7 nights / 8 days aboard the KLM Marco Polo (or similar)
• 3 meals per day
• Bottled water
• Airport transfers from the Kupang International Airport
• Free snorkeling gear

Price per prson DBL : $650USD