R E L A X ,   E X P E R I E N C E   &   E X P L O R E  

Your spa is the ocean, your aromatherapy the heady cocktail of the sea breeze over the beach and lush coastal rain forests, your gym is the jungle!

Surrounded by sights, aromas, sensations and sounds that demand your total attention, you will soon disconnect from the stress of modern life and business and feel every muscle relax. After a sunset cocktail on the Indian Ocean you will be well on the way..... the gentle motion of the boat will take you to the next level of what we call "ocean therapy".


Plenty of exercise, fresh oxygen charged Indian Ocean air and great food you are sure to sleep well for the duration of your voyage and return home energized and feeling great.

Escape to another world with your family and friends. Choose a two or three day weekend, mid week, full week or "stretched" week  package. Pricing is based on the day rates for minimum groups quoted below. Contact us to add or subtract days & make a custom package to suit your free time.

As a result of the deregulation of the airline industry, Padang is now easier to reach than ever before. Click here for the air connections page.

E X P L O R E    S U M A T R A ' S   I N D I A N   O C E A N   C O A S T  
2 days or 3 days - (IOC 2D or IOC 3D)

Much closer than the Whitsunday Islands and with a lot more to see and do.  Sea conditions along the Sumatra coast are mostly calm and extensive areas are protected by headlands and islands. This is the ideal area for your first boat cruise...... yet experienced boaters will love the serene beauty of this wilderness coast.

I T I N E R A R Y

Your minibus will be waiting at Padang airport. Just advise us your flight details.

A short drive through Padang brings you to Air Manis beach where you board your yacht by dinghy from the beach near Pulau Pisang Kecil. Cruise past the remains of Padang's old Dutch port at Pulau Pisang Besar. (Alternative boarding along-side pier in Bungus Bay on request or if tides dictate)

Follow the coast past Bungus inlet south threading between spectacular jungle clad islands. Anchor off Marak Island swim and then have lunch aboard.

Snorkel along Marak's coral reef or explore the shallows in the yacht's dinghy. Schools of tropical fish and turtles can be easily observed in the clear waters.

Meanwhile the crew will prepare a seafood barbecue dinner on the sand spit at the Southern tip of the island. A specialty is Minang bbq fish fillets covered in a spicy baste or whole fish smoked over coconut husks. (BBQ ashore is subject to tide and weather conditions)

Alternative: Sunset cocktails aboard and dinner surrounded by the gracefull curve of the "light boats" reflected in the calm of the anchorage.

After a wake up swim, breakfast on deck to the jungle orchestra of gibbons and hornbills. Trek across Marak to the southern beach with the Kalaweit rangers to observe Gibbons that have been rehabilitated and released on the Island. The Siamang or Sumatran black Gibbon is one of the largest Gibbons and they are perhaps nature's most accomplished arboreal acrobats with the ability to swing between branches as much as 6 m apart.

Enjoy a packed lunch along the trail. The dinghy will be waiting for you in the blue hole anchorage on the rugged South coast.

(IOC 2D returns to Padang via Air Manis beach or Bungus Bay with time to visit Dog Rock textile's hill top studio and meet the "Sumatran Sewing Circle" who produce hand made works to Jane Liddon's designs. From  the studio it is a 20 min drive to the airport)

You decide on the day what you would enjoy most. Options include:

South coast Ocean Spa trek: Depending on the tide, the yachts dinghy will drop you on one  of the 3 isolated South coast beaches on Marak. A short trek through the jungle will bring you to a "secret cove" where everyone can enjoy a swim in a crystal clear ocean spa pool powered by natural wave action. Take a mask or just explore rock pools and you will find tropcal fish and an abundance of unusual sea life. Wild oysters cover the rocks. At low tide follow the deserted beaches and reef ending your trek with a dip in cold spring fed pools near the blue hole anchorage.
 
Fishing Village Cruise: The boat will cruise to remote Sungai Pinang village on the mainland. Access is still by long boat from Padang and you will see traditional boat builders repairing their amazing "light boats" in the river mouth. The tender will run you as far up the river through farmland and patches of jungle.

Tiger Beach: Beach combing is very different on a stretch of beach where the locals often find tiger prints in the sand.

Lunch will be served on board during the trip back to Padang.


(IOC 3D returns to Padang via Air Manis beach or Bungus Bay  with time to visit Dog Rock textile's hill top studio and on to the airport)

If you plan to stay overnight in Padang* we will return at dusk, otherwise we will schedule your return to suit your flight bookings.

(min. 6 adults, additional days $160/$95*)

 

Explore uninhabited islands, miles of empty beaches, astonishing virgin rain-forest and visit a unique community living in harmony with their environment by following traditions and cultural guidelines handed down by shaman healers. After trekking through jungles and traversing rivers in longboats, you will return to the comfort of a modern charter boat to be pampered by our experienced crew.

The Siberut rain forest tribes live in a fragile time capsule dating back to the earliest human migration from the Asian continent south into the Indonesian/Micronesian/Australian land mass. Isolated by the rugged terrain, clans have lived in river valleys for thousands of years in happy and sustainable cohabitation with the unique flora and fauna of this mysterious "lost island". We have much to learn from these gentle, strong people and they are keen to preserve their traditions and environment through sustainable activities such as harvesting of forest produce (rattan and sago) and interaction with tourist in a well managed and structured way.

Experience close up and personal the way of life of a culture like no other...."they are our past ..... and maybe they are our future"

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