Land Excursions: All you Need to Know

komodo dragon with tongue out

While the emphasis of all of our tour itineraries is largely based around getting our guests as much snorkeling time as possible, we do make sure to include one or several excursions on land during our tours so everyone can experience the terrestrial nature, historical sites, or indulge in cultural traditions. From the ancient pyramids of Giza, Komodo dragons, and remote beaches, to charming local villages, we always make sure you get the full experience of that particular area-above and below the water. Here’s a quick description of what you can expect from our land excursions and some things to pack for them.

What to Expect

Transport

The transportation method and distance to our designated land excursion varies by location. For some tours, it could be a quick ride on the liveaboard’s dinghy to a local village or beach, while others could be in air-conditioned vans or busses. Depending on the location, travel time can be anywhere from a few minutes to an hour. Regardless, we make the journey there as comfortable as possible with all transport organized in advance and reserved exclusively for us.

Duration

Most of our excursions will only occupy a portion of the day, usually the mornings as that’s when temperatures are the coolest. After breakfast onboard the liveaboard or at the resort we’ll hop into the vehicles or boat and make our way to the destination. Once everyone is satisfied with the sites or encounter—usually an hour or two—we’ll make our way back to the vessel or resort for lunch followed by some afternoon snorkeling. For the land excursions that involve a bit more transport time, we will have a delicious lunch organized for us at or around the area where we’ve been visiting. Don’t worry, we won’t ever let you miss a meal!

Local Egyptian food

Difficulty

None of our excursions are overly difficult from a physical point of view. Most of the time we are walking over flat ground or through well-maintained paths with distances kept under a mile or so in total. Our Komodo trek may be the most difficult as the trek does have one incline to a viewpoint at the end. For those that have difficulty with steeper inclines, there is an alternate route one of the guides will escort you on. Don’t worry, you won’t miss the dragons.

Guest photographing Komodo dragon on island

Guides

Wherever we go we always have a local tour guide or guides to lead us to the most interesting areas and feed us those tasty facts about the area you wouldn’t otherwise find in a guide book.

What to Pack

Sun Protection

As all of our tours will take place outside, it’s always advised to bring some form of sun protection. This could be everything from reef-safe sunscreen, hats, and buffs, to SPF clothing. All of our tours take place in hot tropical climates and there’s no quicker way to ruin a day or two of a snorkeling holiday than by a massive sunburn.

White sand beach with Kayaks and jungle

Shoes and Clothes

Most of the terrain on our land excursions is quite flat and could easily be done in a sturdy pair of sandals, however, we always suggest a pair of trainers or light hiking shoes if you have difficulty with your ankles. Shorts and t-shirts are normally what everyone wears, but if you are particularly prone to sunburns a lightweight long sleeve top would be advised.

Money

Somewhere between $10 and $50 dollars in the local currency is not a bad idea to bring along on the excursions as most of them will at some point have people selling souvenirs who will not take credit cards.

 

Like all the organized activities on our tours, nothing is mandatory. If a morning trek or village tour is not something you fancy doing, then you are absolutely welcome to lounge around the resort or go for a snorkel on the house reef. We’ve found that the majority of the guests will join in on the land excursions, but we also understand that people might prefer to spend that time snorkeling or sleeping in! If you do decide to hang back, we will make sure you are well looked after.

guest being massaged over a coral reef

When is the Best Time to Go Snorkeling in Indonesia

coral reef with raja ampat islands above

Indonesia is a huge archipelago made up of over 17, 000 islands and sits in the heart of the Coral Triangle with some of the healthiest and richest reef systems found anywhere on the planet, not to mention the world’s most biodiverse! One reef in Raja Ampat for example, could contain more species of reef fish than the entire Caribbean Ocean. 

Picking the right time to visit Indonesia plays an important part – it is one of the largest countries in the world by accrued land mass – and with that, the weather can vary greatly depending on where you plan to visit.

In general, Indonesia can be visited at most times throughout the year. The countries position close to the equator means that the climate is always warm and humid, with daily temperatures sitting on an average of  26 – 28 degrees C (79-82F).

Indonesia has a clearly defined wet and dry season, and it varies depending on where you want to go. Here’s a break down of some of the countries top snorkeling destinations with respect to each areas seasons. 

Bali and Komodo

Wet Season: December-March

Dry Season: April-November

We recommend planning a snorkel trip to either of these areas for August-September as this is the most predictable time of year for weather and marine life. Even though it’s the so called dry season in Bali, a quick afternoon shower is not out of the question. Komodo however, will go months without a drop of rain in the dry season. 

With all of this in mind, Bali and Komodo are still great year round, it just becomes a bit less predictable where weather and visibility are concerned. Marine life-including mantas-are prolific in the area and can still be seen year round with relative certainty. 

Raja Ampat 

aerial view of raja ampat

Wet Season: June-October

Dry Season: November-May

Raja Ampat is a very tropical location, more so than Bali even, and despite it being the dry season it is not uncommon for it to rain in the afternoons for an hour or so.  The wet season here can be quite wet with rain and tropical storms coming though with quite a bit of force so it’s really best to plan a trip here for the dry season.

Bunaken

Wet Season: December-March

Dry Season: April-November

Bunaken enjoys a much more mild climate with less extremes in weather patterns and can really be snorkeled year round. However, if you do plan a trip to Bunaken in the wet season, the visibility can be anywhere from 10-15 meters in the worst case, which isn’t much a problem as the reef are only a meter deep!

Why Snorkeling?

Our passion for snorkeling has led us to base our entire business around the sport. We learnt to snorkel as young kids, exploring the sandy bottoms of beaches and even pulling on a mask and snorkel to swim around swimming pools.

Snorkels have been used by humans for hundreds of years, using reeds to help breathe underwater primarily for fishing, the technique was then used for exploring and having fun.

Snorkel Venture has been a natural progression from a marine-based travel business which is over 10 years in the making.

The reason why?

We strongly believe that snorkeling can change a person’s life.

Group Photo of happy Snorkel Venture guests

The benefits attached to snorkeling are tremendous, it’s a great tool for stress relief, physical fitness and general happiness. There is nothing better than being able to swim amongst the exotic underwater world, calmly taking in sights and feelings never experienced before.

At Snorkel Venture we set out on a quest to promote and arrange our own snorkeling holidays to the worlds very best destinations. Our ethos is simple: to inspire people of all ages and capabilities to go out there and experience extraordinary snorkeling, backed up with the comfort, expertise and safety of a travel company who has been there and done it for themselves.

Every snorkel destination in the world is different, offering up a bounty of marine life all colors of the rainbow. We combine exotic marine life with beautiful destinations, warm temperatures and excellent accommodation.

We have a full range of vacations ready and waiting to change your life, for the better.

Start your own snorkelling adventure with us today, to discover something amazing and to realize the health benefits of this wonderful sport.

The Best Snorkeling Tips for Beginners

We live and breathe Snorkeling. We are so passionate about it that we even decided to make a travel business around the sport, offering the opportunity for people from all walks of life to travel to some of the most extraordinary places on the planet, to experience something new, to see the amazing, delivered with the comfort and security of expert guides who are with you at every step of the way.

Many of our clients are already experienced snorkelers, but for those that are looking to improve or for those that want to to try snorkelling for the first time, then you have come to the right place.

Snorkeling is the best and easiest way to access the underwater world, providing a sense of discovery and is also a great exercise for the body. The health benefits are countless.

Our top tips:

WEAR YOUR SNORKELING MASK PROPERLY

We are not trying to teach you to suck eggs, but getting this right is one of the most important tips we can offer. Your mask must fit properly around your face, if the seal around your face isn’t properly secured, then air will leak in and water will follow. If you are not a confident snorkeler this can make people panic.

The tip here is to hold the mask around your face, take a breath of air from your nose and if the mask stays fixed without you holding it, then you have it. Also, make sure that all hair is pulled away from the seal (that includes moustaches/beards, gentlemen).

I would also suggest that the strap of the mask is kept at the widest part of your head, towards the top. Doing this will ensure the mask remains securely on and reduces the chance of water coming in.

Lastly, for comfort, try not to wear the mask too tightly, the water will add pressure once you are in the ocean.

Snorkeler exploring pristine reef in Komodo

NEXT, THE FINS

Pick a pair of fins that fit you well, not too tight so that your toes are cramped together, but not so big that your heel pulls away from the fin each time you kick your legs.

Having said that, it’s always better to have a pair of fins that are slightly bigger. Your fins will also fit on a lot easier once your feet are wet.

FOGGY MASK?

foggy mask

There is nothing more annoying than your mask fogging up just as the underwater world is coming alive. We have all experienced it, but there are a few handy tips to help reduce the chances of fogging up.

The old spit and smear technique works surprisingly well. Before getting into the water spit on the inside of your mask, smearing the saliva with your finger across to cover all areas of the mask. Once you are done, dip your mask in the water and give it a good rinse.

You can also get your hands-on specialist defogging gel, although a drop of shampoo to rinse in the water also works really well.

RELAX AND BREATHE

One of the most important rules with any snorkeling experience is to always remain calm and breathe. Take a look around and the underwater world you are seeing, it is beautiful.

Practice with your mask and snorkel on before heading into the water and get used to breathing through the tube. Don’t bite on the seal as you will find your jaw aches quite quickly.

There is a chance your tube may fill with a little water through the chop of the ocean, the remedy is to simply clear the tube with one big exhalation, shooting all of the water out.

So, always remain calm, practice your breathing and by following the rest of these simple rules will have you well on your way to seeing some magnificent underwater life.

Happy couple snorkeling a reef in Komodo

CAUGHT YOUR CURIOSITY?

Take a look at our range of snorkeling trips throughout Asia which tick every box you can imagine from a dream snorkeling holiday. Alternatively, get in touch with us for a chin wag or to ask any questions.

‘How a Snorkeling Adventure Changed my Life.’

aerial view of Komodo national park

SNORKEL VENTURE CLIENT JANET ROBINSON SHARES HER VERY FIRST EXPERIENCE OF SNORKELING IN THE TROPICS OF INDONESIA.

When I told my family that I was going on a snorkeling adventure to Indonesia, they questioned my sanity.

‘Mom, are you sure about this?’ They said. ‘People like you don’t travel.’

They were right.

I had worked my entire life, raised three darling children and aside from two-week vacations with my family, I had never traveled before.

Having recently retired at the grand age of 65 I now have many years ahead of me to rest, enjoy and do all of those things I previously hadn’t had time to do. My one regret in life is that I had always wished that I had traveled more, I’d seen the most wonderful documentaries about the world’s oceans and fondly looked back on vacations to the Florida Keys where I’d been snorkeling many years ago.

One afternoon I was catching up with my daughter over coffee and we were talking about our calendar plans for the year ahead. She suggested that I should do something crazy this year, start a mid/late-life crisis which would surprise everyone who knew me.

‘Go on mom, go for it whatever you want to do!’. She said. ‘Surprise us!’.

Her words hit a chord and when I got home later, I started thinking more about a traveling adventure. I had my doubts as the thought of traveling alone filled me with dread, but I started researching on the internet and something caught my eye.

Six months later and I was checking into my flight, the destination – Bali in Indonesia.

Arriving into this foreign land had butterflies in my stomach. The humidity that hit me as I stepped off the plane and the instant kind and charming nature of airport staff dissolved the tiredness I felt from the long journey over. This was just the beginning of my exotic adventure.

A day later and I was wiggling my toes on a white sandy beach. Turquoise water gently lapping around my ankles and the warmth of the morning wind blew at my hair. I was in paradise.

I had arrived at the Komodo Resort in a far-flung part of eastern Indonesia, after checking into my charming beach bungalow (and a mint and lime mocktail later!) I headed to the resorts on-site dive center for my induction and briefing about the day to day running of my snorkeling trip.

house reef and pier at komodo resort

I became acquainted with my snorkel guide who would be with me on each of my daily excursions. We examined detailed maps of the outlying islands and range of snorkel sites we would visit, gazing at flip charts brimming with a variety of marine life, all of which I would (hopefully) be seeing on my stay. I couldn’t believe I was doing this, but with excitement and trepidation, I jumped in.

Snorkeler

Over the course of my week in Komodo, with the help and support of my guide, I experienced and did things I didn’t think possible. I learned that leaving your comfort zone is the BEST thing I could have done and should have done years ago.

Learning to snorkel properly had me gliding over a spectrum of color, encountering tropical fish I had ever imagined. I also gained a huge amount of confidence the more time I spent in the water, improving my technique and general fitness. Even towards the end of the vacation, I was taking part in yoga classes. Something my kids found hilarious.

‘Mom, doing yoga?’. They said with open jaws.

Now back at home I look back on my trip with the most wonderful of feelings. This might sound silly, but I firmly believe that my vacation has given me a new lease of life, I feel there are no boundaries, despite my age, for me to experience and see things I previously felt unimaginable.

Split shot of Komodo reef and Komodo island

The biggest problem I now have is having to wait to go on my next snorkeling adventure.

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