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

How to Pack for a Snorkel Venture

First of all, this is not a blog on what to pack for a snorkeling safari, that information is here. This blog is all about how to pack for a snorkeling adventure with us. It may sound like a simple enough subject—just toss in a week’s worth of tropical clothes and your snorkel and mask into a bag and off you go—but with the varying restrictions between your international and any domestic flights we may need to take to reach our ultimate destination, it’s a good idea to pack with a bit of a plan.

International Flight

Your main international flight from your home country to any one of the countries where the tour will be held is fairly straight forward. Just make sure you are within the weight restrictions for both checked and hand-carry bags and all should be well. With that in mind though, do also keep in mind the weight requirements for any upcoming domestic flights you may have once in the country our snorkel safari is in. For exa

mple, if our domestic flight from Bali or Jakarta to Komodo only allows for a maximum of 30kg for our checked luggage and 7kg of hand-carry baggage, you wouldn’t want to have a total luggage weight exceeding 37kgs even if your international flight allows for more than this.

Air asia baggage guide

Domestic Flights

For some of our snorkeling safaris we will be taking one or several domestic flights, particularly in Indonesia. So, it’s a good idea to adjust your packing a bit once you landed in the designated country. First of all, many of our domestic flights will be on smaller planes that will have more restrictions on hand cary luggage size and weights than a large international flight. For most domestic flights the hand-carry maximum weight is 7kg. Along with that, some of the overhead storage compartments are quite narrow so if you have a larger hand-carry bag it’s a good idea to confirm with us or the domestic carrier what their luggage size restrictions are.

Outside of luggage size and weight restrictions, it’s also a good idea to really plan what you pack in both your checked bag as well as your hand cary bag. Our Wakatobi safari, for example, involves a private charter flight from Bali to Wakatobi resort where our checked bags will be dropped of at our rooms several hours after we arrive at the resort. So, with situations like this in mind, it’s a good idea to pack an essential toiletry kit, a spare change of clothes, any medication, glasses, or prescription goggles, and any personal electronics you may need like a laptop or camera in your hand-carry bag. Something else to consider bringing is a power bank to keep your mobile devices charged during flights and car/boat rides.

carry on essentials

You may also find that for some domestic flights the regulations for what items can be carried on and what needs to be checked are more stringent, so we’ve included a generalized list of what items should go where. Please note, this is not an official list of what can be checked and what can not, just a generalized list of items often overlooked by guests.

Liquids: All liquid items over 100ml need to go in your CHECKED BAG

Aerosols: Things like shaving cream and aerosol deodorant or sun cream also need to go in your CHECKED BAG.

Tripods: All tripods and selfie sticks—basically anything stick-shaped—need to go in your CHECKED BAG.

Prescription Masks/Glasses & Medication: Any medication or prescription masks/goggles/glasses should go in your HAND CARY.

Batteries: All batteries, including power banks, need to be in your HAND CARRY bag. We strongly suggest keeping your batteries together in one container rather than scattered about in your bag, just in case the gate agent needs to see them.

Liveaboards vs. Resorts

Liveaboard and resort

Choosing to join a snorkel safari that is hosted by a liveaboard as opposed to a land-based resort, or vise versa can be a tough choice, particularly if your only snorkeling safaris have been with one of the two options, or neither! Resorts can be great as they don’t rock with the waves and the amount of space you get is so much more. However, on a boat you wake up in a new location each day and get to explore so much further in the area. Not to mention the novelty of being on a luxury vessel in the middle of paradise. To help you get the clearest picture possible of what each style of snorkel safari is like we’ve broken it down into a few key points.

Space

Space is one of the biggest differences between resorts and liveaboards. At a resort you have a spacious bungalow with its own veranda and large bathroom. Then there are the resort grounds which offer beautiful landscaping, pools, bars, a restaurant, spa, and quite often a private beach with a house reef.

aerial view of misool resort

The liveaboard option does offer significantly less space than a resort, but you will by no means feel cramped, especially with the elite group of liveaboards we operate with. The boats we use range in size from just over one-hundred feet in length to one-hundred and seventy feet and offer 3-4 different decks to spread out on. The boats all feature large galleys for dining, saloons with big wrap-around sofas, sun decks, camera rooms, and large gearing up stations. Some of the larger boats even have a Jacuzzi and rooftop bar. The cabins will all be furnished with comfortable beds, some may be bunked, but all will be equipped with a private ensuite bathroom with hot water and of course air conditioning.

cabin on coralia liveaboard

Snorkeling

Snorkeling via liveaboard and resort in the very same location can be a completely different experience depending on which one you choose. One is not necessarily better than the other, just different. Raja Ampat is the perfect example for this as Raja is a massive area and no matter how centrally located the resort you’d never be able to see all of Raja, no matter how long you spent there. However, with a liveaboard in Raja you do have the option of being able to experience a bit of everything. Not everything, but a bit of everything, as Raja is HUUGE and even with a liveaboard you’d have to spend a few years exploring it to see it all.

Aerial view of Raja Ampat Islands

With a liveaboard in Raja you can spend a few days in the north, a few days in the center, and a few days in the south, whereas with a resort you will be snorkeling in either the north or the south. Now, that’s not a bad thing at all as both the resorts in the north and south of Raja have more than enough sites to keep us snorkelers entertained for months. Not to mention the resort’s extensive knowledge of their “neighborhood” will surely yield some exceptional surprises you wouldn’t otherwise have on a liveaboard.

One last point I’d like to make here is that when you are snorkeling from a liveaboard, you naturally end up spending nearly all your time on the water, this constant exposure does often lead to nice surprises like a whale shark or manta appearing next to the boat which then turns into thrilling impromptu snorkel session. That being said, most resorts have a house reef and end up being the guests favorite places to snorkel-no matter which house reef-as they can really get to know that reef after a few days and find all the cool things they might otherwise miss in a single snorkel session.

snorkeler with whale shark feeding

Rocking in Rolling

Yes, boats do rock a bit, and if the weather suddenly kicks up it can be a bit bumpy for an hour or so until the captain can get us into a protected bay, but in general you really don’t notice the gentle motion of the ocean after the first-night onboard.  In fact, most people find the gentle undulating motion soothing. For those that are very prone to seasickness, there are some excellent patches, pressure point wrist bands, and seasickness pills you can take which will quite literally cure you of it for the duration of the trip.

Amira Liveaboard sailing

Final Thoughts

Prior to joining Snorkel Venture I spend five years living and working as an underwater photographer on a liveaboard, and since 2018 when I joined Snorkel Venture I’ve spent the majority of that time traveling around the world and snorkeling from resorts. At the end of the day I would never say snorkeling from one is better than the other, not at all. Liveaboards offer that romantic feeling of exploring a tropical paradise by way of a luxury vessel complete with Jacuzzi and masseuse, whereas a resort offers that quintessential island oasis vibe with a happy hour and infinity pool. Each presents a completely different experience out of the water, but both absolutely offer incredible snorkeling.

Happy couple snorkeling a reef in Komodo

How to Prep for your Upcoming Snorkel Venture

Snorkel Venture customers laughing

From the time you click the “Book Tour” button for your desired Snorkel Venture safari to the time you actually head to the airport can seem like ages, particularly if you’ve booked a tour a year or two out! Rather than just sit there twiddling your thumbs as you wait for that much anticipated date, there’s a lot you can to prepare for the tour which will not only help relieve some of those sudden snorkeling urges, but also help you get more out of the tour itself.

4. Research

books on marine life and Indonesia

Ok, so you’ve just booked a tour to a distant island you barely knew existed and presumably you’ve done a bit of basic research about the area, but that’s probably the extent of it if you are like most of us. However, the areas we offer tours to are truly fascinating places, whether it be historical, political, geological, food, or the marine life, there is just so much cool stuff to know about these unique areas. In doing this ‘research’ it will not only help pass the time but it will no doubt help you enjoy the tour more, not to mention you’ll be able to say things like “did you know Indonesia has the same flag as Monaco?” What I’m about to say next may sound a bit like a mom or dad trying to be hip but, research is cool!

3. Gear

It’s always a good idea to double check all your snorkel and travel gear before you take off. You might know you have a snorkel and mask in the closet but is the rubber skirt around the mask still in good shape or has it dried out and starting to crack? Also, does that wetsuit still fit? As someone who runs these trips for a living I can say that the guests who did a bit of gear prep beforehand are the ones who were comfortable in the water from day one, as opposed to those who just tossed some gear in a bag assuming everything still fit and was working properly. If you need tips on gear, we are more than happy to help!

 

2. Camera

Underwater cameras are so much more affordable now with amazing underwater shooting capabilities for both photo and video in one compact design. If you have an older camera with a clunky housing  you’re not quite sure still keeps the water out, it might be a good move to check out some of the new camera tech as you don’t want to miss out on capturing those magical underwater moments! Here’s a list of some of our favorite cameras for taking underwater. Along with that, taking your camera in pool or pond and practicing with it will benefit you infinitely on the tour as you won’t be wondering what mode to switch to or what button does what when that first manta or turtle swims by!

1. Practice

snorkeler diving down to photograph coral reef

In joining these trip you’re not only traveling a long way but also spending a considerable amount of money to do so. In order to make the most of these tours we want you to hit the ground running, or hit the water snorkeling rather. If it’s been a while since your last snorkel, it’s a good idea to keep your snorkeling skills polished. Some things to work on could just be being comfortable using your mask and snorkel properly, equalizing your ears if you want to duck dive, and then how to improve your breath hold time and depth. Also, we do a lot of snorkeling on our tours, and while it will always be in relaxing and manageable conditions, snorkeling is a physical activity so keeping your swimming endurance up is very much recommended.

What to Pack for a Snorkel Safari

Snorkel Venture guests taking photos from boat

If you’ve never been on a snorkel safari before, let alone the country the safari will be in, you may be wondering what to pack! While we offer safaris to a variety of locations all around the world, the vast majority of them will require a very similar packing list as most of them take place in resorts of a similar caliber and tropical climates.

Clothes

While we are staying at some of the nicest resorts in the area, these tours are very casual with t-shirt and shorts being the general ensemble for most guests. For all of our tropical snorkel safaris the weather will most certainly be warm, but in some places rain is possible so it’s always a good idea to bring a sweater or rain jacket just in case. Also, there may be some internal flights or taxi’s where the AC is quite cold and a jumper will again come in very handy. Also, keep in mind most of the resorts will have a laundry service so no need to pack two weeks worth of clothes. No need to pack beach towels or anything like that, the resorts will provide all of that.

snorkeling gear being packed with cat in the bag

Shoes

For about 90% of the trip you’ll be comfortable in sandals or even barefoot. However, for those transit days and land tours it’s best to have a pair or trainers.

Underwater Gear

While just about all the resorts will have all the necessary snorkel gear to rent or borrow, we always suggest bringing your own so you will be consistently comfortable in the water, since rental gear may not always fit you the way your own personal gear would. Not to state the obvious but your own mask and snorkel would be a great thing to pack, as well as fins. For most of our locations full foot fins are just fine, but there are a few locations like the Philippines where we strongly suggest bringing the open heel type of fin so you can wear booties since a lot of the water entries and exits are over smooth stone with the possibility of sea urchins. Also, since we are doing a lot of snorkeling it’s not a bad idea to bring your own wetsuit or thermals to wear in the water. We’ve found that those guests who are usually comfortable snorkeling in just a t-shirt or rash guard are often getting a bit cold in the water after five days or so and will end up needing to rent a wetsuit to stay warm.

snorkeler putting on fourth element thermal at sunset

Underwater Accessories

There are some fantastic underwater cameras on the market now that are not only affordable but also take outstanding photos with the different underwater modes now included in the camera settings. Something else we suggest bringing, especially if you want to do some night or sunset snorkels, is your own underwater torch or flashlight with rechargeable batteries.

Sun Protection

Thought there is always plenty of shade at the resorts and on the boats most of our tours are right around the equator where the sun is very intense so it’s a great idea to bring plenty of sun protection. One garment that has become increasingly popular as it’s a very versatile piece of clothing both in and out of the water is the Buff. This simple bit of cloth can be worn around the neck, over the lower half of the face like a bandit, like a bandanna, or just over the top of your head to keep your scalp from burning during the snorkel sessions. Outside of the Buff we strongly urge you to bring reef safe sun cream as well.

man wearing sun protective clothing

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