Yacht charter is among the more exclusive vacation options available. So, a yacht charter timed to coincide with a solar eclipse, one of the most impressive natural occurrences—and an eclipse that occurs only once every 18 years… well, that’s extraordinary. The experience is yours next March in Indonesia aboard Salila.
Part of the charter fleet of Northrop & Johnson, Salila is a 184-foot (56-meter) expedition yacht specializing in taking guests to secluded, remote destinations throughout Southeast Asia. This particular 10-day itinerary in Indonesia will allow you to witness the eclipse. While other countries in the region, even places as far as Australia and Hawaii, will experience a partial eclipse, Indonesia will have a total eclipse. Picture yourself standing aboard Salila just before 9 a.m. West Indonesian Time when it occurs, joined by a renowned authority on Indonesia, too. He’s Lawrence Blair, an anthropologist, author, and filmmaker who spent nearly four decades in the country. (He’s responsible for the critically acclaimed “Ring of Fire” series that aired on the BBC and PBS, for example.) He’ll be able to explain what the eclipse’s effect is on the wildlife, too, as they often believe it’s time again to sleep.
Blair will be onboard Salila for the full 10 days to educate you about other experiences to have along the way. For example, Salila will visit Raja Ampat, where diving and snorkeling are superb. They’re also superb throughout the areas you’ll visit, given that the Indonesian archipelago has the world’s most diverse marine life. You’ll further cruise to the region of Aketajawe and the Lobolobo National Park, where there’s a rainforest bird sanctuary and a habitat for the endangered Asiatic Golden Cat. Then there are the famous white-sand beaches of Big and Little Dodola Island, a.k.a. the “Virgin Islands” of Morotai, in North Maluku.
Salila is available from $105,000 per week. She can accommodate 20 guests in 10 staterooms, including two master suites (one pictured above), and has an enviable 1:1 crew-to-guest ratio. She’s further outfitted with wide walk-around decks,a light and bright interior, sunning spots and shaded lounging areas alike outside, and a plethora of watersports equipment. Besides 40 dive tanks, there are paddleboards, kayaks, and snorkeling gear. If you’ve never gone diving before, this is an opportunity to learn, as Salila has a certified dive instructor as well as a divemaster.
The full itinerary and booking details are listed on Northrop & Johnson’s website.
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