Bali to Komodo - In Search of the Dragon!

Tour Code: IDN01

A 13-day wildlife holiday, including a 9-night cruise from the beautiful island of Bali to the Komodo National Park, in search of cetaceans, Manta Rays, the formidable Komodo Dragon and other wildlife.

13 days from
£7,295 (Inc flights)

Land only price from
£6,495

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Highlights

Summary

The archipelago of Indonesia comprises a staggering 17,000 islands, of which Bali and Komodo are two. We begin our holiday on the beautiful island of Bali, where we will spend one night before embarking the MV Mermaid which will be our home as we cruise towards Komodo, which is well known to naturalists for being home to the world’s largest species of lizard, the Komodo Dragon. As we cruise, we will be on the lookout for a wonderful variety of wildlife, including cetaceans such as Eden's Whale and Fraser’s Dolphin, as well as birds such as Red-tailed Tropicbird, and the mighty Manta Ray! We will travel by day, and each evening moor in a sheltered spot to allow time for snorkelling before dinner on board. We will cross the ‘Wallace line’ and notice the change in wildlife as Asian fauna gives way to Australasian wildlife, and spend three full days exploring Komodo Island and the neighbouring island of Rinca.

For those that wish to extend their holiday on the island of Bali, we are also delighted to offer a pre-tour extension to Bali Barat National Park.

Led by world-renowned marine biologist Dr Chas Anderson
Exclusive charter, with a maximum of 16 passengers
Superb snorkelling opportunities on the cruise aboard MV Mermaid, which has en suite air-conditioned cabins
Look for Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island & neighbouring Rinca Island
Cetaceans of the area include Melon-headed Whale, Spinner Dolphins & beaked whales
Greater & Lesser Frigatebirds plus tropicbirds among birdlife to be seen at sea
Island birds include Green Junglefowl, Flame-breasted Sunbird & Wallacean Drongo
Extend your trip with a stay on Bali for pre- or post-cruise relaxation

Grading

Grade A. All island walks and snorkelling excursions are optional.

Bali and Komodo are just two of the 17,000 islands that make up the archipelago of Indonesia, the largest in the world. This is a country born of fire, a region shaped over the millennia by huge tectonic forces and the slow, but inexorable, collision of the Indo-Australian and Eurasian Plates. From the tropical paradise of Bali a great arc of volcanic islands stretches to the east including Lombok, Sumbawa, Komodo and Flores. Some of these are now dormant, the heat from beneath having subsided long ago, whilst others still retain their internal furnace and awaken from time to time. All, however, lie in warm tropical seas, home to the most diverse marine-life anywhere in the world with over 3,500 species of fish (more than enough to keep the keenest snorkeller enthralled!) and a wonderful array of tropical whales and dolphins. On the islands themselves, an equally fascinating variety of birds and other wildlife may be found, including their most infamous inhabitant of all, the formidable Komodo Dragon, the largest species of lizard left on Earth!

This exciting holiday is led by marine biologist Dr. Chas Anderson, a leading authority on the cetaceans and fish of the tropical Indian Ocean and pioneer of whale and dolphin-watching in the region. Our home for the 9-night cruise will be MV Mermaid I or MV Mermaid II, comfortable liveaboard motor-yachts featuring seven or eight en suite and air-conditioned cabins for a maximum of 16 passengers.

Our holiday begins with a flight to the palm-fringed island of Bali, where we will spend our first night in a beachfront hotel. Bali is located at the westernmost end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, between Lombok and Java, and is just as exotic and beautiful as you would imagine! We will board the MV Mermaid, our home for the next nine nights, at Benoa port, located in the south of the island, and from there we begin our journey east. The exact itinerary for this cruise will be kept flexible to take account of such factors as the weather and wildlife sightings; and throughout we will benefit from the unrivalled experience of Chas Anderson and his crew.

As we travel from island to island, past Lombok and Sumbawa, we will stop to enjoy the scenery, cetaceans and other wildlife we meet along the way. Flying fish skitter over the water’s surface, whilst high overhead menacing flocks of Greater and Lesser Frigatebirds circle, occasionally joined by their rare Christmas Island cousin; we may also see the beautiful White-tailed Tropicbird. We will travel by day and anchor early each evening in a sheltered spot to allow plenty of time for snorkelling and to appreciate the wonderful diversity of underwater life that abounds here, including, we hope, Manta Rays! Then, as darkness falls, far from the light pollution that blights so much of the Western world, we can make our way up to the top deck of MV Mermaid to enjoy stunning views of the night sky.

One of the main focuses of this cruise will be the tropical cetaceans that live in these warm waters, especially those in and around Komodo National Park where we plan to spend three full days. Species we are likely to encounter include False Killer Whale and Melon-headed Whale, plus Spinner, Spotted, Risso’s and Fraser’s Dolphins. Other possible species include Blue Whale, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale, Dwarf Sperm Whale and Rough-toothed Dolphin, and we will be keeping a sharp look-out for the little-known Eden’s Whale (a pending split from Bryde’s Whale).

The further east we travel, the drier and more arid the islands become. The wildlife that lives on this archipelago is of particular interest to the naturalist, as it is here that Asian fauna gives way to Australasian wildlife, the boundary being marked by the famous ‘Wallace Line’. The rugged islands of Komodo and Rinca are home to the world’s largest species of lizard, the fearsome Komodo Dragon, which can grow to over 3 metres! We aim to make a landing on both islands and, as well as keeping a careful eye on the local reptilian inhabitants, we will be looking for some of the region’s landbirds including Green Junglefowl, Variable Goshawk, Wallacean Drongo, Flame-breasted Sunbird and the endangered Yellowcrested Cockatoo.

Leaving Rinca and Komodo Islands we continue east to Flores, allowing us additional time to watch for more cetaceans and seabirds, as well as further opportunities to explore a variety of reefs and landings, before we must disembark for the short flight back to Bali and onwards to London.

DETAILED INFORMATION

Itinerary

Outline Itinerary

Day 1

Depart London.

Day 2

Arrive Bali and overnight.

Day 3/11

Wildlife cruise around Bali and Komodo

Day 12

Disembark MV Mermaid; fly London

Day 13

Arrive London.

What's Included

What's Included?

Flights
Accommodation:
For our cruises in 2021 and 2022, we have exclusively chartered the 14-berth ‘MV Mermaid I’, a 28-metre motor-yacht featuring seven en suite and air-conditioned guest cabins. For additional information on the vessel, and details of the different cabin grades available, please refer to the tour itinerary. In Bali we use a comfortable beach hotel.
Food:
All food is included in the price except for lunches and dinners in Bali. We recommend allowing around £40.

Reviews

A fab trip all round. Sarah was fantastic, along with Chas Anderson, the naturalist on the cruise who was knowledgeable on many different subjects and I enjoyed his sense of humour! The crew of the Mermaid II were also fantastic. The Indonesian people we encountered in the hotels seemed genuinely helpful and friendly. There were a lot of highlights. I was partly attracted to this trip as I enjoy snorkelling mixed with land-based walking/nature watching. The snorkelling highlight for me was swimming with Manta Rays, which was a new experience. I also enjoyed swimming with the Whale Shark, although this felt a bit less natural with the animal being fed and there being so many other snorkellers present. We appreciated the Mermaid II crew arranging for a private session later on. There were lots of other great sightings on the cruise, such as the Komodo dragons, sea snakes, turtles, dolphins, small whales, cuttlefish, and the huge variety of fish and coral. The sightings at the ecolodge were also enjoyable, including the Bali Starlings, Black Giant Squirrels, and Civets. I enjoyed the outing to the waterfall and the sunrises/sunsets were fabulous.
S.P. Suffolk, Oct24
There were many highlights, from meeting a Komodo dragon close up for the first time, swimming with manta rays (also for the first time) to seeing small flocks of rare birds like the yellow crested cockatoo and the Bali myna at close quarters. However, the high point was spending an hour and a half in the water in the company of a whale shark. Simply unforgettable... Sara was simply superb. Not only was she a great leader in wildlife trip terms, she has a wonderful empathy for her clients that enables her to ensure that every need we had was anticipated and taken care of. Whenever something rare or exceptional was sighted, Sara took pains to check with everyone that they had had the opportunity to see it before moving on. Her (and Chas's) spotting skills and diligence on ocean watching for birds and cetaceans was exemplary and helped ensure we saw far more than would otherwise have been possible. Sara also arranged some wonderful unexpected touches, such as a special last night meal on the extension that perfectly rounded off the trip. Having a leader of Sara's calibre is what makes the difference between a wonderful experience and a truly exceptional one and is frankly the reason we keep coming on trips with Naturetrek. The cabin on the boat was spacious, comfortable and well appointed, as was the rest of the boat. The accommodation on the extension was superb. Comprehensive and clear pre-departure information, providing very useful advice for planning the trip. in addition, the information provided relating to last minute changes following the volcano eruption was timely, informative and useful. Wonderful experiences and memories all round from this trip, which pretty much had everything.
D.P. Hampshire, Oct24
A great mix of snorkelling and cetacean and bird spotting! This was a fabulous trip! The Komodo dragons are a key part, but also the snorkelling on some amazing coral reefs, with opportunities to snorkel with reef mantas and whale sharks. The whale watching and seabird spotting while travelling, meant that there was always something to look out for. Sarah is a fabulous, enthusiastic and well informed tour leader, who really took care of us! Chaz Anderson brought his great experience, depth of knowledge and humour to the trip. Sarah and Chaz make a great combination!
I.R. Hampshire, Oct24

The main part of the trip was a small boat cruise from Bali to Flores, with three full days spent in the Komodo National Park. Our tour leader was extremely helpful and knowledgeable, as was our expert marine guide on board the boat. We had fantastic encounters with all the target species, including Komodo Dragons, various dolphin species, Whale Sharks, Manta Rays and Bali Starlings. Snorkelling over coral reefs was both beautiful and addictive, with hundreds of tropical fish, plus other creatures. The food on board Mermaid I was delicious throughout and the boat crew were very attentive and friendly. The extension to the West Bali National Park made a fitting end to a great trip. Naturetrek staff are always helpful and willing to answer any queries about the trip by phone or in person. Our tour guide was excellent and caring, especially when a passenger's injury required a trip to hospital and a rearrangement of our schedule. Full marks to both Naturetrek and the Mermaid I crew for ensuring we missed nothing major from our itinerary.
P.T. Norfolk, Sept 23

This trip begins in Bali where you board and live aboard a dive boat, with a superb, attentive crew. You cruise past breathtaking scenery, snorkel daily in warm waters teeming with fish, corals and natural wonders into Komodo National Park. Dragons, manta rays, dolphins, whales and seabirds await you, along with amazing sunsets and sunrises. Nothing had prepared me for such an amazing trip, it was the holiday of a lifetime for a nature lover. No crowds, no queues just the unspoilt natural beauty of Indonesia.
A.G. Pembrokeshire

I booked the holiday mainly to see the Komodo dragon, which I did, The crew on the Mermaid were excellent and I could not fault their care and attention. The secondary part of the holiday was to enable me to be at a friends wedding at the end of October. The tailormade holiday extension was very well organised and fitted in with my requests for where I wished to visit. The chosen guides were very good and seemed in my opinion to go well beyond what I had expected. The accommodation was basic in some cases which suited me, as all I required was a clean bed and a good meal in the evening. This was because I was out at dawn and in late.
F.W. London

This was a cruise for a dozen lucky passengers, sailing from Bali to Flores via The Komodo National Park. We enjoyed all the items in the title plus gorgeous food and island visits. All the staff were brilliant. Snorkelling was outstanding. We swam with Mantas and Turtles and a myriad of bright fish. At one point near Rinca 5 Komodos swam in the sea near our zodiac. Seeing a blue whale was a massive, in all senses of the word, bonus. Totally memorable.
D.Y. Hampshire

A brilliant trip on a small boat stopping to snorkel on reefs by isolated islands. Exciting adventurous and relaxing all at once. Accompanied on board by a Marine Biologist who identified sea species seen. No shoes, no stress, no hesitation in booking a similar trip for 2018.
O.R. Gwynedd

Crew fantastic & exceeded all expectations. Scenery out of this world & snorkelling amazing. A trip of a life time, dragons, manta rays, dolphins and brilliant fish.
A.G. Pembrokeshire

I most enjoyed the variety of things we saw, the superb standard of the boat MV Mermaid I & its very helpful crew, the snorkelling, especially when we had good sunlight, bennefitting from Chas Anderson's immense knowledge and sailing through the archipelago It was a wonderful holiday- thanks to all involved for making it so.
E.G. London

Fabulous dolphins, terrific viewing of Komodo Dragons on a secluded beach. They came into the water to see us off! Wonderful spacious boat with great one to one crew, amazing leaders, terrific snorkelling with great helpers for the inexperienced like me. Lots of time to relax. Great food. Terrific scenery. I don't use the phrase holiday of a lifetime lightly, it is often over-egged, but this was truly THE HOLIDAY OF A LIFETIME.
A.R. Buckinghamshire

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Extensions

Bali Barat National Park

Staying at the peaceful nature resort, The Menjangan, we have two full days to relax and enjoy Bali Barat National Park. Guests can enjoy the birdlife and beach at their leisure, and optional morning and afternoon bird walks led by the on-site naturalist will provide the opportunity to search for many of the park's more elusive birds. Group size 6 - 9: £1,295 pp Group size 10+: £1,095 pp

3 days from £1,295

View Details

Dates & Prices

2025

Departures Availability Cost

Thu 23rd Oct – Tue 4th Nov FULL £7,295

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£6,495

Room sharing options:

If a customer on this departure has already expressed an interest in sharing a room it will be flagged here. We will identify if there are sharing options for male, female or both.

Female sharing available

2026

Departures Availability Cost

Wed 14th Oct – Mon 26th Oct SPACES £7,495

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£6,795

2027

Departures Availability Cost

Sat 11th Sep – Thu 23rd Sep SPACES £8,295

Book Tour Show Details

Flights:

Most Naturetrek tours include flight costs ex-UK. If flights are not included, we indicate that here.

Flights are included in the tour cost

Regional Departures:

On certain tours it is possible to depart from a regional airport (rather than London). If a regional departure is possible, we indicate that here.

Regional Departures are available. Call 01962733051

Land only cost:

The "Land Only" cost is the tour price you will pay if you choose to arrange your own flights/transport.

£7,395

Please note that cabin grades are subject to availability. We recommend phoning the office before booking to confirm that your preference is available.

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Seeing whales in the wild is one of the top 10 things most people want to do during their lifetime. Scanning the water, waiting to hear a blow or see a dorsal fin, is one of the top wildlife experiences in the world, and it can get addictive! A sighting of whales in their natural habitat is consistently rated in the top 10 wildlife experiences in the world. These gentle giants of the ocean hold a special place in our hearts. Our dedicated small group tours offer the thrilling opportunity of an up-close-and-personal encounter in the wild; scanning the water, waiting for the sound of a blow or the sight of a dorsal fin is both thrilling and addictive.
Naturetrek Whale Watching Tours
Our dedicated small group whale-watching holidays encompass a range of destinations all over the world to offer the best chance of sightings on short trips or longer cruises. Whether it’s a day excursion in the UK or an extended 14-day cruise to an exotic far-flung location, we offer the chance to encounter these giant cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from the tropics to the Polar regions. 
Depending on the location, our itineraries can focus on one or several of the planet’s 86 key species, including Blue and Killer Whales, or form part of a broader wildlife-watching experience to encounter dolphins, birdlife and other marine species. Led by expert biologist or naturalist guides, our tours often allow participants to get thrillingly close to one of the most fascinating animals on Earth. We've been organising specialist wildlife tours for 32 years and our experience, passion and knowledge have earned us a reputation as the best in the business. Our range of whale-watching holidays is so popular that we are rapidly expanding our programme to include some of the most exciting, wildlife-rich places in the world.
Why book a Naturetrek whale & dolphin watching holiday?

Expert biologist-led & wildlife photographer-led holidays
Dedicated whale-watching tours focusing on one or a few key species
Many of our whale-watching tours offer the chance to see dolphins as well (and vice versa)
A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
A chance to look for cetaceans in all of the world’s oceans, from polar waters to the tropics
A wide range of the world’s 86 species are seen on our whale-watching holidays, including Blue Whales & Killer Whales
A wide range of the world's dolphin species have also been seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s


Our specialist recommends...


"In the UK I'd recommend our full-day dolphin tours to look for White-beaked dolphins off Lyme Bay. Madeira offers a good variety of dolphins close to shore including Risso's, Atlantic Spotted and Common, while if you fancy warm tropical waters Sri Lanka or the Maldives offer a good range of acrobatic species in sunny conditions!" 

Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager

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            [description] => Birding Tours Led by Expert Naturalists
The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.

Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:

Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar

Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
 

Our specialist recommends...


"Try Coto Doñana & Extremadura for an excellent introduction to Europe's wetland and steppe birds. I would recommend our bargain holiday, 'Nepal – A Birdwatching Tour' for those interested in Siberian rarities and Ibisbill, while Costa Rica offers a chance to search for arguably the world's most beautiful bird, the Resplendent Quetzal."

Byron Palacios - Tour Leader

  
 
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The oceans are one of the last great wilderness areas left on our planet.  Travelling by sea on a nature cruise represents the best way to see many of the world’s wildlife spectacles, as there are still wildlife paradises that are accessible by sea but cannot yet be reached by air. 
Naturetrek wildlife cruises offer:

A range of cruising experiences, from exclusively chartered 50-berth expedition ships to smaller motor yachts & schooners
Arctic & Antarctic nature cruises in ships with specially strengthened hulls
Each voyage is accompanied by expert naturalists
Wide range of wildlife cruises from five continents

We have been running wildlife cruises for over 30 years and if your image of cruising is endless deck quoits or bingo, think again! A life on the ocean waves can be a permit to witness scenes of natural splendour that most people will only ever see on their television screens.
A selection of our most popular wildlife cruises:

Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands – Unique 2-week Galapagos nature cruise aboard a 16-berth schooner in search of the confiding birds, mammals & reptiles that inhabit these islands made so famous by Darwin
The Sub-Antartic Islands of New Zealand – Penguins, marine mammals & seabirds (Tailormade) 
Spitsbergen - Realm of the Polar Bear – Polar Bears, Walruses & seabirds
Baja California – Blue Whales, Sperm Whales, thousands of dolphins & other marine life, plus San Ignacio’s friendly Grey Whales
Kamchatka Peninsula – Pacific Ocean seabird colonies, spectacular volcanic scenery & over a dozen species of auks, plus Steller’s Sea Eagle, Siberian Rubythroats & much more (Tailormade)
Brahmaputra Cruise, India – Unique nature cruise visiting Kaziranga & other National Parks


Our specialist recommends...




"If you love whales and dolphins I’d recommend our Baja & Sea of Cortez nature cruise. The world’s largest concentration of cetaceans is found here, but book early as this tour sells out fast. I’d also suggest ‘Spitsbergen – Realm of the Polar Bear’ for a spectacular combination of wildlife and scenery.” 

Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager 

All Wildlife Cruises
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            [description] => Dolphin Watching – See Dolphins in the Wild
Seeing dolphins in the wild consistently ranks high on people’s lists of ’10 Things To See Before I Die’. Dolphins have captured the public imagination arguably more than any other animal – we marvel at their intelligence, grace and agility, as well as their apparent curiosity of their human observers.
Naturetrek Dolphin Watching Tours
Naturetrek offers the chance to watch dolphins all over the world, from the UK to the tropics and polar regions. Many of our dolphin tours also offer the opportunity to see whales. We offer:

Dedicated dolphin tours focusing on one or a few key species
Dolphin watching as part of a broader wildlife watching tour
A range of tours from day trips out on small boats to week-long liveaboard cruises
Expert biologist-led, photographer-led and researcher-led tours
A wide range of the world’s dolphin species seen, from Bottlenose and Risso’s, to Spinner, Striped and Heaviside’s

Our range of dolphin watching holidays includes:

A Maldives Cruise – a cruise through the turquoise waters surrounding the Maldives, searching for dolphins and whales as well as snorkeling over the reefs
Monterey Bay – enjoying the dolphins, whales and bird life of California’s Monterey Bay 
The Azores – Look for Sperm Whales and other cetaceans
Madeira – a 5-day holiday focusing on dolphin watching


Our specialist recommends...


"In the UK I'd recommend our full-day dolphin tours to look for White-beaked dolphins off Lyme Bay. Madeira offers a good variety of dolphins close to shore including Risso's, Atlantic Spotted and Common, while if you fancy warm tropical waters Sri Lanka or the Maldives offer a good range of acrobatic species in sunny conditions!" 

Sara Frost - Tour Leader & Marketing Manager

 
ALL DOLPHIN TOURS
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Prefer to Travel in a Private Group?

For any interested natural history club or society, we can arrange for a private departure of this tour.

Enquire

Tour Reports

Tour report - September 2017

Tour report - October 2016

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Why Naturetrek?

At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:

The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
Outstanding value and exceptional customer service

Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!

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