Chartered Sailing in Indonesia
Chartered sailing through Indonesia’s waters aboard a traditional, phinisi-style vessel offers an unbeatable cruising experience. Standing on deck, sails billowing in the wind with remote islands dotting the horizon, you’ll feel like a true adventurer. Stop off to snorkel among manta rays, and disembark to discover Komodo dragons, smoking volcanoes, and hidden coves…
Chartering a private boat means greater flexibility, with a range of luxurious options and the choice of spending anything from two nights to two weeks exploring the waters around Flores and Komodo, further east around Raja Ampat, or beyond into the wider archipelago. Privately-chartered sailing can be ideal for including taste of Indonesian cruising, tailored to your individual needs, in your family holiday to Indonesia. For honeymooning couples, it’s an extraordinary way to feel like you have Indonesia’s beautiful waters all to yourselves.
What to expect during your chartered Indonesian cruise:
Cruise aboard a traditional-style, privately-chartered wooden phinisi.
Enjoy attentive, high-quality service from the onboard crew
Discover volcanic landscapes, unspoiled beaches and hidden coves.
Snorkel, dive and swim in underwater worlds home to manta rays, sea turtles and whale sharks.
Kayak and paddleboard around rocky islands and steep cliffs.
Gain a deeper understanding of the conservation work undertaken to preserve the region’s ecosystems.
Learn about the archipelago’s history, culture and key conservation projects, protecting flora and fauna on land and under water, from on-board experts.
Classic style to supreme luxury
One of the best aspects of chartered sailing in Indonesia is the choice and flexibility it offers. There are options to suit a range of budgets, but if you really want to push the boat out, there’s a wonderful selection of vessels that offer the crème de la crème of sea-faring luxury. Based on the design of traditional wooden phinisi, which dates back over 500 years, each boat casts a beautiful silhouette against the horizon.
With the standards of high-end hotels, the top-level boats offer exceptional service, high quality facilities and a truly premium experience. Meals are prepared by expert chefs, and onboard dive masters can help you explore the stunning underwater world. Snorkel from the side of the boat, or explore the surroundings in a sea canoe. If it’s a warm night with clear skies, sleep on deck under a blanket of stars.
Wild landscapes…
Komodo, Padar and Rinca are the ‘Galapagos of South-East Asia’, packed with astonishing natural landscapes and diverse, idiosyncratic wildlife. Together, they make up the Komodo National Park. With hazy volcanic cinder cones, tropical forests, wild savannah and natural beaches, home to the iconic, three-metre-long Komodo dragons, the surroundings feel almost prehistoric.
Out on the Indonesian archipelago’s eastern edge, the islands of Raja Ampat are about as close to a pristine paradise as it’s possible to get. Cruise between unspoiled shores and tiny rocky islets lined with dense greenery, in search of sheltered bays to drop anchor and dive beneath the turquoise surface…
Conservation in action
Indonesia’s best chartered sailing enterprises support conservation projects that are shining examples of best practice in action, with thriving reefs and diverse marine life protected through their dedicated work. With a firm focus on putting wildlife and habitat welfare first, visitors can get close to some of the world’s most extraordinary habitats and creatures, from participating in coral restoration to learning about whale shark behavior.
Some of the best snorkelling in Asia can be found in Komodo and Raja Ampat, their clear, glassy waters home to sharks, manta rays, turtles and colourful coral species, with barely a soul in sight. During each sailing expedition, you’ll make stops at superb spots for diving, snorkelling and kayaking to suit you.
