Comprising over 17,000 islands dotted across the largest archipelago on earth, Indonesia is blessed with some spectacular remote cruising grounds. This land of legends is home to idyllic isles; some cloaked in dense jungle and inhabited by the mythical bird of paradise, others born of fire-breathing volcanoes and roamed by living dragons.
Soaring mountain peaks, untouched beaches, lush rainforest, authentic village tradition, endemic wildlife and show stopping underwater vistas embrace just some of what this magnificent country has to offer on a private yacht charter.
FEATURED YACHTS IN INDONESIA
KOMODO NATIONAL PARK
Located to the east of Bali and Lombok, Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site, home to the legendary endemic Komodo dragon and one of the most sought-after cruising grounds in Indonesia.
Jurassic island peaks coated in savannah grasses and lontar palms meet scintillating blue seas, and there are countless beautiful underwater sites to be found just footsteps from the beach. Cruises in this region can include Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores, Sumba and the Alor archipelago.
RAJA AMPAT
Situated just off the coast of West Papua, Raja Ampat is a chain of 1,500 paradisiac jungle-clad islands and heralded as one of the most biologically diverse marine habitats on earth.
A medley of steep limestone isles cloaked in thick tropical jungle and edged with white sand beaches makes cruising Raja Ampat naturally beautiful, not to mention the diversity of coral and fish beneath the waves. Cruises in this region can include the Spice Islands, Triton Bay and Cenderawasih Bay.
ALOR ARCHIPELAGO
The rarely visited Alor archipelago can be found to the east of Komodo National Park and Flores. This gem in the Indonesian archipelago and harbours a great deal of cultural interest.
Between East Nusa Tengarra and Alor itself, these sloping isles feature fascinating local villages set in the shadow of dormant volcanoes and wide golden beaches that lead to exhilarating dive sites beneath the waves. Cruises in this region can include Flores, Komodo National Park and the Forgotten Islands.
SPICE ISLANDS
Barely specks on the map, the Spice Islands are a collection of volcanic isles situated in the Banda Sea. They may be small, but they hold some of the greatest historic significance in Indonesia.
Also known as the Banda Islands or the Malukus, the Spice Islands are known as the original source of nutmeg and mace during Dutch, English and Portuguese colonisation in the 17th century. Cruises in this region can include Ambon, Raja Ampat, Triton Bay and the Forgotten Islands.
WEST PAPUA
While Raja Ampat may claim most of the fame in this region, West Papua has numerous fascinating cruising grounds for those keen to get off the beaten track and explore far eastern Indonesia.
To the north lies Bird’s Head Peninsula and Cenderawasih Bay, while the south is home to Triton Bay; these destinations are known for their frequent whale shark sightings, authentic villages and wreck dives. Cruises in this region can include the Spice Islands, Raja Ampat and the Forgotten Islands.
seasons & getting here
Indonesia can be visited throughout the year, with different regions subject to individual climates. The weather is tropical and warm year-round, split into the dry and the wet season. During the dry season in respective locations, the climate is less humid with cooler nights and sunny comfortable days averaging 28-degrees Celsius.
The western cruising grounds (including Bali, Java, Lombok and Komodo National Park) are generally best visited between May and September. The eastern cruising grounds (including West Papua, Raja Ampat and the Spice Islands) are best visited between November and March. During the shoulder seasons, boats migrate from one region to another, giving visitors the chance to experience a multitude of different regions and an exceptional combination of landscapes, cultures and marine environments.
Indonesia’s main cruising grounds can be accessed internationally through Bali and Jakarta, with connecting internal flights to Labuan Bajo (for Komodo National Park), Sorong (for Raja Ampat), Ambon (for the Spice Islands), Nabire (for Cenderawasih Bay) and Kaimana (for Triton Bay).
SAMPLE ITINERARIES IN INDONESIA
