Indonesia Yacht Charters

Board in Benoa Harbour, Bali, and allow your captain to clear out formalities while the crew briefs the programme. The afternoon passage to Nusa Lembongan takes under two hours. Anchor in the bay north of Mushroom Bay before sunset. Nusa Penida is visible to the east. Dinner aboard using Bali's exceptional fresh produce from the Jimbaran fish market.

Early dive at Manta Point on Nusa Penida's southwest tip. Manta rays frequent the cleaning station year-round; from July to October there is a reasonable chance of encountering Mola mola in the blue water off Crystal Bay. Return to the yacht for lunch underway as you pass through the Lombok Strait, timing the transit for the favourable tidal window. Anchor at Gili Air by evening.

A rest morning at Gili Trawangan with snorkelling on the reef that fringes the island's northeast. The Gili islands operate motor vehicle bans — cidomo horse carts and bicycles only — which gives the place an unusual unhurried quality. Afternoon passage south along the Lombok coast, noting the dramatic Rinjani ridgeline to the east. Overnight anchor at Teluk Ekas, a protected bay used by local fishing fleets.

Long passage day east along the Sumbawa coast, with open water sailing in the Tenggara trades. This is the sailing day: set canvas, establish watches, and let the wind do its work. The north Sumbawa coast is largely empty of development. Anchor in a sheltered bay near Bima by late afternoon, a significant town and good re-provisioning point.

Transit the Sape Strait between Sumbawa and Flores, a passage that concentrates Indian Ocean swell and requires careful timing at the narrows. Once through, the character of the sea changes — the water freshens to a deeper blue, and the volcanic cones of Flores begin to organise themselves on the horizon. First anchorage in the outer Komodo group at Gili Banta.

Enter Komodo National Park properly, with permits arranged in advance through your charter broker. Morning dive at Batu Bolong, widely considered one of the finest dive sites in Indonesian waters: a seamount swept by current that concentrates every tier of the food chain. Afternoon at Pantai Merah (Pink Beach), the pink-hued shoreline resulting from red coral fragments mixed into the sand. The colour is most vivid in mid-afternoon light.

Komodo Island and a ranger-accompanied dragon walk. Varanus komodoensis is large, venomous, and entirely indifferent to tourists — which makes encounters more compelling than any managed wildlife experience. The rangers are knowledgeable and attentive. Return to the yacht at Loh Liang anchorage for lunch. Afternoon on Padar Island, whose ridge trail offers a panoramic view across three bays of distinctly different water colours.

Rinca Island in the morning for a second dragon encounter — the Rinca population is reportedly more active and the landscape more open than Komodo proper. Afternoon transit to Manta Alley on the southern tip of Komodo Island, where a narrow channel reliably concentrates reef mantas year-round. Evening anchor in the calm of Gili Lawa Darat.

Sunrise from the hilltop above Gili Lawa Darat is worth the 30-minute climb in the pre-dawn. The view extends across the entire Komodo group with Flores in the background. Morning sail to Labuan Bajo for reprovisioning, fuel, and any crew requirements. The harbour front has developed a strong restaurant and craft market scene. Final night afloat in the bay.

Disembark in Labuan Bajo, where Komodo Airport handles direct connections to Bali and Jakarta. Most charter parties depart mid-morning, allowing a final breakfast aboard and a proper goodbye to the crew. Those with flexible schedules might consider an additional night before departure: the outer islands north of Labuan Bajo remain almost entirely unvisited and reward the curious.