Sailing Yacht Charter Southeast Asia

Depart Teluk Nare, northwest Lombok. Clear Indonesian customs at the Lembar harbour agent if not pre-cleared, then motorsail east with the afternoon sea breeze filling in from the southwest. Anchor off the Gili Islands — Gili Meno or Gili Air rather than the busier Gili Trawangan — for a first-night sundowner and briefing on tidal planning for the Lombok Strait.

Transit the Lombok Strait early morning on the flood tide, which runs north-to-south and can reach 4 knots. This passage requires timing — a 0600 departure from Gili Air typically catches the tide correctly. Clear the strait by midday and anchor off the south coast of Sumbawa at Teluk Bima for provisions and fuel top-up.

Full sailing day east along Sumbawa's southern coast, using the morning offshore breeze before the easterlies build. The coastline here is undeveloped — rice paddies running down to black sand beaches backed by volcanic hills. Anchor at Pulau Satonda, a small island with a salt-water crater lake, for the night.

Passage east to Pulau Moyo, Sumbawa. Moyo is a wildlife reserve with healthy reef on its northern tip. Drop anchor in the sheltered bay on the northwest side. The island interior has feral deer and wild pigs — a dinghy landing is worth the walk for the perspective on how quickly the vegetation changes from coastal scrub to jungle.

Long passage day southeast toward Komodo. Time the arrival at Selat Sape — the strait between Sumbawa and Komodo — for slack water. Anchor in the protected bay at Pulau Kalong (Bat Island) on Rinca's northeast corner in time for the evening ritual: hundreds of thousands of flying foxes departing the mangroves at dusk.

Rinca Island ranger walk in the early morning before heat builds — Komodo dragons are most active before 1000. Return to the yacht for a mid-morning move to Manta Point off the southern tip of Komodo Island. Current-dependent diving or snorkelling with reef mantas. Anchor at Horseshoe Bay (Teluk Komodo) overnight.

The main Komodo Island ranger circuit — significantly busier than Rinca but with larger resident dragon populations. Book the ranger-guided long trek rather than the beach circuit for proper sightings. Afternoon swim at Pink Beach (Pantai Merah), whose pink-tinted sand comes from red coral fragments mixed with white sand. Anchor off the beach.

Motorsail north through Selat Molo with the ebb tide and turn east toward Labuan Bajo, Flores. This is the main supply and fuel port for the Komodo corridor — use the afternoon to top up diesel, take on fresh produce from the market, and clear any outstanding port paperwork. The harbour anchorage is congested; the marina berth is preferable if available.

Day sail east along Flores' north coast toward the Riung area, passing the volcanic peaks of the island's interior. Anchor off one of the 17 Islands Marine Park atolls near Riung — the name refers to a local cluster of reef-fringed islands with nesting seabirds and clear water over coral gardens that receives almost no yacht traffic.

Final morning at anchor in the Riung group, then return passage to Labuan Bajo for disembarkation. Flores' Komodo Airport has direct connections to Bali (45 minutes). A late checkout with a leisurely lunch in Labuan Bajo town — the Bajo fish market and its adjacent warungs serve some of the best grilled tuna in eastern Indonesia — before transfer to the airport.