Indonesia Yacht Charter Guide including Bali, Lombok and Raja Ampat
Indonesia Yacht Charter Overview and Sailing Holiday Destinations
About Indonesia
| Chartering destinations in Indonesia | Bali and Lombok | Flores and the Komodo National Park |
The Banda Islands and Raja Ampat | Climate and Sailing Seasons
| Getting There |
Indonesian Cuisine
|
Our Charter Yachts
About Indonesia
Indonesia is the world’s largest archipelago, straddling the equator with over 17,000 islands and 80,000 km of coastline to explore. Many of the islands are remote and uninhabited, and have an amazing variety of volcanic scenery, marine life, enticing cultures, and sailing and diving adventures to be experienced.
From a sailing perspective, this region is very under-developed compared to the better known destinations in Asia and around the world. However, the yachts that do operate in these waters are often luxurious and well-equipped, and can offer an incomparable range of experiences – from the nightlife of Bali, to the fauna of 2 continents, amazing volcanic scenery, and the most diverse marine life anywhere on the planet offering truly world-class diving.
Very few sailing destinations can compare with the diversity of Indonesia.
Chartering Destinations in Indonesia
Bali is normally the best place to begin your charter, but with 17,000 other island destinations interspersed in thriving coral reefs, a charterer could spend a lifetime discovering Indonesia. Below are some of the highlights of Indonesia.
Bali and Lambok
Bali is by far the most popular tourist destination in the country, and the areas of Kuta and Legian, around the capital Denpasar, have a well-developed tourist infrastructure.
Many sailing yachts will start extended charters from Bali, and will probably use Bali as their main base in Indonesia. The rugged coastlines and volcanic interior of the island provide a picturesque backdrop to start your charter trip, and with some superb local dive sites to explore as well. Bali is also one of the worlds top surfing destinations.
Sailing east from Bali, and into the Lombok Straits, you pass the imaginary `Wallace Line`, where the natural habitat changes from that of subtropical Asia to that of Australasia.
Our Charter Yachts in Bali and Lombok.
Flores and the Komodo National Park
The area around the Komodo National Park, just to the west of the larger island of Flores, must be one of the most bio diverse in the world, both on land and underwater. The national park includes the lightly populated island of Komodo, plus several other smaller islands.
On land, the park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon (population over 5000!), and expanded over the years to protect other species and fauna, including marine species. In 1991, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It now covers over 1800 square kilometres of land and sea.
Scuba diving is popular in Komodo National Park because of its high marine biodiversity, including whale sharks, ocean sunfish, manta rays, eagle rays, pygmy seahorse, false pipefish, clown frogfish, nudibranchs, blue-ringed octopus, sponges, tunicates, and coral.
However, the good news is that it is remote enough that it has not been overdeveloped, so the amount of marine life to be seen is quite spectacular. This area has everything from ripping currents to shallow reefs, and fauna and corals up to dolphins, sharks and manta rays.
Customers can fly to the small fishing village of Labuhanbajo, on the western tip of Flores, to start their yacht charter there if they desire.
Our Charter Yachts in Flores and Komodo National Park.
The Banda Islands and Raja Ampat
Head northeast from Flores into the Banda Sea for some truly virgin sailing and diving. Here are a small group of islands in the middle of nowhere, and its remoteness has left a vibrant, healthy reef system with huge volumes and variety of large and small fish species, and well as numerous sea fans, sponges and hard corals. And watch out for the whales!!
On land, the islands consist of volcanic mountains covered in tropical rainforest. If you are feeling energetic, some of the mountains can be climbed, providing some stunning views of the deep blue oceans below.
And finally further northeast to the Raja Ampat Islands, just off the coast of West Papua. This area of ocean has the highest marine diversity on earth, with underwater topography to take your breath away. This is real frontier sailing and diving, since so few yachts visit the area.
Climate and Sailing Seasons
There is a wet and dry season, although they are relative. In most of the country, especially in the main sailing areas east of Bali, the dry season is March/April to September/October, with the wetter season being November to March.
Winds are moderate and generally predictable, with monsoons usually blowing in from the south and east in June through September and from the northwest in December through March. Typhoons and large scale storms pose little hazard to mariners in Indonesia waters.
Getting to Indonesia
The vast majority of international travellers will arrive in Bali, either via the Indonesian capital city of Jakarta, or on direct flights from Australia, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong and other major Asia cities. Yachts charters can start in Bali, or clients can take internal flights to Komodo or Raja Ampat to meet their charter yacht there.
Most (but not all) international travellers can get a 30 day visa on arrival at the most common entry points like Bali, Java, Jakarta, etc.
Indonesian Cuisine
Mirroring the diversity of its islands, there is no single "Indonesian" cuisine, but many local cuisines that derive from local produce and history. Indonesia has been involved in trade with India, the Middle East, China and Europe, all having an influence on their cuisine. Similarly, Indonesian dishes are now common across most of Asia.
Key ingredients of Indonesian food are rice, peanut sauce and coconut milk. These give rise to favorite Indonesian dishes include as satay (spiced chicken grilled on a long stick), beef rendang, and gado-gado. Soy-based dishes, such as variations of tofu (tahu) and tempe, are also very popular. Tempe is viewed as a Javanese invention.
You will, of course, find excellent and exotic fruits in Indonesia, including rambutan, mangosteen, Jackfruit, Durian, and Bananas.
Our Charter Yachts
Indonesia is a fascinating and growing charter destination, for all the reasons listed above. Boatbookings.com knows the region and boats, and can find you the ideal charter yacht, be it sail, motor or catamaran. Click here to see our Indonesia Charter Yachts or simply contact us and we'll recommend the best boat for you.
Asia Pacific Destinations: Thailand, Myanmar/Burma, Malaysia, India, Singapore, Tahiti
