Ultimate Island Adventures: Yachting in Indonesia
Indonesia and yachting are often given unfair stereotypes. To some, Indonesia conjures up images of backpackers drinking cheap beer on sandy beaches, while others believe that yachting is limited to billionaires cruising on shiny white superyachts in the Côte d'Azur or Caribbean.
Of course, there’s a strand of truth in both but, in reality, there’s much more to Indonesia as a destination, and to yachting as an activity, than such assumptions allow. And, when done right, they marry perfectly together.
A majority of travellers in Indonesia make a beeline for the bustling islands of Bali and Java, but the country is actually home to around 17,500 islands, 7,000 of which are uninhabited by humans – some exclusively by the infamous Komodo dragons – and many of which are surrounded by colourful, wildlife-rich reefs offering some of the best snorkelling and diving in the world.
The best way to explore the island nation is on board a yacht. Pelorus Yachting, the marine arm of luxury adventure travel company Pelorus, organises bespoke holidays at sea with a luxury twist. Its expert team specialises in lesser-travelled destinations, including Indonesia, swapping the beaten track for incredible, once-in-a-lifetime adventures like no other.
Setting sail
When it comes to yachting in Indonesia, Pelorus focuses on two main areas. “One is around the Komodo zone and then there’s Raja Ampat, which is further east towards Papua New Guinea,” says Venetia Stagg, Yacht Expedition Designer at Pelorus. “They are usually destinations for summer versus winter, so in northern hemisphere seasons, you do summer in Komodo and winter in Raja Ampat. In between, you have the Spice Islands and Flores, which is a slightly more niche area that not all boats visit, but we can utilise that crossing in some fun ways.”
As all boats chartered in the country need to be flagged in Indonesia, most of the boats used are traditional, locally built, wooden Phinisis. Pelorus works with tried-and-tested Phinisis for various group sizes, including Virginia, a family favourite with boat loads of tenders and toys; Alexa, an intimate option that’s ideal for a romantic escape for two; and Si Datu Bua, which features three beautiful cabins for small groups.
For those seeking a more Med-style superyacht experience, Pelous has recently added a new luxury explorer yacht to its central agency charter fleet, Kudanil Explorer. With explorer capabilities and all the luxury mod cons of a superyacht, the 50-metre vessel is described as “the perfect platform for diving, surfing and exploring lesser-known parts of Indonesia”.
Incredible adventures
Every boat offers clients a different experience but what’s consistent is Pelorus’ commitment to organising incredible adventures. Its team is well connected with the people on the ground in the country, and its crews are mostly locals, giving it an edge above competitors thanks to the access and opportunities these connections bring. “People often underestimate the importance of this,” Stagg says. “Some of the people and places we visit are so remote that there’s no trail to get to them. You need to have a boat that’s very careful and conscientious and has good local relationships.”
One example is in East Timor where there’s a population of people known as the Sama-Bajau, or ‘sea gypsies’. The Bajau have been freediving for so long that their bodies have started adapting – the younger generations are born with larger spleens so they can stay underwater at great depths for long period of time. Meeting them is a memorable – and rare – experience that some Pelorus charters offer.
When it comes to activities, the company pushes the boat out to curate action-packed itineraries that draw on the best that Indonesia has to offer. “We work with yachts that are willing to go a little bit deeper and a little bit further, and yachts with a real history in Indonesia, and we curate experiences that other people can’t,” Stagg says.
Indonesia is part of the Pacific Ocean’s sea life-rich ‘coral triangle’ and Pelorus organises incredible dive trips to hotspots including Raja Ampat, the Banda islands and the Spice Islands. It also specialises in activities above the waters, from dragon-spotting in Komodo, to spearfishing with locals and even surfing – a sport that’s lesser-known in Indonesia but just as thrilling as those below the surface. Wherever they go, the team recruits experts to guide guests as they embark on such adventures.
“Surf experiences are something we really specialise in,” Stagg says. “Lorna, who's one of the members of our team, is an amazing surfer. She's worked on some incredible projects with professional surfers like Kai Lenny.” These professionals often take guests to lesser-known spots to give them a truly special experience. “Around the island of Sumba, for example, there's some incredible surf breaks but it’s quite off the beaten track from the usual cruising routes so a bit of a mission to reach, but that makes it all the more unique.”
Hands-on conservation experiences are another popular activity than can be organised and Pelorus guests have taken part in efforts such as hammerhead shark tagging. “Our clients are the sort of people that have probably donated tons and tons of money to conservation or climate change, but it's a very different experience actually getting involved and getting your hands dirty,” Stagg says.
Gateway to yachting
For newcomers to Indonesia, and to yachting in general, a yacht charter here is an excellent introduction. “We quite often use Indonesia as our gateway to yachting for four reasons,” says Stagg. “One, is that it's fairly cost effective. Let’s say you have £100k; if you're in travel that gets you the world but if you're on a boat in the Med that gets you very little, whereas if you're in Indonesia, that budget gets you a really exceptional boat, and it's an all-inclusive price.”
“From a practical perspective, the areas where we cruise in Komodo and Raja are really flat, so if you go in season, you're pretty much guaranteed not to get any sea sickness or rough seas,” she continues. “The other thing with Indonesia is it’s all islands, so either you spend your life jumping on flights – which is annoying if you want to dive because you can’t fly straight after diving – or you travel by boat. Our clients are money-rich, time-poor so they want to really maximize their time.”
“Finally, a yacht is a great platform for adventure because you can get to these really remote islands where you can meet indigenous communities and have unbelievable experiences,” Stagg adds. “At the same time, with a boat you have a base, so you don’t have to sleep on the forest floor or risk going to a hotel that looks a big dodgy – many islands especially in Papa New Guinea and the Solomon Islands have very little infrastructure.”
As exclusive experiences become the ultimate luxury in travel, the power of a yacht charter to open the world and give travellers unrivalled access will become more apparent. And when the time comes, Pelorus Yachting plans to be at the brink of this new wave.