Phinisi Yacht Charter — A Curated Private Voyage
Independent charter brokerage across the finest hand-built Indonesian phinisi. We match your group, dates, and itinerary to the right vessel from a network of twelve audited partner ships sailing Komodo, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, Bali, and the Banda Sea.
What is a phinisi yacht charter?
A phinisi yacht charter is the private hire of a traditional Indonesian phinisi schooner — a twin-mast Bugis-Makassarese sailing vessel hand-built from teak and ironwood at the Bira and Bulukumba shipyards of South Sulawesi — typically configured for four to fourteen guests across four to twelve day liveaboard expeditions through Komodo, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, or the Banda Sea archipelagos. The vessel is chartered as a single-group exclusive: no shared cabins, no day-trippers, no fixed schedule. The charter rate covers the boat, the crew of eight to twelve, full-board cuisine, soft drinks, snorkelling and dive equipment, tender boats, and the captain’s discretionary fuel allocation. National park fees, dive guides, alcohol, and one-off excursions are typically charged separately. A typical seven-day Komodo phinisi charter for ten guests runs USD 22,000 to 38,000 all-in depending on vessel, season, and inclusions; a comparable Raja Ampat voyage runs USD 32,000 to 58,000 owing to the longer transit and remoteness premium.
Sample 7-day Komodo phinisi voyage — day-by-day
Below is the most-requested route. Everything is fully customisable — we build itineraries from a library of forty-plus anchorages across the Komodo park and surrounding waters.
Day 1 — Labuan Bajo embarkation
Boarding from Labuan Bajo harbour at 14:00. Welcome lunch under sail toward Sebayur Kecil. Afternoon snorkel on the soft-coral garden at Tatawa Besar, sunset anchor in the lee of Sebayur Besar. Cocktails on the upper sundeck, dinner at anchor.
Day 2 — Padar Island and Pink Beach
Pre-dawn anchor shift to Padar. Sunrise hike to the three-bay viewpoint, breakfast back on board. Cruise to Pink Beach for swim and shore lunch. Afternoon manta-line drift at Manta Point or Manta Alley depending on tide.
Day 3 — Komodo Island and the dragons
Morning ranger-led trek on Komodo Island. Visit Komodo National Park dragon viewing trails. Afternoon dive or snorkel at Crystal Rock and Castle Rock. Sail to Gili Lawa Darat for sunset hike to the saddle ridge.
Day 4 — Rinca and Horseshoe Bay
Rinca Island ranger trek (often more dragons than Komodo Island itself). Afternoon swim and freediving at Horseshoe Bay, anchorage at Cannibal Rock. Optional night dive on the reef wall.
Day 5 — Hidden bays of southern Komodo
Slow cruising day. Anchor at Wainilu for swim and paddleboard, lunch under sail, afternoon visit to a Bajau stilt village if conditions allow. Evening barbecue on the beach with the crew.
Day 6 — Manta day and Pink Beach return
Three-tank dive day for divers, three-snorkel day for surface guests. Manta cleaning station, soft coral wall, drift channel. Sunset at Pink Beach, last-night dinner aboard with full Bugis-Makassarese tasting menu.
Day 7 — Disembarkation
Sunrise breakfast at anchor, slow sail back to Labuan Bajo. Disembark at 09:00 with private transfer to airport for onward flight to Bali, Jakarta, or Singapore.
Our partner phinisi fleet — five flagship vessels
Our partner fleet includes traditional vessels like Bunga Laut, Sang Surya, Tanjung Asu, Andalas, and Putri Naga — each with distinct character, cabin layout, and route specialism. We match your group profile to the vessel that fits, not the vessel that needs filling.
Bunga Laut — 38m, 5 cabins, 10 guests
Built in Bira in 2018, Bunga Laut is our small-group flagship. The full-beam master cabin features an ocean-view bathtub and a private terrace. Four queen guest cabins, all with rain-shower ensuites. Salon doubles as cinema room. Two tenders, dive compressor, freediving safety package on board. Suits couples, small families, and groups under twelve seeking intimacy over scale.
Sang Surya — 42m, 6 cabins, 12 guests
A 2020 Bulukumba build, Sang Surya carries a Padi-certified dive centre on board with two professional guides as standard. Six cabins across two decks, twin-deck salon, large sundeck, two tenders for split-group operation. Suits dive-led charters and groups of friends or extended family of ten to twelve.
Tanjung Asu — 35m, 4 cabins, 8 guests
A 2016 Tana Beru build with a deliberately family-friendly layout. Two convertible twin-double cabins (sleeps four kids each), one master, one queen guest. Sundeck jacuzzi. Slow gastronomy chef who specialises in kid-friendly Indonesian cuisine and patient mealtime pacing. Suits multi-generational family charters and intimate groups under nine.
Andalas — 45m, 7 cabins, 14 guests
Largest in the partner network. Built 2021 in Bira. Suite-style cabins with private terraces on five of seven, dedicated wellness deck with massage cabana, two professional dive guides as standard, fitness corner with rowing machine and yoga mats. Suits charter buyouts of fourteen, corporate retreats, and large family reunions where space is the priority.
Putri Naga — 36m, 5 cabins, 10 guests
2019 Bira build with the lowest crew-to-guest ratio in our partner network — typically twelve crew to ten guests. Honeymoon-spec layout: two of five cabins are full-beam masters with double-king beds and private deck. Custom Bugis-batik linens, vegetarian and vegan-capable galley. Suits honeymooners, anniversary charters, and small groups where personal service is the deliverable.
Crew roster — eight to twelve professional Indonesian seamen
A phinisi runs on the strength of its crew. Across our partner fleet the standard crew complement is captain (master mariner certified), first officer, two engineers, head chef and sous chef, dive guide (Padi divemaster minimum, often instructor), two cabin crew, and two to four deckhands. Most crew tenure on a single vessel exceeds five years; many are second-generation Bugis seamen whose fathers and grandfathers crewed phinisi cargo runs across the same waters.
The cuisine on a phinisi is a quiet revelation. Most of our partner vessels carry chefs trained in Western technique but rooted in Indonesian flavour — an evening menu may run a tuna ceviche with kalamansi, a slow-braised beef rendang with steamed rice and acar pickle, a passionfruit pavlova with palm sugar caramel. Dietary requirements are accommodated without drama: vegan, kosher, halal, coeliac, allergy-driven menus are all part of the standard offer if flagged at booking. Provisioning happens in Labuan Bajo, Sorong, Bali, or Maumere depending on departure point.
All-in cost and what is included
Full pricing breakdowns vary by vessel, season, and route. The ranges below represent realistic 2026 charter rates for the most common configurations. We provide bespoke quotes within forty-eight hours of enquiry — see our 2026 phinisi pricing guide for a deeper analysis.
| Route | Days | Vessel size | All-in (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Komodo standard | 7 | 10 guests | 22,000 – 38,000 |
| Komodo extended | 10 | 12 guests | 36,000 – 58,000 |
| Raja Ampat south | 10 | 10 guests | 38,000 – 62,000 |
| Raja Ampat full | 12 | 12 guests | 52,000 – 88,000 |
| Wakatobi expedition | 8 | 10 guests | 28,000 – 48,000 |
| Bali day charter | 1 | 12 guests | 2,400 – 4,800 |
| Banda Sea expedition | 14 | 10 guests | 68,000 – 110,000 |
Included in the rate
- Vessel and crew of 8-12 for the entire charter
- Full-board cuisine — breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner
- Soft drinks, juices, coffee, tea, mineral water
- Snorkelling equipment for all guests
- Tender boats and fuel for daily excursions
- Stand-up paddleboards and kayaks where vessel-equipped
- Welcome amenity (linens, toiletries, sun cream)
Additional charges
- Komodo or Raja Ampat national park fees (USD 25-150 per person depending on park and duration)
- Scuba diving (USD 60-90 per dive including tank, weights, guide)
- Alcohol (BYO permitted on most vessels; corkage 10%)
- Dragon-trekking ranger fee (USD 5-15 per person, paid on shore)
- Helicopter or seaplane connection (Komodo, Raja Ampat) — quoted separately
- Crew gratuity — discretionary, typical 5-10% of charter rate
Reserve your phinisi voyage
Send us your travel window, group size, and preferred destination — Komodo, Raja Ampat, Wakatobi, Bali, or Banda Sea. We return three vessel options within forty-eight hours, with full pricing, cabin layouts, and indicative day-by-day itineraries. Booking deposit is typically 30% to confirm dates; balance forty-five days before embarkation.
When to book — seasonal calendar across our charter regions
Indonesian sailing seasons are governed by two monsoons. The west monsoon (December-March) drives weather across Komodo and Raja Ampat north; the east monsoon (May-October) opens the southern routes. Booking lead time matters — premium vessels in Komodo high season are typically committed nine to twelve months in advance.
Komodo high season — May to October
Dry season delivers the best Komodo conditions: 28-32°C, low humidity, light eastern wind, calm seas. Manta sightings peak May-September; dragon trekking is comfortable in the cooler mornings. Book six to twelve months ahead for July-September peaks. April and November offer shoulder pricing with conditions still excellent.
Raja Ampat — November to April for southern, October to April for northern
Raja Ampat splits into two distinct seasons. Southern Raja Ampat (Misool, Triton Bay) sails November-April when the wind drops. Northern Raja Ampat (Wayag, Dampier Strait) sails October-April with manta peaks January-March. May-September brings rougher conditions across the region; some routes cannot be guaranteed.
Bali day charter — year-round, calmer May to October
Bali day-sailing operates twelve months. May-October offers the calmest seas; December-February sees occasional cancellations from squall lines. Inter-island Bali-Lombok charters work best April-November.
Banda Sea — narrow window, October to November only
The Banda Sea expedition is a six-week annual window when both monsoons relax. October-November sailings book twelve to eighteen months in advance. Vessels sail Ambon-to-Saumlaki or reverse, with hammerhead crossings at Manuk weather-dependent.
How charter booking works — five steps from enquiry to embarkation
- Initial enquiry (Day 0) — message us with dates, group size, destination interest. We respond within four hours during Indonesian business hours.
- Vessel options sent (Day 1-2) — three matching vessels with full specifications, indicative pricing, cabin layouts, sample itineraries.
- Vessel selection and itinerary refinement (Day 3-7) — we customise the day-by-day plan to your group’s interests (diving emphasis, family pacing, cultural focus, cuisine preferences).
- Booking deposit (Day 7-10) — 30% deposit to lock dates and vessel. Contract issued via DocuSign. Provisional national park permits filed.
- Pre-arrival briefing (-30 days) — final balance, dietary forms, dive certification copies, group manifest, travel insurance reminder. Captain’s pre-cruise call (-7 days). Embarkation logistics confirmed (-2 days).