The 7-Day Komodo Phinisi Private Charter Voyage
Hour-by-hour itinerary, vessel layout, crew roster and all-in cost transparency for our flagship seven-day private pinisi charter through Komodo National Park.
What This Voyage Is
A 7-day Komodo phinisi private charter is a single-group exclusive booking of a hand-built Indonesian schooner, departing from Labuan Bajo on the western tip of Flores and tracing a seven-day arc through Komodo National Park. The phinisi (a traditional ironwood and teakwood schooner inscribed by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2017) is your floating home for the week. No other guests, no fixed embarkation timetable, no shared anchorages where possible. The charter price covers the entire vessel, the full crew of 8 to 10, all meals prepared by an onboard chef, snorkelling and watersports equipment, tender transfers to shore, and a flexible captain-led itinerary that adjusts to wind, tide, marine wildlife, and your group’s appetite.
This page is a complete operational brief: the hour-by-hour route, the cabin and deck layout, the crew roster and their roles, the equipment carried on board, the menu standard, the seasonal context, and a transparent breakdown of the all-in cost. If you are comparing options for a private pinisi charter, this is the document our charter desk sends to qualified inquiries; we publish it openly because price transparency is a courtesy our high-net-worth clients reward.
A few framing notes before the day-by-day. First, the standard route runs west from Labuan Bajo into the central park and back. Custom routes — extending east toward Sumba, north to the Banda Sea, or south to Sumbawa’s Saleh Bay — are available with longer charter durations of ten to fourteen days. Second, the captain’s authority over the route is real and grounded in safety; if a weather window closes the flagged crossing for day three, the captain will route around it without changing the meals, dives, or shore landings that the day was meant to deliver. Third, our charter desk works directly with the operator, not as a re-seller — pricing on this page reflects vessel-direct rates without intermediary markup. The cost breakdown page walks through the underlying math.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Day 1 — Embark Labuan Bajo, sail to Sebayur
Charter desk meets your group at Komodo (LBJ) airport at 11:00 and transfers to Labuan Bajo harbour. Welcome briefing on board at 12:30, lunch underway, afternoon sail to Sebayur Kecil — a calm-water reef anchorage forty minutes east of port. Snorkel checkout, sundowner on the open deck, first chef’s tasting dinner. Anchor overnight in protected water; the captain reviews the seven-day plan over coffee.
Day 2 — Padar Island sunrise & Pink Beach
Pre-dawn anchor at Padar; tenders ashore at 04:45 for the saddle-ridge climb. The hour-long ascent in semi-darkness is rewarded by sunrise across Padar’s signature three-bay viewpoint, with the volcanic skyline of Komodo and Rinca to the south. Breakfast back on board, then short sail to Pink Beach for snorkel or paddleboard on the coral wall. Lunch underway, afternoon at Komodo’s Pantai Merah south wall — overhangs, soft coral, schooling fusiliers. Sunset cocktails on the bow as the captain runs north toward Manjarite anchorage.
Day 3 — Manta Alley & Rinca dragon trek
Morning drift at Manta Alley (or Mawan reef, depending on tide) where reef mantas glide above the cleaning station in groups of six to fifteen. After lunch, transit to Loh Buaya on Rinca Island, where licensed park rangers escort guests on the medium trek. Rinca holds a denser komodo dragon population than Komodo Island itself; sightings of two to four animals on the trail are typical. Evening sail north for the famous Kalong flying-fox sunset.
Day 4 — Kalong Island, Kanawa & Sebayur
Slow morning over a long breakfast; brief stop at Kanawa Island for white-sand beach and shallow-reef snorkel. Mid-afternoon sail to the southern face of Sebayur for a current-fed soft coral wall. Evening anchorage off Bidadari, watching the bioluminescent plankton from the swim ladder after dinner.
Day 5 — Komodo Island long trek & Batu Bolong
Tender to Loh Liang on Komodo Island for the long trek through monsoon forest and savanna grassland. The route climbs to the Sulphurea ridge with sweeping views over the Sape Strait. Back to the vessel for lunch, then across to Batu Bolong — the volcanic pinnacle dive widely rated among the top three in Indonesia, where currents pour grey reef sharks, schooling jacks, and dogtooth tuna across the wall. Non-divers stay shallow for snorkel along the reef shoulder.
Day 6 — Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, Gili Lawa
Two morning dives or snorkel sessions on the Castle Rock and Crystal Rock pinnacles in the northern channel — the most charged-up reef topography in the park. Afternoon ashore at Gili Lawa Darat for the easy ridge climb (one hour, gentle gradient) that overlooks twin bays and the open Sape Strait. Sunset on the saddle, slow descent in golden light. Dinner under the rigging back on board.
Day 7 — Siaba, return to Labuan Bajo, disembark
Final morning snorkel at Siaba Besar — a relaxed shallow turtle ground, perfect for non-diving family members. Brunch underway as the captain runs west toward Labuan Bajo. Disembark at 12:00 with private vehicle transfer to LBJ airport for afternoon flights to Bali, Jakarta or onward.
A full expanded version of the Padar and Pink Beach itinerary is available with hour-level detail on each anchorage and dive site.
Vessel & Cabin Layout
Our flagship for this voyage is a 38-metre traditional pinisi with five guest cabins, accommodating up to ten guests in twin or double configuration. Hull and deck are hand-laid Sulawesi ironwood (ulin) and teakwood (jati) sourced from sustainable plantations in Kalimantan. The vessel was launched in 2019 from the Tana Beru shipyard in South Sulawesi following the traditional pinisi method described in the UNESCO Intangible Heritage inscription, then fitted out in Bali with marine-grade interiors, climate control, and full IMO safety equipment.
Master suite
Stern, full beam, king bed, ensuite with rain shower, private deck access. Climate control, oversized portholes facing the wake.
Two double cabins
Mid-deck, queen bed, ensuite. Convertible to twin on request for friend-and-family configurations.
Two twin cabins
Forward of mid-deck, two single beds, ensuite. Suited to children, friends-of-friends, or single travellers.
Open decks
Sun deck with loungers and shaded bar; main aft deck with eight-seat dining; bow lounge for quiet reading and stargazing.
Equipment on board: dive compressor and full PADI dive equipment for ten, snorkel kits, two paddleboards, two sea kayaks, light fishing tackle, a 7-metre tender for shore landings, a Starlink internet uplink for guests who need to remain connected, and a satellite phone for offshore emergency. Generators run twenty-four hours, climate control is independent per cabin, freshwater capacity is 6,000 litres with onboard desalination.
Public-deck layout follows the traditional pinisi proportion. The bow lounge sits forward of the foremast, sheltered by a teakwood awning, with a curved bench seat and low table — the favourite space for early-morning coffee and late-evening stargazing. The main aft deck behind the wheelhouse holds the eight-seat dining table where every meal is served, partly enclosed for shade and rain protection. Above the wheelhouse a smaller sun deck carries four loungers and a shaded bar where guests gather for sundowners. A swim platform extends from the stern at sea level for tender boarding, snorkel entry and bioluminescent night swims. The total open-deck footprint is approximately ninety square metres across the three levels, which is generous for ten guests and rarely feels crowded even when the entire group is on deck for sunset.
Crew Roster — Eight to Ten on Board
The crew-to-guest ratio on a private pinisi charter typically matches or exceeds 1:1 — closer to a private estate than a hotel. The team rotates between sailing, service, and shore-support roles, but during your voyage the headcount is fixed at eight to ten:
- Captain — STCW-credentialed master, fifteen-plus years on Indonesian waters, primary decision-maker for routing, weather, and safety.
- First mate — Watchkeeping, navigation, dragon-trek and dive-site liaison.
- Two engineers — Main engine, generators, climate, water, electrical.
- Dive master — PADI Divemaster or higher rating, briefs all dives, leads guided sessions.
- Professional chef — Bali-trained or Jakarta-trained, three meals plus afternoon canapés daily.
- Sous chef — Galley support, baking, breakfast service.
- Two stewards — Cabin housekeeping, dining service, beverage program, daily turn-down.
Cuisine On Board
Three meals per day plus afternoon canapés are prepared on board by the chef and sous chef. The kitchen draws on contemporary Indonesian cuisine with Mediterranean and Japanese accents, and adapts to dietary preferences submitted in your pre-trip questionnaire — gluten-free, vegan, kosher, halal, allergy avoidance. Provisioning is done over the forty-eight hours preceding embarkation, sourcing fish from the Labuan Bajo morning auction, organic vegetables from Bali specialty growers, and dry goods from international supply lines in Denpasar. A typical day’s menu reads: tropical breakfast plate with house-baked pastry, mid-morning fruit, three-course lunch, sunset canapés, four-course dinner under the rigging.
All-In Cost & What Is Included
A private 7-day pinisi charter on our flagship 38-metre vessel is priced from USD 42,500 (low season) to USD 65,000 (peak season) for the entire vessel and full complement of up to ten guests. The figure is the all-in vessel charter price — not a per-person rate. A family of eight effectively pays USD 5,300 to 8,100 per person for the entire seven days inclusive of accommodation, all meals, fuel, and crew. Smaller and larger vessels in our fleet bracket this range from USD 25,000 (28-metre, three cabins, six guests) to USD 80,000 (50-metre flagship, seven cabins, fourteen guests).
Included in the charter price
- Exclusive use of the entire vessel for the seven days
- Full crew of eight to ten including captain, dive master, chef
- All meals on board, soft drinks, water, basic house wine and beer
- Snorkelling equipment, paddleboards, kayaks, fishing tackle
- Tender boat for all shore transfers and dragon treks
- Bedlinen, towels, beach towels, daily housekeeping
- Fuel for the entire voyage
- Welcome airport transfer and disembarkation transfer
Not included
- International and domestic flights to Labuan Bajo (LBJ)
- Komodo National Park entry fees and dragon-trek ranger fees (typically USD 35-50 per person per day)
- Premium wines and spirits ordered against a published list
- Scuba diving equipment hire (USD 35 per dive) and certification courses
- Spa treatments and onboard massage (where available)
- Crew gratuity (suggested 8 to 12 percent of charter)
A complete phinisi charter cost breakdown by vessel size and season is available, and our charter desk publishes seasonal availability calendars on request.
When to Book
The Komodo charter season runs effectively year-round, but conditions vary. The dry season (April through November) delivers calmer water, stronger underwater visibility, and the highest manta activity — peak demand falls in July, August, and the December-January Christmas window. The wet season (December through March) offers softer pricing and dramatic skies but heavier rain and shorter weather windows. Our month-by-month guide to the best time for Komodo charter covers manta windows, swell patterns, and ranger trail conditions in detail.
Reserve the 7-Day Voyage
Send your preferred dates, group size, and any cabin or dietary notes. Our charter desk replies within 24 hours with vessel availability, pricing for your specific window, and a custom day-by-day plan.
Authority context for this voyage: Komodo National Park — UNESCO World Heritage 1991 — and Pinisi shipbuilding — UNESCO Intangible Heritage 2017. Vessel layout, cabin counts, crew roster and pricing reflect our flagship 38-metre pinisi as of the current charter season; smaller and larger vessels in the fleet are available with proportional adjustments.