Bali-Born Operators of Premium Phinisi Yachts
We’re a small Indonesian-owned charter operation based in Sanur, Bali. We don’t own boats — we partner with the best phinisi captains in the archipelago and broker direct, transparent charters from Bali.
Why Bali Phinisi Exists
We started in 2018 frustrated that the only way to do a phinisi trip was to fly to Labuan Bajo. We wanted to sail from Bali — and we figured plenty of other travelers did too.
Our founder, Made Putra, spent 12 years working on dive boats in Komodo before moving to Bali in 2017. He kept getting messages from former dive guests asking how to do a phinisi trip from Bali — and the honest answer was “you can’t, you have to fly to LBJ.”
In late 2018, Made convinced two captain friends in Komodo to bring their phinisi vessels to Benoa Harbor seasonally. We ran 6 charters that first year. By 2022 we had 12 vessels in rotation and were running 200+ charters a year. As of 2026 we operate 800+ trips annually with vessels positioned in Benoa year-round.
We are still 100% Indonesian-owned. Every booking goes through a Bali-based human, not a call-center. Every captain we work with is named, vetted, and known to our team personally. We don’t white-label — what you see on this site is what you sail on.
What We Believe
Three operating principles we don’t compromise on, no matter how big we get.
Indonesian-Owned, Indonesian-Operated
Every captain, crew, host, and chef on our boats is Indonesian. We pay above-Bali wages, share tips transparently, and provide annual training. The phinisi is Indonesian heritage; the operation should be too.
Learn more →Honest Pricing, No Hidden Fees
Our quoted price is what you pay. Fuel, taxes, port fees, crew gratuities — all included. The only optionals are diving (+per-dive), alcohol (BYO), and special requests. Receipts itemized.
Learn more →Ocean-First Operations
Reef-safe sunscreen mandated aboard. No anchoring on coral — we use mooring buoys or sand. Single-use plastic banned. We support 3 marine NGOs across Bali, Komodo, and Raja Ampat.
Learn more →The People Who Pick Up the Phone
If you message us during 7am–10pm Bali time, one of these humans is responding.
Made Putra
Founder & Lead Captain. 12 years Komodo dive boats, 8 years Bali phinisi. Speaks: Indonesian, English, basic Mandarin. Routes specialty: Komodo, Sumbawa.
Learn more →Wayan Sari
Trip Planner & WhatsApp Lead. Joined 2020. Plans 60% of our multi-day charters. Speaks: Indonesian, English, Japanese. Specialty: family + honeymoon trips.
Learn more →Kadek Surya
Vessel Coordinator. Manages our 12-vessel network and quality audits. 6 years operations. Speaks: Indonesian, English. Specialty: matching boat to group dynamic.
Learn more →Putu Astini
Concierge & Catering Lead. Handles dietary, decor, and event production. Speaks: Indonesian, English, Mandarin. Specialty: weddings + corporate events.
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Talk to a Human
We’re not a chatbot. WhatsApp goes directly to Wayan or Putu during Bali daytime. Off-hours, we respond at sunrise.
The Boats We Work With
12+ phinisi vessels in active rotation. We don’t own any of them — we partner directly with the captain-owners and broker your charter at fair rates for both sides.
Standard Tier (5 vessels)
4-cabin phinisi, 35–40m, hand-built between 2014–2020 in Bira (South Sulawesi). Capacity 8 guests. Standard for couples, families, and small groups.
Premium Tier (4 vessels)
5–6 cabin, 45–50m. Built post-2018, fitted with watermakers, larger sundecks, dedicated guest tenders. Capacity 10–12 guests.
Luxury Tier (3 vessels)
6+ cabin yachts in the Lamima/Tiare class. Spa, gym, private dining, custom interiors. Capacity 12–14 guests. Charter rates IDR 65M+ per night.
Press, Reviews, and Recognition
We don’t pay for press placements. These mentions came organically from guests and journalists who experienced our boats.
Tripadvisor
4.9-star average across 127 reviews. Top-listed Bali yacht charter operator since 2023.
Bali Now Magazine
Featured 2024 — “The Bali Departure Movement: How Phinisi Trips Are Leaving the Komodo Mainstream Behind.”
Conde Nast Traveler Asia
Mentioned 2025 in “10 Underrated Indonesia Experiences” — quoted on the Bali → Moyo overnight route.
Repeat Guest Rate
32% of multi-day charter guests book a second trip with us within 24 months — typically a different route, different season.
Bugis Shipbuilding: Why Indonesian Phinisi Heritage Matters
Every Indonesian phinisi in our network was hand-built in Tana Beru or Bira — two villages on the southern tip of Sulawesi where Bugis shipwrights have built ocean-going vessels continuously since the 1500s. Understanding this matters because it is what separates a real phinisi from a fiberglass replica.
Hand-Carved Teak Hulls
Bugis builders use no blueprints — phinisi shape passes father to son for 25 generations. Hulls are carved from local teak, ironwood, and bitti, sealed with traditional damar resin. A 40m phinisi takes 14–18 months from keel to launch using methods unchanged in 400 years. Our Bali phinisi network carries vessels from the same builders who construct yachts for the Aman group, Lamima, and Tiare.
Two-Mast Rig Tradition
The signature phinisi profile — long bowsprit, two raked masts, seven white triangular sails — has been the preferred Indonesian trading silhouette since the spice routes. While our boats run modern auxiliary engines, the sails work and we deploy them whenever wind allows.
Indonesian-Owned Operation
Every captain, deck crew, chef, and concierge is Indonesian. We pay above-Bali wages, share tips transparently, and run an annual safety + hospitality training in Sanur. The phinisi is Indonesian heritage — the operation should be too.