Cruising

CRUISE the spectacular waters of Bali to Nusa Penida and Nusa Lembongan, neighborhood islands of Bali with an off-shore coral reefs. Nusa Lembongan is one of the most popular destinations with the offshore coral reefs make it an excellent spot to dive, snorkel and surf. You can choose between modern cruisers, a smaller sailing boats, or catamaran. All you have to do is settle back, relax to the sounds of the sea, and the wind in the sail.

There are daily cruises to nearby to the islands. A number of professional companies cruise you in style to some of the more spectacular islands in the area. On the way, you often see dolphins playing in the warm tropical waters, or the crew troll for fish, which become an incredibly fresh addition to your tasty meal. With its beautiful and lush underwater marine life, Bali could be a hot spot for many yacht-travelers like himself.

There are a number of cruises from Bali through the Lesser Sunda Islands, to Sulawesi, and the Moluccas. You can choose from modern cruise liners, luxurious private yachts, and 'pinisi', and either join a scheduled cruise from 3 days to 12 or 15 days, or even charter your own yacht or schooner.

The 'pinisi', traditional Buginese schooners, were and still are hand-crafted entirely from timber. 'Pinisi' have been used for centuries as cargo carriers, plying the old trade routes between the smaller islands of the Indonesian archipelago. Today, while still hand-built by native craftmen and fully laid in teak wood with traditional riggings, they usually hold an engine in addition to the sails.

You commonly found the 'jukung', a small traditional Indonesian out-rigger canoe, in the coastal waters of Bali. These craft are used for fishing. They are also a novel way of venturing out to some of the more interesting coral reefs or just sailing through the coastal waters and taking in the scenery.

For those who just want a ride in a jukung (outrigger canoe with sails), Sanur, Candidasa and Lovina all have locals who will take you out. For more professional sailing, head on down to Benoa Harbor. Those who require permission to bring their own boats into Indonesian waters can contact them for assistance in obtaining all the necessary documents.