The 13,677 islands of the Indonesian archipelago stretching over an area of 5,200 km into the Pacific ocean, present a plethora of choices for “boaties” to explore. Bali has three main ports: Benoa in the south, Padang Bai in the east and Gilimanuk in the north. Several major shipping lines make Padang Bai and Benoa ports of call on around the world cruises.
If you would like to explore the islands near Bali you have a wide range of choices for boating expeditions with anything from a few hours in a traditional jukung to day cruises or longer overnights trips on yachts or luxury cruisers.
Bali Hai Cruises is a boating company known for their concern on environmental issues. They have a choice of 3 cruises. The Lembongan Island Reef Cruise moors the luxury catamaran alongside a pontoon in Lembongan Bay. You can view the coral reefs and marine life on semi submersible and glass bottom boats, or by snorkeling and diving. There’s unlimited banana boats rides and a cultural tour of the island. A luncheon buffet is served on hoard. Their Lembongan Island Beach Club cruise takes you to Lembongan Island where you can enjoy their private Beach Club.
The club features a beautifully landscaped garden and lagoon pool. You can just relax or participate in activities such as pool volleyball. banana boat rides, island excursions, diving and snorkeling. A BBQ lunch is served at the poolside cabana. Bali Hai cruises also have a sunset dinner cruise around Benoa Harbour with buffet dinner, live Batakos Singers and a disco.
Beluga Marina in Tanjung Benoa have cruises to the island of Nusa Penida aboard the Quicksilver catamaran. Mooring alongside a pontoon for the day you can go over to the island to visit the village of Bodong or explore the waters through diving and snorkeling. You can also view the coral from their semi submersible vessel or froth the underwater observatory on the pontoon. Unlimited banana boat rides are available and a buffet lunch is served on the pontoon.
Beluga also have sunset cruises dolphin spotting cruise and submarine safaris.
Island Explorer Cruises also have day cruises to Lembongan by yacht or power boat and can also arrange an overnight stay on the island if required.
Rasa Yachts also sail to Lembongan for day cruises or can help you make your own itinerary to explore Bali and beyond.
Wakalouka Cruise’s luxury 23 meters catamaran takes limited numbers of guests to their Wakalouka resort on Lembongan island. Spend the day at the resort, swimming, snorkeling or relaxing. A buffet BBQ lunch and refreshments are included. Leaving in the late afternoon complimentary cocktails are served whilst you watch the sunset on the sail back to Benoa. The resort also has ten luxury bungalows for overnight stays. Wakalouka also offer special packages called the “Wakalouka Experience”, three or six day packages. combining sailing and driving trips to Wakalouka’s island and mountain resorts.
Climb aboard the Simone 111 if you’d like to try your hand at game fishing. A state of the art Blackwatch game fishing vessel, the vessel is also available for private charters for surf diving tours or extended fishing trips. A wide variety of fish can be caught in the waters within a range of one hour from Bali. Tuna, wahoo, mackerel. marlin. mai?mai, snapper, cod and coral trout are all possibilities depending on sea conditions. Buffet lunch and refreshments are provided on board.
If you want to go to Lombok by sea you can travel with the Mahua Express. a jet powered sea shuttle. The trip takes two and half hours and refreshments are served on board.
Aloha Sailing Tours offer a totally different sailing experience on their fleet of hobie cats, lasers and windsurfers. Operating on the beach near the Intercontinental Resort. Pansea Puri Bali and Kakul Cafe, all in Jimbaran, they have guided tours of Jimbaran Bay and a children’s sailing class every Saturday. There’s instruction for adults and children and if you wish to take an extended trip, they have a four day safari which begins in the north of Bali at Lovina and finishes at Amed. They also have surfing tours to Blangan at Uluwatu.
For extended cruising, Spice Island Cruises offer 3 & 4 day cruises aboard the Bali Sea Dancer. You can explore the islands to the east of Bali where many different ethnic tribes maintain a unique lifestyle through music, dance, religion, indigenous craft traditions and ancient languages.
The three day cruise travels to Sumbawa and Komodo Islands. Badas (Sumbawa besar) is the ancient capital of West Sumbawa and in the 14th century was famous for it’s trade in horses, sandalwood and timber. You will have the chance to visit the Sultan’s palace and Pamulang village where buffalo races and cultural dances will be performed. Komodo Island is home to the largest prehistoric lizard, the Komodo dragon, and is part of the Komodo National Park. You will have a chance to view the dragons from a safe distance and to visit Pink Beach for swimming and snorkeling.
The four days cruise follows the same route as the three day cruise but includes an extra stop at the island of Lombok on the return trip. Lombok is unspoiled by development and has thriving textile, basketry and ceramic industries. You can visit the Sasak village of Karangbayan and the Hindu / Buddhist / Islamic Lingsar temple. The natives of Lombok, unlike Balinese are Muslim with their own distinct culture.
The Sea Trek company offers extended sea voyages from 8-18 days aboard Buginese schooners (pinisi). Taking in such destinations as the lesser Sunda islands, Moluccas, West Papua and Sulawesi, Sea Trek emphasizes that these destinations are hardly visited by tourists and Sea Trek’s way of traveling does not disrupt the local infrastructure or local traditions, as many tourist developments have in Indonesia. The environment is one of their highest priorities. All non biological garbage is bought back to shore and the engines of their ships have been developed to modem standards.