Chartering in Indonesia

Southeast Asia Pilot – October 2025

Chartering in Indonesia – What to Know Before You Go

Indonesia’s 17,000 islands are a yachtsman’s dream, and chartering is the ideal way to explore Indonesia if you don’t bring your own boat. But there are important differences from chartering in the Med or Caribbean.

Fully crewed

Most charters here are fully crewed, with experienced local captains who know the reefs and regulations. Bareboat options are rare, but that makes for a more relaxed holiday – and safer passages in remote waters.

Picking the season

Seasonality matters: The 8th Parallel band of islands, including Bali, Lombok and Komodo, is the key cruising area during the southeast trade winds which blow from April to October/November – what cruisers consider the southern hemisphere winter months. Raja Ampat and other areas in the Equatorial zone are the key cruising areas from December to February – the southern hemisphere summer months. However, cruising around the equator is more influenced by localised weather patterns than by seasonality, so cruising yachts and charter operators often cruise these waters year-round.

Planning

Permits, park fees and domestic flights should all be factored into planning your charter cruise. Make sure you have the right visas and check with your charter operator about any special rules and procedures – for example what documentation do you need if bringing prescription medicines with you.

Beyond the beaten track

For those willing to venture beyond the beaten track, chartering in Indonesia offers unspoiled anchorages, vibrant cultures, amazing surfing and some of the world’s most spectacular diving. The melting pot of Indonesian cultures and the welcoming local people all make Indonesia a hugely rewarding cruising destination.

Definitive cruising guide

When planning your Indonesian charter, don’t forget to get a copy of Southeast Asia Pilot, which remains the definitive cruising guide to all of Southeast Asia’s ocean wonderland. Available in print or as an interactive eBook, it details 600+ anchorages with shoreside tips and other useful insights. It covers nine countries, from the Andaman Sea to the Spice Islands – with introductory notes on several more. Available now in print and digital editions.

⇒ ⇒ ⇒ Buy Southeast Asia Pilot

Southeast Asia Pilot and Phuket Publicity Services do their best to ensure that the information on this website is accurate. However, good seamanship demands that seafarers check critical information carefully with relevant sources to ensure it is up to date.Facebook