A luxury phinisi is Indonesia’s most iconic vessel — a traditional two-masted sailing ship hand-built in ironwood and teak by master shipbuilders of South Sulawesi, rebuilt for modern luxury with private en-suite cabins, gourmet dining, and full crew including private chef. Many vessels in this class sail with the Komodo Luxury phinisi fleet, run by our parent company within Juara Holding Group.
The phinisi is the proudest survival of Indonesia’s wooden-shipbuilding heritage — a vessel form perfected by the Bugis and Makassar masters of South Sulawesi over centuries. The shipyards of Tana Beru and Bira still launch new phinisi the old way: keels laid in ironwood, hulls planked in teak by hand, no formal blueprints, only generations of carpenter’s memory.
Modern luxury phinisi keep all of that, then add what travellers expect today — air-conditioned cabins, private en-suite bathrooms, stabilised hulls, gourmet kitchens, panoramic saloons, sun decks, and dive platforms.
Couples and honeymooners who want the romance of sailing aboard a hand-built wooden ship; families who appreciate the spacious deck layouts; small groups of friends celebrating milestones; photographers who want golden-hour shots from the rigging; and slow travellers who don’t mind that the phinisi cruises at 8 knots rather than 18 — because the journey is half the point.
Group size is what usually decides the boat. Six to ten guests fit comfortably aboard a boutique phinisi such as Mawar Biru or Aurora Komodo. Above twenty, the shortlist narrows quickly — only a handful of phinisi carry more than 20 guests in en-suite cabins.
The phinisi is slower (8–10 knots vs 15–20 for a motor yacht), the deck layout is more open, and the aesthetic is "tropical wooden ship" rather than "ocean-going hotel." For travellers prioritising speed, stabilisation, and modern luxury, a motor yacht is the better fit. For travellers who want soul, story, and the romance of traditional sail, the phinisi is unmatched.
Whole-boat rates per night. Komodo National Park entrance fees, crew gratuities and flights are quoted separately.
Every vessel below is one we charter directly, with its own detail page — specifications, cabin plan, rates and photographs of the actual boat.
65.2m ketch-rigged flagship — 7 staterooms, 14 guests, 20 crew with PADI instructors and Balinese spa therapists. The largest phinisi in the world.
Explore
51m owner-operated phinisi — 7 staterooms, 14 guests, 18 crew. Ironwood hull, teak decks, exquisite joinery throughout.
Explore
55m phinisi by Spain’s Atzaró group — 9 suites, 18 guests, rooftop yoga deck, Oasis Spa and cinema under the stars.
Explore
46m hotel-brand phinisi — 5 cabins, 10 guests over three decks. Licensed PADI dive centre, library, and a full-beam master suite.
Explore
46m classic phinisi — 7 cabins, 15 guests. Kayaking, paddleboarding and water-skiing off the back, a long-time family favourite.
Explore
52.5m Buginese build in ulin and teak — 10 en-suite cabins for up to 26 guests across four decks, with a jacuzzi sun deck and dive deck.
Explore
40m expedition phinisi refitted in Bali in 2019–20 — 7 cabins, 14 guests over three decks, sky deck and alfresco main deck.
ExplorePer-boat pricing — boutique phinisi from USD 2,875/night, mid-tier USD 9,900–15,000/night, flagship vessels USD 20,000–27,000/night. Per-person cost falls quickly with larger groups.
Lasha Phinisi Cruise — 10 en-suite cabins for up to 26 guests across four decks. Most luxury phinisi cap out between 10 and 18 guests, so above twenty people the shortlist is short.
Yes — most carry full rigs and raise sail on transit legs when wind allows. They also carry powerful auxiliary engines (Komodo’s schedule rarely permits pure sailing).
Typical luxury phinisi crew ratio is 1:1 (one crew per guest), rising to 1.5:1 on flagship vessels — captain, first mate, chef, sous-chef, deckhands, stewards, dive guide.
Yes, on every luxury phinisi we operate. Many also have private balconies, en-suite bathrooms with rain showers, and king-size beds.
