who we are

We are especially proud of our Expert Led cruise programme, which offers guests a more immersive opportunity to delve deeper in a range of disciplines that includes culture, history, literature, cuisine, natural history, botany and zoology whilst in the company of expert tour leaders, who are masters in their chosen fields.

Travelling with like-minded companions from all corners of the world contributes to convivial and spirited exchanges, enriching the entire experience, and we take pride in all the friendships which are born and blossom on our boats, both between guests, and between guests and our crews, whether for a moment or for a lifetime.
Our Ships
Offering all the creature comforts of the modern world, our two wooden pinisi ships, Ombak Putih and Katharina, are part of a beautiful, centuries-old maritime tradition of hand-crafted boatbuilding in Indonesia. Built by the highly-skilled seafaring peoples of Borneo and Sulawesi, using hand tools and traditional methods of construction, the design of these gaff-rigged ketches has been adapted and passed down from father to son for centuries. Interestingly, the pinisi fleet still forms the massive bulk of Indonesia’s cargo and transport network today.
Our boats are outfitted with the most up-to-date safety equipment and communications technology, and equipped with high-quality tenders, kayaks, stand-up-paddle boards and snorkelling gear. Our comfortable cabins are located below decks and offer all the necessary amenities, including double beds or twin bunks, private en-suite bathrooms, lots of natural light, individually controlled air-conditioning, ample storage space, and plenty of electrical and USB outlets.
In 2014 and 2015 respectively, working with the unique legacy these vessels represent, Katharina and Ombak Putih both had major refits. Their transformation was an exercise to conserve their authenticity, using only the best traditional materials, and shaped by highly skilled Indonesian craftsmen of the same heritage that built them.
Explore the Katharina

SLEEPING CONFIGURATION
2 x double bed cabins
2 x triple cabins (one double bed & one upper single bunk - bunk ideally suitable for child 12 or under)
2 x twin bunk cabins (one above the other)
Explore the Ombak Putih

SLEEPING CONFIGURATION
6 x double bed cabins
2 x triple cabins (one double bed & one upper single bunk - bunk ideally suitable for child 12 or under)
4 x twin bunk cabins (one above the other)
THE CREWS

Testimonial
Talk about paradise! The Katharina is a dream of a boat, elegant, comfortable, safe… you feel like you are living the dream you had when you were little…
To say that these ten days have been wonderful is an understatement, one could properly only speak in superlatives! Green islands, blue seas (…) will definitely be back!
Our trip on the Katharina was even more exciting than we could imagine. We had a dream time with a dream team.
One of the best holiday trips of my life. First-class crew, unique food, everyday a new adventure, a new experience…
From day one we had the experience of a lifetime, days blended into nights into days, often to the point you wondered what day it was…