Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country comprising over 17,000 islands stretching over 5,000 km from the East to West and 1,700 km from North to South along the equator. To put it in a perspective, from East to West, Indonesia extends longer that the distance from Los Angeles to New York.

Sprawled over 5 million square kilometers, Indonesia consists of 84 percent water and only 16 percent land. Its five main islands –Java, Sumatra, Borneo, Sulawesi, and Papua, are only a select few among over 17,000 other islands in the territory; all bearing their own unique geological and cultural quirks. The 81,000 km coastline offers many stunning beaches with various sand colors and coral reefs.

Over 500 years, a big part of Indonesia has naturally evolved against the backdrop of maritime influences, hence shaping Indonesia into a maritime country as recognized in its culture and civilization. The most prominent example can be seen in the Bugis, an ethnic group on southern peninsula of Sulawesi. They are known for their Phinisi schooners which they have used for centuries to travel the sea as far as Australian coast.

Historically, Indonesia has a vibrant evolution of its culture. In the prehistoric era, many of the cultural traditions centered on the locals’ animistic beliefs (the belief in supernatural beings and forces) until the Hindu influences arrived in the first century. Over the centuries, it also acquired cultural influences from China, the Middle East, Portugal, and the Netherlands.

Indonesian rich culture, coupled with its all-year-round tropical climate and alluring nature, has made it to the international top-tourist destinations and attract numbers of visitor from every corner of the globe looking for Indonesian wonderful experiences.

With over 300 ethnic groups, each community poses unique cultural values and characteristic that may be a stark contrast from one another. You may find people who are very soft spoken in Central Java, and others with a lively manner of speaking the further you go east. From Bali where the Hindu culture integrates into every aspect of the locals’ lives, to the Aceh region which is dubbed the “Porch of Mecca” due to the strong Muslim influences. These beautiful differences make up for a greater sense of what Indonesia truly is; unity in diversity.

Different culture brings different cuisines to the table. Although each region takes pride in its own signature dish, ultimately Indonesia is renowned for its flavorful dishes. Our world-famous rendang for example, is a dish must-tried and for the culinary explorers, keep an eye out for the chili-based sauce known as sambal – it is a worth-the-trip delicacy treasured by the locals and unforgettable by many. Indonesian cuisine consists of many layers of herb and spices, as well as the combination of sweet, savory and spicy. Those are what make the food absolutely delectable.

Indonesian rich culture and its natural beauty have attracted many visitors to have a taste of Indonesian wonderful experience. In addition to a vibrant cultural scene, Indonesia also takes great pride in its beautiful nature. It ranges from sprawling rice fields, lush rainforests, grand mountains, and streams of water that leads to the sea.

The sea itself holds such a colorful story of its own. Some shores are lined with crystal white sand, some have black volcanic sand, and even pink sand in Lombok. Just off of the shores, the waters also provide a wide range of recreational activities, such as surfing, paddle-boarding, and banana boat riding.

As exciting things are above the water, they are just as wonderful underneath. Our seas are home to some of the most diverse marine biodiversity on Earth. It contains at least 600 species of corals which comprises 75% of the world coral species, more than 3000 species of fish, 6 of the world’s 7 species of marine turtles, more seagrass and mangrove species than anywhere else in the world. Dive in to witness the livelihood of colorful, beautiful, and unusual little fish near coral reefs, or even to channel your inner daredevil by swimming with the sharks.

Particularly in the past three decades, Indonesia is set to take on international tourism by a storm. As a nation with a vibrant cultural diversity and natural abundance, Indonesia offers a wide range of enchanting local traditions, delicious cuisines, and exciting tourist attractions supported by modern infrastructures and facilities.

Today, in addition to that more traditional way of visiting Indonesia by land and air, Indonesia has seen more tourists coming to visit by sea. The number of cruise liners that call Indonesian ports shows a positive and increasing growth. International yachts are also recorded to frequent Indonesian water and islands more often.

Indonesia has increasingly become a popular destination for cruises and yachts. With the sun shining year-round and low possibility of storm, visitors can experience its pristine beauty and rich culture at any time of the year. It has been noted that 360 calls and over 266,000 passengers were recorded by the cruise traffic in Indonesia in 2016. Since then, the numbers is expected to rise in simultaneous manner as new destinations opening up and legislations ease.

Given the vast nature of our waters, yacht or boat is one of the best ways to explore the Archipelago’s extraordinary beauty. Visitors can enjoy trips to locations less accessible by road. Extending over 5,000 km from east to west, and over 1,700 km north to south, with 17,000 more islands, Indonesia is largest archipelago in the world. It is so spread out, it has several micro climates which allows almost perfect sailing weather at whichever point in the country and at whenever time of the year. It also offers a unique experience in being among the wildlife on land and sea. Capture the true spirit of Indonesia the authentic way by voyaging through our islands as classical sailors do.