About PhinisiThe Authentic Indonesian Sailing Heritage
The phinisi is the iconic two-mast sailing schooner of South Sulawesi, inscribed by UNESCO in 2017 on the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage for its centuries-old shipbuilding tradition. Each vessel is built entirely without blueprints — the proportions, joinery and rig carried in the memory of the Bugis and Konjo shipwrights of Tanah Beru and passed hand to hand across generations. To step aboard a phinisi is to step onto a living piece of maritime history, all teak, ironwood and hand-spliced rope, still doing exactly what it was built to do.Sailing a phinisi through Komodo is the most authentic way to experience these waters. On calm afternoons the crew raises the great sails and the engine falls silent, leaving only wind, wake and the creak of timber as the islands drift past. Our standard phinisi fleet pairs that heritage with genuine comfort: air-conditioned en-suite cabins, family-friendly layouts, generous shaded deck space, a full crew and an onboard cook serving fresh Indonesian and Western meals — all at price points 30–40% below luxury liveaboards.It is the smart traveller’s choice: the same iconic itinerary, the same dragon treks, manta drifts and Padar sunrises as the premium boats, with a crew of Flores and Sulawesi seafarers whose stories fill every dinner. Pricing starts from $400/person/night for a shared cabin, with private full-vessel charters from $2,500/night — meals, snorkel gear, guides, park fees and airport transfer all included.
