Sanctuary: A New Expression of Life at Sea
HOSPITALITY PROJECTS
Sailing through some of Indonesia’s most extraordinary landscapes, Sanctuary reimagines the traditional phinisi for a new generation of travellers, bringing together Indonesian maritime heritage, contemporary design and the luxury of moving at your own pace.
There is something inherently romantic about experiencing Indonesia from the water. An archipelago of thousands of islands, its landscape is defined as much by the sea as it is by land, and aboard Sanctuary, the journey becomes part of the destination.
The 48 metre private yacht is a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Indonesian phinisi, the distinctive sailing vessels that have crossed the waters of the archipelago for generations. Originating from South Sulawesi and traditionally built by hand, the phinisi represents a remarkable legacy of Indonesian craftsmanship and seafaring knowledge. In 2017, the art of phinisi boatbuilding was recognised by UNESCO as part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Sanctuary takes that heritage and brings it into a distinctly contemporary world.
Across three decks, nine private cabins accommodate up to 18 guests, supported by a crew of 18. Open decks, generous living spaces and uninterrupted views maintain a constant relationship with the surrounding landscape. Rather than feeling overly formal, the interiors have been conceived around a quieter idea of luxury, comfort, space and the freedom to settle into life at sea.
But perhaps Sanctuary’s greatest luxury is not found in its interiors at all. It is time.
There are no rigid itineraries or prescribed ways to experience a destination. Each private charter is planned around its guests, allowing days to move between adventure and complete stillness. One morning might begin beneath the surface of a coral reef, another with a paddle through calm waters, a walk across a remote island, or simply nowhere to be at all.
Sanctuary’s voyages move through some of Indonesia’s most compelling natural environments.
In Komodo National Park, volcanic islands rise dramatically from the sea. The landscape is rugged and elemental, home to the Komodo dragon, extraordinary marine biodiversity and the region’s distinctive pink sand beaches. Diving and snorkelling reveal another landscape entirely beneath the water, while hikes across the islands lead to panoramic views over the archipelago.
Further east lies Raja Ampat, a vast collection of more than 1,500 islands and one of the world's most biologically rich marine regions. Limestone formations emerge from clear waters while hidden lagoons, quiet anchorages and largely untouched islands create an almost otherworldly landscape. Below the surface, manta rays, reef sharks and immense schools of fish inhabit its vibrant reef systems.
The contrast between these moments of exploration and the stillness of returning to the yacht is central to the experience.
Life on board has been designed to follow the same unhurried rhythm. Meals are created by Chef Roniawan Putra around individual preferences, using seasonal ingredients and drawing across cuisines rather than adhering to a fixed menu. Diving, snorkelling, kayaking and paddleboarding can fill the day, while the yacht also provides space simply to retreat.
It is an approach to luxury that feels increasingly relevant.
Rather than excess for the sake of it, Sanctuary offers something more difficult to manufacture, privacy, space, personalisation and access to places that remain remarkably removed from everyday life.
Most importantly, the vessel never entirely separates itself from where it comes from. Beneath its contemporary comforts remains the silhouette and story of the phinisi, a vessel shaped by generations of Indonesian maritime culture.
In Sanctuary, that history is not treated as something static. It becomes the foundation for a new way of travelling through Indonesia, slowly, privately and always connected to the sea.
Discover Sanctuary at sanctuaryyacht.com
