Amankila set against the hillside in East Bali.
One of the activities we enjoy most is creating one-off adventure itineraries and family expeditions. It's extremely gratifying to help a family or group design an experience that brings together the best of a region for a special trip.
Planning a custom itinerary essentially boils down to curating and linking together the best of a region to help a group make the most of their vacation time together.
The advantage we have in Indonesia is that one could go virtually anywhere and discover the most incredible natural treasures. We have been doing this for just over a decade now and have yet to be disappointed. In this sense, we are very lucky to have Indonesia as the backdrop for the adventures we create (and certainly cannot take all the credit!).
By this measure, our mission is to inspire and enable people to embark on trips that will lead to some of life's fondest memories. Part of that process is our own travel, a bit of imagination and sometimes thinking out of the box to create a new combination from what was already there.
The thought process leading up to crafting an itinerary that we eventually named 'The Aman Adventure' is a good example of all of the above, so I thought it would be worth sharing. It certainly ranks as one of our all-time favorite trips.
Some years ago, we stayed at Amankila for a few nights over Nyepi.
Lying in a hammock, on the lawn by the beach with the big pool, I caught myself realizing how much we love it there. Nestled against a quiet hill in East Bali, Amankila has remained very much off the radar despite offering much of what people seek when they venture to this region.
Built in 1992, Amankila was designed around tenets I seem to be gravitating to lately such as simple and local can be luxurious and how old is good when well-maintained. The genuine, attentive nature of the team who have been there 'dari mulai' or since the beginning, is perhaps the deciding factor to feeling totally at home.
I thought: wouldn't it be great to share this feeling with others, and use this magical place to start a charter?
I brought up the idea of using Amankila's beach to launch a charter with Ernst, the GM, and learned it had never been done before. There was a concern about the waves on the beach and of course the Lombok Strait can be treacherous. We decided it could possibly be done under the right circumstances, and let the idea rest for about a year.
In the summer of 2019, Amandira was scheduled to end a charter in Bali and begin her next one from her base at Moyo Island. This schedule presented a perfect opportunity for us to do a run between Amankila in East Bali and Amanwana's tented resort on Moyo Island.
I put together a tentative plan, confirmed the dates, and we were ready to test out our idea of using Amankila's beach to launch a charter, taking us to southwest Lombok and then up to Moyo Island.
The plan was to stay at Amankila for a night, enjoy a group dinner, then awake the next morning to have the yacht waiting at anchor. Instead of boarding at a busy port, we launched the tenders from the private beach and set out on our charter. As a backdrop, the resort proved to be as stunning as imagined.
Amandira is one of the most striking yachts to have ever sailed Indonesia's waters. The hospitality on board is an extension of the Aman Indonesia resorts, so combining a resort stay with a charter offers a seamless transition.
The main difference is that Amandira provides the amenities of an Aman in areas accessible only by boat.
The itinerary we had designed took us across the Lombok Strait, also known as the Wallace Line, where there is a notable difference between flora and fauna within a relatively short distance. The landscapes vary considerably too, from Bali to southwest Lombok. With so much wide-open space, we traversed the stretch without seeing another vessel.
There are few endeavors as fulfilling as planning an excursion to parts unknown. It's best when we don't have a full picture, and best when we leave some element for the random to occur.
In this instance, we had decided to make a pitstop at a group of 12 islands around Gili Gede. Commonly mistaken for the northern Gilis (which just means island) this island group is less frequented but offers incredible landscapes for short charters out of Bali.
We planned to do some exploring and check out a friend's new development. We all agreed that this was an incredible destination for fishing, with gorgeous islands, beaches, and turquoise waters. The problem we kept encountering was distinguishing this island group from the northern Gilis, especially with our friends who were not familiar with the region.
The simple idea of calling them the 12 Islands took shape and we will see if this name catches on for a region we certainly enjoy and have been back to visit since.
After two nights sailing on Amandira, we reached Moyo Island. Disembarking to Amanwana's jetty comes with the realization that one has reached a very special destination.
The inviting turquoise waters fringed by the white-sand beach shows little sign of human presence. The tents lie beyond the natural tree line, unobtrusively placed within the natural landscape.
Built in 1993, and updated since, the tented camp is the only accommodation on Moyo Island's expansive nature reserve. With plenty of activities, Amanwana is the kind of escape where one can isolate for a healthy and sporty retreat.
The list of influential leaders who have stayed at Amanwana is long. But it doesn't show. It's just another day where all guests are treated with genuine kindness and attentive interest against a pristine backdrop that has retained its original charm.
Hidden inland on Moyo Island lie the emerald green waters of Mata Jitu waterfall. Accessible by open jeep over a bumpy trail, the waterfall offers an awe-inspiring activity for a group to share.
For us as a culmination of our sailing to reach this special island location, it marked a sense of accomplishment. We dove into the fresh water and marveled at the natural beauty, re-capping our journey thus far.
This is one of the most romantic places to take a loved one or for a special family experience in pristine nature. Our time at Mata Jitu ranks among our happiest days to discover such a gorgeous destination, hidden in the forest.
What is it in our DNA that gives us pleasure from starting a journey in one spot, and finishing at another? It is the sense of accomplishment? Or perhaps it's somehow linked to our primal migratory genetic code.
By this measure, the ending of a trip can be just as important, if not more so, than the beginning.
Rather than disembark and fly straight back to Bali, we decided to add a final night to our journey by staying at Amanwana, and capping off the adventure with sunset on the beach followed by a private dinner in an off-site pavilion.
Unwinding by the beach with friends at sunset, we were glad to keep the trip going for one more night, before the inevitable end. Adding one more location to our already eventful trip let us prolong the feeling of combining different experiences.
At night, retiring to our tents, looking up at the canopy, swaying ever so slightly in the wind, we were reminded that we were indeed sleeping in a tent. Amanwana is not for the restless. For those who want to take the time to hear nature and recharge, it does offer a level of tranquility unmatched in the region.
On our final morning, we enjoyed breakfast at Amanwana then boarded our private seaplane to return to Bali. The flight past Mount Rinjani and leading up to Mount Agung offered breathtaking views, before reaching Bali's international airport.
The seaplane adds a final element of adventure to the trip on the last day to end on a high note.
Although that was the end of our short trip, this could have been just the start of a longer adventure. One could venture east to Komodo from Amanwana. One could equally fly to Nihi Sumba or even off to Raja Ampat. The possibilities are limitless.
For a day-by-day overview of this trip, a sample itinerary is online and can be viewed at: 'The Aman Adventure'.
For more info on the yacht, please visit: Amandira.
If you'd like to discuss a possible trip on Amandira, or anything about drafting the ultimate adventure trip, please drop us a line at info@indoyachts.com or shoot us a message on WA at +62 811 88 22 82.
We'd love to hear from you.
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