Bali Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

Bali’s Nusa Islands are close enough for a single-day outing yet varied enough to fill a week without repetition. The itineraries below range from day charters – ideal for guests adding a day on the water to a Bali holiday – to multi-day voyages that use Bali as a launch point for longer exploration. Every itinerary is fully customisable: your Boatcrowd charter specialist and onboard captain will adjust stops, pacing and activities to your group and the conditions on the day.

Day Charter Routes from Benoa Harbour

Nusa Penida Highlights: Mantas, Cliffs and Crystal Bay

Depart Benoa Harbour by 07:30 and cruise south-east to Nusa Penida – roughly 40 minutes by motor yacht. Morning snorkel or dive at Manta Point on the island’s southern coast, where oceanic manta rays cruise through a channel in 8–15 metres of water. After the manta session, cruise along Nusa Penida’s dramatic western cliffs, passing Kelingking Beach (the famous T-Rex headland) and Broken Beach (a natural arch with a circular lagoon open to the ocean) for photographs from the water. Anchor in Crystal Bay for a late-morning swim and snorkel over coral gardens in calm, clear water. Lunch on deck – grilled fish with sambal and Balinese rice – followed by a relaxed afternoon of paddleboarding and swimming before the return cruise to Benoa, arriving by 17:00. A perfect single day on the water that covers Bali’s most spectacular marine experiences.

Nusa Lembongan and Ceningan: Turtles, Mangroves and Island Hopping

Depart Benoa by 08:00 for the 30-minute crossing to Nusa Lembongan. Anchor off the island’s western shore and begin with a snorkel at Turtle Point, where resident green sea turtles graze in 2–4 metres of seagrass. After the turtle encounter, explore Lembongan’s mangrove channels by kayak – a quiet, green world of herons, kingfishers and monitor lizards. Lunch aboard, then cruise to the channel between Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan for a second snorkel in nutrient-rich water that attracts schools of jacks and reef fish. Take the tender ashore to the Yellow Bridge for a walk between the two islands, sampling local warungs and the laid-back island atmosphere. Return to Benoa by 17:00. Ideal for families and guests who prefer calm, sheltered water.

3-Day Bali Yacht Charter Itinerary: Nusa Islands Explorer

Day 1: Benoa to Nusa Penida

Board your yacht at Benoa Harbour by mid-morning. After the welcome briefing and a Balinese-inspired lunch on deck, cruise to Nusa Penida – roughly 40 minutes south-east. Afternoon snorkel at Crystal Bay: a calm, crescent-shaped bay with coral gardens in 3–8 metres and the possibility of mola mola encounters from July through October. As the sun drops, your captain repositions to a sheltered anchorage on Nusa Penida’s northern shore. Dinner on the aft deck with views across the Badung Strait to Bali’s volcanic silhouette – Mount Agung’s 3,142-metre peak turning to shadow against the twilight sky.

Day 2: Nusa Penida – Manta Rays and Kelingking

The headline day. An early-morning snorkel at Manta Point on Nusa Penida’s southern coast, where oceanic manta rays cruise through a channel in 8–15 metres. These are large, graceful animals – three-to-four-metre wingspans – and the encounters are among Indonesia’s most memorable wildlife experiences. After the manta session, cruise along Nusa Penida’s western cliffs: Kelingking Beach’s T-Rex headland, Broken Beach’s natural arch and Angel’s Billabong, a natural infinity pool perched at the cliff edge. Photograph these formations from the water, where their scale becomes fully apparent. Lunch aboard, then cruise to Nusa Lembongan’s western shore for an afternoon snorkel at Turtle Point: resident green sea turtles in 2–4 metres of gin-clear water. Anchor overnight in Lembongan’s sheltered bay.

Day 3: Nusa Lembongan, Ceningan and Return to Benoa

A relaxed final morning. Kayak through Nusa Lembongan’s mangrove channels in the early-morning stillness, then snorkel the channel between Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan – nutrient-rich currents attract schools of jacks, fusiliers and barracuda, with colourful reef fish on the coral below. Take the tender ashore for a walk across the Yellow Bridge to Ceningan, a tiny island with a charmingly unhurried pace. Return to the yacht for a farewell brunch on deck, then cruise back to Benoa Harbour – 30 minutes – arriving by early afternoon.

4-Day Bali Yacht Charter Itinerary: Nusa Islands Deep Dive

Day 1: Benoa to Nusa Lembongan

Board at Benoa Harbour by mid-morning. After the welcome briefing, cruise to Nusa Lembongan – the closest of the three Nusa Islands, roughly 12 nautical miles from port. Anchor off the island’s western shore for a late-morning snorkel at Turtle Point: glide alongside resident green sea turtles grazing on seagrass beds in 2–4 metres of warm, clear water. Lunch on deck, then an afternoon of kayaking through Lembongan’s mangrove channels – a quiet, shaded world of herons, kingfishers and monitor lizards. As the afternoon fades, your captain anchors in Mushroom Bay, a sheltered cove with a white-sand beach. Dinner on the aft deck: sate lilit, lawar salad and grilled prawns with a Bali sunset painting the western sky.

Day 2: Nusa Ceningan and South Lembongan

Morning cruise to the channel between Nusa Lembongan and Nusa Ceningan for a snorkel in nutrient-rich water alive with jacks, fusiliers and colourful reef fish. Take the tender ashore to the Yellow Bridge for a stroll between the two islands – Ceningan’s tiny warungs serve strong Balinese coffee and fresh banana pancakes. Return to the yacht and cruise around Lembongan’s southern coast to a quieter anchorage. Afternoon paddleboarding and swimming from the swim platform, with a second snorkel on one of Lembongan’s less-visited reefs. Your chef prepares a seafood barbecue on the upper deck as the lights of Bali twinkle across the strait.

Day 3: Nusa Penida – Mantas and Western Cliffs

Depart early for Nusa Penida’s southern coast and the headline experience: snorkelling with oceanic manta rays at Manta Point. Drift in 8–15 metres of water as these magnificent animals – three-to-four-metre wingspans – glide through the channel. After the manta session, cruise along Nusa Penida’s western cliffs for photographs of Kelingking Beach, Broken Beach and Angel’s Billabong from the water. Lunch aboard, then anchor in Crystal Bay on the island’s north-west coast for an afternoon of calm snorkelling over coral gardens and sandy patches. Overnight anchorage in Crystal Bay or a sheltered spot along Nusa Penida’s northern shore.

Day 4: Nusa Penida East Coast and Return to Benoa

A morning exploring Nusa Penida’s less-visited eastern coast. Your captain cruises past dramatic cliff formations and quiet bays, pausing for a snorkel at Gamat Bay or Wall Point – sites known for their healthy hard coral and diverse fish life, with far fewer visitors than the western highlights. After a farewell brunch on the aft deck, cruise back to Benoa Harbour – approximately 45 minutes from the eastern anchorage – arriving by early afternoon for onward travel or a return to your Bali hotel.

5-Day Bali Yacht Charter Itinerary: Bali to Lombok and the Gili Islands

Day 1: Benoa to Nusa Penida

Board at Benoa Harbour by mid-morning. After the welcome briefing and lunch on deck, cruise to Nusa Penida for an afternoon snorkel at Crystal Bay. Overnight anchorage on Nusa Penida’s northern shore with dinner on deck and Bali’s volcanic skyline as a backdrop.

Day 2: Nusa Penida Mantas and Passage to Lombok

Early-morning manta snorkel at Manta Point, then a cruise along Kelingking Beach’s dramatic cliffs. After brunch, set course east across the Lombok Strait – approximately 35 nautical miles, a three-to-four-hour passage. The Lombok Strait marks the Wallace Line, the biogeographical boundary between Asian and Australasian species – your crew can look for dolphins in the deep channel during the crossing. Arrive at Lombok’s south-west coast by late afternoon. Anchor in Sekotong Bay’s calm, green-backed waters. Dinner aboard as the Southern Cross appears overhead.

Day 3: South-West Lombok and Secret Gilis

Morning snorkel on one of the small islands dotting Sekotong Bay – these ‘secret Gilis’ (not to be confused with the more famous trio to the north) offer pristine coral in shallow, sheltered water with very few other visitors. After lunch, cruise north along Lombok’s dramatic west coast – volcanic ridges plunging into deep blue water – toward the main Gili Islands. The coastline here is wild and largely undeveloped, a striking contrast to Bali. Arrive in the Gili Islands by late afternoon and anchor between Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan in turquoise shallows.

Day 4: Gili Islands

A full day in the Gili Islands. Morning snorkel at Turtle Point on Gili Trawangan – green and hawksbill sea turtles graze on seagrass in warm, shallow water, a virtually guaranteed encounter. Take the tender to Gili Meno for a walk along its white-sand circumference and a visit to the turtle sanctuary. Afternoon dive or snorkel at one of the Gilis’ deeper reef sites, where coral formations, giant clams and schools of sweetlips reward exploration. Your chef prepares a farewell dinner on the upper deck as the sun drops behind Bali’s distant volcanic silhouette, barely visible on the western horizon.

Day 5: Gili Islands to Lombok and Flights Home

A final morning snorkel at one of the Gilis’ house reefs, then a farewell brunch aboard. Your captain cruises to Lombok’s Bangsal harbour or Teluk Nare jetty – roughly 30 minutes – for a car transfer to Lombok’s international airport (approximately 90 minutes south) or a fast-boat connection back to Bali. Alternatively, guests continuing east can join a longer phinisi charter toward Sumbawa, Moyo Island and Komodo.