SAILING FOR THE STARS

Hopping around the Indonesian archipelago on board the Celestia, a phinisi-style yacht, is the perfect way to capture the magic of the region By Coco Marett

- Coco Marett

The Indonesian archipelago is home to numerous fascinating stories, from tales of pirates to its role as the historical epicentre of the global spice trade.

In recent years, more and more people have been curious to discover the country's magic—and increasingly, they are doing so by boat, for an authentic experience that echoes the region’s past.

Enter brother-sister duo Jason Tabalujan and Jasmine Chong, who in 2023 launched the Celestia: a gorgeous wooden yacht built for private charters, on which guests can sail around the archipelago, embracing the slow life on board while immersing themselves in Indonesia’s rich history, earthy design sensibilities and diverse cuisine.

The cruise takes guests island-hopping, allowing them to take in scenic hikes that lead to breathtaking vistas of the islands and to discover the archipelago’s countless beaches, where the colours shift from white to black volcanic sand and dreamy pink from the coral. “In the Spice Islands [the Malukus], you can visit 400-year-old Dutch forts,” says Tabalujan. “One of the activities we offer is a private seafood barbecue next to the cannons.” You can also visit the Moyo Islands where, following a leisurely hike into the jungle, you'll find the multilayered Mata Jitu waterfall that Princess Diana visited in the 1990s.

For Chong and Tabalujan, the Celestia isn’t just business—it is personal. The pair lost a number of family members to Covid; once the pandemic was over, they decided to create a “floating villa”, a vessel where, as the world had opened up again, multiple generations of their family—or paying guests—could come together to explore the beautiful region. “It all started with this idea of a bucket-list adventure: sailing a boat in Indonesia,” says Tabalujan.