Chasing Dragons by the Sea

Komodo National Park draws wildlife enthusiasts, and aboard the seven-cabin Mutiara Laut, each day unveils a new facet of the archipelago, elevated by personalised service and unforgettable experiences.

- Charukesi Ramadurai

Time takes on a fluid quality aboard the Mutiara Laut, with lazy mornings blending into languid afternoons and elaborate sit-down meals following frenzied diving (or in my case, snorkelling) excursions.

It’s the kind of unhurried rhythm only a plush seven-cabin yacht can inspire while drifting through the islands of Indonesia’s Komodo National Park.

Mutiara Laut—meaning “pearl of the sea”—is a North Atlantic style two-mast schooner infused with traditional Indonesian décor accents. Think pristine whites and warm woods spread across two levels: the sun deck and communal dining space up top, with a cosy lounge and guest cabins below.

The first thing I do upon embarkation is check out my cabin. At first glance, it seems tiny. But it is furnished with everything I could possibly need over the next few days, including a daybed and a shower with running hot and cold water. As it turns out, the only time I spend in the cabin is my sleep hours. Why would I want to be cooped up inside, when entire reefs of sparkly corals are waiting to be admired, and pods of curious dolphins keep turning up to swim in synchronous beauty alongside the boat?