Bali cabin charter

One of the many islands in the Indonesian archipelago, Bali, the famed Island of the Gods, has a varied landscape of hills and mountains, rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, lush rice terraces and barren volcanic hillsides. All of it is a picturesque backdrop to a colourful, deeply spiritual and unique culture, and a serious claim to be paradise on earth. The word paradise is used of Bali, and not without reason.

With world-class surfing and diving, a wealth of cultural, historical and archaeological attractions, and a huge range of places to stay, this is one of the world's most popular island destinations, and one that consistently wins travel awards.

Daytime temperatures are pleasant year-round, between 20 and 33 degrees C. The west monsoon can bring heavy showers and high humidity from December to March, though days are often still sunny, with the rain arriving late and passing quickly. From June to September the humidity is low and evenings can be cool, with hardly any rain in the coastal lowlands.

The one-week itinerary runs from Benoa Marina out to Lombok and the Gili islands and back.

• Day 1, Benoa Marina to Sanur. Embarkation at 17:00 at Benoa Harbour Marina, then about an hour under sail to Sanur beach, which runs for 5 km along the east coast of Bali. Safety briefing, dinner and a night at anchor off Sanur.
• Day 2, Sanur to Nusa Lembongan. After a first swim, sail to Mushroom Bay on Nusa Lembongan, named for the mushroom corals in the reef and famous for its crescent of bright white sand. The islanders are mainly Hindus who build traditional wooden boats and farm algae. A short sail south to Manta Ray bay for snorkelling, then anchor for the night in the Cenningan channel.
• Day 3, Nusa Lembongan to the Gili islands. An early departure to the Gili islands, three tiny islands with white sand beaches lined with coconut trees and ringed by turquoise water. Off the south of Gili Meno there is time to snorkel and explore the smallest and most tranquil of the three, about two hours to walk around. You can visit the turtle sanctuary with its little pools on the beach, teeming with baby turtles. Surrounded by coral reefs, the Gilis offer a colourful underwater world of turtles, manta rays, clownfish and countless species of colourful fish. Gili Air, the first island settled by fishing families, still lives by coconut plantations and fishing.
• Day 4, Gili islands to Senggigi. On the west of Lombok, Senggigi offers some of the most beautiful scenery of the trip. Lombok is a colourful mixture of Balinese, Chinese and Arab influences, with sweeping bays, coconut-palm-fringed white sand beaches and jungle-clad hillsides, and excellent snorkelling. There is an optional half-day excursion on Lombok to the monkey forest, the local market and the Temple of Lingsar, built in 1714 and nestled among enchanting rice fields.
• Day 5, Senggigi to Gili Nanggu. Continue to the island of Poh for snorkelling, then on to Gili Nanggu, a small island off the west coast of Lombok with lush vegetation. Time for swimming and anchoring overnight.
• Day 6, Nanggu to Gede. Further along the southwest coast, visit more beautiful snorkelling spots off smaller islands. This coast has pristine secluded beaches, tiny offshore islands in turquoise water, pearl farms, old mosques and friendly people. Spend the night off the island of Gede.
• Day 7, Gede to Nusa Penida and Pulau Serangan. Sail to Nusa Penida and Crystal Bay, a beautiful beach on the north coast where time seems to stand still and people still live the old traditions. Spend the afternoon in this small, quiet bay of crystal-clear water, with the whitest sand beach of Bali and some of the best snorkelling, then sail to the lagoon of Pulau Serangan for the last night on board.
• Day 8, Pulau Serangan to Benoa. An early start and, after breakfast, disembarkation at 08:00 at Benoa Harbour Marina.

Depending on conditions, the programme may change for comfort or safety.