Vela

Vela is the latest offering from the eco-minded team behind Nirjhara: a pioneering 25-key sustainable hideaway designed around its eponymous waterfall in Tabanan, Bali.

Inspired by the spirit of adventure, Vela set sail in summer 2022 and offers bespoke itineraries to some of the most remote corners of the Indonesian archipelago. From world-renowned highlights such as Komodo National Park and Raja Ampat, to the lesser-known Maluku Islands, diving with whale sharks in Cenderawasih, or exploring the hidden coves of Alor and Wakatobi, each journey onboard Vela is crafted to suit the wanderlust of its guests. Wherever they sail, guests can make the most of the crystalline waters with liquid thrills such as diving, snorkelling, water-skiing, jet-skiing and stand-up paddle boarding, while those in search of land-based adventures can enjoy island hiking, birdwatching, secret-beach barbecues and more.

A dazzling private-charter yacht, Vela sleeps up to 12 explorers in six impeccably stylish cabins and a discrete 18-person crew. Vela’s nautical kingdom comprises a spacious lounge with unobstructed ocean views, complete with a well-equipped bar and wine cellar; a serene al fresco yoga deck; and a choice of tempting indoor and outdoor dining spaces. Respected naval architect, Tresno Seery, was tasked with giving Indonesia’s traditional phinisi boat a modern, sustainable update and, as a result, Vela boasts better hydrodynamics, a sleeker hull and improved sailing power.

The bright and breezy interiors – a calming medley of whites and neutrals, offset with chocolate-brown, orange and turquoise accents to reflect the boat’s tropical surroundings – offer a modern contrast to the rusticity of the traditional phinisi. Furniture and architectural features star endemic woods such as ironwood and teak; ceramics from Gaya in Ubud; and fabrics hand-dyed with plant-based indigo dye hail from East Bali. Bathrooms are graced with Axor fittings courtesy of Philippe Starck; which together with Italian fabrics from Hermès and Dedar Milano add a generous dash of colour and European chic.

Vela’s walls house a unique collection of art which pay tribute to the ever-evolving Indonesian contemporary art and culture scene: work by mid-20th-century Balinese master Nyoman Gunarsa sits alongside creations from up-and-coming local artists, each using materials endemic to the country to design eclectic pieces.