Amanikan was introduced this summer to launch the 2009 Komodo Expedition, a seven-night adventure through the pristine wilderness and waters of Indonesia's Komodo National Park.


Amanikan is the newest addition to the fleet at Amanwana, a luxury tented hideaway on Moyo Island in Indonesia. Amanikan, a custom-built 32-metre coastal cruiser combines the romance of spice trading vessels with luxurious modern amenities.

Amanikan features three above-deck cabins, a foredeck with an outdoor dining and bar area and extensive dive facilities. An expansive master cabin sits at the stern of the upper deck and offers sweeping 270 degree views from both inside the cabin's wraparound windows and a large private sun deck. The second spacious double cabin on the main deck features the same spectacular views from both inside the cabin and from a second private balcony with built-in daybed. Both air conditioned cabins feature spacious en-suite bathrooms with double vanities, double wardrobes, showers and separate toilets. The master cabin features a king-sized bed and the second cabin features a queen bed. A third smaller air conditioned cabin on the main deck is also available with a semi-private sun deck in front of the wheelhouse. It offers a queen-sized bed that can be converted to two single beds upon request. Amanikan's principal lounge space is built into the bow of the cruiser and will serve as the main gathering spot for daytime sunbathing, pre-dinner drinks, or even a night sleeping under the stars.

Amanikan provides a rustically-elegant cruising environment. Furnishings are custom-made of teak, rattan and other locally-sourced materials. Teak decks are complemented by fabric and upholstery that is largely crisp white. All cabin walls are of rattan weave, and a soothing color palette of taupe, honey and white with antique brass fixtures and switches in each room provides a tranquil setting in which to relax and retire. Each cabin boasts vaulted ceilings over two metres high, a unique feature for a vast majority of other livaboards and other luxury Phinisi vessels.

The sizeable galley is well-equipped for both short and long-haul trips. Three full-sized upright refrigerators and freezers mean that fresh fruit and vegetables will be available and preserved throughout a multi-day excursion. A 70 kilogram ice machine in the below-deck galley provides cold beverages during the heat of the day. An outdoor galley features a bar area to facilitate dinner under the stars or a sunny mid-day lunch. The foredeck includes a dining table that accommodates up to 10 people, along with a portable gas grill for the catch of the day. Dive equipment for up to six guests, along with equipment for one instructor and a spare are available in the outdoor galley. Sun loungers are located on the private decks of the master and second cabin and in the third lounge area for relaxing, sunbathing and dining.

The Komodo Expedition begins with a five-night excursion on Amanikan capped by a two-night stay at Amanwana where guests can enjoy wall dives from the beach and treks to jungle waterfalls, as well as spa treatments and a range of water- and nature-based activities. During their cruise, guests may encounter antediluvian creatures unchanged since prehistoric times on a visit to the only two islands in the world where the infamous Komodo dragon can still be found. The journey cruises through the Nusa Tenggara island chain to some of the world's most biologically diverse and widely acclaimed underwater snorkel and dive sites.

The Komodo National Park is a World Heritage Site in which guests are escorted by park rangers to view Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Other wildlife on Rinca and Komodo Islands includes buffalo, deer, monkeys and wild horses. From the colourful reefs of Tatawa Island to the seductive setting and colours of Komodo's Pink Beach, Amanikan's island-hopping itinerary will take guests to some of the world's most pristine marine environments.

Amanwana is a haven for hikers, divers and naturalists. The resort features 20 air-conditioned hardwood floor tents set in a cove on the western edge of Moyo Island. Fifteen kilometres northeast of Sumbawa at the western end of Indonesia's secluded Nusa Tenggara Islands, Moyo's 36,000 hectares are home to a variety of bird and animal life, from deer to wild boar, macaque monkeys, the wild ox or banteng, sea eagles and osprey. The property is surrounded by tropical rainforest and overlooks Amanwana Bay and the inviting waters of the Flores Sea. Guest facilities include an open-air Dining Room, a Bar, Library, Gift Shop and the Jungle Cove Massage area.

View Hotel Profile: Amanwana