A group sailing trip from Lombok is a charter where one boat is booked for a defined group of travellers — friends, colleagues, a family reunion, or several couples travelling together — and the cost of the vessel is divided across everyone on board instead of being carried by a single household. The boat is still exclusively yours; what changes is how the bill is split and how the itinerary is agreed.
Lombok Sailing Journeys arranges these shared charters as tailored yacht and boat trips across Lombok’s islands, from single-day loops to multi-night routes. This page explains how group charters are structured, what group sizes fit which vessels, how the per-person cost behaves, and how to organise a booking when the decision belongs to more than one person.
How does a shared boat charter actually work?
Charter vessels in Indonesia are quoted per boat per night rather than per seat, and that single pricing convention is the reason group trips work: the same boat costs the same whether four people or twelve are aboard, so the per-head figure falls sharply as the group fills the cabins. A group booking therefore has one lead contact who confirms and holds the reservation, with the rest of the party settling their share to that person or directly to us, whichever the group prefers.
There are two structures we run, and it is worth knowing which one you are buying:
- Private group charter. Your group takes the whole vessel. Nobody outside the group is on board, and the route is yours to set. Cost is split internally.
- Open shared departure. You buy seats or berths on a scheduled boat alongside other travellers. Cheaper per person, but the route and timing are fixed. This suits solo travellers and pairs; see our budget Lombok sailing tour cheap boat trip offers for that format.
What group sizes work on Lombok charter boats?
Most vessels operating out of Lombok’s west-coast harbours carry between six and twenty guests overnight, with day-trip capacity running higher because no cabins are needed — which means the honest first question is not what you want to book, but how many people will actually turn up.
| Group size | Typical vessel | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 4 to 6 | Small catamaran or motor yacht | Comfortable day trips; overnight works with two or three cabins |
| 8 to 12 | Mid-size phinisi-style boat or large catamaran | The sweet spot for per-head cost on multi-night routes |
| 14 to 20 | Larger wooden charter vessel | Needs an organiser; cabin allocation must be agreed before departure |
| 20 and above | Two boats sailing in company | Common for events; both boats keep the same anchorages |
For groups that only want a single day on the water, the run out to the three islands off the northwest coast is the standard choice and is covered on our Gili Islands sailing package from Lombok page.
Which routes suit a group rather than a couple?
Bangsal in north Lombok is the main public harbour serving the Gili islands, and the private charter jetties nearby put a group within a short crossing of Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan — Trawangan being the largest of the three and the one with the most going on ashore.
- Northwest day loop. Two or three snorkel stops, a beach landing, lunch on board, back before dark. The most common choice for a first group trip.
- Two-night island circuit. Overnight anchorages between the Gilis and the north coast, with enough time for a proper evening on deck.
- Southwest Sekotong run. Quieter small islands off southwest Lombok, better for groups who want space rather than nightlife.
- Long eastward passage. Multi-night sailing toward Sumbawa and beyond, for groups with time and sea legs.
What does a group charter include and exclude?
A crewed charter from Lombok normally arrives with its own captain, deck crew, and cook, so nobody in your group is responsible for sailing, cooking, or anchoring at any point in the trip.
| Included as standard | Usually extra |
|---|---|
| Vessel, captain, and crew | National park and harbour entrance fees |
| Meals and drinking water on board | Alcohol, whether pre-provisioned or on consumption |
| Snorkelling gear | Scuba diving with tanks and a certified guide |
| Fuel for the agreed route | Fuel for significant route extensions |
| Hotel transfers on Lombok | Flights, accommodation ashore, and insurance |
How should a group organise the booking?
The practical failure point on group trips is rarely the boat — it is the group, because a charter is held against a deposit and a date, and a party that has not agreed its numbers cannot hold either. Four steps keep it clean.
- Fix the dates before the headcount. Dates decide vessel availability; headcount only decides which vessel.
- Nominate one lead. One person communicates with us and makes decisions. Group chats do not confirm bookings.
- Agree the cabin split early. Who shares with whom, and who pays the premium for a larger cabin, is best settled before anyone pays.
- Collect a deposit internally first. Groups that gather their own deposits before confirming rarely lose a date.
Groups with flexible dates should also check our promo sailing Lombok 2027 discount boat tours, since shifting a departure by a few days sometimes lands on a promotional window.
Frequently asked questions
Can our group split the payment between individuals?
Yes. We can either invoice one lead contact who collects internally, or issue individual payment links to each traveller against a single reservation. The second option adds administration but avoids one person carrying the full deposit. Tell us which you want at the point of enquiry, because switching after a booking is confirmed complicates the deposit already held against your date.
What if someone drops out after we book?
Because the charter fee is per boat, one person dropping out does not reduce the total — it raises everyone else’s share. This is the single most common surprise on group trips. Groups usually handle it by agreeing in advance that shares are non-refundable between members, or by keeping one or two reserve names who can take the berth.
Can we bring our own music, decorations, or catering?
Portable speakers and simple decorations are generally fine, subject to the captain’s rules on deck safety and on noise near inhabited anchorages. Outside catering is possible but must be agreed in advance, since the cook provisions the galley for the whole trip. Fireworks, open flames, and anything that leaves waste in the water are not permitted.
Is a group trip suitable for mixed swimming abilities?
Yes, and it is worth flagging at booking. Snorkel stops can be positioned in shallow, sheltered water, and buoyancy aids are available for anyone who wants one. Non-swimmers can stay aboard or use a floating ring near the boat while the rest of the group snorkels. Let us know the range of abilities so the crew plans stops accordingly.
Get a quote for your group
Send us your dates, the number of travellers, whether you want a day trip or overnight, and any events attached to the trip. We will match a vessel and return a written quote showing the per-boat cost and the per-person split. Message us on WhatsApp at https://wa.me/6281139414563 or email bd@juaraholding.com.