Exploring Indonesia’s islands on Aman’s new floating hotel

The latest offering from the Aman group isn’t a hotel but a sleek sailing boat

The sight of the Amandira bobbing away on turquoise waters is enough to make even the most committed landlubber want to slip aboard. The 52-metre yacht was launched earlier this year by Aman, the 30-strong hotel group known for immaculate design and formidable prices. It is inspired by the wooden phinisi that for centuries sailed through Indonesia’s tropical archipelagos carrying spices, fruits and other cargo. The Amandira has been built from local hardwoods by craftsmen in Sulawesi and Surabaya, and tucked away in among the boat’s handcrafted timbers are three spacious double cabins and two smaller cabins with two bunk beds apiece. Up on the vast deck, there are cushions for lounging and a shaded area for when the sun is high. Indoors there is a dining table and a small library. The joy of the Amandira is that you can go where you will, winds and seas permitting. It is designed to be taken over in its entirety so, unlike most of the other boats plying the same seas, you never share with strangers. And though that makes it expensive, if you can make up a group of 10 (the maximum the boat takes) and divide the cost, it doesn’t seem quite so bad. The package usually quoted is for five days but you can hire it for as long as you like. With a sleek and refined look to its entire scope of interior layout and design, the floating hotel blends custom compositions to the blueprint of the brilliance. If you’re looking for that magic on the ocean, from one stop to the next, with an intimate crowd, in great scenery, look out for Aman’s sleek sailing boat. Contact: Deidre Renniers Interiors