About SeaTrek

JOURNEY INTO UNCHARTED WONDER

About SeaTrek

JOURNEY INTO UNCHARTED WONDER

We lead intimate, local-led journeys that protect nature, celebrate culture, and transform the way people travel.

Group photo with SeaTrek travelers on the Ombak Putih.
Crew singing at the BBQ night
Katharina and Ombak Putih full sails up

WHY WE SAIL?

How Our Story Began

We have been connecting people by sailing with traditional pinisi boats to the far-flung corners of the Indonesian archipelago since 1986. We’ve made it our trademark to offer unique and authentic travel experiences, focused on adventure and endless exploration, nature conservation, and immersion in local cultures.

Explore Our Timeline
Compass

OUR ORIGIN

The Voyage that Changed Everything

The story begins on a scrappy Bugis schooner in 1977, when a young Dutch backpacker, Dick Bergsma, convinced the captain to let him hitch a ride. Eight days later, after flying fish, purple sunsets, and a plywood shack bathroom hanging off the stern, the idea was planted: Travel by Pinisi, the traditional wooden ships of Indonesia.

  • 1986

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    Introducing Pinisi to the World

    Indonesia showcased the two-masted Pinisi Nusantara at the 1986 Vancouver World Expo, a wooden schooner with seven sails that proudly sailed across the Pacific along ancient trade routes.

  • 1988

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    Our Story Began

    After its presentation at the Vancouver World Expo, the Pinisi Nusantara was handed over to SeaTrek in Bali, which sailed her across the Indonesian archipelago for nearly two years, helping to pioneer marine-based expedition tourism in Indonesia.

  • 1996

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    Katharina was born

    Katharina was born, her name taken from Karin, as construction began along a riverbank in South Kalimantan, and in 1997, she started exploring the distant reaches of the archipelago.

  • 2012

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    Ombak Putih Joins the Family

    Ombak Putih joins the family—a larger vessel designed for long crossings, shared stories, and life at sea.

  • 2017

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    WWF Signing Blue

    SeaTrek partnered with WWF, reflecting its commitment to the sustainability of Indonesia’s people, cultures, and natural environment, and was proud to achieve Three Starfish out of five in its inaugural Signing Blue audit.

  • 2018

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    Magellan Award

    Travel Weekly announced GLP Film & SeaTrek as a 2018 Magellan Award gold wi