Sailing Dreams
Samsara Samudra was founded by two old friends, Bayu Sarwono and Aditya Aldhafera. After reconnecting years after their college days, their shared passion for heritage, hospitality and the ocean sparked the beginning of something extraordinary. By blending Bayu’s creative flair in hospitality with Adit’s maritime expertise, the duo launched a luxurious floating hotel. The result is Samsara Samudra, a phinisi yacht that pays homage to Indonesia’s rich seafaring legacy.
Q: How did you first enter the hospitality industry, and what inspired you to establish Samsara Samudra?
Bayu Sarwono (BS): I began my journey with Samsara Ubud nearly 10 years ago. We started construction back in 2015, and I must admit I was quite ambitious at that time. Two years after completing Samsara Ubud, I started to think about what else we could do in the tourism sector. In 2017, I reconnected with Adit and proposed that we explore the idea of creating something together. There is something nostalgic, classic, adventurous and exciting about wooden boats, which inspired us to launch Samsara Samudra, a 42-metre, six-cabin phinisi-style yacht.
Q: How did the collaboration begin at Samsara Samudra?
Aditya Aldhafera (AA): I first met Bayu 20 years ago in college in Melbourne. After graduation, we took different paths; he moved to Sydney for a banking career, while I went to Singapore for shipping. We reconnected in Singapore years later, just as Bayu was expanding his Samsara Ubud empire. During our catch-up, we brainstormed a collaboration that merged his hospitality expertise with my shipping background, leading to the concept of a floating hotel. This ultimately resulted in the creation of Samsara Samudra. Having seen his success at Samsara Ubud, I have great confidence in his vision for this project.
Q: What values or shared vision united you in developing Samsara Samudra?
AA: The phinisi boat is a significant representation of Indonesian heritage and is recognised as a UNESCO intangible cultural heritage of humanity. We find the history of the phinisi boat both interesting and fascinating, which is why we developed a phinisi boat as Samsara Samudra. We also aim to promote the beauty of East Indonesia. Places like Labuan Bajo, Alor, Ambon and Raja Ampat are truly majestic, and in my opinion, they are distinctly different from other regions of Indonesia.
BS: I believe there are significant opportunities in the marine tourism sector. As a maritime nation, Indonesia has the potential to take the lead in this area.
Q: What philosophy and guest experience do Samsara Samudra aim to deliver?
BS: Our brand philosophy emphasises that luxury is multidimensional. Each location, whether it’s Labuan Bajo, the Forgotten Islands or Raja Ampat, has its own distinct character, and we strive to capture that in our offerings. Ultimately, all these diverse experiences share a common goal: to help our guests reconnect. This includes reconnecting with the nature, with their loved ones and with themselves.
Q: With destinations like Komodo, Raja Ampat and beyond, how does Samsara Samudra curate immersive and personalised journeys for guests seeking both adventure and relaxation?
BS: Every traveller has unique desires and preferences, which is why we connect with our clients before their trips to understand their needs and customise their experiences effectively. We are fortunate to have an exceptional crew of 16 members, from cruise director, executive chef, activity manager and talented bartender, all contributing to a strong team dynamic. Our dedicated captain and chief engineer further enhance this environment, ensuring that each holiday is memorable.
Q: In your opinion, what are the most important qualities of a successful CEO or leader?
AA: I believe a successful CEO should be visionary and forward-looking, with a clear understanding of the company’s plans for the next five to 10 years. It’s essential for them to possess strong emotional intelligence and empathy towards all stakeholders in the business. Additionally, they should be resilient and persistent, leading by example.
BS: It’s a challenging time to be a leader these days. Leaders must play many roles; they need to be strategic thinkers, good listeners and have a thorough understanding of the business. At the same time, it’s important to encourage the team to become the best versions of themselves, which sometimes requires having difficult conversations.
Over the past 10 years, I have learned that a leader must have the humility to recognise that they do not have all the answers. When we find ourselves unsure, we should ask for help and seek to fill the gaps with someone who has the necessary knowledge.
Asia Dreams Volume 56
Samsara Samudra
Jalan Prof. Moh. Yamin, Renon
Bali 80226, Indonesia
T: (+62) 81353542565
E: info@samsarasamudra.com
W: samsarasamudra.com
IG: @samsarasamudra
