The Apurva Kempinski Bali announces a new partnership with Indonesian yachting specialist Yacht Sourcing to introduce the Spice Route Voyage, a seven‐day journey that evokes the ancient spice trade. This curated voyage serves as the flagship programme of the resort’s 2026 brand campaign, Powerful Indonesia: Spice Route Legacy. Reservations are now open, with inaugural sailings commencing in April 2026.
REVIVING INDONESIA’S MARITIME HERITAGE
For more than over 4,500 years, Indonesia’s islands were the world’s most prized source of spices – cloves, nutmeg, pepper, and sandalwood – connecting the archipelago to civilisations spanning China, India, Arabia and Europe. The Nusantara spice route shaped empires, facilitated the exchange of faiths and ideas, and positioned Indonesia as the heart of global commerce. Today, this Nusa Dua Resort seeks to revive this legacy by weaving stories of the spice route into guest experiences. The journey offers travellers not only material luxury but also a meaningful narrative rooted in heritage and cultural depth.
Over five immersive days, guests board traditional wooden phinisi schooners and navigate waters that once mirrored ancient trade routes. Seasonal itineraries explore some of Indonesia’s most storied and rarely visited destinations. Routes are carefully positioned to align with the spice producing heartlands of the archipelago, including North Maluku – the legendary Clove Islands of Ternate and Tidore; the Banda Islands – once the world’s sole source of nutmeg; and the maritime kingdoms of South Sulawesi and East Nusa Tenggara. Following voyage, guests retreat for two nights to the Nusantara Presidential Villa at The Apurva Kempinski Bali – where the Spice Route Legacy continues on land through a curated suite of experiences for up to six guests, including: daily breakfast, luxury chauffeur service upon arrival and departure, a Majapahit Imperial Dinner crafted by the resort’s culinary team, an Afternoon Tea experience, a Spice Route-inspired cocktail session at L’Atelier by Cyril Kongo, and a restorative treatment at Apurva Spa.
THE PARTNERSHIP
Spice Route Voyage is exclusively crafted through the longstanding partnership between The Apurva Kempinski Bali and Yacht Sourcing – a partnership grounded in the shared belief that luxury travel must honour the culture and communities from which it draws its meaning.
Founded in Bali in 2016, Yacht Sourcing established itself as Indonesia’s leading marine leisure company through its commitment to preserving the nation’s maritime heritage. Its fleet of handcrafted phinisi yachts – built by skilled Indonesian artisans – reflects a dedication to nurturing the next generation of Indonesian craftspeople, sailors, and storytellers. Guided by professionalism, discretion, sustainability, and deep, genuine respect for Indonesia’s natural and cultural landscapes, Yacht Sourcing brings integrity to the water that The Apurva Kempinski Bali brings to the land.
This synergy between the two brands is well established. In 2024, the two brands co-hosted an exclusive Gala Dinner at Bali’s Black Stone Yacht Club, where a Michelin-recognised chef from The Apurva Kempinski’s Koral Restaurant curated a private menu for VIP guests – an evening that exemplified what both brands do best: turning heritage into an experience.
POWERFUL INDONESIA: SPICE ROUTE LEGACY
This year, The Apurva Kempinski Bali marks seven years of redefining luxury hospitality in Indonesia. Since opening its doors, the resort has remained guided by a singular vision: to deliver world-class luxury rooted in the richness of Indonesian culture, arts, wellness, and gastronomy. Year after year, this five-star resort in Bali has forged its identity beyond a majestic hotel – as a guardian of Indonesia’s narrative.
The Powerful Indonesia: Spice Route Legacy campaign is the year-long programme of cultural activations, curated guest experiences, gastronomic journeys, and artistic expressions that trace the enduring influence of the Spice Route. Spice Route Voyage represents its most ambitious: extending the story beyond the cliffs of Nusa Dua and onto the open sea.
The campaign also reflects the evolving expectations of today’s discerning luxury travellers. Industry research indicates that guests increasingly seek destinations offering cultural authenticity and immersive depth, beyond exceptional amenities alone. The Apurva Kempinski Bali aligns personalised guest experiences, refined luxury service and cultural integrity as complementary pillars of its philosophy.
Indonesia’s Spice Route is one of the great untold stories of world civilisation – a network of seas and islands that connected humanity long before the age of exploration. At The Apurva Kempinski Bali, our role extends beyond offering a beautiful place to stay. We serve as a living bridge between our guests and the profound legacy of this archipelago. The Spice Route Voyage, together with our trusted partner Yacht Sourcing, is precisely that – a journey as rare and meaningful as it is unforgettable. This is Indonesia, as it was always meant to be discovered,’ shared Vincent Guironnet, General Manager, The Apurva Kempinski Bali.
