Two of Indonesia’s “10 New Balis” destinations connect to real seaplane infrastructure today: Mandalika in Lombok, one of the eight government-designated water-landing locations, and Lake Toba, site of the country’s first demonstration landing in 2025. Labuan Bajo is also on the official eight-location list, but no public record shows a seaplane landing there as of September 2026.
Which priority destinations sit on the eight-location water-landing list?
The Indonesian government’s “10 New Balis” program spans ten priority tourism zones, from Lake Toba in North Sumatra to Tanjung Lesung in Banten. Only a handful of those ten sit anywhere near the eight government-designated water-landing locations that anchor current and planned seaplane activity. Two of the ten overlap directly: Mandalika (Lombok) and Labuan Bajo. For a broader look at how these destinations connect across the archipelago, see this guide to island hopping Indonesia by seaplane, which maps the wider network this hub sits inside.
Here’s what the available research confirms and what it doesn’t, for the “10 New Balis” destinations closest to seaplane infrastructure:
| Priority destination | On the 8-location list? | Documented seaplane activity, Sept 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Mandalika, Lombok | Yes | Santai Seaplane flies scheduled/charter service from South Bali (Ngurah Rai) to Lombok, plus a priced South Bali–Gili Islands water-landing route |
| Labuan Bajo / Komodo | Yes | No public record found as of Sept 2026; access still runs by fixed-wing and boat |
| Lake Toba, North Sumatra | Not listed among the eight in available research | Santai Seaplane’s 2025 demonstration flight to Samosir Island, docking at Marianna Resort |
| Likupang, Morotai, Wakatobi, Tanjung Lesung | No hub or water-landing mapping found in available research | No documented seaplane landing reported |
| Borobudur, Bromo Tengger Semeru, Tanjung Kelayang | Inland or no coastal water-landing site identified | Not applicable |
Treat this table as a record of what’s confirmed, not a forecast. Where research doesn’t name a source for a hub connection, this page leaves it blank rather than guessing.
What’s actually flying to these destinations right now?
Mandalika carries the clearest paper trail. Santai Seaplane — PT Santai Seaplane Aviation, part of the Seaplane Asia Group, flying under its Indonesian partner Operator Certificate AOC 135-067 held by PT Wisarada Sapanta Utama — opened its first Bali office in April 2026. Its published network connects two bases, South Bali (Ngurah Rai) and Banyuwangi, to Lombok, the Gili Islands, North Bali/Menjangan and Sumbawa. A South Bali–Gili Islands water-landing route appears on Santai’s published pricing at Rp 43,875,600 for a full-aircraft charter dated 18 September 2026 — a whole-aircraft fare split across passengers, not a per-seat rate.
Lake Toba’s evidence is a single, well-documented event rather than a standing route: Santai’s 2025 demonstration flight to Samosir Island, positioned from Siborongborong (Raja Sisingamangaraja XII) and Medan Kualanamu, docking at Marianna Resort. It has not been repeated as a scheduled or charter product in the research available for this page.
Labuan Bajo sits on the eight-location list by name, which means it has been designated for water-landing activity, but that designation is a regulatory status, not a live service. A water aerodrome also needs its own certificate or registry from the Ministry before it can legally operate, a requirement under Article 29(1) of the water aerodrome regulation, so being on the list is a starting point, not a green light. No public record found as of September 2026 shows a seaplane operator flying scheduled or charter service into Labuan Bajo.
For the remaining “10 New Balis” zones — Likupang, Morotai, Wakatobi, Tanjung Lesung, Borobudur, Bromo Tengger Semeru and Tanjung Kelayang — the research behind this page found no named hub airport, no water-landing site and no operator route connecting any of them to seaplane access. That’s a gap in available research, not a claim that access is impossible; it means a 2027 itinerary through any of these seven shouldn’t assume seaplane access exists.
What to book early for a 2027 itinerary
If a 2027 trip depends on reaching a “10 New Balis” destination by seaplane, the planning sequence looks different from a normal flight booking.
- Confirm the operator actually flies the route. Santai Seaplane’s published network reaches Mandalika/Lombok directly; it does not currently list Labuan Bajo, Likupang, Morotai, Wakatobi or Tanjung Lesung. Ask a coordination desk which AOC-135 operator, if any, currently services a given destination rather than assuming coverage from a hub list.
- Treat pricing as route-specific and date-stamped. The Rp 43,875,600 South Bali–Gili fare is published for 18 September 2026 and covers a full aircraft, not a per-seat ticket; fares on other routes depend on aircraft type, positioning distance, passenger and luggage weight, waiting time and ground handling.
- Build in weather flexibility. No source publishes fixed monsoon or seasonal dates for Indonesian seaplane operations. Each landing is cleared against the operator’s own weather minima and sea state on the day, so a 2027 itinerary needs a buffer day around any seaplane leg.
- Coordinate positioning legs separately. Because there’s no unified national booking desk, a route touching a “10 New Balis” destination without direct seaplane service typically means chaining a seaplane leg with a commercial flight into the nearest hub airport, and in Lake Toba’s case, ground transport to Siborongborong.
- Start the enquiry with specifics. Named destination, travel window, party size and any resort or dock preference get a usable answer faster than a general “is this possible” message.
Juara Holding Group runs an independent coordination desk, established 2015, that arranges seaplane and related transfers through licensed AOC-135 partners. It is not a seaplane operator and is not affiliated with Santai Seaplane or any other operator named on this page. Reach the desk on WhatsApp at 6281139414563 or bd@juaraholding.com to check current route feasibility before committing to a 2027 date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Labuan Bajo currently served by a scheduled seaplane route?
No public record found as of September 2026 shows a scheduled or charter seaplane service into Labuan Bajo. It is one of the eight government-designated water-landing locations, which sets a regulatory basis for future activity, but designation alone doesn’t create a flight schedule. Confirm current status with a coordination desk before planning a 2027 trip around it.
Which “10 New Balis” destination has the most seaplane activity today?
Mandalika, in Lombok, has the clearest published service: Santai Seaplane connects South Bali to Lombok and to a Gili Islands water-landing site, with a full-aircraft charter fare of Rp 43,875,600 published for 18 September 2026. Lake Toba has one documented demonstration flight from 2025 but no standing scheduled route in the available research.
Can I book a per-seat seaplane ticket to these destinations?
Not based on the published fares reviewed for this page. Santai Seaplane’s published pricing, including the South Bali–Gili route, runs as a whole-aircraft charter split across passengers rather than an individual seat sale. Expect a quote based on aircraft type, route, passenger count and positioning distance rather than a fixed per-seat fare.