The boats of Sanur are among the most iconic sights on the island. Bali has a long history of traditional boat building and the jukung outrigger is its most famous vessel. The vessel most often seen on Bali beaches is called a “jukung”, and like an outrigger canoe, they’re able to skim fast over coral reefs and also withstand the offshore conditions. Visit any beach in Bali, particularly here on the East Coast of the island, and you’ll see dozens of brightly coloured jukungs pulled up to shore. They are the traditional vessel for getting around, used by local fisherman and scuba diving tour groups alike. The boats of Sanur are so plentiful along the beach that they are arguably one of the most photographed icons in the entire village.
Across the island, each coastal village has their own distinctive decorating style, and the Balinese fisherman can usually tell you where someone comes from based on their boat design. Most of the boats are decorated with the image of the mythical Gajah Mina, (elephant fish), with the bulging eyes to ward off evil and protect those on board.
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The History of the Boats of Sanur
Going back in time, the boats were constructed from wood, with the chosen Camplung tree only to be cut down on an auspicious date in accordance to the Balinese calendar.
Originally, these jukungs were once used for transportation of tourists to fishing and snorkelling spots under sail, but these days the speed of an outboard motor seems to win out over relying on the weather. As time progressed, many are now built from fibreglass, making them light to manoeuvre over low tides and easy to use when transporting scuba divers and surfers to their desired locations.
The Great Jukung Race: Boats of Sanur Cross the Timor Sea
In the late 1980’s there was a race held over 1000 miles in these open outrigger canoes with crews who travelled from Bali to Darwin across the Timor Sea. Featured by the National Geographic, it was known as “The Great Jukung Race”, stretching over 1000 nautical miles. The journey took three months and was treacherous and dangerous for all involved. It was actually documented in a film titled, Passage out of Paradise, thankfully all those involved made it to Darwin safely but imagine what a journey that would have been!
You can still take a ride in one of the boats of Sanur while visiting, just chat with any of the locals on the beach and they’ll be bound to know someone who owns one. The seaway off Sanur makes it a great spot to take a ride in a jukung, with the lagoon style waters keeping the ride pleasant, also making it a photographer’s favourite. Head out early morning towards the east and catch the sun rising over Mt Agung, or head out in the afternoon towards Nusa Dua and capture the setting sun instead.
It is said, if you happen to dream of a jukung or similar craft, this represents your capacity to withstand and navigate your way through difficult times and circumstances!
Whether you admire the boats of Sanur from the shore or actually take a ride in one, these colourful jukung are a living thread connecting the modern beach village to its ancient maritime culture. Few experiences in Bali are as quietly thrilling as sitting low in the hull of a jukung at dawn, watching the sun rise over Mt Agung while a fisherman paddles you gently through the glassy lagoon. The boats of Sanur deserve their reputation as one of Bali’s most enduring and photogenic icons. For more on the culture and beauty of this part of Bali, explore our guides to Bali traditional villages, Bali beaches, and Bali luxury villas. For background on jukung boats, see jukung on Wikipedia.
