Yes, you can visit. The Ara and Bira yards are working sites on an open coast, not gated attractions: arrive respectfully, greet the crew, and ask before you enter a hull or photograph people. For buyers, media and groups, a hosted walk-through with a build-desk escort can be arranged around real build milestones.
Best time to visit
- Mornings, when the carpentry is most active and the light is best.
- Midday, when the heat brings a work lull – useful to know if you want to see hands on tools.
- Launch days, the rare spectacle when a finished hull is hauled to the sea.
What you will see
- Hulls at every stage strung along the shoreline, from bare keel to near-complete.
- Panrita lopi shaping planks by eye and driving dowels by hand.
- Timber stacks, dowels and hand tools – almost no heavy machinery.
Etiquette in a working yard
- Ask before photographing people – these are workplaces, not a film set.
- Keep well clear of lifting, dragging and launch work.
- Mind footwear, sun and site safety; there are sharp tools and rough ground everywhere.
Ara, Bira and Tana Beru
- Ara – the historic carvers’ village that has long supplied shipwrights.
- Tanjung Bira – the beach-resort headland where most visitors stay.
- Tana Beru, 12-15 km away – a separate building beach with its own yards, covered by a sister channel.
Arrange a hosted visit
For a hosted walk-through with a build-desk escort – useful for buyers, media and groups – contact the desk on WhatsApp. The craft you will be watching is explained on the build-process page and the heritage page, and if the visit turns into a plan, start at the main desk or go straight to contact.
Arrange a hosted yard visit or email sales@komodoluxury.com
Frequently asked questions
Is there an entrance ticket for the Bira boatyards?
No formal ticket booth is documented for the working yards; access is informal because they are living workplaces. Occasional local parking or courtesy fees may exist but are not a formal ticket system.
What is the difference between Ara, Bira and Tana Beru?
Ara is historically the carvers’ village supplying craftsmen; Tanjung Bira is the beach-resort headland where most visitors stay; Tana Beru, 12-15 km away, is a separate building beach with its own yards.
How long should I plan for a visit?
Most visitors spend one to three hours walking the yards and watching work; photographers and buyers often stay half a day, ideally in the morning.
Can the desk host a buyer or media visit?
Yes – a hosted walk-through with an escort can be arranged for buyers, media and groups, scheduled around real build milestones such as keel-layings and launches.