Raja Bintang 01
Raja Bintang 01
Komodo month by month
Updated 4 November 2026
The best time for a Komodo boat trip is the dry season, with the calmest sea in April to June, October and November. Padar sunrise falls between 05:31 and 06:18, Kalong sunset between 17:49 and 18:27. On Raja Bintang 01 the captain chooses each anchorage with the weather.
The year at a glance
The chart below describes conditions; it does not promise them. April to June gives a calm sea and clear water. July and August bring the south-east wind, a choppier sea and the busiest anchorages. September eases off. October and November return calm, hot days with fewer boats on the water.
December to March is the wet season. Expect short heavy showers, a rougher sea and more days when the harbour authority closes sailing. We sell those months too, and we say plainly that the odds of a changed plan are higher.
No month guarantees a manta ray or a dragon on the trail. Sightings change by site and by day. What a month does decide is the sea you sleep on and the light you climb in, and on a 24 m phinisi the sea matters more than any other line of the table.
| Month | Sea | Visibility | Mantas | Crowds | Rain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | rough | low | peak | low | wet | Wet season at its roughest: showers, a high sea and the quietest water. Sailing may be closed on some days, and no month promises mantas. |
| February | rough | low | peak | low | wet | Heavy showers and a rough sea continue, with low visibility. Few boats are out, and a changed plan is more likely than in any other month. |
| March | moderate | medium | good | low | wet | Showers ease and the sea settles. Visibility is middling, crowds are low, and the weather still decides the order of stops. |
| April | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | The dry season opens with a calm sea and clear water. A good month for the trail at Padar and for snorkelling. |
| May | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Dry, calm and clear, with moderate crowds. Conditions are steady for both the climb and the water. |
| June | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Dry and clear, with the south-east wind beginning to build. The sea is still calm for most of the month. |
| July | rough | medium | peak | high | dry | Dry but windy, with a choppier sea and the busiest anchorages. Book early; the captain may pick a sheltered bay. |
| August | rough | medium | peak | high | dry | The windiest month of the dry season, with full anchorages. Transits can be rough, and a harbour closure is possible for a day or two. |
| September | moderate | high | peak | medium | dry | The wind eases and visibility improves. A good shoulder month with moderate crowds and no sighting promised. |
| October | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Calm, clear and hot, with fewer boats than in July and August. Bring a hat and water for the trails. |
| November | calm | high | fair | low | dry | The dry season ends with a calm sea, clear water and quiet sites. Sunrise at Padar comes early. |
| December | moderate | medium | peak | medium | wet | The wet season begins with a moderate sea and mixed visibility. Late December is busy with holiday travellers. |
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Padar's first light across the year
Sunrise at Padar runs from 05:31 to 06:18 across the year, and the table gives every month. The climb to the viewpoint begins before dawn, so the alarm is early in every season. The shift between months is small, but it is felt: in June the sun rises at 06:14, in November at 05:31.
Raja Bintang 01 plans Padar for the second morning of the three-day route, in the tentative day plan. The final order of stops depends on the weather and on the captain's call, so treat the times below as the sky's calendar and not as a schedule.
| Month | Sunrise | Leave the boat by | On the ridge by |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:54 | 04:49 | 05:34 |
| February | 06:05 | 05:00 | 05:45 |
| March | 06:06 | 05:01 | 05:46 |
| April | 06:04 | 04:59 | 05:44 |
| May | 06:07 | 05:02 | 05:47 |
| June | 06:14 | 05:09 | 05:54 |
| July | 06:18 | 05:13 | 05:58 |
| August | 06:12 | 05:07 | 05:52 |
| September | 05:56 | 04:51 | 05:36 |
| October | 05:39 | 04:34 | 05:19 |
| November | 05:31 | 04:26 | 05:11 |
| December | 05:38 | 04:33 | 05:18 |
Computed for the location; accurate to a few minutes. The crew shifts wake-up with the actual swell.
Kalong's last light across the year
The first evening of the three-day route ends off Kalong. Sunset there falls between 17:49 and 18:27; in November it is 18:01. The table lists each month.
Light is only half of that evening. The other half is the sky itself, which no table predicts. A cloudy hour can shorten the colour, and a clear one can stretch it. The boat is at anchor by then, the engine is quiet, and the day ends where it started: on the water, with the horizon in front of you.
Check the table for the month you have in mind. A winter sunset comes earlier than a summer one, and the evening plan should follow it, so tell us your dates and we say what to expect from the light.
| Month | Sunset | Bats fly from about |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18:27 | 18:42 |
| February | 18:26 | 18:41 |
| March | 18:15 | 18:30 |
| April | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| May | 17:49 | 18:04 |
| June | 17:50 | 18:05 |
| July | 17:57 | 18:12 |
| August | 18:00 | 18:15 |
| September | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| October | 17:55 | 18:10 |
| November | 18:01 | 18:16 |
| December | 18:14 | 18:29 |
Computed for the location; accurate to a few minutes. The crew shifts wake-up with the actual swell.
When the sea says no
The harbour master decides whether boats may sail, using the national weather forecast. When sailing is closed, or the swell is too high, the trip does not leave. A closure can also be partial: the park authority has allowed Rinca alone while Komodo and Padar were shut.
If we or the boat cannot sail, we supply a boat of the same or higher class on the same date at no extra charge, or we refund in full within 2 days. If you prefer to move the date yourself, rescheduling is free 30 days or more before departure and costs IDR 500,000 from 14 to 29 days.
After an earthquake or a weather warning, write to us the same day. We check the official advice and tell you in writing what we know. We never say that the boat always sails.
Anchored for the night, by the captain's call
The boat stays at anchor overnight. The captain chooses the anchorage with the weather: the wind direction, the swell and the shelter of the bay decide it, and the choice is made on the day.
In calm months that choice is easy and the evenings on the Master and Deluxe balconies are the best of the trip. In windier months the captain may pick a more sheltered bay, which changes the view but not the plan.
Phone signal is local and varies by anchorage, so download tickets and maps before you leave Labuan Bajo.
Which month fits which party
Suits: families with children, April to June and October to November, when the sea is calm and the legs between stops are the easiest to enjoy.
Suits: teams and company trips, October and November, when the anchorages are quieter and a group of up to 16 has the water to itself. Book July and August early, because they are the busiest months.
Suits: photographers, April to June and September to November, when the water is clear and the light is long. Nobody can promise a sighting in any month.
Suits: guests who accept a rougher sea, December to March, when crowds are low, showers are heavy and a change of plan is more likely.
FAQ
What is the best time of year to visit Komodo by boat?
The dry season, from April to November, is the best choice for a calm sea. April to June and October to November give the clearest water; July and August are windier and busier. December to March is wet and rougher. No month guarantees any sighting, and the captain decides each anchorage.
Is it safe after weather warnings or earthquakes, and what happens if sailing is closed?
The harbour master decides whether boats may sail, so we never sail against a closure. If the boat cannot go, we provide a boat of the same or higher class on the same date at no extra charge, or refund in full within 2 days. Write to us the same day for any warning.
Is Komodo Island closed in 2026?
There is no year-round closure of Komodo Island. Short weather closures do happen: the harbour authority closed Komodo and Padar to boats for a few days in August 2026, and Rinca was the alternative. Park rules were checked on 4 November 2026. Ask us for the status of your dates.
What time is sunrise at Padar?
Sunrise at Padar falls between 05:31 and 06:18 depending on the month: 06:14 in June, 05:31 in November. The climb starts before dawn. The tentative day plan puts Padar on the second morning, and the weather can change that order.
Will I be seasick on a 24 m phinisi?
We cannot predict it. The boat spends most of the day at anchor or on short legs, and calm months help. Bring tablets or patches from home, as pharmacies in Labuan Bajo have limited choice, and ask a doctor for advice. Our cabin guide explains what we know about positions.
Check availability — Raja Bintang 01
Raja Bintang 01 sails with its own crew; Komodo Explorer sells the cabins and the whole boat, and arranges your booking, payment and pickup.