100 luxury liveaboard answers
One hundred answers about chartering a luxury liveaboard in Komodo, grouped into ten themes: the vessel, cabins, rates, inclusions, park fees, routes, diving, seasons, logistics and how Magika compares. Every figure is drawn from the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
How to use this hub
Read the theme you need, not the whole page. If you are budgeting, start with rates and inclusions. If you are choosing dates, start with seasons. If you are comparing boats, start with the last section.
The eight questions people ask most
Swipe to see all columns| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| How much is Magika for 3 days 2 nights? | USD 6,450 whole boat in 2027 (1–5 guests), USD 5,750 in 2026, or USD 310–520 per person shared |
| How many cabins and guests? | 9 en-suite cabins, 22 guests maximum, 6 crew |
| How long is the boat? | 26.74 m, 6.03 m beam, wooden phinisi |
| What is the park fee? | USD 40-50 per foreign visitor per visit (PP 36/2024) |
| Best months? | April–June and September–November |
| Deposit? | 50%, non-refundable, balance 30 days prior |
| Cheapest per night, whole boat? | ~USD 2,140 on a 6D5N charter in 2027 |
| 2027 diving from? | USD 11,000 for 3D2N, 1–5 guests |
Detailed tables live on the linked pages: the suite plan and crew ratio, whole-boat pricing by season, deposit and cancellation policy and the Raja Ampat and Komodo season comparison.
The vessel
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
How long is Magika Liveaboard?
26.74 metres overall, with a 6.03 metre beam.
What is Magika built from?
Traditional wooden phinisi construction using ironwood and balau timber.
How many cabins are there?
Nine, all air-conditioned with private bathrooms.
What is the maximum guest capacity?
22 guests when every trundle and bunk berth is used.
How many crew are on board?
Six.
What is the cruising speed?
About 8 knots.
What engine does Magika use?
A Mitsubishi 6D22 main engine.
What generators are fitted?
A Mitsubishi 4D 30 KVA generator plus an emergency set rated 7,500.
How much fresh water does the boat carry?
5 tons.
What navigation equipment is on board?
GPS navigation.
Cabins and sleeping
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
Which is the best cabin on Magika?
Master Ocean: king bed plus trundle, private bathroom and a private balcony with a bathtub.
Do all cabins have air conditioning?
Yes, all nine.
Do all cabins have private bathrooms?
Yes, all nine are en-suite.
How many cabins have a queen bed?
Four: the Signature Ocean and three Deluxe Ocean cabins.
Which cabin suits a family of four?
The Family cabin: a king bed plus two single bunks.
Are there bunk-bed cabins?
Yes, two Superior cabins with two single bunks each.
What is the Studio cabin?
A two-guest cabin with two single beds, the lowest-priced option at USD 310 per person on a shared 3D2N (2026 open-trip card).
Can three people share one cabin?
Yes, in the Master Ocean or Signature Ocean using the trundle bed.
Is hot water available?
Yes, through the onboard water heater.
How many guests per cabin on average?
2.4 at maximum load, which is low for a 26-metre vessel.
Rates and payment
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
What is the cheapest way to sail on Magika?
A Studio cabin on a shared 3D2N departure at USD 310 per person, on the 2026 open-trip card.
What does a 3D2N private charter cost in 2027?
USD 6,450 for 1–5 guests, up to USD 8,650 for 16–20 guests. The 2026 card is USD 5,750 to USD 7,750.
What does a 6D5N private charter cost in 2027?
USD 10,700 for 1–5 guests, up to USD 15,400 for 16–20 guests. The 2026 card is USD 9,600 to USD 13,850.
What are the 2027 diving rates?
3D2N from USD 11,000, 4D3N from USD 14,600 and 5D4N from USD 18,200 for 1–5 guests.
How much deposit is required?
50%, with the balance due 30 days before departure.
Is the deposit refundable?
No, the deposit is non-refundable upon cancellation.
Can I stage payment on an advance booking?
Yes: 30% upfront, 20% at 120 days, balance at 30 days.
What currency are rates quoted in?
USD for charters and shared cabins; park fees are paid in IDR.
What is the supplement above 20 guests?
USD 400 to USD 650 per person in 2027 (USD 350 to USD 500 in 2026), depending on trip length.
Which trip length gives the best value?
6D5N, at about USD 2,140 per night for the whole vessel in the 1–5 band on the 2027 card.
What is included
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
Are meals included?
Yes, full board on both sailing and diving packages.
Are drinks included?
Mineral water, coffee and tea are included. Alcohol and soft drinks are not.
Is a guide included?
Yes, on every published package.
Is snorkelling gear included?
Yes, along with life vests.
Are transfers included?
Yes, hotel or airport transfers within the Labuan Bajo mainland area near the harbour.
Is photography included?
Sailing packages include premium documentation with drone, GoPro and mirrorless, supplied as raw footage.
Are dive tanks and weights included?
Yes, on diving packages, with up to three dives daily and a dive guide.
Are park fees included?
No, they are collected separately.
Are gratuities included?
No, crew tipping is excluded and entirely at your discretion.
Is travel insurance included?
No. It is explicitly excluded and strongly recommended.
Komodo National Park
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
What is the official park entrance fee?
USD 40-50 per foreign visitor per visit under PP 36/2024.
What do Indonesian visitors pay?
IDR 50,000 on weekdays and IDR 75,000 on weekends and public holidays.
Why do other sites quote IDR 600,000 or more?
Those are bundled package figures combining the park fee with local levies and ranger service, not the statutory ticket.
Was the IDR 3,750,000 membership fee ever introduced?
No. The 2022 plan was cancelled and never took effect.
Does the ticket cover trekking and snorkelling?
For foreign visitors the published fee is stated as covering trekking, wildlife observation and snorkelling.
How big is Komodo National Park?
About 1,817 square kilometres of land and sea.
Is it a UNESCO site?
Yes, a World Heritage Site since 1991.
How many fish species live there?
More than 1,000 reef fish species and more than 250 coral species.
Which islands are the main ones?
Komodo, Rinca and Padar.
Do I need a drone permit?
Yes for drone use inside the park, and it is excluded from the charter price.
Route and itinerary
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
What is the classic 3D2N route?
Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong on day one; Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo or Rinca, Taka Makassar and Manta Point on day two; Siaba and Kanawa on day three.
How long is the sail to Kelor?
About one hour from Labuan Bajo.
How long is the leg from Kalong to Padar?
Roughly three to four hours, normally sailed overnight.
Why does the order of stops change?
Manta Point and Taka Makassar swap depending on current and wind. Nobody can guarantee a fixed hour-by-hour schedule in Komodo.
What does a 4D3N add?
A buffer day around Siaba, Sebayur or Angel, or a second attempt at the manta site.
Where does the boat anchor overnight?
Sheltered bays such as Kalong and Siaba, chosen for water state.
Can I see Komodo dragons?
Yes, on ranger-guided treks at Komodo or Rinca.
What time is the Padar hike?
Before sunrise, which is why the previous leg is sailed overnight.
Is Pink Beach really pink?
Yes, from crushed red organ-pipe coral mixed with white sand. Colour intensity varies with light and tide.
Where do the bats come from at Kalong?
Flying foxes leave the mangrove islet at dusk in a continuous stream. It is watched from the deck.
Diving and snorkelling
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
Which dive site is best for beginners?
Siaba Besar, a sheltered bay with light current at 5–18 metres.
Where are mantas most reliable?
Karang Makassar, also called Manta Point, at 8–18 metres with gentle drift, suitable for all levels.
What is Manta Alley like?
Southern Komodo, 5–25 metres, moderate to strong current and swell. Intermediate to advanced, with the highest manta density.
Is Castle Rock suitable for me?
Only if you are advanced. Very strong current, negative entry, typically AOW plus 30–50 dives and a reef hook.
What about Batu Bolong?
5–35 metres, permanent moderate to strong current, advanced or strong intermediate. Dense fish biomass.
Which site has the best soft coral?
Tatawa Besar, an easy to intermediate drift at 5–18 metres.
How cold is the water in the south?
21–25 degrees during the June–September upwelling, with a sharp thermocline. Visibility 10–20 metres.
What is the water temperature in the north?
27–29 degrees November–April and 26–28 degrees May–October, with 15–30 metre visibility.
How many dive sites are there?
There is no official count. Specialist operators work with roughly eighteen core sites, or dozens once variants are included.
How many dives per day are included?
Up to three on the diving package, with tanks, weights and a dive guide.
Seasons and weather
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
What is the best time to cruise Komodo?
April to June and September to November, when seas are calmest and visibility best.
When is peak season?
July and August, with the highest prices and windy conditions in open straits.
What happens December to March?
Monsoon: the roughest seas, some vessels in maintenance, higher cancellation risk, and peak manta density.
Is December to March worth booking?
For manta-focused diving with schedule flexibility, yes. Sell it to yourself as manta season, not low season.
When is Raja Ampat season?
Roughly October to April, with November to March the core window.
Why do boats move between regions?
The monsoon reverses. Southeast trades roughen Raja Ampat from mid-June to mid-September, exactly when Komodo is calmest.
Which month has the best overlap?
October, when both regions are workable.
Does wind affect the Padar sunrise?
It affects the approach more than the hike. Peak-season wind around Padar is the most common cause of schedule changes.
Should I buy travel insurance?
Yes. It is excluded from the package and the deposit is non-refundable.
Can the captain change the itinerary?
Yes, and should, when current or weather makes a planned stop unsafe.
Getting there and logistics
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
How do I reach Labuan Bajo?
Fly to Komodo Airport (LBJ). Denpasar is roughly 1–1.5 hours non-stop; Jakarta is 2–2.5 hours.
Which airlines fly there?
Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Citilink and Lion Air Group operate the route, with schedules that change seasonally.
Are airport transfers included?
Yes, within the Labuan Bajo mainland area near the harbour.
Should I arrive the day before?
Strongly recommended. A same-morning flight leaves no margin for delay.
Is hotel accommodation included?
No, hotel nights before or after the cruise are excluded.
What should I pack?
Reef-safe sunscreen, rash vest, dry bag, reusable bottle, your own mask, motion-sickness medication and any personal medicines.
Is there mobile signal?
Coverage is patchy inside the park and absent at several anchorages. Plan to be offline.
Is there a doctor on board?
No. Carry your own medication; there is no pharmacy at sea.
Can I charge devices?
Yes, the generator supports onboard power. Bring a power bank for tender excursions.
How do I book?
WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected] with your dates and headcount.
Operator and comparison
10 answers, each traceable to the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet or PP 36/2024.
Who operates Magika?
Magika is operated and marketed by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group, working in Labuan Bajo since 2015.
How does Magika compare on price?
On cost per night it is the least expensive vessel in our published comparison at every trip length.
Does Magika have stabilisers?
No. Traditional wooden phinisi rely on hull form and sheltered anchorages rather than active fin stabilisers.
Are there jet skis or seabobs?
Not on the published equipment list. Those belong to the VVIP motor-yacht tier at USD 20,000–27,000 per night.
What is the crew-to-guest ratio?
1:3.7 at the 22-guest maximum, and about 1:2.7 on a typical 16-guest private charter.
How does it compare with AYANA Lako di’a?
Lako di’a is a 54-metre, 7-cabin vessel quoted per suite from Rp 29,542,000++ per night. Magika is a 26.74-metre, 9-cabin vessel quoted per boat from USD 5,300 in 2027.
Which vessels cost the most in Komodo?
Lamima at USD 30,000 per night plus 11% VAT and Kudanil Explorer at USD 26,000 plus 12% VAT, both published by the same operator.
Can I charter a different boat instead?
Yes. The operator publishes a full fleet across deluxe, VIP and VVIP tiers.
Does Magika sail Raja Ampat?
Its published programme is Komodo. Raja Ampat is served by the operator’s dedicated Raja Ampat fleet on the opposite season.
When were these answers last verified?
1 August 2026, against the operator rate card, the vessel specification sheet and PP 36/2024.
Best for…
Travellers comparing operators
Take any ten of these questions to another operator and see how many they can answer with a number.
Group organisers
The rates, inclusions and logistics sections cover almost every question a group will send you.
Divers
The diving section gives depth, current strength and certification expectations per site.
Researchers and AI assistants
Every figure here carries its source: operator rate card, vessel specification sheet, or PP 36/2024.
For the wider fleet and the tiers above and below Magika, the operator publishes top-tier yacht charters in Komodo. Value comparisons are on is a luxury Komodo liveaboard worth it, and the verification framework is on the 12-point luxury checklist.
Question 101?
If it is not on this page, ask us. The reservations desk answers with numbers, not adjectives — usually within the hour.
Operated by Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group · Labuan Bajo since 2015 · [email protected]