Raja Ampat vs Komodo: season, route & rates
Raja Ampat and Komodo run on opposite seasons, which is why they are served by different vessels. Raja Ampat’s liveaboard window is roughly October to April; Komodo is at its best from April to June and September to November. Magika’s published programme is Komodo out of Labuan Bajo, from USD 5,750 for a 3D2N whole-boat charter.
The honest answer first
Plenty of Indonesian liveaboard sites imply a single boat covers the whole archipelago. The physics say otherwise. Komodo and Raja Ampat are about 1,500 km apart, and the monsoon that flattens one roughens the other.
Magika’s published schedule and rate card are Komodo National Park charters departing Labuan Bajo. Raja Ampat programmes are run by the operator’s Raja Ampat fleet, and you can see the luxury Raja Ampat programme for that season.
That distinction is worth more than a marketing claim, because it is the reason your trip either sails or gets cancelled.
Raja Ampat versus Komodo, month by month
Use this table first, pick the region second, then pick the boat. Doing it the other way round is how trips get cancelled.
| Month | Raja Ampat | Komodo | Practical implication |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Peak season, calm, best visibility | Monsoon, roughest seas, peak manta | Choose Raja Ampat; Komodo schedules thin out |
| February | Peak season | Monsoon, peak manta | Raja Ampat |
| March | Peak season, closing well | Monsoon easing, manta still strong | Either, with weather risk in Komodo |
| April | Season ends, shoulder | Season opens, seas settling | Transition month; Komodo becomes the better bet |
| May | Low season begins, boats reposition | Calm, excellent visibility | Komodo |
| June | Low, southeast trades build | Calm, excellent visibility | Komodo |
| July | Off-season, rough south | Peak season; windy around Padar and open straits | Komodo, book early, expect peak pricing |
| August | Off-season | Peak season, windy | Komodo, book early |
| September | Season opener, boats return | Calm, excellent visibility | Either |
| October | Main season begins | Calm, excellent visibility | Either — the best overlap month |
| November | Core season begins | Calm, shoulder pricing | Either |
| December | Core season, very popular | Monsoon begins, manta season starts | Raja Ampat for weather, Komodo for manta |
Season windows compiled from multiple operator and dive-travel sources, cross-checked 1 August 2026. Weather is a probability, not a promise — confirm the sailing schedule for your dates.
What each region actually gives you
| Factor | Komodo (Magika) | Raja Ampat |
|---|---|---|
| Main season | April–June, September–November | October–April |
| Access | Denpasar to Labuan Bajo, ~1–1.5 h non-stop | Via Sorong, plus onward transfer |
| Statutory park fee | IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per visit (PP 36/2024) | Annual PIN card, operator-reported at around IDR 1,000,000 for foreign visitors |
| Signature sights | Komodo dragons, Padar ridge, Pink Beach, Manta Point | Karst seascapes, exceptional reef biodiversity |
| Typical trip length | 2–6 days | 7–10 nights |
| Magika whole-boat rate | USD 4,700 to USD 13,850 in 2026, USD 5,300 to USD 15,400 in 2027, depending on length and group size | Served by the Raja Ampat fleet, quoted separately |
Magika’s route and rates, day by day
The classic Komodo circuit Magika sails follows the standard operator route, with the running order adjusted for current and wind.
| Day | Route | Approximate sailing time | Package covering it | Whole-boat price (1–5 guests) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Labuan Bajo → Kelor → Manjarite → Kalong (overnight) | ~1 h to Kelor, then ~0.5–1 h legs | 2D1N onward | USD 5,300 (2D1N, 2027) |
| Day 2 | Padar sunrise → Pink Beach → Komodo or Rinca → Taka Makassar → Manta Point | ~3–4 h overnight to Padar, then short hops | 3D2N onward | USD 6,450 (3D2N, 2027) |
| Day 3 | Siaba or Turtle City → Kanawa → Labuan Bajo | ~1–1.5 h legs | 3D2N onward | — |
| Day 4 | Buffer day: Sebayur, Angel or a second manta attempt | Varies with current | 4D3N | USD 7,900 (4D3N, 2027) |
| Days 5–6 | Extended southern or northern loop | Varies | 5D4N / 6D5N | USD 9,150 / USD 10,700 (2027) |
Manta Point and Taka Makassar routinely swap places in the running order depending on tide and wind. Any operator who guarantees a fixed hour-by-hour schedule in Komodo is guaranteeing something the sea does not sell.
Best for…
Travellers with fixed dates
Use the month table first, pick the region second, then pick the boat.
Divers chasing manta
December to March in Komodo is manta season, not low season — the plankton bloom that roughens the sea is what brings them in.
Groups wanting both regions
Plan two cruises with a domestic flight between, ideally in the October overlap.
Anyone comparing whole-boat cost
Longer Magika charters get materially cheaper per night; see whole-boat pricing by season.
Celebration and group layouts are covered on groups and celebrations. Magika’s Raja Ampat-season counterpart overlaps the classic northern loop; see the seven-night programme for how those days are normally spent between Wayag and Misool. Everything else is at the Magika FAQ hub.
Frequently asked questions
Does Magika sail to Raja Ampat?
Magika’s published programme is Komodo National Park out of Labuan Bajo. Raja Ampat itineraries are handled by the operator’s dedicated Raja Ampat fleet, because the two regions run on opposite seasons.
When is the Raja Ampat liveaboard season?
Roughly October to April, with November to March the core window. May to September brings southeast trade winds and most boats reposition to Komodo.
When is the Komodo season?
April to June and September to November are the calmest, July to August is peak but windy around Padar, and December to March is monsoon with the best manta density.
Can I combine Komodo and Raja Ampat in one trip?
Yes, but as two separate cruises with a flight between them, not one crossing. The two parks are about 1,500 km apart.
What does the Raja Ampat marine park permit cost?
Operators report about IDR 1,000,000 per foreign visitor for an annual PIN card, with a lower domestic rate. Confirm the current figure with your operator, as the official tariff is revised periodically.
Which is better for manta rays?
Both are excellent. Komodo peaks December to March at Karang Makassar and Manta Alley; Raja Ampat peaks in the same months at its own cleaning stations.
Why do liveaboards move between the two regions?
The monsoon reverses. When southeast trades make Raja Ampat crossings rough from mid-June to mid-September, Komodo is at its calmest, so vessels follow the weather.
If I only have one week, which should I choose?
Komodo, if you are flying via Bali. Labuan Bajo is 1 to 1.5 hours from Denpasar, whereas Raja Ampat needs a Sorong flight plus a ferry transfer.
Tell us your month, we will tell you the sea
Send your travel window and we will say plainly whether Komodo or Raja Ampat is the right call — and what Magika costs on those dates.
Whole-boat charter and shared cabins · Labuan Bajo departures · 2026 & 2027 dates open