Planning · 2027 season
When Lady Grace sails, and which dates go first
The calendar is built around open-trip departures with charter dates blocked out on top. This page explains how that works, what each month is actually like on the water, and how far ahead to commit.
The sailing year
What each part of the season is like
Komodo has one dry season and one wet one, and the difference shows up underwater long before it shows up on deck.
PeakThe settled months
Calmest water, 20–30 metres of visibility and the most reliable Padar sunrises. Also the busiest: suites and Deluxe cabins go months ahead and charter dates disappear first.
ShoulderQuieter, still dry
Same route, same rates, noticeably fewer boats at the anchorages. The shoulder months are the value window if your dates are flexible.
Wet seasonManta peak, lower visibility
Reef manta sightings peak, but visibility drops to 10–15 metres and open-deck time is weather dependent. Worth it if the mantas are the reason you are coming.
Lady Grace sails weekly, every month of the year, from Labuan Bajo. The standard pattern is a three-day block, most commonly Friday to Sunday – in July 2026, for example, consecutive weekend departures ran through the whole month. There is no formal closure of Komodo National Park at any point in the year. Private charters and four-day itineraries are scheduled on request around that weekly cycle. Availability is confirmed by the Labuan Bajo desk, cabin by cabin, at the time you enquire – this page explains the pattern rather than publishing a fixed calendar that would be out of date the week after it went up.
How the calendar is built
Three layers sit on top of each other:
- Weekly open-trip departures on the 3D2N itinerary, sold by cabin at per-person rates with a two-person minimum. This is the backbone of the calendar.
- Private charters – 2D1N, 3D2N or 4D3N – which are placed into the calendar on request and block the whole vessel for those dates.
- Positioning and maintenance days, which the operator keeps around the blocks and which is why “the boat is free that week” is a question for the desk rather than an assumption you can make from a pattern.
The practical consequence: a confirmed charter in your window removes those dates from open trip availability entirely, and a filling open trip constrains where a charter can be placed. Both directions are worth knowing when you are asked to decide quickly.
Month by month: what you are booking into
Conditions, not availability, are what actually differ across the year. This table is the sea and weather picture; availability sits on top of it.
| Month | Sea and weather | Typical visibility | What it means on the water |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Wet, heaviest rain | 10-15 m | Peak manta season at Karang Makassar |
| February | Wet, heaviest rain | 10-15 m | Peak manta season, routes adjusted for swell |
| March | Wet, easing | 10-15 m | End of the peak manta window |
| April | Start of the dry season | 20-30 m | Seas settling, fewer boats |
| May | Dry | 20-30 m | Strong manta sightings with better visibility |
| June | Dry, most settled | 20-30 m+ | Prime conditions, calendars fill early |
| July | Dry, most settled | 20-30 m+ | Peak demand; south Komodo water cools to 24-26 C |
| August | Dry, most settled | 20-30 m+ | Peak demand; upwelling continues in the south |
| September | Dry, most settled | 20-30 m+ | Prime conditions, demand easing late in the month |
| October | Dry | 20-30 m | Warm, calm, good value |
| November | End of the dry season | 20-30 m | Transitional, still widely sailed |
| December | Wet begins | 10-15 m | Manta numbers rising, holiday demand high |
Which dates fill first
| Window | Demand | Practical advice |
|---|---|---|
| June – September | Highest. Settled seas, best visibility, peak northern-hemisphere holidays | Book the earliest you can. Suite and Grand Deluxe cabins clear first |
| Late December – early January | High. Holiday travel overlapping peak manta season | Expect rain; book early anyway |
| April – May, October – November | Shoulder. Good conditions, thinner crowds | The best availability-to-conditions trade of the year |
| January – March (excluding the holidays) | Lowest. Wet season, heaviest rain Jan-Feb | Most calendar room and peak manta sightings, at the cost of visibility and rain |
Holding a cabin or a charter date
Availability, deposit amounts, payment schedule, reschedule terms and cancellation conditions are set by the operator and issued in writing at the time of enquiry. This page deliberately does not publish figures for any of them, because quoting terms that later differ from your booking confirmation helps nobody.
Ask for these five things in writing before you transfer anything:
- Vessel name, departure date and return date.
- Cabin grade, or confirmation that the whole boat is blocked for a charter.
- The total price and exactly what is included.
- The current Komodo National Park fee estimate for your party and nationality.
- Deposit amount, balance due date, and the reschedule and cancellation terms.
That is standard practice for any Labuan Bajo operator, this one included. If any of the five is missing, ask again before you pay.
Pick a length
Three durations, one boat
2D1N
Whole boat from IDR 94,000,000. Padar, the dragons and the mantas inside 36 hours.
See details
3D2N
The flagship route. Open trip from IDR 5,250,000 per person, whole boat IDR 123,000,000.
See the timetable
4D3N
Adds Rangko Cave, Seraya and a second attempt at Manta Point. Whole boat IDR 157,000,000.
See the routeWhat you are booking
The 3D2N weekly departure is the itinerary the schedule is built around: Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong on day one; Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Manta Point and Taka Makassar on day two; Sebayur on the morning of day three. The full hour-by-hour timetable and cabin pricing are on the 3D2N itinerary page.
| Cabin grade | Cabins on board | Bed | View / extras | Open trip per person | Extra bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suite Ocean View | 2 | Double | Private balcony + jacuzzi | IDR 8,500,000 | IDR 5,000,000 |
| Junior Suite Ocean View | 1 | Double | Private balcony | IDR 8,000,000 | On request |
| Grand Deluxe Ocean View | 2 | Double | Sea view window | IDR 7,750,000 | IDR 5,000,000 |
| Deluxe | 4 | Double | Porthole view | IDR 5,750,000 | Not listed |
| Superior | 1-2 | Bunk bed | Interior | IDR 5,250,000 | Not listed |
Charter dates for 2D1N and 4D3N itineraries are quoted separately – see the luxury Komodo cruise overview for the whole range, and the booking page for how a reservation is confirmed. When the dates you need are already committed, the full liveaboard collection may have a comparable cabin on another hull the same week.
Rate note. Every rupiah figure on this page is the operator’s published rate read on 31 July 2026. Komodo National Park fees are set by government regulation, are not included, and change without notice. Ask the booking desk to confirm the current total in writing before you pay a deposit.
Answers
Frequently asked questions
How often does Lady Grace depart?
Weekly, every month of the year, most commonly as a Friday-to-Sunday three-day block. Private charters and four-day itineraries are scheduled on request around that cycle.
Does Komodo National Park close in the wet season?
There is no formal closure. Larger phinisi generally operate year-round with routes adjusted for conditions, while some smaller budget operators pause during January and February.
How far in advance should I book?
As early as you can for June to September and the year-end holidays, when the premium cabins clear first. Shoulder months – April, May, October and November – usually have room closer in.
Can I see a live availability calendar online?
Availability is confirmed cabin by cabin by the Labuan Bajo desk at the time you enquire, because charters and open trips compete for the same dates. Send your window and you will get a current answer rather than a snapshot.
What are the deposit and cancellation terms?
They are set by the operator and issued in writing with your quote. Ask for the deposit amount, the balance due date and the reschedule and cancellation conditions before transferring anything.
Which month has the best conditions?
June to September is the most settled part of the dry season, with visibility of 20-30 metres or more. December to March brings peak manta sightings but heavier rain and 10-15 metre visibility.
Check your dates
Send your travel window rather than a single date. The desk will come back with every departure that fits, what is still free on each, and which ones are about to be taken by a charter.
Lady Grace is operated by Komodo Luxury, Labuan Bajo. Quotes, availability and payment terms are issued by the operator in writing.
