If you want the lowest chance of your boat trip being cancelled, avoid December to February. In those months strong winds limit access to the northern and central parts of Komodo National Park, and several sailing closures have happened in this window. If manta rays at the central sites such as Karang Makassar are your main goal, your best odds are in the northwest monsoon, November to April.
Komodo has two seasons: the northwest monsoon (November to April) and the southeast monsoon (May to October), according to Germanov et al. (PeerJ, 2022). The southeast season sits outside the strong-wind window, but it is not free of disruption: there was a temporary closure in September 2026 too.
Komodo Month by Month
This table sums up what the sources record for each month. Months with no record say so, rather than guessing.
| Month | Season | Sea and access | Manta rays | Recorded events |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Northwest | Strong winds limit access to northern and central sites | Central sites busy in the northwest season | 14 January 2026: sailing permits for all vessel types temporarily suspended |
| February | Northwest | Strong winds limit access to northern and central sites | Central sites busy in the northwest season | No record |
| March | Northwest | No specific record | Central sites busy in the northwest season | No record |
| April | Northwest | No specific record | Central sites busy in the northwest season | No record |
| May | Southeast | Outside the strong-wind window | Manta visits in the south start to rise | May 2026: waves up to 2.1 m in southern Sape Strait, permits limited to the nearest route |
| June | Southeast | Limited access to the south (Manta Alley) | Manta visits in the south rise | No record |
| July | Southeast | Limited access to the south; Karang Makassar busiest with boats | Manta visits in the south rise | No record |
| August | Southeast | Limited access to the south; Karang Makassar busiest with boats | Fewest sightings at central sites | No record |
| September | Southeast | No specific record | Fewest sightings at central sites | 8 to 10 September 2026: access to Padar Island and the national park temporarily closed |
| October | Southeast | No specific record | Manta visits in the south rise | No record |
| November | Northwest | No specific record | Central sites start to get busy | No record |
| December | Northwest | Strong winds limit access to northern and central sites | Central sites busy in the northwest season | 29 December 2025: sailing across all West Manggarai waters temporarily closed |
Source for the season, access, manta and crowd columns: Germanov et al. (PeerJ, 2022). Sources for the events are in the next section.
Calm Seas or More Mantas: Choose First
These two goals rarely meet in the same month.
- Lowest risk of cancellation: avoid December to February. Germanov et al. record that strong winds in those months limit access to the northern and central parts of the park.
- Best odds for mantas at the central sites: choose November to April. Feeding groups of up to 30 manta rays have been recorded at Karang Makassar in the northwest season, and sightings at the central sites are lowest in August and September.
- Mantas in the southeast season: manta visits in the south rise in this season, but access to the south is limited from June to August. The central sites remain the easiest to reach all year, outside the strong-wind days.
- Fewer crowds: avoid July and August. In those two months the number of boats at Karang Makassar was recorded at 102% above the average for the other months (Germanov et al., 2022).
Why Boats Are Sometimes Barred From Sailing
In Labuan Bajo, the Class III harbourmaster and port authority (KSOP) can withhold the sailing permit (SPB) for tourist boats during extreme weather, based on BMKG's marine weather forecast. The full mechanism is explained in our guide to sailing bans.
Recorded events:
- 29 December 2025: sailing temporarily closed across all West Manggarai waters through a Notice to Mariners, based on BMKG wave information (ANTARA).
- From 14 January 2026: KSOP Labuan Bajo temporarily suspended sailing permits for every type of vessel, from tourist boats to speedboats (CNN Indonesia).
- May 2026: waves up to 2.1 m in the southern Sape Strait; the ban was not total and permits were issued for the nearest route only (guide to sailing bans).
- 8 to 10 September 2026: BMKG's Tenau Kupang maritime station forecast waves of 1.5 to 3.0 m, and KSOP temporarily closed access to Padar Island and Komodo National Park under notice 01/MP-IX/2026 (CNN Indonesia).
BMKG's wave warnings are forecasts for the next few days, not monthly averages. Check the BMKG marine wave warnings close to your departure date.
If Your Boat Is Cancelled Because of Weather, Your Money Is Safe
A sailing ban from the port authority or extreme weather counts as circumstances beyond anyone's control. Under our cancellation policy, you are entitled to a full refund or a change of date. Refunds are processed within 3 to 5 working days to the payment method you used.
Open Trip Komodo also never cancels a departure just because few people have booked. So if a trip is cancelled on departure day, the cause is the weather and the sailing permit.
Pick Your Date and Your Boat
Know your month? See the available departures in the 2027 Komodo open trip schedule, then choose the 3-day 2-night Komodo open trip or a liveaboard if you want more time at sea. Need an airport or KP3 Port transfer? You can book it at the same time.
FAQ
Which months carry the lowest risk of a sailing cancellation?
Avoid December to February, when strong winds limit access to the northern and central sites. May to October sits outside that window, but temporary closures still happen, for example from 8 to 10 September 2026.
When are my chances of seeing manta rays best?
At central sites such as Karang Makassar and Mawan, your best odds are in the northwest season, November to April. Sightings at the central sites are lowest in August and September.
What happens to my money if the boat is barred from sailing?
A sailing ban because of extreme weather counts as circumstances beyond anyone's control. Under the cancellation policy you are entitled to a full refund or a change of date, and refunds are processed within 3 to 5 working days.
When is Komodo busiest?
July and August. In those two months the number of boats at Karang Makassar was recorded at 102% above the average for the other months.
Where can I see departures for each month?
On the 2027 Komodo open trip schedule page, which shows the departures available in the month you choose.
