What's on in Labuan Bajo (Komodo), Indonesia through the year

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year peak, Year-end break in Indonesia

Nothing new starts in January.

Still on: Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Wet season, rougher crossings (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually)), Christmas and New Year peak (18 Dec – 5 Jan)

Quiet — school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it, one of its worst months for weather

Nothing new starts in February.

Still on: Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Wet season, rougher crossings (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))

Peak crowds — Lebaran domestic peak, Lebaran (Idul Fitri) break in Indonesia

• Holiday

  Lebaran domestic peak

  5 Mar – 15 Apr · usuallyRamadan & EidCrowdedBook early

  The national holiday sends Indonesian travellers to Flores in numbers and the day boats run full for about ten days. Flights into the small airport are the constraint. Source ↗

Still on: Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually)), Wet season, rougher crossings (1 Dec – 15 Mar (usually))

Busy — Lebaran domestic peak, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in April.

Still on: Lebaran domestic peak (5 Mar – 15 Apr (usually)), Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually))

Busy — Dry season, school holidays in 2 of the markets that fill it

• Season

  Dry season

  1 May – 30 Sep · usuallyCrowded

  Flat crossings, reliable liveaboards and the savannah on Padar burnt gold, which is what the photographs are of. It is also when every boat in the harbour is booked.

Peak crowds — Dry season, Mid-year break in Indonesia

Nothing new starts in June.

Still on: Dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Peak crowds — Dry season, Mid-year break in Indonesia

• Nature

  Komodo dragon mating season

  1 Jul – 31 Aug · usuallyWildlife season

  The one time of year the males fight, standing up against each other on the trails. The trade-off is that the animals are harder to find than in the cooler months around the ranger stations.

Still on: Dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Busy — Dry season, school holidays in 4 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in August.

Still on: Dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually)), Komodo dragon mating season (1 Jul – 31 Aug (usually))

Busy — Dry season, school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it

Nothing new starts in September.

Still on: Dry season (1 May – 30 Sep (usually))

Shoulder season — school holidays in 3 of the markets that fill it, an ordinary month

Nothing new starts in October.

Shoulder season — an ordinary month

• Nature

  Manta season

  1 Nov – 30 Apr · usuallyDive season

  Plankton in the channel brings reef mantas onto the cleaning stations at Karang Makassar and, further south, Manta Alley. January and February are the densest of it, and the quietest months on the boats.

Peak crowds — Christmas and New Year peak, Year-end break in Indonesia

• Season

  Wet season, rougher crossings

  1 Dec – 15 Mar · usuallyMonsoonRisk

  Rain in heavy bursts and a swell that makes the run south to Padar and Komodo uncomfortable, occasionally cancelled. Prices are at their lowest and the hills are green rather than gold.

• Holiday

  Christmas and New Year peak

  18 Dec – 5 JanChristmas & New YearCrowdedBook early

  The one fortnight of the wet season that sells out, with liveaboards running new-year itineraries. Weather can still cancel the southern sites at short notice. Source ↗

Still on: Manta season (1 Nov – 30 Apr (usually))