Christmas in Komodo is a holiday unlike any other: a warm sea instead of snow, a phinisi at anchor instead of a living room, and the sun setting behind the islands of a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Christmas Eve. December is the start of the green season, the hills turn fresh after the first rains, and the boats on this site sail right through the festive weeks, including on Christmas Day itself.
It is also one of the busiest times of the year, with full flights, popular departures and weather that can change quickly. This guide explains the dates for 2026, which departures fit around Christmas, how Christmas is celebrated in Flores, what the weather is like and how to book a festive trip without stress.
The departures mentioned here come from the live schedules of the boats on this site at the time of writing. Cabins sell out and schedules can change, so always check the boat pages for the current dates.
In short
- Christmas Day 2026 falls on a Friday, and Indonesia adds a day of joint leave on Thursday, 24 December.
- On this site, 24 boats depart on Christmas Day, and two leave on Christmas Eve.
- Flores is a mostly Catholic island, and Christmas is celebrated in the churches of Labuan Bajo.
- Late December is the start of the wet season: book early, keep a buffer day and expect changing weather.
Christmas in Komodo at a glance
| Topic | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Christmas 2026 | Friday, 25 December, a national holiday, with joint leave on Thursday, 24 December |
| Season | The start of the wet season, with the wind mostly from the west |
| Weather | Hot and humid, highs of about 31 to 32°C, a wet day on about half of the days |
| Sea temperature | About 29°C, among the warmest of the year |
| Departures on this site | 183 in December 2026 on 28 boats, 24 of them on Christmas Day |
| Harbour | Sailings can be stopped on stormy days, as on 25 December 2022 |
| Crowds | The year-end holidays are among the busiest weeks of the year |
The holiday dates come from the joint decree on national holidays for 2026 published by the Indonesian State Secretariat, and the weather figures from long-term averages for Labuan Bajo.
Which dates to sail over Christmas
Most boats on this site sail three-day trips, so the question is simple: do you want to spend Christmas on board, or be back in town for it? At the time of writing, the departures around the holiday fall into a few clear groups.
- Before Christmas: 16 boats leave on Monday, 21 December, and return on the 23rd, in time for Christmas Eve in Labuan Bajo. Arham Jaya II and Nusantara Karya leave on the 22nd, and Vinca Voyages on the 23rd.
- On Christmas Eve: Papiton Allo leaves on 24 December for three days, and Le Costa for four days, so you spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at sea.
- On Christmas Day: 24 boats leave on Friday, 25 December, and return on the 27th, the widest choice of the whole holiday.
- Between Christmas and New Year: 17 boats leave on 28 December, two more on the 29th, and three on New Year’s Eve.
For a longer journey, Alfathran 3 leaves Labuan Bajo for Lombok on 20 December, a five-day trip along the coast of Sumbawa that arrives on Christmas Eve. Every boat page shows the cabins still free on each date, and the sharing trips page lists all departures in one place.
Christmas in Flores: a Catholic island
Most of Indonesia is Muslim, but Flores is different. According to Wikipedia, about 84% of the island’s people are Roman Catholic, a legacy of the Portuguese presence in the east of the island centuries ago, while Islam is present especially in some coastal communities. For many families in Flores, Christmas is the most important celebration of the year.
In Labuan Bajo, the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, Katedral Roh Kudus, holds masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In 2025, the Christmas Eve masses were at 17:00 and 20:00 and the Christmas Day masses at 06:00 and 08:30 WITA, according to a schedule published by detikSulsel. Check the 2026 times locally, as they can change from year to year.
Visitors are welcome to attend respectfully: dress modestly, arrive early, as churches are full on Christmas Eve, and ask before you take photos. Even if you are not religious, the singing and the sense of community on a warm tropical evening are a memorable side of Christmas in Komodo and Flores.
The weather in late December
December is the first month of the wet season. According to Weather Spark’s averages for Labuan Bajo, daily highs fall from about 32°C to 31°C over the month, nights stay around 24°C and the air feels muggy on practically every day. The chance of a wet day rises from about 49% at the start of the month to about 56% at the end, and the sky is mostly cloudy most of the time.
Weather Spark counts a day as wet with as little as 1 mm of rain, so a wet day often means a heavy shower rather than rain all day. The wind blows mostly from the west and grows a little stronger through the month. The sea stays at about 29°C, perfect for snorkelling, and the days are long: the sun rises between about 05:31 and 05:44 and sets between about 18:06 and 18:21.
The reward for the showers is colour. The hills of Komodo, Rinca and Padar, golden-brown for most of the dry season, turn green within weeks of the first rains, and the light after a storm can be spectacular. Our guide to the Padar Island climb explains the famous sunrise view.
The west wind can leave a swell in the open channels between the islands, even on sunny days, while the bays in the lee of the hills stay calm. If you are prone to seasickness, take tablets before the longer crossings and spend the time on deck, where the fresh air and the horizon help. Larger boats generally move less in the waves.
Snorkelling and the sea in December
The water is among the warmest of the year, at about 29°C, so long snorkelling sessions are comfortable without a wetsuit. Near the shore, heavy rain can make the water less clear for a day or two, while the reefs further out are less affected. The crew chooses the snorkelling spots each day with the weather, the tide and the current in mind.
It is also a good season for manta rays at the central sites of the park. A study of Komodo’s mantas published in 2022 found that visits to Karang Makassar, better known as Manta Point, and the nearby cleaning station of Mawan rise during the north-west monsoon, from November to April. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the chances are good.
When the harbour closes the sea
Every departure from Labuan Bajo needs a sailing approval from the harbour authority, the KSOP Kelas III Labuan Bajo, which follows the weather forecasts of BMKG, Indonesia’s meteorological agency. The holidays are no exception. In December 2022, bad weather hit Labuan Bajo from 21 December for about a week, and the authority stopped tourist boats from sailing to the park on Christmas Day, detikBali reported; some boats had already left that morning.
In 2025, the authority closed sailings in stages from 29 December, at the start of a stormy period that lasted into early February, as CNN Indonesia reported. Closures protect lives, but they can change a holiday plan at short notice, so build in some flexibility.
On this site, the cancellation policy covers the weather directly: if bad weather, force majeure or government regulations stop the boat from sailing, you can reschedule your trip or receive a 70% refund. Travel insurance can cover the costs the boat cannot, such as flights and hotels.
A Christmas Day at sea
If you leave on Christmas Day, the first day of a classic three-day trip usually looks like this: a pick-up from your hotel or the airport in the morning, a climb on Kelor in the afternoon, a snorkel at Manjarite and the sunset at Kalong Island, where thousands of flying foxes stream across the sky at dusk. Dinner is served at anchor, under the stars when the clouds allow.
The next morning brings the climb on Padar before sunrise, then Pink Beach, the ranger walk with the dragons on Komodo Island, the sandbar of Taka Makassar and the manta rays of Manta Point. On the last morning, there is a final snorkel at Siaba or Sebayur before the boat returns to Labuan Bajo around midday. Our guide to the Komodo dragons explains what you will see on the walk.
There are no big fireworks among the islands, and that is part of the charm: Christmas on a boat is quiet, warm and simple. Bring a small gift for the people you travel with, a playlist for the evening on deck and a little patience if the crew changes the order of the stops for the weather.
A family Christmas on a private charter
For families and groups of friends, a private charter turns the boat into your own holiday home for a few days. You choose the dates, the pace and, with the crew, the route, and the evening belongs to your group alone. Ask about a special dinner when you book: the cooks on board prepare every meal fresh, and fish, rice and grilled dishes are their speciality.
- Bring the decorations: a few lights, ornaments or a small tree in your luggage make the deck feel festive.
- Plan the gifts: small, light presents travel best in a soft bag.
- Tell the crew early about menus, allergies and any celebration you have in mind.
- Think of the children: life jackets that fit, shade on deck and quiet time in the middle of the day.
On this site, three-day charters start from about IDR 36.500.000 per boat at 2026 rates, and larger boats cost more. The private charter page lists every boat with its prices, and our comparison of a Komodo liveaboard and a day trip explains why a few nights on board are worth it.
Children usually love a boat holiday: a sandbar that appears at low tide, a dragon on the walk, flying foxes at dusk and a bed in a cabin that rocks gently at night. Plan short snorkelling sessions, keep them in the shade in the middle of the day and let them help the crew with small jobs on deck, which most crews welcome.
Booking a Christmas trip in time
The year-end holidays are among the busiest weeks of the year in Komodo, both on the boats and on the flights to Labuan Bajo. In 2022, the busiest day at the ranger station of Loh Liang during the Christmas week was 24 December, with 525 visitors, according to detikBali. The best cabins on the most popular departures go first, so book as soon as you know your dates.
Since April 2026, the park also limits the number of visitors a day, to 1,000 across Padar, Rinca, Komodo and the main dive sites, with timed sessions on South Padar, as Antara reported. On a liveaboard booked on this site, the operator registers your visit and plans the stops around the sessions, but on the busiest days of the year, places in the park are limited too.
Keep the payment rules in mind too. On this site, a 50% deposit is due within 72 hours of the invoice, and the balance 60 days before the trip; for a booking made less than 60 days ahead, the full amount is due at once. For a departure around Christmas, that point falls in late October, so a booking made after that is paid in full at once. The payment policy has the details.
Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo has direct flights from Bali and Jakarta, and fares rise as the holidays approach. Arrive at least a day before your boat, and keep a free day after the trip in case the weather delays your return. Our guide on how to get from Bali to Komodo explains the journey.
What to pack for a December trip
- A light rain jacket for the showers, and quick-drying clothes.
- A dry bag for your phone and camera on the tender rides.
- Shoes with a good grip for wet steps and muddy paths after the rain.
- Sun protection: a hat, sunglasses and a rash guard, as the sun is strong between the clouds.
- Insect repellent, which matters more in the rainy season.
- Something festive: a shirt or a dress for the holiday dinner on deck.
Keep luggage light: cabins are compact and your bags may travel to the boat in a small tender. Our Komodo packing list covers the rest, from adapters to medicines.
Christmas and New Year in one trip
Many travellers combine the two holidays. One easy plan is to sail from 25 to 27 December, spend a few days in Labuan Bajo or Bali, and greet the new year on land. Another is to celebrate Christmas in town, with the masses and the festive evenings, and sail from 28 December or on New Year’s Eve, when Papiton Allo, Segara and Vinca Voyages leave for three days.
Three boats also leave on 1 January 2027, Kai Voyage, Neptune Cruise and Cordelia, and return on the 3rd; after them, the boats on this site rest until March. If you want to see the new year in at sea, a departure on 31 December puts you in a quiet bay of the park at midnight, with the stars instead of fireworks.
Christmas in Labuan Bajo
If you spend part of the holiday in town, Labuan Bajo has plenty to offer. The harbour looks west over the islands, so every clear evening ends with a sunset over the bay, and the waterfront has seafood stalls that grill the day’s catch as the sun goes down. Hotels and restaurants often prepare special dinners for Christmas Eve, so reserve a table early.
The town is busy in the holiday weeks, with travellers from across Indonesia and abroad, and the mood is festive. Book your hotel as early as your boat, and allow extra time for transfers on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, when many families are on their way to church and to relatives.
Our view
Christmas in Komodo is warm, green and unforgettable: a sunset over the islands on Christmas Eve, the dragons and the mantas on Boxing Day, and a quiet deck under the stars instead of a crowded living room. Book early, as the holiday weeks fill fast; choose a departure that fits how you want to spend the day itself; and keep a little flexibility for the weather at the start of the wet season.
Swap the snow for a warm sea, and the fireplace for a sunset over the islands.
Ready to plan your festive trip? Compare the Christmas departures on the sharing trips page, where every date shows the cabins still free.
Questions
Can I spend Christmas on a boat in Komodo?
Yes. On this site, 24 boats leave on Christmas Day 2026, and Papiton Allo and Le Costa leave on Christmas Eve.
Is Christmas a holiday in Indonesia?
Yes. In 2026, 25 December is a national holiday, and 24 December is a day of joint leave.
Is Christmas celebrated in Labuan Bajo?
Yes. Flores is mostly Catholic, and the cathedral in Labuan Bajo holds masses on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
What is the weather like at Christmas?
Hot, humid and showery, at the start of the wet season, with a sea of about 29°C.
Can the weather stop my trip?
It can. The harbour authority stops sailings on stormy days. On this site, you can then reschedule or receive a 70% refund.
When should I book a Christmas trip?
As early as possible. The holiday weeks are among the busiest of the year, for boats and flights alike.
Are there fireworks at sea?
No big displays among the islands. The night sky and a quiet deck are the show.
Can a private charter prepare a Christmas dinner?
Ask when you book. The cooks prepare every meal fresh on board and can plan a special dinner for your group.
