Is Komodo in December a good idea? It depends on what you are looking for. December is the start of the wet season, with more rain, greener hills and seas that can change quickly, and it is also one of the busiest holiday months of the year. Yet most boats still sail, the islands look fresh and green, and the year-end departures have a special atmosphere. This guide explains the weather and the sea in December, how many boats sail, what changes on a trip and how to plan a December holiday in Komodo with confidence.
In short
- December is the start of the wet season, which runs from December to March.
- On this site, 28 boats have sharing departures in December 2026, more than 180 in total.
- Expect showers, green hills and changing seas, with plenty of bright days in between.
- The second half of the month is a busy holiday period, so book early.
Komodo in December at a glance
Here is how December compares with the rest of the year in Komodo National Park:
| December | Dry season (April to November) | |
|---|---|---|
| Weather | More rain, often in heavy showers | Clear skies on most days |
| Sea | Can change quickly on the open crossings | Generally calmer |
| Landscape | Green hills | Golden brown hills from about September |
| Crowds | Quieter early in the month, busy over the holidays | Busiest in July and August |
| Boats on this site | 28 boats with sharing departures in 2026 | Most boats sail |
The weather in December
In Komodo, the dry season runs from April to November and the wet season from December to March. December is the first month of the rains, so the weather is a mix: bright, hot mornings, clouds building in the afternoon and heavy showers that come and go. Rain rarely lasts all day, and the air after a shower is clear and fresh, but you should expect to get wet at least once on your trip.
It stays warm all the time. Komodo is close to the equator, so the days are hot, the water is warm and the sun rises at around six in the morning and sets at around six in the evening. Sunscreen and a hat are just as important in December as in August, because the sun is strong between the clouds.
The rain also brings the islands back to life. After months of dry weather, the grass on the hills turns green within weeks, the forests fill with sound and the air smells of wet earth. For many visitors who know Komodo only from photos of golden hills, the green season is a surprise, and some of the most beautiful pictures of Padar are taken at this time of year.
The sea in December
The bigger change for a boat trip is the sea. In the wet season, the wind and the waves change more often, and the open crossings between the islands can be rough on some days. Inside the bays and in the lee of the islands, the water is often calm, and the anchorages for the night are chosen for shelter.
The captain and the guide watch the weather closely. On a rough day, they may change the order of the stops, spend longer in a calm bay or skip a stop that is too exposed. This is normal in the wet season, and it is why a little flexibility goes a long way. If you are prone to seasickness, take something before the longer crossings and stay on deck in the fresh air, looking at the horizon.
The tender rides to the beaches and the snorkelling sites can be bumpy and wet on a windy day. Keep your phone and camera in a dry bag, hold on with one hand, and follow the crew’s instructions when you climb in and out. These short rides are part of the adventure, and the crew does them many times a day in every season.
How many boats sail in December?
More than many people expect. On this site, 28 boats have sharing departures in December 2026, with more than 180 departures over the month, almost as many as in November. Most are trips of 3 days and 2 nights from Labuan Bajo, and some boats sail for 4 days and 3 nights, including the routes between Lombok and Labuan Bajo.
The picture changes in the new year. Only a few boats sail in early January, and most boats on this site have no sharing departures in January and February, before the season starts again in March. If you want the wet-season landscape with plenty of choice, December is the best month to go. Each boat page shows its live departures, so you can see exactly which dates are open.
The price of each departure is shown on the boat page, per person and per cabin type, and the Komodo National Park fee, IDR 650.000 for foreign guests on most boats, is added to the invoice as usual. On a few boats, the private charter rates are higher in the high season, so check the rate for your dates when you request a charter.
Early December or the holidays?
December is really two months in one. The first half is quiet: the dry-season crowds have gone, the holiday crowds have not yet arrived, and you often share the famous stops with only a few other boats. It is a good time for travellers who want green hills, calm trails and a better choice of cabins.
Remember that school holidays in many countries start in the second half of December, and Indonesian families travel at the end of the year too. If you are flexible, a departure in the first two weeks of the month usually gives you the widest choice of boats and cabins, and calmer stops at Padar and Pink Beach.
The second half belongs to the holidays. Around Christmas and New Year, the boats and the flights to Labuan Bajo fill up, and many families and groups of friends spend the end of the year at sea. On this site, many boats sail on 21, 25 and 28 December, and a few departures leave on 31 December, so you see in the new year at anchor in the park. Our guide to Christmas and New Year in Komodo covers the holiday departures in detail.
What a December trip looks like
A December trip visits the same places as any other: the view from Padar, a ranger walk with the dragons on Komodo or Rinca, Pink Beach, the sandbar of Taka Makassar, Manta Point and the flying foxes of Kalong Island at dusk. What changes is the light, the colour of the hills and the pace, which follows the weather more closely than in the dry season. A stop may move to the morning to beat an afternoon shower, or a swim may wait for the sun to come back.
On land, the trails can be muddy and slippery after rain, especially the steps and the dirt path on Padar, so wear shoes with good grip and take your time. In the water, the reefs are as colourful as ever, although the water can be less clear after heavy rain. The evenings at anchor are often the best part: the air cools down after a shower, and when the clouds open, the stars are bright over the dark islands.
Since 1 April 2026, visits to Padar, Rinca, Komodo and 23 dive sites are limited to 1,000 people a day in total through the park’s reservation system, SiOra, and the quota applies in December too. When you book a liveaboard with us, the climb is part of the itinerary and the park fee is added to your invoice, so there is nothing to pay in cash on the day.
Snorkelling and diving in December
The reefs of Komodo do not take a holiday. In December, the water is warm, the corals are as colourful as ever and the snorkelling stops of a normal trip, from Pink Beach to Manta Point, are still on the route. After heavy rain, the water near the shore can be less clear for a while, and the currents at some sites can be strong in any season, so the guide chooses the time and the place, and the tender follows the group.
Snorkelling equipment and life jackets are on board on most boats, so you can swim at every stop. If you dive, ask about the dive sites before you book, because not every boat offers diving, and the weather decides which sites are possible on the day.
December on the Lombok route
Three boats on this site, Alfathran 3, Lady Grace and Sukha Sail 1, sail between Lombok and Labuan Bajo in 4 days and 3 nights, along the north coast of Sumbawa, and they have departures in December too. The route adds Kenawa Island and Saleh Bay, where the boats look for whale sharks early in the morning; whale sharks are seen there all year, although sightings are never guaranteed.
In the wet season, the open crossings along Sumbawa can be rougher than inside the park, and the crew may adjust the stops with the weather. If you take this route in December, plan a buffer day at the end, check where the trip starts and ends, and remember that the park fee is higher on these routes than on most trips from Labuan Bajo.
The pros of Komodo in December
- Green landscapes. The hills of Padar, Rinca and Komodo turn green, a look many visitors never see.
- Quieter trails in the first half of the month.
- Plenty of departures: 28 boats on this site sail in December 2026.
- Dramatic skies for photographers, with clouds, rainbows and soft light after a shower.
- A festive mood on the holiday departures at the end of the month.
- Cooler evenings on deck after the afternoon showers, perfect for dinner at anchor.
The cons of Komodo in December
- Rain, often in heavy showers, and some grey days.
- Rougher seas on the open crossings, and stops that may change or be skipped.
- Slippery trails after rain, especially on Padar.
- Busy holidays at the end of the month, with fuller boats and more expensive flights.
- Few departures in the following months, so there is little room to move a trip into January or February.
- Water that can be less clear near the shore after heavy rain.
How to plan a December trip
Book early, especially for the second half of the month. For a sharing trip, you pay a 50% deposit within 72 hours and the balance at least 60 days before departure; for a trip less than 60 days away, you pay the full amount at once. When you book online, your cabins are held for 15 minutes while you finish, so you can check the total before you commit.
Plan to arrive in Labuan Bajo the day before your boat leaves, and leave a buffer between the end of your trip and your flight home, because flights can be delayed in bad weather. Take travel insurance that covers delays and changes. If you can, choose a trip of 4 days and 3 nights: in the wet season, a longer trip gives the crew more room to move a stop to another day when the weather changes. Our guide on how to book a Komodo liveaboard has the details.
Read the cancellation terms before you pay. If a boat cannot sail because of bad weather or government rules, you can reschedule or take a 70% refund. For other reasons, you can reschedule up to 65 days before departure, and a cancellation 60 days or more before departure gets a 40% refund of what you paid.
For a family or a group of friends, a private charter is worth considering in December. You choose the dates and the length, and the crew can plan the route around the weather with your group alone on board. For 3 days and 2 nights, the charter rates on this site range from about IDR 36.5 million on a small boat for up to four guests to about IDR 316 million on a large boat for up to 18 guests.
What to pack for December
Pack as you would for any liveaboard trip, with a few extras for the rain. A light rain jacket, a dry bag for the tender rides and quick-drying clothes make a big difference. Shoes with a good grip are a must for the walks, and a small towel and a spare T-shirt in your day bag help after a sudden shower.
Bring reef-friendly sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, insect repellent for the evenings near the mangroves and something for seasickness. A waterproof case keeps your phone safe on deck and in the water. Our Komodo packing list has everything else.
Leave heavy jeans and thick cotton at home: they take days to dry in the humid air. Light synthetic or linen clothes, a pair of sandals for the boat and a sarong that works as a towel, a cover-up and a blanket are far more useful at sea in December.
Our view
Komodo in December is for travellers who do not mind a shower and who want to see the islands at their greenest. Go early in the month for quiet trails, or late for the festive mood of the holiday departures, and give yourself a little flexibility either way. Komodo National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, and its dragons, reefs and bays are just as special under a cloudy sky.
In December, the rain paints the islands green. Bring a rain jacket, and you will see a side of Komodo that most visitors miss.
Ready to choose your dates? Compare the December departures on our sharing trips page, or read our guide to the best time for a Komodo liveaboard month by month.
Questions
Is December a good time to visit Komodo?
Yes, if you accept some rain. Most boats still sail, the hills are green and the first half of the month is quiet.
Does it rain every day in December?
Not every day. Rain often comes in heavy showers that pass, with bright spells in between.
Is the sea rough in December?
It can be on the open crossings. The crew chooses sheltered bays and may change the order of the stops when the weather requires it.
Can I see the Komodo dragons in December?
Yes. The ranger walks continue in the wet season, although the trails can be slippery after rain.
Do boats sail in January and February?
Only a few. Most boats on this site have no sharing departures in January and February and sail again from March.
When should I book for December?
As early as you can, especially for Christmas and New Year, when the boats and the flights fill up first.
Is a bigger boat better in December?
A larger boat generally moves less in the waves, which helps if you are prone to seasickness. A lower cabin near the middle of the boat also moves the least.
Is December high season in Komodo?
Only over the holidays. The first half of December is quiet, while the weeks around Christmas and New Year are among the busiest of the year.
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