Sea Familia
Sea Familia
School holidays: a Komodo family boat trip, and when to ask
Updated 28 October 2026
The 2026 rate list does not change by month. Three days and two nights on Sea Familia 1 for six guests is IDR 97,100,000 (≈ USD 5,957) for the whole boat, whenever you sail. Send your dates early and get availability confirmed in writing. Guide, park tickets, fuel surcharge and tax are separate.
What the calendar changes and what it does not
The 2026 rate list carries no month supplement. Three days and two nights on Sea Familia 1 for six guests is IDR 97,100,000 (≈ USD 5,957) for the whole boat in any month. Sea Familia 2 charges the same all year too. What changes by month is the sea and the crowd.
July and August are dry and windy, with rough seas and busy anchorages. December is wet and the sea is moderate, and late December is busy with holiday travellers. January to March and November are the quiet months, with fewer boats at the stops.
That is why the month matters more than the holiday label. A month with calm water suits children better than a month with a busy anchorage, and the price does not tell you which is which.
School weeks against the manta months
Manta season at Manta Point runs roughly from December to February and from July to September. School holidays in many countries fall in both windows, so the manta months are also the busy ones.
School-holiday dates differ by country and by school, so send us the dates your children are free, and we answer in writing whether Sea Familia 1 or Sea Familia 2 is open on them.
Check the whole year at a glance below. Wet and dry months, sea state, visibility and crowds sit in one table, as tendencies and not promises.
| Month | Sea | Visibility | Mantas | Crowds | Rain | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | rough | low | peak | low | wet | Wet season at its height: heavy showers, the roughest sea of the year and low visibility. Mantas are at their best and the anchorages are quiet, so a family that accepts a lively sea can book it. |
| February | rough | low | peak | low | wet | Still wet, with a rough sea and low visibility. The reef is quiet and mantas stay at their peak, which suits a party that wants space more than calm water. |
| March | moderate | medium | good | low | wet | The last wet month. Showers ease, the sea settles to moderate and visibility is medium, with few boats about. Mantas are rated good. |
| April | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | The dry season opens with a calm sea and some of the best underwater visibility of the year. Crowds are medium, and mantas are fair. |
| May | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Dry, calm and clear. Snorkelling and walking are reliable, which makes May an easy month for children and grandparents. |
| June | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Dry and clear, with the south-east winds starting to build towards July. Book June if you want calm water and the busy months still ahead. |
| July | rough | medium | peak | high | dry | Dry but windier, with a rougher sea and medium visibility. Manta season picks up, and this is a peak month for crowds at the main stops. |
| August | rough | medium | peak | high | dry | The windiest dry month, with busy anchorages. Mantas are common, but the sea is rough, so pack a windproof layer and plan shorter swims for small children. |
| September | moderate | high | peak | medium | dry | Winds ease and visibility improves while mantas are still around. A strong shoulder month for a party that wants both. |
| October | calm | high | fair | medium | dry | Calm, clear and hot, with fewer crowds than July and August. Mantas are fair, and the sea is kind to young snorkellers. |
| November | calm | high | fair | low | dry | The end of the dry season: calm sea, clear water and quieter stops. Mantas are fair, and November suits a first trip with children. |
| December | moderate | medium | peak | medium | wet | The wet season starts and mantas return. Late December is busy with holiday travellers, so ask for dates early and expect a moderate sea. |
Swipe for more
Who sleeps where when the whole family is off school
Take seven guests: two grandparents, two parents and three children. On Sea Familia 1, the grandparents take Manta II, the parents and the youngest child take Manta Cabin I with its extra bed, and the two older children share Manta III. That is three cabins for seven guests, and seven pay the 1 to 8 band.
At seven, Sea Familia 1 costs IDR 13,870,000 (≈ USD 851) per person and Sea Familia 2 costs IDR 16,340,000 (≈ USD 1,002), for 3 days and 2 nights, whole boat. Sea Familia 2 gives the grandparents a Master cabin on the main deck and the family the Family cabin and a Deluxe.
Every cabin on both boats has air conditioning and a private bathroom. Children under 3 travel free with a parent or guardian; from 3 the full fare applies.
Sea Familia 1 Wooden phinisi
| Cabin | Rooms | Beds | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manta Cabin I | 1 | 1 queen-size bed + 1 extra bed | 2 |
| Manta Cabins II to IV | 3 | 1 queen-size bed | 6 |
| Turtle Cabins I and II | 2 | 1 queen-size bed | 4 |
| Beds before extra beds | 6 | 12 |
Sea Familia 1 carries 12 guests. An extra bed is confirmed and priced in your written quote.
Sea Familia 2 Wooden phinisi
| Cabin | Rooms | Beds | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Cabin | 2 | 1 double bed + 1 extra bed | 4 |
| Deluxe Cabin | 3 | 2 single beds | 6 |
| Family Cabin | 1 | 1 queen-size bed + 1 bunk bed | 4 |
| Beds before extra beds | 6 | 14 |
Sea Familia 2 carries 14 guests. An extra bed is confirmed and priced in your written quote.
Three days in the July to September manta window (sample)
This sample is built from park timings and the listed Sea Familia 1 route. It is a plan, not a promise, and the captain sets the order on the day.
Day 1. Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong. July and August are crowded, so the stops fill up, and the captain keeps the plan flexible.
Day 2. Padar early, Pink Beach, the Komodo walk and the drift at Manta Point. Mantas are often seen in this window because the season brings them to the reef, never promised, and the tide and current decide the afternoon.
Day 3. Kanawa, then back to Labuan Bajo. Sea Familia 2 stops are agreed in writing. September is the shoulder: winds ease and visibility improves.
Skipper's tip Pack a light windproof layer for July and August. The sea is windier then, and the wind on deck is stronger.
How early to ask
Ask as soon as you know the dates, because a quote in writing is what holds a plan together. The deposit is 50 percent of the fare, and the balance is due 30 days before departure. Open-trip dates are listed on the open-trip sailings page; a private charter takes any free date, confirmed in writing.
The earlier you ask, the more dates are open. The Skipper's notes cover when to book and what each payment step costs.
For dates in the manta months, see the month guide first, then the private charter page for sizes from 2 to 14.
FAQ
Is a July or August trip dearer?
Not on the published list. The 2026 rates carry no month supplement, so 3 days and 2 nights on Sea Familia 1 costs the same in July as in November. The extra cost in high season is the crowd: busy anchorages in July and August. Ask for your dates in writing.
When do school holidays fill?
School-holiday dates differ by country. Send us your dates and we confirm availability in writing for the boat you want. A date taken by a private charter is not listed.
Can we sail at Christmas?
A private charter takes any free date, confirmed in writing, and that includes late December. It is a busy week with holiday travellers, and the wet season has started, so the sea is moderate and showers are likely. Mantas return in December. Ask early.
Is the weather different in school holidays?
By month, not by holiday. July and August are dry, windy and crowded. December to March is wet. April to June and October to November are calmer and clearer. Match the month you can travel to the sea you want, and read the month guide before you fix the date.
Check availability — Sea Familia
Sea Familia is published and booked by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, a booking partner for Sea Familia 1 and Sea Familia 2. The boats belong to their owner.