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People ask for "the schedule" expecting a ferry timetable. A charter fleet does not work that way — the boat sails when your group does. What is fixed is the daily rhythm, the seasonal windows, and how far ahead each part of 2027 realistically books. All three are below.
The daily rhythm, every departure
| Moment | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel pick-up, Labuan Bajo | from 08:00 | Included with charter |
| Pier check-in | from ~09:00 | Manifest checked against park permits |
| Departure | 09:30–10:30 | Earlier slot in high season traffic |
| Padar sunrise climb (multi-day trips) | 04:30–05:00 start | Day two, sea state permitting |
| Return to Labuan Bajo (final day) | 11:00–13:00 | Book flights from mid-afternoon; 16:00 is comfortable |
2027 month by month
| Months | Sea state | Departures | Booking advice |
|---|---|---|---|
| January–March | Monsoon; roughest of the year | Run when the captain clears them; reroutes and postponements happen | Only with flexible dates — but this is peak manta season |
| April–June | Calming, then excellent | Reliable | Book 2–3 months out; the value window |
| July–August | Good visibility, real wind in open straits | Reliable, busiest of the year | Book 4–6 months out; peak pricing, first to sell out |
| September–November | Calmest seas, best visibility | Reliable | Book 2–4 months out; the connoisseur window |
| December | Monsoon arrives | Weather-dependent | Christmas–New Year behaves like peak: high demand, rough water, book early |
That table compresses the full climate story — swell, visibility, manta behaviour, crowd curves — which lives on the month-by-month sea table. The operational takeaway is simpler: if your dates are fixed and non-negotiable, aim for April–June or September–November. If your dates are flexible, December–March buys the manta spectacle at the price of schedule risk.
How far ahead each boat books
Three hulls, three demand curves. Lamborajo 1 carries the group-outing market and books heaviest around Indonesian long weekends and mid-year holidays. Lamborajo 2, with the fleet's largest capacity, is the first boat to go for July–August — groups of 20–25 have no substitute if she is taken, as the capacity page explains. Lamborajo 3 books around milestone dates — New Year, anniversaries — where the flagship is the point.
Scheduled shared departures
Seat-based departures are assembled against demand and season rather than published as a year-long grid — inventory genuinely changes week to week. The current calendar is answered live by the desk on WhatsApp; the economics of seats versus charters are on the open trip price per person guide. Scheduled cabin products across the wider network run via Labuan Bajo liveaboard departures.
Weather policy, in plain terms
When a sailing is called off on weather grounds, it is rescheduled or refunded — and you should have that policy in writing before paying anything, which the booking guide walks through. In practice this clause matters almost exclusively for December–March departures.
Schedule questions, answered
Is there a fixed Lamborajo departure timetable for 2027?
Charters sail on your dates, not a grid: pick-up from 08:00, pier check-in from about 09:00, departure 09:30–10:30. Scheduled shared departures are assembled by season and answered live by the reservations desk.
Does Lamborajo sail in the rainy season?
Yes, when the captain clears it. December to March is the northwest monsoon: departures run but can be postponed or rerouted at short notice. It is also peak manta season — a real trade, not a footnote.
How far in advance should I book for July or August 2027?
Four to six months. July–August is the year's busiest window and Lamborajo 2 — the only 25-berth hull — goes first. Christmas and New Year behave the same way despite the monsoon.
What time do I get back on the last day?
Between 11:00 and 13:00 at Labuan Bajo harbour. A 14:00 flight is tight; 16:00 is comfortable. Build the buffer — harbour traffic and park exit formalities are not instant.
Which months are safest for a date that cannot move?
April to June and September to November. Calm seas, reliable departures, shoulder pricing. For a wedding party, company outing or reunion with fixed leave, those two windows are the professional answer.
Send your target month and group size. You will get live availability across all three boats in one reply.
Timings reflect the fleet's standard operating pattern for 2026–2027 sailings; exact slots are confirmed at booking. Seasonal characterisations follow the month-by-month sea table on this site. Weather decisions rest with the captain. Confirm the live calendar and rate before paying a deposit.
