Twice a year, part of the yacht fleet that serves Komodo and Raja Ampat has to move between the two, since the two seasons do not overlap: Komodo runs roughly May to October and Raja Ampat roughly October to April. That crossing, sailed rather than flown, is one of the more unusual Komodo to Raja Ampat liveaboard trips available in Indonesia, and a small number of guests book it deliberately rather than treating it as background logistics. Most travellers never hear about it, simply because it sits outside the normal one week charter pattern that most itineraries are built around.
What this liveaboard crossing actually is
Rather than sailing empty between seasons, some operators sell the crossing as a proper charter, usually ten nights or more, sailing from Labuan Bajo toward Sorong or the reverse, with stops along the way that most standard itineraries never reach. It is a working delivery voyage dressed up as a trip, and the honesty of that is part of the appeal: you are along for a real passage, not a route built purely for sightseeing. Days at sea are longer than a standard Komodo or Raja Ampat itinerary, since the boat is genuinely covering distance rather than looping around a compact set of anchorages, and the crew's priority shifts slightly toward making steady progress on schedule alongside looking after guests.
When it happens
The crossing runs around April, as the fleet moves from Raja Ampat into Komodo for the dry season, and again around October, as boats head the other way once Komodo's season ends. Outside those windows, this itinerary simply is not available, since the yachts are settled in one destination or the other for months at a time. The exact week varies operator by operator and year by year, tied to how the Komodo dry season and the Raja Ampat calm season line up, so a rough month rather than a fixed date is the most useful thing to give us when you first enquire.
What the route usually includes
The centrepiece of most crossings is a stop in the Banda Islands, the remote, historic nutmeg islands that few charters reach any other way. Depending on the operator and the exact route, some crossings also pass near Alor or Sumbawa, adding cold water reefs or a stop at Moyo island's waterfalls to a trip that is already well off the standard track. Our guide to the Banda Islands and Spice Islands history cover what you will find once you get there. Exactly which stops make the final route depends on weather, the operator and how many nights the crossing has been sold for, so treat any published itinerary as a strong indication rather than a fixed promise until you are closer to departure.
Who this trip suits
This is not a first trip to Indonesia. It suits guests who have already done a standard Komodo or Raja Ampat week, want more time at sea than sightseeing on land, and are drawn to genuinely remote places rather than a checklist of named dive sites. It also suits divers and history minded travellers more than families with young children, given the longer sailing days between stops. If you are choosing between this and a standard week, a useful test is how you feel about a full day of sailing with no scheduled excursion: on a crossing voyage, that happens more than once, and it tends to be one of the things guests remember most fondly rather than a drawback.
Booking a crossing itinerary
Only a handful of yachts run these voyages each year, generally the expedition style and larger phinisi already built for long range cruising, the kind of boat covered in our phinisi, motor yacht or expedition guide. Because departures are limited and tied to a fixed seasonal window, these itineraries tend to book out earlier than a standard week in Komodo or Raja Ampat, so an early enquiry matters more here than for most trips. Rates are generally set for the whole crossing rather than per night, reflecting the number of days involved and the fact that the boat is not available for any other charter during the window, so expect a different quoting structure to a standard week and ask us to walk you through it.
Plan your charter
If a crossing voyage interests you, timing is everything, so the earlier you tell us your preferred month the better our chance of finding a berth. Send your dates or see which yachts are open to check what is currently available.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Komodo to Raja Ampat crossing?
Most crossing itineraries run ten nights or more, since it is a genuine sailing passage between two parts of Indonesia rather than a loop around one park.
Can I book just the Banda stop without the full crossing?
Not usually. Banda is reached as part of the longer voyage in most cases, though a few expedition operators also run separate dedicated departures from Ambon.
Is the crossing suitable for a first Indonesia trip?
It can work, but most guests get more out of it after a first standard charter in Komodo or Raja Ampat, since the crossing trades some sightseeing density for longer days at sea and more remote stops.
Do all yachts run this crossing?
No. Most of the fleet stays within one destination for its whole season. Only a small number of expedition and long range phinisi run the repositioning voyage each year.
How far in advance should I book a crossing voyage?
As early as you can, given how few departures exist each season. Once your preferred month is set, tell us and we will confirm which yachts still have space before you commit to flights.