Last updated: August 2026 · Prices & availability verified for the 2026/2027 season
Last updated: August 16, 2026 · Written from Labuan Bajo
TL;DR: As of August 16, 2026, Labuan Bajo is open and operating: Komodo Airport is receiving flights, the Harbormaster reopened sailing the very same day as the earthquake (Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026), and Komodo National Park never closed. September–December sits in Komodo’s calmest, most reliable sailing window, and so far there is no operational reason to move a Q4 2026 trip.
The verified facts:
- The earthquake: M7.7 (initially estimated at M7.0 by BMKG, later revised), Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 05:58 WITA, in the Flores Sea near Mbay/Nagekeo — roughly 200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo, at a shallow ~15 km depth.
- The tsunami warning: BMKG issued an early warning, but no destructive tsunami formed. Only small waves were recorded — about 0.36 m at the Labuan Bajo tide gauge — and the warning was lifted around three hours later.
- The airport: Komodo Airport’s runway and apron were declared safe; flights were back to normal by the evening of August 15.
- The harbor: the Harbormaster (KSOP Labuan Bajo) officially reopened sailing the same day. Our boats returned to the water that afternoon.
- The park: Komodo National Park did not close, and trips have been running normally since August 16.
What happened on August 15 — and where does that leave Q4 travelers?
We write this from Labuan Bajo, not from a newsroom. Our crews were at sea with guests when the earthquake struck, safety protocols were carried out in full, and every guest and crew member in our care was safe and accounted for. By the same afternoon, after BMKG declared the tsunami potential over and the Harbormaster issued Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026, our boats were sailing again — a same-day reopening we covered in detail in how Labuan Bajo sailing reopened the same day.
For Q4 planners, that timeline is the single most important data point. The serious damage was concentrated in central and eastern Flores, not in Labuan Bajo, and the town, port, and airport that Q4 guests actually use came through functioning — the same picture reported by Antara and Reuters.
Is September–December still the right season for Komodo?
Yes — and this was true before August 15. September is the tail of the dry season, the stretch our crews look forward to all year: settled seas, long clear days, and Padar’s savannah hills at their photogenic gold. October and November are the shoulder months, typically calm and quieter on the water, before the season gradually transitions toward the rains in late December. In our experience sailing these waters year-round, Q4 is one of the most comfortable windows to be aboard a luxury phinisi in Komodo National Park.
The earthquake does not change the seasonal logic. What it changes — temporarily — is perception. Some travelers will hesitate, which so far means one practical upside for those who don’t: a quieter park in one of its most beautiful stretches of the year.
Should we still book Labuan Bajo for October, or wait?
If you’re already booked for September–December 2026
Keep your plans, and keep an eye on the official signals listed below. As of today, trips are operating normally. If your dates are within the next 14 days, expect a status confirmation from your operator before departure.
If you’re still deciding
There is no operational reason to wait, so far. If you want extra peace of mind, book with our flexible rebooking guarantee — the Sail Again Guarantee (travel credit) — so your payment stays fully protected no matter what the season brings. A private trip gives you full control of dates and itinerary; a shared open trip is the easiest way to join a scheduled Q4 departure.
What signs show the region has recovered?
Don’t take any operator’s word for it — including ours. Check these signals yourself (status as of August 16, 2026):
| Recovery signal | Status (as of Aug 16, 2026) | How to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Tsunami warning | Lifted ~3 hours after the quake; no destructive tsunami formed | BMKG (@infoBMKG) |
| Sailing from Labuan Bajo | Officially reopened same day | Harbormaster/KSOP Labuan Bajo, Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026 |
| Komodo Airport | Runway and apron declared safe; operating, flights normalized Aug 15 evening | Komodo Airport authority / your airline |
| Komodo National Park | Never closed; visits running normally | Park authorities; see is Komodo National Park open after the earthquake |
| Boats on the water | Fleets, including ours, sailing again since the afternoon of Aug 15 | Operator updates, harbor webcams, guest posts |
If all five stay green through late August — and so far they have — the recovery question for Q4 is answered by the authorities themselves, not by marketing.
Are any parts of Flores affected if I travel in December 2026?
The earthquake’s human toll was concentrated in central and eastern Flores — Nagekeo, Sikka, Manggarai, and Manggarai Timur — where, painfully, dozens of lives were lost. Our thoughts are with the families and communities of NTT; many of our crew call this island home, and this loss is personal to everyone here. Labuan Bajo, on Flores’s far western tip about 200 km from the epicenter, saw limited moderate damage and kept functioning.
For a standard Q4 itinerary — Labuan Bajo as your base, sailing west into the national park — the affected districts are simply not on your route. Travelers considering overland Flores itineraries reaching central or eastern districts should check conditions closer to their dates, as recovery there is ongoing.
What’s the safest way to protect my booking if I book now?
Book with the Sail Again Guarantee, our flexible rebooking guarantee. In plain terms: 100% of what you pay is protected as travel credit in your name, valid for up to five years, with your price locked to what you paid, one free reschedule, and the option to transfer it to family or friends. If authorities ever restrict sailing on your dates, the guarantee applies automatically — your money becomes flexibility, not a loss. Every boat in our fleet runs the drills that mattered on August 15 — detailed in our liveaboard earthquake safety protocols. To compare boat categories, start from our Komodo yacht charter hub; for a fully bespoke Q4 route, arrange a private yacht charter.
What would change this answer
We’d revise this outlook if: BMKG issued a new warning affecting the Labuan Bajo area; the Harbormaster suspended sailing again; Komodo Airport restricted operations; or park authorities closed visitor sites. None applies as of August 16, 2026. This page will be updated if the situation changes materially.
What are guests asking us this week?
We’re planning to join a trip in late October or early November — has the earthquake affected your operations in Labuan Bajo?
Operationally, no — so far. Sailing reopened the same day, our boats returned to the water that afternoon, and trips have run normally since August 16. October–November departures are proceeding as scheduled.
I have a boat trip booked for mid-September. Are the boat and harbor safe, and will my trip run as scheduled?
The harbor is open under the Harbormaster’s notice, Komodo Airport is operating, and the park is open. As of today your September trip is expected to run as scheduled; we confirm every departure against the latest official guidance.
Are there still aftershocks? Is it safe to come, or should we cancel?
Aftershocks were felt in the region in the first days. We won’t predict seismic activity — nobody honestly can — but we can tell you what we do: we sail only under official clearance from BMKG and the Harbormaster, with full safety protocols on every departure. So far, conditions in Labuan Bajo are calm and operations are normal. If you’d rather move your dates, the Sail Again Guarantee protects your full payment as travel credit.
Will tourism be back to normal in Labuan Bajo by September 2026?
By the measures that matter — flights landing, boats sailing, the park open — Labuan Bajo was already operating normally within 24 hours of the quake. So far, September looks like a normal high-season month, likely with fewer crowds. Guests connecting through Bali can travel as usual via our Komodo tour from Bali routes.
Do you have availability for an October open trip with a private cabin?
October departures are open for booking. Availability changes daily in Q4, so our team will confirm current cabin options — just message us on WhatsApp with your dates and group size.
Ready to plan your Q4 Komodo trip?
September to December remains, in our crews’ honest opinion, one of the finest windows to see Komodo — and this year, likely a quieter one. Explore a private trip for your own boat and itinerary, or join a shared open trip on a scheduled departure. For dates, cabin availability, or current conditions, message our team in Labuan Bajo on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 — we’re on the ground and will tell you exactly what we see.
