Komodo Liveaboard 4D3N on Yumana: The Full Park Circuit

Almost every Komodo booking eventually comes down to one question: is the fourth day worth it? The honest answer is that it buys you two specific things. The first is geography — the northern anchorages around Gili Lawa Darat sit far enough from Labuan Bajo that a three-day boat has to skip them. The second is pace. On a 3D2N sailing, day two is a genuinely long day with five stops. On 4D3N the same ground is spread across two days, which means longer snorkel and dive blocks, a proper afternoon at anchor, and time to actually sit on the sky deck of a 32-metre phinisi rather than move between activities.

Yumana’s 4D3N route, day by day

This is Yumana’s own operating route, written by our captain, not a universal Komodo timetable. Stops move with weather, tide and park conditions, and the sunrise and sunset legs in particular are the first to be reordered. The complete stop-by-stop reference with indicative hours is on the day-by-day Yumana Komodo itinerary.

3D2N versus 4D3N: the decision table

If your Indonesia itinerary genuinely cannot spare the extra day, take the 3D2N open trip on Yumana and accept that the northern park stays for next time. It is a complete trip in its own right.

Cabins, capacity and pricing

Yumana carries eight cabins across three decks. The cabin specifications add up to roughly sixteen guests in beds; the 25-person figure printed on our specification strip is the vessel’s total capacity, not the number of berths. On a shared 4D3N departure you book by cabin category:

Rates above are the published shared-departure (open trip) rates held on this vessel, quoted in Indonesian rupiah, which is the billed currency. Private full-boat charter is quoted separately on request. Confirm the live rate for your travel dates before you transfer anything.

Private full-boat charter for four days and three nights is quoted individually, because the number depends on season, headcount, dive load and route. We do not publish a private-charter rate card, and you should be sceptical of any Komodo operator who publishes one without asking your dates first. Request a written quote through the private charter page or straight over WhatsApp.

Diving on a four-day sailing

The extra night is what makes Komodo’s serious dive sites practical. Batu Bolong, Castle Rock and Crystal Rock are strong-current sites that reward correct timing and punish a rushed schedule; on a four-day route the captain can position the boat for the slack window instead of squeezing a dive into a transit. Manta encounters concentrate at Manta Alley, Mawan and Karang Makassar, Tatawa Besar is the classic drift, and Siaba Besar is the gentle site where nervous divers and snorkellers share the same water.

Diving is normally sold as a package on top of the cabin rate. Equipment rental, nitrox where available, park fees and crew tips are commonly billed separately. Bring your certification card and logbook — guides will ask, and site allocation depends on what you can actually handle in current.

Season: when to sail a 4D3N

Boats do not stop in the wet season; routes are weather-adjusted instead. December to March is genuinely the best window for manta numbers in southern Komodo, and it is the quietest time in the park — the trade-off is a higher chance of a reordered day. To see how far ahead your month needs booking, check the Yumana departure schedule and availability. If you want to see how the same route is run across other vessels, the operator behind this vessel publishes its full fleet.

Frequently asked questions

Is the fourth day really worth the extra cost?

For divers, photographers and repeat visitors, yes — Gili Lawa Darat and the longer dive blocks are the difference between seeing Komodo and diving Komodo. For a first-time traveller on a tight Bali loop who mainly wants Padar, dragons and mantas, the 3D2N covers it and the money is better spent on a higher cabin category.

Do we visit both Komodo Island and Rinca Island?

Usually one on day two and the other, conditions permitting, on the final morning. Both have ranger-guided walks and resident dragons; Rinca at Loh Buaya tends to be quieter, Komodo at Loh Liang has the higher-profile trail. The captain decides the order based on tide and ranger-station traffic.

Can divers and snorkellers travel on the same departure?

Yes, and most sailings mix both. The tender runs divers to the drop point while snorkellers work a shallower part of the same reef, and everyone is back on board for the same meal. Non-diving partners are not stranded on deck — the snorkelling-focused cruise page explains exactly how those blocks are run.

What is the internet and power situation on board?

Treat the sailing as largely offline. Mobile signal appears intermittently near Labuan Bajo and around parts of the central park, and disappears in the northern anchorages. Power for charging is available from the vessel’s twin PS120 generators, but bring a power bank and download anything you need before boarding.

Can we extend to five days or add a custom stop?

Not on a shared departure, because the manifest is fixed for everyone on board. Custom durations, extra dive stops and a route reordered around your interests are exactly what a full-boat charter is for — tell us what you want and we will build the itinerary around it.

How far in advance should we book?

For July to September, several months — that window fills first and the Royal Suite and upper-deck Signature cabins go earliest. For April to June and October to November, four to eight weeks is usually comfortable. December to March often has space at shorter notice.