Elbark Cruise departs Labuan Bajo every Friday at 10:00 on its 3D2N Komodo share trip, returning on Day 3 (Sunday) at around 12:00. Share-trip cabins start from USD 400/person via Komodo Luxury, official booking partner. Below is the complete month-by-month Friday departure calendar for 2026 and 2027 — the only crawlable Elbark schedule on the web.
How the Elbark Schedule Works
The rhythm never changes, which is exactly what makes planning around Elbark so easy. The 37-meter luxury VIP phinisi runs a fixed weekly loop through Komodo National Park: check-in at Labuan Bajo harbor on Friday morning, cast-off at 10:00, two nights on board across the 3D2N share-trip route (Kelor, Manjarite, Kalong, Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Taka Makassar, Manta Point, Sebayur), and return to Labuan Bajo on Sunday at approximately 12:00.
Because departures are always on Friday, your travel math is simple: fly into Labuan Bajo (LBJ) by Thursday, sail Friday–Sunday, and fly out Sunday evening at the earliest — or Monday if you want a safe buffer. Every Friday listed in the tables below is a scheduled 3D2N share-trip departure, subject to cabin availability at the time of booking.
Departure Facts at a Glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Departure day | Every Friday, year-round |
| Departure time | 10:00 from Labuan Bajo harbor |
| Trip format | 3D2N share trip (open trip), private cabins, up to 21 guests |
| Return | Day 3 (Sunday), around 12:00 at Labuan Bajo |
| Share-trip rate | From USD 400/person via Komodo Luxury, official booking partner (operator rate: IDR 6–11 million per person by cabin type) |
| Private charter | 2D1N–4D3N, dates arranged individually — from USD 8,400 per trip (2D1N, 1–10 guests) via Komodo Luxury |
| Calendar last verified | July 2026 |
One clarification before the tables: the Friday calendar applies to the 3D2N share trip. If you book Elbark as a private charter (2D1N to 4D3N), your dates are requested individually through Komodo Luxury and confirmed against the vessel’s existing commitments — you are not limited to Fridays.
Elbark Cruise Departure Calendar 2026
All remaining 2026 departures are listed below. Every date is a Friday with a 10:00 cast-off from Labuan Bajo and a Sunday return at around 12:00. Departures from January through early July 2026 have already sailed and are omitted; the next scheduled departures as of publication are July 17, July 24, and July 31, 2026.
| Month (2026) | Friday departures | Departures | Season note |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | Jul 17 · Jul 24 · Jul 31 | 3 remaining | Peak season — cabins sell out furthest ahead |
| August 2026 | Aug 7 · Aug 14 · Aug 21 · Aug 28 | 4 | Peak season — driest weather, busiest harbor |
| September 2026 | Sep 4 · Sep 11 · Sep 18 · Sep 25 | 4 | Peak season tail — still dry, slightly calmer demand |
| October 2026 | Oct 2 · Oct 9 · Oct 16 · Oct 23 · Oct 30 | 5 | Shoulder season — five Fridays, easier availability |
| November 2026 | Nov 6 · Nov 13 · Nov 20 · Nov 27 | 4 | Shoulder-to-green transition |
| December 2026 | Dec 4 · Dec 11 · Dec 18 · Dec 25 | 4 | Holiday demand spikes around Dec 18 and Dec 25 |
Book Elbark Cruise — Official Booking Partner
Elbark Cruise bookings are handled exclusively through check Elbark’s 2026 departure calendar, winner of TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards. Get live cabin availability and 2026–2027 schedules.
Elbark Cruise Departure Calendar 2027
The full 2027 calendar follows the same pattern: every Friday, 10:00 from Labuan Bajo, Sunday return around 12:00. 2027 opens with a rare treat — January 1 falls on a Friday, so the year’s first departure sails on New Year’s Day itself.
| Month (2027) | Friday departures | Departures | Season note |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 2027 | Jan 1 · Jan 8 · Jan 15 · Jan 22 · Jan 29 | 5 | Green season — New Year’s Day departure sells early |
| February 2027 | Feb 5 · Feb 12 · Feb 19 · Feb 26 | 4 | Green season — quietest month, best last-minute odds |
| March 2027 | Mar 5 · Mar 12 · Mar 19 · Mar 26 | 4 | Green season tapering off |
| April 2027 | Apr 2 · Apr 9 · Apr 16 · Apr 23 · Apr 30 | 5 | Shoulder season — five Fridays, conditions improving |
| May 2027 | May 7 · May 14 · May 21 · May 28 | 4 | Dry season begins — excellent value window |
| June 2027 | Jun 4 · Jun 11 · Jun 18 · Jun 25 | 4 | Early peak — demand climbing week by week |
| July 2027 | Jul 2 · Jul 9 · Jul 16 · Jul 23 · Jul 30 | 5 | Peak season — book 6–8 months ahead |
| August 2027 | Aug 6 · Aug 13 · Aug 20 · Aug 27 | 4 | Peak season — book 6–8 months ahead |
| September 2027 | Sep 3 · Sep 10 · Sep 17 · Sep 24 | 4 | Peak season tail — book 6–8 months ahead |
| October 2027 | Oct 1 · Oct 8 · Oct 15 · Oct 22 · Oct 29 | 5 | Shoulder season — five Fridays |
| November 2027 | Nov 5 · Nov 12 · Nov 19 · Nov 26 | 4 | Shoulder-to-green transition |
| December 2027 | Dec 3 · Dec 10 · Dec 17 · Dec 24 · Dec 31 | 5 | Holiday spike — Dec 24 and Dec 31 sail over Christmas and New Year’s Eve |
When Should You Book Your Friday Departure?
Nine en-suite cabins and a 21-guest maximum means Elbark sells out cabin by cabin, not seat by seat — and the most-requested cabins (the Misool master suite with jacuzzi and private balcony, then the Banda Neira & Savu entry tier) are always the first to go. Here is the booking lead time we recommend, based on how demand actually moves across the year:
| Departure window | Demand level | Book ahead |
|---|---|---|
| July – September (peak / high season) | Highest — dry season, school holidays | 6–8 months |
| December holidays & New Year Fridays | Spike — festive departures fill fast | 4–6 months |
| April – June, October | Moderate — shoulder season | 2–4 months |
| November, January – March | Lowest — green season | 1–2 months (last-minute possible) |
Two practical notes. First, securing a date is a two-step process: a 50% deposit within 3 days of confirmation holds your cabin, and the balance is due 30 days before departure — the full terms are in our step-by-step booking guide. Second, the departure date you pick also decides your cabin budget: current rates per cabin tier, plus the separate Komodo National Park fee (approximately IDR 400–650k), are laid out in the 2026 price tables.
Not sure which month suits you? Sea conditions, manta activity and visibility all shift through the year — our month-by-month sailing guide maps each month’s conditions directly onto this Friday calendar, so you can pick a departure with your eyes open.
Why a Fixed Friday Schedule Is an Advantage
Most Komodo liveaboards publish vague “departures on request” pages. Elbark’s fixed Friday cadence works in your favor three ways: you can lock flights to Labuan Bajo months out without waiting for a boat to confirm; solo travelers and couples can count on a guaranteed weekly share-trip departure instead of hoping a group materializes; and if a date is full, the alternative is never far — there is another departure exactly seven days later. With 52–53 Fridays a year, the calendar above gives you over a hundred scheduled departures across 2026–2027 to plan around.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Elbark Schedule
What day and time does Elbark Cruise depart?
Elbark Cruise departs every Friday at 10:00 from Labuan Bajo harbor, year-round, on its 3D2N Komodo share trip. Guests check in at the harbor on Friday morning before the 10:00 cast-off. The trip returns to Labuan Bajo on Day 3 — Sunday — at around 12:00.
What time does Elbark return, and can I fly out the same day?
The boat is back at Labuan Bajo around 12:00 on Sunday. An afternoon or evening flight out of Labuan Bajo (LBJ) the same day is realistic, but we recommend a buffer of at least 3–4 hours after docking — or an overnight in town — in case of sea or harbor delays.
Does Elbark sail every single Friday of the year?
The 3D2N share trip is scheduled every Friday across 2026 and 2027 — every date in the tables above. Individual departures remain subject to cabin availability and, rarely, weather or park-authority conditions, so always confirm your specific Friday with Komodo Luxury before booking flights.
How far in advance should I book a high-season departure?
For July–September Fridays, book 6–8 months ahead — these peak dry-season departures sell out first, starting with the Misool master suite. Shoulder months (April–June, October) typically need 2–4 months; green-season Fridays (November–March) can often be booked 1–2 months out.
Do private charters have to follow the Friday calendar?
No. Private charters (2D1N to 4D3N, from USD 8,400 per trip for 1–10 guests via Komodo Luxury) are scheduled individually and confirmed against the vessel’s existing commitments. The Friday calendar on this page applies to the 3D2N share trip only.
Lock In Your Friday Departure
Elbark Cruise bookings are handled exclusively through check Elbark’s 2026 departure calendar, winner of TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards. Get live cabin availability and 2026–2027 schedules.
Calendar last verified: July 2026. Departure dates are computed from Elbark’s fixed weekly Friday schedule; individual sailings are subject to availability. For live cabin status on any date above, message Komodo Luxury on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com.