What is the best time to visit the Derawan Islands?

April to November is the best season. December to March is the wetter period; open-trip departures still run every month, so check the dates or confirm your trip before you buy domestic flights into Berau.

How much does a Derawan trip cost per person?

The Open Trip Derawan 4D3N is USD 280 per person (VIP USD 300), with a minimum of 7 guests. The private trip starts from USD 1,290 in total for two guests on a 3D2N, standard tier; larger groups pay less each. Flights to Berau are not included.

How many days do you need in the Derawan Islands?

The private trip runs as 3D2N or 4D3N. Both cover Maratua, Kakaban and Sangalaki on day 2; the four-day version adds the early run to the Talisayan whale sharks, Manimbora and Labuan Cermin. Choose the shorter trip only if your flights are tightly fixed.

What is the minimum group size for a Derawan private trip?

Two travellers, up to a maximum of ten; solo travellers can join the Open Trip instead. The trip runs privately, so the boat, guide and transfers are shared across your group and the rate per person falls as numbers rise.

Which airport should you fly into for Derawan?

Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau. It is the meeting point for every trip we run, private and open, and we do not run transfers from other airports. Open trip flights must land by 08.20 WITA; private trips finish by 14.00 WITA.

Plan Your Trip · Travel guide

Derawan Islands travel guide: plan in four decisions

Which airport, how many days, how many people and which months. Every trip we run meets at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau; the best season is April to November.

Start with getting there Help me plan

Meeting point, Berau: BEJ
Best season: Apr – Nov
Private trip lengths: 3D2N · 4D3N
Minimum travellers, private trip: 2

Decision 1 · Getting there

Fly to East Kalimantan, then road and speedboat

There is no single road or ferry to the reef. You fly into East Kalimantan, transfer overland to a jetty and continue by speedboat. Read these in order.

Kalimarau (BEJ)
Tanjung Batu port · 2.5 – 3 h
Derawan · ~40 min

Start here
How to get to the Derawan Islands
The master routing page: your own flight to Kalimarau (BEJ), then how the road and sea legs connect.
Kalimarau (BEJ)
Derawan via Berau
The road transfer to Tanjung Batu and the speedboat crossing to Derawan. The meeting point for every trip we run.
Prices
What it costs
Private trip from USD 1,290 total for two guests (3D2N) and the 4D3N open trip from USD 280 per person, with what is and is not included.
Season
Best time to visit
Month by month, with April to November the best season, and what changes above and below the water.

Decision 2 · How many days

13 destinations fit a 3D2N or a 4D3N trip

The private trip runs as three days and two nights or four days and three nights. The length decides which stops you reach.

Day 2 of both lengths covers Maratua (Dolphins Point, Goa Halo Tabung), Kakaban (Laguna Kehe Daing and the jellyfish lake) and Sangalaki (Manta Point and turtle conservation). The 4D3N adds an early day-3 run to the Talisayan whale sharks, Manimbora and Labuan Cermin, about six hours round trip.

Talisayan: the mainland whale shark encounter, an early-morning leg
Maratua: the largest island and the base for outer reef diving
Kakaban: the landlocked jellyfish lake, snorkelled rather than dived
Sangalaki: the manta island and a green turtle nesting site
Derawan Island, Dolphins Point, Goa Halo Tabung, Manta Point, turtle conservation, Pasir Gusung Sanggalau and Laguna Kehe Daing
Manimbora and Labuan Cermin: the islet and the mirror lake on the mainland side

Decision 3 · How many people

What a Derawan trip costs

The private trip is your group, your boat, your guide, so the cost per person falls as the group grows. Published Indonesia Juara rates, nett.

Open Trip Derawan 4D3N

USD 280 per person

VIP USD 300 per person
Minimum 7 guests
Meet at Kalimarau (BEJ)
Standard water cottage
Single room +USD 60

Ask for a quote

Private Trip Derawan

from USD 1,290 total for 2 guests

≈ USD 645 per person, 3D2N, standard tier
4D3N from USD 2,190 for 2 guests
Price depends on the stay you choose

Ask for a quote

Every figure depends on group size and the stay you choose. Flights to Berau (BEJ) are not included.

Shape the days

Itineraries and route choices

Once you know how many days you have, these guides turn them into a plan.

3 days
3-Day Itinerary
Derawan, Maratua, Kakaban and Sangalaki in three days.
5 days
5-Day Itinerary
Five days across the atoll with Derawan Island as your base: a planning guide, as our trips run 3D2N or 4D3N.
7 days
7-Day Itinerary
Seven days off East Kalimantan: a planning guide, as our trips run 3D2N or 4D3N.
Guide
Customisation guide
Background on tailoring a Derawan trip; our own trips run 3D2N or 4D3N on a set itinerary.
Compare
Derawan vs alternatives
Derawan compared with Raja Ampat and Indonesia's busier islands.

Decision 4 · Which months

The best Derawan season is April to November

April to November is the best season. December to March is the wetter period: the archipelago does not close and open-trip departures are still published every month, but sea conditions on the crossing legs decide more than your calendar does.

December to March: check the open-trip dates, or confirm your private trip, before booking flights.

Manta ray snorkelling Green turtle nesting

Jan Rough Reduced
Feb Rough Reduced
Mar Variable Mixed
Apr Calm 20 m+
May Calm 20 m+
Jun Calm 20 m+
Jul Calm 20 m+
Aug Calm 20 m+
Sep Calm 20 m+
Oct Calm 20 m+
Nov Variable 20 m+
Dec Rough Reduced

In season Crossings weather-dependent Sea state · visibility

Where you sleep

3D2N 2 guests, total: USD 2,090 ≈ USD 1,045 / person
4D3N 2 guests, total: USD 6,590 ≈ USD 3,295 / person

Ask about this stay

Private Trip Derawan rates from indonesiajuara.asia: total for two guests, standard tier. Compare every option on the where-to-stay guide.

Before you book

Costs, booking, packing and safety

Confirm the trip first, then ticket the flight into BEJ: booking flights before the departure is confirmed is the most common planning mistake.

Costs
Cost & pricing guide
What a Derawan trip costs and what shapes the figure.
Costs
Trip costs explained
The budget broken down: flights, transfers, stays, food and activities.
Booking
How to book
How a Derawan tour package is booked, from first inquiry to confirmation.
Booking
Booking hub
Rooms, villas and resorts on Derawan, Maratua, Sangalaki and Kakaban.
Process
Our process
A private trip from inquiry to arrival, step by step.
Packing
Packing guide
What to bring for sea days, island days and village visits.
Safety
Safety & trust
Boats, guides, insurance and medical care in a remote archipelago.

Answers

Planning questions

All 100 questions

Every trip we run begins at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau, East Kalimantan. From there it is about 2.5 to 3 hours by road to Tanjung Batu, then about 40 minutes by speedboat to Derawan.

All 100 questions

Keep exploring

Explore the other guides

Top-down drone view of a timber pier over blue water at Derawan Island

Lock in a departure

Send your dates and group size

We confirm availability, the meeting time at Kalimarau Airport and a quote for your group before you book flights.

Chat on WhatsApp Email the desk

Derawan Islands travel guide: plan in four decisions

Fly to East Kalimantan, then road and speedboat

13 destinations fit a 3D2N or a 4D3N trip

What a Derawan trip costs

Itineraries and route choices

The best Derawan season is April to November

Your base changes your water time

Reza Derawan Resort

Alfit VIP Derawan

Borneo Cottage Maratua

Maratua Paradise Beach Villa

Pratasaba Seheku Lodge

Maratua Paradise Water Villa

Sienna Resort

Arasatu Floating Villa