Can I see Kakaban jellyfish lake and Sangalaki manta rays on the same trip?

Yes. Both are on the same island day, with Maratua and Manta Point. The jellyfish are a snorkel-depth swim with no diving needed. Mantas are wild and never guaranteed; green turtles are seen far more consistently.

When is the best time to book?

April to November is the best season, when the crossings are calmest; December to March is the wetter period. The real constraint is availability: popular dates are taken by group bookings months ahead.

How many days do I need?

Four days and three nights fits all 13 destinations, with the Talisayan whale sharks, Manimbora and Labuan Cermin on day 3. The 3D2N covers the marine core; whale sharks, Manimbora and Labuan Cermin are not included on that format.

Where does the tour start?

At Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) in Berau, East Kalimantan. Flights into Berau are arranged separately and are not in the price. Kalimarau is the meeting point for every departure.

Do I need to be a certified diver?

No. Island hopping is a surface and snorkel product, and Kakaban, Sangalaki and Manta Point all happen at snorkel depth. Our Derawan trips are snorkel-based; scuba diving is not included.

Tour Packages · Island hopping

Derawan island hopping tour, 13 destinations

One continuous private trip linking the signature stops of the archipelago, from the Kakaban jellyfish lake to the Talisayan whale sharks, in 3D2N or 4D3N from Berau.

See the stops Ask about island hopping

Aerial view of the white sand spit leading to a palm islet at Manimbora, with a speedboat

Destinations on the route: 13
Trip lengths: 3D2N · 4D3N
Meeting point, Berau: BEJ
Best season: Apr – Nov

The route

13 named destinations, not one island

"Derawan" is an archipelago, and four very different marine experiences sit within one boat range. Book one resort night on one island and you see one of these; the route is what makes the flight worth it.

Whale sharks
Talisayan
The mainland-side grounds where fishing platforms attract whale sharks in an early-morning session.
Island
Maratua
The largest island in the group, with the deep channel and cave systems.
Jellyfish lake
Kakaban
The landlocked lake holding stingless jellyfish, one of very few such lakes on earth.
Mantas
Sangalaki
The manta ray and green turtle island.
Cave
Goa Halo Tabung
A water-filled cave feature on Maratua.
Snorkel site
Manta Point
The named cleaning and feeding area where manta encounters are most likely.
Sandbar
Pasir Gusung Sanggalau
A tidal sandbar that appears and disappears with the water level.
Lagoon
Laguna Kehe Daing
The enclosed lagoon on Kakaban, reached through a narrow rock opening.
Mirror lake
Labuan Cermin
The mainland-side lake where fresh water sits above salt water.
Base
Derawan Island
The island where the trip is based, with water cottages over the reef.
Maratua
Dolphins Point
The day-2 stop off Maratua where the speedboat looks for dolphins.
Sangalaki
Turtle conservation
The turtle conservation stop on Sangalaki, on day 2 of every trip.
4D3N · Day 3
Manimbora Island
A palm islet at the end of a white sand spit, visited with Labuan Cermin on the 4D3N.

Kakaban and Sangalaki

The two stops that shape the whole itinerary

Remember two names: they are the core of the archipelago's reputation and what most people mean by island hopping here.

Sangalaki, the opposite experience

Manta Point
Open water and plankton-rich shallows where mantas feed. They are wild: a good route puts you there at the right tide and light, nobody can guarantee them.
Green turtles
Sangalaki is the archipelago's green turtle nesting centre, with a turtle conservation stop on the route.

Snorkeller among golden stingless jellyfish in the Kakaban lake

No tank needed

Kakaban jellyfish lake

Jellyfish that evolved without predators and lost their sting. You swim among them at snorkel depth, which is why it works for mixed-ability groups and families. No fins in the lake.

Trip costs

Derawan island hopping tour price

There is no single flat price: a private trip is priced by the stay you choose and larger groups pay less each. Every figure is a starting point, confirmed in writing against your dates and flights.

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

Flights to Berau (BEJ) are not included. The minimum for a private departure is 2 people.

All Derawan tour packages

How many days

3D2N or 4D3N for island hopping

Final sequencing is confirmed per departure against tide, sea state and your flight times.

On the route	3D2N	4D3N
Nights	2	3
Maratua, Kakaban, Sangalaki, Manta Point	Day 2	Day 2
Talisayan whale sharks	Not included	Day 3, early start
Manimbora and Labuan Cermin	Not included	Day 3
Return to Kalimarau (BEJ)	Day 3	Day 4

Whale sharks are not included in the 3D2N package; they are included in 4D3N. If Talisayan or Labuan Cermin matter to you, book 4D3N.

Inclusions

What the island hopping package covers

The full written inclusion list comes with your quotation for your dates; that document, not this page, is the contractual one.

Included

Car transfer Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) ↔ Tanjung Batu
Private speedboat for the island days
Water cottage or resort at your chosen stay
Meals: 6 on 3D2N, 9 on 4D3N, with mineral water
Snorkel kit: mask, snorkel, life jacket
Guides, documentation, travel insurance and entrance fees

Not included

Flights to Kalimarau Airport (BEJ), booked by you
Scuba diving (our Derawan trips are snorkel-based)
Fins
Tips and personal spending

When to go

April to November: the best season

April to November is the best season, when the crossings that make island hopping possible are at their calmest; December to March is the wetter period. School holidays and long weekends fill with group bookings well ahead.

Whale sharks at Talisayan and mantas at Sangalaki are natural aggregations, not a scheduled show.

Best time to visit

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

Between island days

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. Flights to Berau are not included.

Start and booking

The trip starts at Kalimarau Airport, Berau

Every private departure meets at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ). You fly in, you are met, and the trip begins: about 2.5 to 3 hours by road to Tanjung Batu, then around 40 minutes by speedboat to Derawan. Book return flights from 15:00 so the last day still works.

To start, send your dates, party size and whether Talisayan whale sharks or Labuan Cermin are must-haves: those two answers decide between 3D2N and 4D3N.

Man standing on the bow of a longboat at Labuan Cermin

Answers

Island hopping questions

All 100 questions

A private tour starts from USD 1,290 in total for two guests on a 3D2N, standard tier, and from USD 2,190 on a 4D3N; the stay sets the price and larger groups pay less each. The Open Trip Derawan 4D3N is USD 280 per person, minimum 7 guests.

All 100 questions

Keep exploring

More in Tour Packages

Traveller sitting on the bow of a longboat at Labuan Cermin

Plan the route

Tell us your must-have stops

Whale sharks, the mirror lake or both? Your answer decides 3D2N or 4D3N, and we quote for your exact group.

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Derawan island hopping tour, 13 destinations

13 named destinations, not one island

Goa Halo Tabung

Pasir Gusung Sanggalau

Laguna Kehe Daing

Derawan Island

Dolphins Point

Manimbora Island

The two stops that shape the whole itinerary

Derawan island hopping tour price

3D2N or 4D3N for island hopping

What the island hopping package covers

Included

Not included

April to November: the best season

Where you stay on an island hopping tour

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