How much does accommodation in the Derawan Islands cost?

It is bundled into the private trip: from USD 1,290 in total for two guests on a 3D2N (standard tier, Reza Derawan Resort or Alfit VIP Derawan), and 4D3N from USD 2,190 for two. The price depends on the stay; larger groups pay less each.

Can you stay overnight on Sangalaki?

No. Sangalaki is a day-visit island on the itinerary. You reach its manta grounds by speedboat from your base, then return the same day, which is why your base sets how long each boat leg takes.

When can you book a stay in the Derawan Islands?

April to November is the best season; December to March is the wetter period, when crossings to the outer islands are less reliable, though trips still run. Maratua stays tighten through the middle of the season, so request dates early if you need a specific property or an over-water room.

Are flights to Berau included?

No. The trip begins and ends at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ), the meeting point; you arrange your own flights. From the airport onward, the road transfer, speedboat, stay and meals are arranged as one private itinerary.

Where to Stay · Derawan or Maratua

Derawan Islands resorts: choosing your base

Q: What is the difference between the standard and premium tiers?

The itinerary is the same. Standard includes a local guide and GoPro documentation; premium adds a tour leader alongside the local guide, and drone, GoPro and mirrorless documentation with video editing.

Sleep on Derawan Island beside the village and the turtle-filled shallows, or out on Maratua, closer to the wall dives. The one decision that shapes your days on the water.

Compare the two bases Ask which base suits me

Top-down drone view of a timber pier over blue water off Derawan Island, a person lying on the boards

Realistic island bases: 2
Derawan to Maratua: 1.5 – 2 h
Best season: Apr – Nov
Meeting point, Berau: BEJ

Two bases

Derawan Island or Maratua: the two realistic bases

Only a handful of islands in the archipelago carry accommodation. Sangalaki is a day-visit island you reach by boat from wherever you are based.

The inhabited island

Derawan Island
A village, a jetty, warungs and green turtles grazing under the stilted walkways. The shorter transfer, and the easier option for families and first-time visitors.
Diving-led trip?
Read the dive site breakdown before you lock in a base.

Drone view of the red-roofed jetty pavilion at Maratua over turquoise water

Outer atoll

Maratua Island

Bigger and quieter, ringed by a barrier reef and a lagoon, and the base most divers ask for. It adds roughly 1.5 to 2 hours of speedboat time from Derawan but puts you on the doorstep of the channel and wall sites.

Boat times

Indicative travel times between the islands

Planning figures, not guarantees: sea state decides real crossing times, and your confirmed itinerary carries the timings for your dates.

Leg	Mode	Approximate duration
Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) to Tanjung Batu	Private road transfer	About 2.5 to 3 hours
Tanjung Batu to Derawan Island	Speedboat	About 40 minutes
Derawan Island to Sangalaki	Speedboat	About 45 to 60 minutes
Sangalaki to Kakaban	Speedboat	About 20 to 30 minutes
Derawan Island to Maratua	Speedboat	About 1.5 to 2 hours

Arriving the day before? Guests usually stay near Kalimarau Airport at Hotel Grand Citra, My City Hotel, Swiss-Belhotel or Galaxy Hotel.

The stays we book

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.

What the rate covers

What a private trip includes, stated plainly

Accommodation is bundled into the package: you do not pay the property separately on arrival. The trip starts and ends at Kalimarau Airport (BEJ).

Included

Car between Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) and Tanjung Batu
Private speedboat
Water cottage or resort stay
Meals: 6 on 3D2N, 9 on 4D3N
Snorkel kit: mask, snorkel, life jacket
Guides and documentation
Travel insurance and entrance fees

Not included

Flights to and from Berau
Fins
Tips
Personal expenses

Trip costs

Standard or premium: what changes, what it costs

Accommodation is priced inside the package, not booked separately. Published Indonesia Juara rates, nett.

Both tiers follow the same itinerary. Standard comes with a local guide and GoPro documentation; premium adds a tour leader alongside the local guide, and drone, GoPro and mirrorless documentation with video editing. The price depends on the stay you choose, and larger groups pay less each.

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. Rates as published on indonesiajuara.asia.

When to book

The best season is April to November

April to November is the best season for the Derawan private trip; December to March is the wetter period, when crossings to the outer islands are less reliable, though trips still run. Beds on Maratua get scarce in the middle of the season. Where you sleep decides how much of the 13-destination route you reach comfortably.

Need a specific stay or an over-water room? Ask well before your travel month.

Kakaban Island Talisayan whale sharks Labuan Cermin

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

Resort or boat

A resort stay, a liveaboard or island hopping?

A land base wins on comfort, cost and flexibility for most travellers; a boat wins on reach.

Your priority	Format	Read
Diving hard, on site at first light	Liveaboard (not a trip we sell)	Derawan liveaboard guide
Sleep on land, cover the archipelago	Island hopping tour	Derawan island hopping tour
The standard arrival route	Via Kalimarau, Berau	How to get to Derawan
A night near the airport first	Berau, near Kalimarau	Derawan via Berau
All the logistics in one place	Planning guides	Plan your Derawan trip

Answers

Derawan resort questions

All 100 questions

There is no single best property: it depends on whether you base on Derawan Island or Maratua. Divers usually favour the Maratua side; families and first-time visitors usually favour Derawan Island for its shorter transfer and village setting.

All 100 questions

Keep exploring

More in Where to Stay

Traveller looking over the turquoise Laguna Kehe Daing on Kakaban

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Tell us your dates and your base

Send your travel dates, group size and preferred tier, and we reply with a written quote naming the stay you choose.

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Derawan Islands resorts: choosing your base

Derawan Island or Maratua: the two realistic bases

Derawan Island

Diving-led trip?

Maratua Island

Indicative travel times between the islands

Every stay Indonesia Juara uses in the archipelago

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