One hundred answers about chartering LASHA on long-range Indonesian voyages — the vessel, her ten ensuite cabins, published rates, Raja Ampat access and fees, the Komodo–Raja Ampat crossing, the Banda Sea, diving, seasons and booking. Every figure here is drawn from LASHA’s published specification and rate sheets or from a cited Indonesian regulation.
This hub exists because expedition charters generate more questions than a product page can hold, and because the single most common complaint about this market is that operators answer them privately instead of publicly. The ten sections below run from the ship herself to the last practical detail of booking. Anything that is an estimate rather than a published number is labelled as one, and nothing here is invented to fill a gap.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Vessel size | 52.5 m LOA · 10.3 m beam · 466 GT · built 2023 |
| Guests / cabins | Up to 26 guests · 10 ensuite cabins · 4 decks |
| Expedition band (Raja Ampat, Banda Sea, Wakatobi, Maratua) | From USD 11,600 / night leisure · USD 12,400 dive · min 5 nights |
| Komodo band (Komodo, Alor, Sumbawa, Lombok, Bali) | From USD 9,800 / night leisure · USD 10,500 dive · min 2 nights |
| Dive supplement | USD 55 per guest per night |
| Park fees | USD 25 per guest per night (USD 35 on 2D1N and day charters) |
| Raja Ampat entry total | IDR 1,700,000 foreign · IDR 650,000 Indonesian |
| Komodo National Park entry | IDR 250,000 foreign per visit (PP 36/2024) |
| Crossing distance | ≈ 800–1,000 NM Labuan Bajo to Sorong · 10–14 days |
| Maiden sailing | 17 August 2026 from Labuan Bajo |
Full tables and sources are on the linked pages below.
The Vessel
How big is LASHA?
52.5 metres overall, 10.3-metre beam, 2.7-metre depth, 466 gross tonnes.
When was she built?
2023, in Ulin ironwood and teak, by Buginese shipwrights in the phinisi tradition.
How many guests does she carry?
Up to 26 guests in 10 ensuite cabins across four decks.
Is LASHA a phinisi or a yacht?
Both words are accurate. She is registered as a sailing vessel under the Indonesian flag and built as a traditional phinisi; the interior standard is modern charter yacht.
What engine does she run?
A Weichai X6170 producing 750 Hp, with two Mitsubishi 6D22 70 kVA generators.
How much fuel and water does she carry?
12,000 litres of fuel and 22,000 litres of fresh water.
What navigation equipment is aboard?
Garmin GPS, Samyung AIS transponder, radar with SART, iCom radio and a Samyung EPIRB.
What safety equipment is carried?
Two lifeboats, four 20-person liferafts giving 80 covered places, 75 life jackets, 30 fire extinguishers and 12 ring buoys.
Is LASHA the superyacht KOMODO?
No. M/Y KOMODO is an unrelated 73-metre motor superyacht. LASHA is a 52.5-metre wooden phinisi sailing in Komodo National Park.
Where is her home port?
Labuan Bajo, Flores, Indonesia.
Cabins and Life Aboard
How many cabins are there?
Ten, all ensuite: two Master Suites, four Junior Suite Balcony cabins, two Grand Deluxe and two Deluxe.
Which cabins have a jacuzzi bathtub?
Master Suites 205 and 206, both on the main deck with ocean-view windows.
Which cabins have a private balcony?
Junior Suite Balcony cabins 201 to 204.
Do any cabins take a third guest?
Yes — 103, 104, 203 and 204 take an extra bed, which is how the ship reaches 26 berths.
Are bathrooms shared?
Never. Every cabin has its own marble bathroom with a rain shower.
What is on the top deck?
A sun deck lined with loungers and an open-air jacuzzi at its centre.
Where do guests eat?
The Lounge & Resto on the upper deck, with an alfresco table outside for breakfast under way. A 10.3-metre beam means a full charter dines at one table.
Is there a lounge for bad weather?
Yes — the Living Room on the main deck, with a smart TV and PlayStation 5, plus the upper-deck chill area.
Where is the dive deck?
On the main deck at water level, deliberately separated from the dining and living spaces.
Where does the crew sleep?
In crew quarters on the lower deck, one staircase from every stateroom.
Rates and What Is Included
Can I book a single cabin?
No. LASHA charters as a whole boat only.
What does the expedition band cost?
From USD 11,600 per night whole boat leisure and USD 12,400 with diving, minimum five nights.
What does the Komodo band cost?
From USD 9,800 per night whole boat leisure and USD 10,500 with diving, minimum two nights.
What is the 2D1N price?
USD 900 per guest per night, whole boat from USD 13,900 at 1–14 guests, entrance fee USD 35 per guest per night.
What does a one-day charter cost?
USD 550 per guest, USD 11,000 flat for 1–20 guests, maximum 16 hours.
How much does diving add?
USD 55 per guest per night over the leisure rate on every overnight band.
What are FOC places?
Free-of-charge guest places, starting at one from 15 paying guests and rising to four at 21–22. They are already inside the published totals.
Are park fees included?
No. USD 25 per guest per night on the main overnight bands, USD 35 on the 2D1N and day formats.
What is the relocation fee?
A charge that applies when boarding away from Labuan Bajo outside a scheduled positioning window, because the ship must sail empty to reach you.
Are meals and crew included?
Yes — the vessel, full crew, full board and standard water toys are all inside the charter rate.
Getting to Raja Ampat
Which airport serves Raja Ampat?
Sorong Domine Eduard Osok (SOQ) in Southwest Papua.
How long is the flight from Jakarta?
About four to four and a half hours non-stop.
How long from Makassar?
About three to three and a half hours.
How long from Manado?
About two and a half hours.
Can I fly direct from Bali?
Only on a limited service. Most travellers connect through Jakarta or Makassar, making the total roughly seven to eight hours.
Which airlines fly to Sorong?
Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Lion Air, Sriwijaya Air, Super Air Jet, TransNusa, Wings Air and Pelita Air have appeared on 2025–2026 schedules.
How do I reach Waisai from Sorong?
By fast ferry in about two hours, indicatively IDR 150,000–200,000 economy and IDR 250,000–300,000 VIP.
Do charter guests use the ferry?
No. The vessel collects guests at Sorong harbour, so Waisai never enters the itinerary.
Should I add a buffer day?
Yes — one at minimum, two if you are travelling from Europe or eastern Australia.
Is there an international flight to Sorong?
No. Every overseas traveller connects through an Indonesian hub.
Fees, Permits and Rules
What is the Raja Ampat conservation card?
The marine park entry card, also called TLPJL or the PIN card: IDR 700,000 for foreign visitors and IDR 425,000 for Indonesians, valid 12 months.
What is the regency tourism levy?
A separate charge introduced by Peraturan Bupati Raja Ampat No. 34/2025: IDR 1,000,000 for foreign visitors and IDR 300,000 for Indonesians, per visit.
What is the total to enter Raja Ampat?
IDR 1,700,000 for foreign visitors and IDR 650,000 for Indonesians.
Are children charged?
Children under 12 are exempt from both Raja Ampat charges.
Where do I buy the card?
At the information counter near Sorong’s DEO airport access road, the Waisai harbour counter, or the UPTD Marine Park office on Jalan Yos Sudarso in Waisai. Operators usually buy them for the whole guest list.
How long is the card valid?
Twelve months from issue, so a second visit within the year pays only the regency levy again.
What does Komodo National Park charge?
Under PP 36/2024, IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per visit; IDR 50,000 on weekdays or IDR 75,000 on holidays for Indonesian visitors.
Why do other sites quote IDR 650,000 or 900,000 for Komodo?
Those are package figures combining the national park fee with local levies and ranger or trail services. They are not the PP 36/2024 entrance tariff.
Do I need a visa for Indonesia?
Most visitors use visa-on-arrival or e-VOA, but eligibility depends on nationality and changes periodically. Check current immigration rules for your passport before booking.
Can fees be paid by card?
Do not rely on it. Carry rupiah cash for permit counters, or let the operator handle the permits.
The Komodo to Raja Ampat Crossing
How far is the crossing?
Roughly 800 to 1,000 nautical miles, depending on the waypoints chosen.
How long does it take?
Guest itineraries run 10 to 14 days; a bare delivery transit takes about five to seven at 8–10 knots.
What route does it follow?
Labuan Bajo, north Flores, Alor or Pantar, Wetar and Romang, the Banda Islands, Manuk or Koon, Misool, then Sorong or Waisai.
When can it be sailed?
In the inter-monsoon windows: roughly March–April westbound and September–November eastbound.
How many open-ocean nights are there?
Typically two to three, concentrated in the Banda Sea legs.
Can it be sailed in reverse?
Yes. The same voyage read backwards, in the opposite monsoon window.
What does the crossing cost?
It prices on the expedition band, from USD 11,600 per night whole boat, with a realistic voyage of 10 to 14 nights.
Do I need to dive to join?
No. The leisure rate exists for exactly that, and diving is an optional tier at USD 55 per guest per night.
Is the crossing suitable for children?
For confident sea-going families, yes; for young children who have never spent a night under way, a Komodo charter is the better introduction.
Can we join only part of the crossing?
Only where an intermediate port with air access allows it. Ask the desk which segments are practical for your dates.
The Banda Sea
What is the Banda Sea known for?
Remote volcanic islands, deep blue-water walls, schooling scalloped hammerheads in season, and the historic spice town of Banda Neira.
When are the hammerheads there?
Most reliably September to November, strongest in October and November, with a smaller secondary window in March–April.
Where are hammerheads seen?
Almost all reporting centres on Manuk and the offshore Banda Sea seamounts rather than the inner islands.
Are hammerheads guaranteed?
No. These are aggregated operator observations across seasons, not a scientific dataset, and no sighting is promised.
What happened at Gunung Api?
A 1988 eruption sent lava into the sea and destroyed the reef beside it. The coral that regrew over that flow is one of Indonesian diving’s best-known recovery stories, and the site is also famous for sea snakes.
What is Koon?
An eastern Banda Sea site known for very dense schooling fish on a wall and slope from about 5 to 30 metres, with strong current.
Is Banda Neira worth a day ashore?
Yes, and non-divers often rate it the highlight: Dutch forts, nutmeg plantations and a colonial town with no equivalent on an Indonesian dive route.
What certification do the seamounts need?
Manuk and the exposed Banda Arc walls are advanced, current-driven blue-water dives. Banda Neira and Nusa Laut are far more approachable.
Why is the season so short?
Because it is open ocean between two monsoons. December–March and June–September are avoided by operators for good reason.
Can non-divers enjoy the Banda Sea?
Yes — the volcanic islands are extraordinary from the deck, and Banda Neira’s history stands on its own.
Diving
Does LASHA have a dive deck?
Yes, a dedicated dive deck on the main deck at water level, deliberately separated from the dining and living spaces.
What does diving cost?
USD 55 per guest per night above the leisure rate on every overnight band.
What are the signature Misool sites?
Magic Mountain (Shadow Reef), Boo Windows, Four Kings, Nudi Rock, Fiabacet and Yilliet.
What certification do Misool sites need?
Magic Mountain, Boo Windows and Four Kings suit Advanced divers with current experience; Nudi Rock and parts of Fiabacet are approachable for experienced Open Water divers.
What is the water temperature?
Commonly 28–30°C year-round across Raja Ampat.
How biodiverse is Raja Ampat?
More than 540 species of hard coral — roughly three quarters of all known species — and around 1,300 reef fish species, inside a marine protected area network of about two million hectares.
Are mantas guaranteed at cleaning stations?
No. Manta presence is seasonal and tide-dependent, and the honest answer is odds rather than promises.
What about diving in Komodo?
Manta rays hold at Manta Point in 10–20 metres, friendly for all certification levels on the right tide, with best odds September to May and a plankton-rich peak December to March.
Can non-divers still snorkel?
Yes, on every charter. Snorkellers drift Manta Point from the surface and use the tender for sandbars and beaches while divers work the walls.
Do I need to bring my own gear?
Bring your certification card and personal items such as a mask and computer. Confirm the rest of the equipment list with the charter desk for your specific voyage.
Seasons and Weather
When is the Komodo season?
Roughly April to October, the dry months, when LASHA works out of Labuan Bajo.
When is the Raja Ampat season?
Roughly October to April, the sheltered northwest-monsoon months in the east.
Where is LASHA in December?
In the eastern season — Raja Ampat and the surrounding waters — after repositioning in the October–November window.
When is the best visibility in Komodo?
Central-Komodo pinnacles peak at 30–40 metres from June to September, strongest in July and August.
When is Komodo manta season?
Mantas are seen year-round, with a plankton-rich peak from December to March.
Which months should be avoided for open-ocean legs?
December to March and June to September, the two monsoon peaks.
Does the itinerary change with weather?
Always. On a private charter the itinerary is a framework, and the captain moves it around tide and forecast.
What is the maiden season?
LASHA’s first public sailing leaves Labuan Bajo on 17 August 2026, Indonesian Independence Day.
Are there guest reviews to read?
Not yet, and none are invented. Until the maiden season is sailed, what we publish is hard specification and rate data instead.
Do rates change between 2026 and 2027?
The published band is stated as holding for both years; anything beyond that is confirmed in writing at quotation.
Booking and Practicalities
Who takes the booking?
Komodo Luxury, LASHA’s official marketing and booking partner — one charter desk, one WhatsApp line, verified payment channels.
How do I get a quotation?
Send your month, guest count, how many dive, and your boarding point. The desk returns the band, the FOC line and every separately billed fee in writing.
What currency are charters in?
United States dollars; Indonesian government charges are levied in rupiah.
What are the deposit and cancellation terms?
Issued in writing with the quotation for your specific voyage rather than assumed from a generic table.
How far ahead should I book a crossing?
Early. Long-range charters exist in two short windows a year and the good fortnights go first.
Can you handle dietary requirements?
Yes, when declared before departure — provisioning for a long voyage happens ashore before the ship leaves.
Is there internet aboard?
Coverage follows the towns and disappears across open water. Confirm current arrangements with the desk before promising anyone a call.
What should I pack?
Medication for the full trip plus margin, motion-sickness remedies started early, reef-safe sun protection, and your certification card if you dive.
Can we celebrate a birthday or anniversary aboard?
Yes — tell the desk when you book so the galley and crew can plan around it.
How do I contact the charter desk?
WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected]; replies usually arrive within office hours in Central Indonesian time.
Where to Read Further
Detail lives on the pages these answers are drawn from: the full specification and cabin matrix, the four route bands and FOC ladder, how to get to Raja Ampat with 2026 fees, the crossing leg by leg, the Banda Sea in season and Misool’s expedition-only sites. LASHA’s own rates page and yacht page hold the source tables.
Travellers comparing vessels across the region can also review the Raja Ampat cruise programmes handled by the charter desk before choosing a hull and a month.
Where These Numbers Come From
Vessel dimensions, tank capacities, safety inventory and cabin numbers are taken from LASHA’s own published specification sheet on the yacht page. Charter figures are the published 2026–2027 rate band on the rates page — the same file the Komodo Luxury charter desk quotes from. Government fees are cited to their source in the text. Where a figure is an operational estimate rather than a published number, it is labelled as such on this page. LASHA begins her maiden public season on 17 August 2026, so there are no guest reviews to quote yet and none are invented here.
Book This Voyage Through Komodo Luxury
If your question is not among the hundred above, ask it directly. Every LASHA Phinisi Cruise reservation is handled end-to-end by Komodo Luxury, the vessel’s official marketing and booking partner — an operator working Indonesian waters since 2015 and part of Juara Holding Group. Send your month, guest count and how many of them dive, and the charter desk returns a written quotation with the rate band, the free-of-charge ladder and every separately billed fee itemised before any money moves.