SiOra: Booking Your Komodo Park Permit

Last updated: 29 August 2026.

What is SiOra?

SiOra is the Komodo National Park authority’s official system for booking park entrance tickets in advance, replacing the previous practice of paying on arrival at the park checkpoint. It covers all sites inside the park, including Manta Point, Manta Alley, Padar Island, Pink Beach, and the Komodo/Rinca dragon-trekking areas. The system ties your entry ticket to a specific date and site quota, which is part of why advance booking – not walk-up payment – is now required.

Why was SiOra introduced?

The park authority’s stated aim is to manage visitor numbers against each site’s daily capacity more precisely than a walk-up payment system allowed, supporting conservation goals for both the Komodo dragon habitat and marine sites like Manta Point. This aligns with the park’s daily quota structure – roughly 1,000 visitors per day across the park’s sessions is the parkwide figure, not a Padar-specific or Manta-Point-specific cap – see the park’s own fee and capacity page (archived 11 Feb 2026, for when the government host is unreachable) for the authoritative source.

When did SiOra become mandatory?

SiOra has been required for every park visitor since April 2026. If you are planning a trip for 2026 or 2027, this applies to you regardless of season or which site you are visiting inside the park.

What information do you need to book through SiOra?

Typically your passport details, travel dates, and the specific site(s) you plan to visit, since tickets are tied to a date and location rather than being a generic park-wide pass. Requirements can be updated by the park authority, so we recommend confirming the current requirements on the official page above before your trip, and letting your operator handle the booking once your dates are fixed to avoid data-entry mistakes.

How much does the ticket itself cost through SiOra?

SiOra is the booking platform, not a separate fee – the ticket price it processes follows PP 36/2024 (archived 11 Feb 2026, for when the government host is unreachable): a flat IDR 250,000 PNBP entry fee for foreign visitors, IDR 50,000 for Indonesian visitors on regular days or IDR 75,000 on public holidays, plus a separate shared ranger/guide fee of roughly IDR 150,000 per group of 1-5 people. See our Manta Point Komodo hub for the full fee breakdown in context.

Does Komodo Luxury book SiOra for you, or do you need to do it yourself?

When you book a trip through Komodo Luxury, its team handles the SiOra booking as part of trip preparation once your dates and passport details are confirmed – you do not need to navigate the platform yourself. If you are arranging your own independent trip without an operator, you would need to complete this booking directly through the official SiOra platform ahead of your visit.

What happens if you skip SiOra and try to pay on arrival?

Since the system now requires advance booking, arriving without a confirmed SiOra ticket risks being turned away, delayed, or unable to access your planned site that day, especially during busier periods when daily quotas fill. We strongly recommend not testing this – book ahead once your dates are set.

How does SiOra interact with the daily visitor quota?

The park’s daily capacity figure (roughly 1,000 visitors per day) applies across the whole park’s sessions, not to a single site like Manta Point specifically. SiOra’s date-and-site booking structure is how that overall quota gets managed in practice – booking ahead effectively reserves your place within that day’s capacity rather than risking a fully booked day on arrival.

What was the booking process before SiOra?

Previously, most visitors paid park entrance fees on arrival at the checkpoint for whichever site they were visiting, with rangers processing payment and issuing tickets on the spot. This walk-up model made it harder for the park authority to manage daily visitor numbers precisely against site capacity, which is the gap SiOra’s advance-booking structure is designed to close. If you travelled to Komodo before April 2026, expect this specific step to be new even if the underlying park fees are broadly similar.

Does SiOra change anything about the trip itself, once you are booked?

No – once your ticket is confirmed, the actual visit to Manta Point (or any other site) runs the same way it always has: boat transfer, guide briefing, and time at the site. SiOra only changes the administrative step beforehand, not the on-the-ground experience.

What should you double-check before your trip if you booked independently?

Confirm your SiOra booking confirmation matches your actual travel date and the specific site(s) on your itinerary, and bring a copy (digital or printed) along with your passport when you arrive, in case it needs to be checked against your booking. If you booked through Komodo Luxury, its team confirms these details are correct as part of trip preparation, so this step is one less thing for you to track.

Is SiOra specific to Komodo, or does it apply to other Indonesian national parks?

This guide covers SiOra as it applies to Komodo National Park specifically, since that is the system relevant to a Manta Point trip. Other Indonesian national parks may have their own separate booking systems and rules, which are outside the scope of this page – always check the specific park’s official channel for any other destination.

Frequently asked questions

Can I book SiOra tickets for a group in one transaction?

Group booking capability depends on the platform’s current process – when you book through Komodo Luxury, they handle this as part of arranging your whole group’s tickets together.

Does SiOra apply to Indonesian citizens too, or only foreign visitors?

Yes, SiOra applies to all visitors regardless of nationality – only the ticket price differs (WNI regular/holiday rates versus the flat foreign-visitor rate).

How far in advance can I book through SiOra?

Booking windows can be updated by the park authority – confirm current advance-booking limits on the official page, or let your operator manage timing once your travel dates are confirmed.

Have Komodo Luxury handle your SiOra booking

Park fees, tickets and permits for Manta Point in 2026–2027

The core cost for visiting Manta Point is the Komodo National Park entry fee set under PP No. 36/2024: IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor, booked through the SiOra system. This covers entry to the marine area for the day, whether you are on a day boat or a liveaboard, and applies equally to divers and snorkellers joining a guided trip.

On top of the personal ticket, the Park adds a small conservation contribution and a bundled ranger fee of roughly IDR 150,000 per group of one to five people. These group-based charges are usually built into what your operator quotes, which is why precise breakdowns can differ between boats even on the same day. Child concessions, if any, are handled inside SiOra at the time of ticketing rather than negotiated on the jetty.

There is no separate “diving permit” for Karang Makassar beyond the standard marine area entry and the requirement to be with a licensed guide from a registered operator. The same SiOra-issued ticket gives access to Manta Point, Padar, the Komodo or Rinca trekking areas, and other legal snorkelling or diving sites on that calendar date, so you do not buy distinct passes for each stop.

For families, the simplest approach is to ask your chosen operator to confirm how SiOra has classified each child on your booking. Age thresholds for reduced park fees can change between regulations, and the system enforces them automatically. Ensuring that dates of birth and passport details are correct in SiOra is more important than trying to predict an exact “child ticket price” ahead of time.

Visas, cameras and drones: what is allowed at Manta Point

Entry to Komodo National Park does not change your Indonesian immigration status. Foreign visitors still need the appropriate visa or visa-on-arrival for Indonesia itself, and then a valid SiOra ticket for the day of travel to Manta Point. Rangers only verify park permits and ID; they do not grant or extend visas, so immigration questions must be settled before you leave Labuan Bajo.

Standard cameras, action cameras and housings for underwater use do not require a separate permit or fee when used recreationally at Karang Makassar. Filming mantas for personal use is treated the same as taking still photos, as long as you respect the no-flash rule around animals and follow your guide’s instructions about proximity and positioning on the reef plateau.

Drone use is tightly controlled across Komodo National Park. Flying over Manta Point or launching from a tour boat for aerial manta videos requires a specific drone permit issued by the Park authority, and in some cases additional aviation clearance. Applications are normally handled well in advance from Labuan Bajo, and unauthorised flights can lead to confiscation of equipment or fines, so you should not assume you can simply bring a drone and decide on the day.

Professional filming, commercial shoots and large camera rigs can trigger extra paperwork beyond the standard entry ticket, particularly if they involve surface support boats, lighting or multiple days in sensitive zones. If you expect to publish or monetise footage, you should flag this clearly to your organiser so they can clarify whether any special permits or reporting obligations apply to your project.

Guides, group sizes and safety considerations at Manta Point

Trips to Karang Makassar are structured around mandatory guiding by licensed dive or snorkel leaders registered with Komodo National Park. There is no option for independent visitors to arrange a private boat and “self-guide” legally within the manta area. The same guide who oversees the briefing and entry also ensures that the group keeps a safe distance from the reef manta rays and avoids the central cleaning lines.

Group size is controlled primarily by operator safety standards and prevailing conditions, not by a single fixed park-wide number. In practice, responsible boats keep guide-to-guest ratios low enough that each diver or snorkeller can be managed in the strong currents that often sweep the plateau. If you prefer smaller groups, you can ask in advance how many guests are usually assigned to each professional for manta snorkelling or diving.

Emergency planning is an important part of any trip into Komodo National Park, including to Manta Point. Boats operating legally should carry oxygen, first-aid kits and radio or phone contact with Labuan Bajo, where the nearest recompression chamber and hospitals are based. Evacuation from Karang Makassar typically involves returning to Labuan Bajo at best speed; helicopters are not part of routine contingency plans, so early reporting of any problem to your guide is critical.

Because of the distance from town and the strength of local currents, operators will normally restrict participation for very young children, non-swimmers or anyone with serious medical issues, even if park permits have been correctly issued. You can help the crew plan by accurately reporting health conditions and swimming ability before departure, so that they can match you with the appropriate site briefing, flotation support, or alternative snorkelling locations if Manta Point proves unsuitable on the day.

Frequently asked questions

What exactly is the SiOra permit required for Manta Point Komodo and who handles it?

The SiOra permit is the official Komodo National Park entry ticket that allows your boat to bring you to sites such as Manta Point on a specific date. For most visitors, the tour operator or liveaboard books and pays this through the SiOra system on your behalf. Independent booking is possible but risks errors, so clear coordination with your organiser is important.

Do I need a separate SiOra permit to dive Manta Point Komodo legally with an operator?

You do not need a separate SiOra ticket just for diving at Manta Point if you are already booked through a licensed operator for that day. The same dated park entry in SiOra covers your boat’s permitted route, including manta, trekking and other snorkel sites. What changes is how the operator plans the itinerary, current checks and safety briefings according to the conditions.

Do I need a special camera permit to film underwater at Manta Point Komodo?

Ordinary recreational filming with a GoPro or similar camera underwater does not require an extra permit beyond your standard park entry. You must still follow the rules: no flash around mantas, no chasing animals and no standing on the bottom. Commercial or large-scale productions may need additional written permission, so those should always be declared to your organiser in advance.

Do you need guide for Manta Point Komodo?

A professional guide is required; you cannot legally conduct unguided diving or snorkelling at Manta Point as a private visitor. Guides manage drift routes, monitor currents and enforce distance from the manta cleaning lines. The trade-off is less freedom to roam wherever you wish, but significantly higher safety and a much lower chance of accidentally disturbing the animals or the reef.

Is touching manta rays illegal in Komodo National Park?

Touching, riding or deliberately obstructing manta rays is prohibited and treated as harassment of a protected species in Indonesia. Rangers and operators are expected to intervene if they see this behaviour, and serious cases can lead to you being removed from the water or reported. Keeping a respectful distance also reduces the risk of transmitting infections to the mantas’ sensitive skin.

Is feeding manta rays allowed in Komodo National Park?

Feeding manta rays is not allowed anywhere in Komodo National Park. Artificial feeding can alter natural behaviour, encourage animals to approach boats unsafely and disrupt the ecological role of plankton in the food web. Guides will move you away from anyone attempting to feed wildlife, and reputable operators will not carry food intended to attract mantas during snorkels or dives.

Best red filter for GoPro at Komodo National Park dives?

No single “best” red filter suits every depth and water mass around Komodo, because conditions swing between green plankton-rich water and clear blue seasonal currents. Many divers use a shallow-water red or magenta filter across the 8–18 metre band that manta dives at Karang Makassar occupy, and rely on lights or colour correction on deeper sites elsewhere in the park. The most reliable approach is to match the filter to your housing and test it with your guide’s advice.

Once your SiOra permits are in order, you can review practical access routes in getting to Manta Point in 2027.