Asik OriginalFrom
$750
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Komodo 3D2N Private Charter: Whole-Boat Phinisi
New experience
3 Days / 2 Nights (or 2D1N)Small groups
A marine park where you trek with giant Komodo dragons, climb Padar Island for its three-bay view and snorkel Pink Beach with manta rays. One of the planet's top diving and wildlife destinations.
8.55°S 119.48°E
April to June and September to early November are the sweet spots: dry
1 nights
LBJ
Komodo National Park is a cluster of rugged, dry islands in East Nusa Tenggara, famous as the only place on Earth to see Komodo dragons, the world's largest lizards, in the wild. The draw is not just the dragons. The park holds some of Indonesia's best diving and snorkelling, with manta rays, turtles and reef fish, plus the pink-tinged beach near Padar and tawny, treeless hills that look more like savanna than tropical island.
Almost everyone visits by boat out of Labuan Bajo, on day trips or multi-day liveaboards. Be ready for the cost: foreigners pay layered park and conservation fees on top of the boat, and access runs through a single-gate permit app with a daily visitor cap. It suits divers, snorkellers and anyone who wants wildlife over nightlife, and it rewards a couple of days.
On Komodo and Rinca islands, mandatory ranger guides lead short walking loops to spot dragons, which are most active and easiest to find in the cooler morning hours. Rinca often delivers closer sightings with fewer crowds than Komodo island. These are genuinely wild, powerful animals, so stay with your guide and keep your distance.
The short, steep hike up Padar's ridge gives the postcard view of three curved bays below, each with a different shade of sand. Go early for light and to beat the heat, because there is no shade on the climb. The path is well-trodden but can be slippery, so wear proper shoes.
Pantai Merah gets its rosy tint from red coral fragments mixed into the sand, and the snorkelling just offshore is excellent. The wider park has world-class dive sites with strong currents, so divers should pick operators carefully and match sites to their experience. Even casual snorkellers see turtles and reef fish here.
Manta Point and Karang Makassar are cleaning and feeding stations where manta rays glide through, sometimes several at once. Currents can be strong, so drift snorkelling or diving is often the way it works. Sightings are seasonal and never guaranteed, but the odds are good.
Getting there
Fly into Komodo Airport (LBJ) at Labuan Bajo, the western tip of Flores, which has direct flights from Bali (Denpasar) in about 1.5 hours and connections from Jakarta. Labuan Bajo is the base for everything: from its harbour you join day boats or multi-day liveaboards out to the park islands. There is no way to reach the dragons without a boat. Book your park permit through the official single-gate app or, more simply, let a licensed Labuan Bajo operator handle the permits, boat, ranger and meals as a package.
Best time to visit
April to June and September to early November are the sweet spots: dry, calmer seas, good visibility for diving, with fewer crowds than the July to August peak. Avoid January and February, when rain and rough water can cancel boats; manta sightings shift with the season, so ask operators about current conditions.
Where to stay
Labuan Bajo is the base. Backpackers find hostels and simple rooms from roughly 15 to 35 USD, mid-range hotels with pools and harbour views sit around 50 to 120 USD, and there are a few high-end resorts on nearby islands. Liveaboards replace a hotel for the nights you are at sea.
Foreigners pay a base national park entry of roughly IDR 250,000 per day plus separate conservation and activity fees, all paid through the official single-gate permit app. Reputable Labuan Bajo operators bundle these into the tour price, so confirm exactly what is included before booking.
Very likely. On the ranger-guided walks at Komodo or Rinca, sightings are the norm, especially in the cooler morning hours, though they are wild animals so nothing is fully guaranteed. Rinca often gives closer, quieter encounters.
A day trip works if you mainly want to tick off dragons, Padar and a snorkel stop. A two to four day liveaboard is better for serious diving and reaching viewpoints before the crowds, and it removes the daily back-and-forth from Labuan Bajo.
Build a route across Indonesia in minutes. We work out the travel time and cost between every stop, then a local turns it into a trip.
Build your tripSleeping aboard a wooden phinisi boat lets you reach the better dive sites and hit viewpoints before the day-trip crowds arrive. Trips range from no-frills budget boats to comfortable cabins with ensuites. Check safety standards and reviews carefully, as quality varies a lot.
Closer islands like Kanawa, Kelor and Manjarite make easy half or full-day snorkelling stops without a long sail. They are a good choice if you are short on time or prone to seasickness. The water here is calm and the reefs are shallow and easy.
Back near Labuan Bajo, the short Bukit Sylvia climb gives sunset views over the harbour islands. At dusk, boats anchor near Kalong Island to watch thousands of flying foxes stream out to feed. It is an easy, atmospheric way to end a day on the water.
