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The Complete Guide to Komodo National Park (How to Plan a Komodo Island Tour)

last Updated: February 10, 2024 indonesia komodo labuan bajo

FYI: Affiliate links may be sprinkled throughout the awesome, free content you see below. I’ll receive a small commission when you purchase from my links (at no extra cost to you), which I’ll totally blow on adult things like boba tea and avocado toast. As always, thanks for the support.

Headed off to see the dragons of Komodo National Park and looking for the best Komodo tour package? We just got back a few months ago, and I have to say, you’re in for a real treat. Dragons, rusty-red volcanic hills, coral reefs, pink sand beaches, glassy turquoise waters… yeah, you’ll see why I’m semi-obsessed with this group of islands in Indonesia already.

Everyone visits Komodo National Park in Indonesia to see one thing and one thing only – the dragons. And for good reason – Komodo’s the only spot in the world to meet them! But what many don’t realize is that the Komodo islands are oh so much more than these giant monitor lizards. 

In our 3 days on our Komodo island tour, we swam and snorkeled in crystal clear turquoise waters, jumped into the Flores Sea from our two-story boat, watched millions of bats fly overhead at sunset, hiked up ~1,000 steps for the most spectacular sunrise views, and wandered/relaxed around pink sand beaches. 

We watched the sunrise and sunset in the same day, woke up to luminous blue waters surrounding our boat, drank fresh fruit juice at every meal, and forever gazed at green volcanic mountains jutting out of the sea.

To say our Komodo trip was nothing short of spectacular is an understatement – heck, we kiiiinda loved Komodo even more than we loved Bali ( and we fell head over heels for that place ).

There’s just something to be said about waking up to gentle waves, sailing to new islands and sandbars every few hours, witnessing the most dramatic sunset, and sleeping beneath the brilliant stars on comfy bean bags come nightfall. And then doing it alllll over again the next day.

Komodo National Park’s even been selected as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature, along with already being a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And this diverse location in Indonesia surely deserves all its accolades and then some! It’s downright dreamy.

However, planning a trip to the Komodo islands can be all kinds of confusing. If you follow my advice you’ll be visiting a whole slew of islands in the National Park, not just Komodo (which is the main island and the largest of them all).

After reading this lengthy guide (I know, I know, I’m beyond wordy), I hope it’s the one and only Komodo island blog post you’ll need to plan your trip. Am I missing something? Please let me know down below in the comments! I write these guides for you guys to have the best trip possible!

***Note that the Indonesian government will temporarily close Komodo Island in January 2020 to help preserve/protect the remaining dragons, with no reopening dates announced just yet. HOWEVER, don’t fret, ONLY Komodo Island will close to tourists (and thankfully not the entire National Park, there are numerous other islands).

You can still see Komodo dragons on Rinca Island (where we went), as well as visit all the other islands we visited (including Pink Beach, Padar, Kanawa, etc). We didn’t even go to Komodo Island on our Komodo tour (nope, not even once!). So yes, this means you can still take the same trip I did and see the same exact sights.

Komodo Trip Planning Logistics

Where is komodo national park anyways.

If you gave me a world map a few months ago, I wouldn’t have been able to tell you in the slightest bit where Komodo Island could be found. And to tell you the truth, I didn’t even know it was in Indonesia (facepalm; I can’t be the only one).

Now I can thankfully not only give the general vicinity of Komodo, but I can pin-point its exact location as well. How’s that for progress?!

If you haven’t figured this out by now (no judgements), Komodo National Park is part of the Indonesian archipelago.

It’s located between Lombok and Flores, and is a few islands east of everyone’s favorite, Bali. The park is comprised of three main islands: Komodo, Padar, and Rinca (you’ll probably visit all 3 on your Komodo tour), as well as 26 smaller, less frequented ones. 

When to Visit Komodo

Komodo essentially has two distinct seasons – the dry season and the rainy season.

This comes as no surprise, but you’ll want to visit Komodo National Park during the area’s dry season , occurring between April and December. The weather is pretty much perfect – not toooo hot, and with very little to no rain whatsoever. If you’re hoping for that lush greenery on the volcanoes, plan a visit between April and June, as you’ll find comfortable temps, cool, fresh air at night, and calm seas.

Do note that it’s technically most crowded in July and August, although we didn’t feel this much (except for our sunrise trek up Padar Island).

A visit during the rainy season (December to March, with February being the peak of monsoon season) will result in rainy, wet days, making walking paths uncomfortably muddy and difficult to trek around. Heavy rainfall, strong wind, and big waves are common, so avoid this time if that doesn’t sound your like idea of fun. 

And thankfully, no matter when you visit, you can see Komodo dragons. Do note that July and August is the height of Komodo mating season, meaning you may witness a male dragon fighting to get attention from a female. We actually saw two dragons mating, although they were doing their thang in private under a large structure, so we couldn’t really see much of the action. :p

Another dragon was guarding her eggs, although I don’t really know why they do so since they’re known to eat some of their young anyways!

How Long to Stay in Komodo

Many travelers opt to spend a few nights on a Komodo tour. We slept two nights on a liveaboard boat, and another two nights in Labuan Bajo (1 night before the Komodo island tour and one night afterwards), making our total trip 3 days (5 if you include arrival and departure days) and 4 nights.

And trust me – 3 days in Komodo is the perfect amount of time to witness the sunrise and sunset from the deck of the boat, numerous times. However, we could have stayed an extra few nights, it was that comfortable! 

With all that being said, I think spending 2 and a half days will suffice, especially if you booked yourself on a fully equipped Komodo tour package which takes you to the best spots in the National Park (like we did). We were thankful we had a ½ day to relax at our resort (the oh so beautiful Ayana Komodo ) after trekking around in the hot hot sun for a few days.

And if you’re a serious diver, you’ll probably want to spend an extra day or so doing your thing, as Komodo is a haven for all kinds of underwater life. We unfortunately don’t our scuba certs, so I can’t report much on all things diving for ya.

How to Get to the Komodo Islands

Note that if the Komodo Islands are your final destination and you aren’t interested in spending a few days (or more) in Bali, you’ll first need to get yourself to Bali anyways. 

Komodo National Park is roughly an hour flight plus a 2 hour boat ride away from Bali, and although it’s kiiiinda a pain to get to, it’s 1000% worth it, and then some. Keep reading, you’ll see.

Coming from Bali → By Far The Best Option

If you’re headed to the Komodo Islands from Bali like we were, it’s easiest to hop on a quick 1 hour, 15 minute flight over. You’ll need to get yourself to Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, the main gateway to Komodo National Park.

Thankfully, there’s heaps of daily, nonstop flights available from Bali (DPS) to Labuan Bajo Airport (LBJ) on Flores Island. We ended up on a flight with NAM airlines for about $100 roundtrip, but note that there are also direct flights on Wings Air and Garuda Indonesia as well. 

And trust me – that flight over to the Komodo Islands will be one of the most scenic you’ll ever experience (atolls and reefs every step of the way, especially once you get closer to the National Park). Don’t give up your window seat for just anyone — I had my eyes peeled to the glass the whole time!

Once you’re on Flores situated in Labuan Bajo, the Komodo Islands are just a quick-ish boat ride away.

For visual learners like myself: Bali airport (DPS) → flight to Labuan Bajo (LBJ) on Flores Island → taxi into town → boat to Komodo Islands

Psst: you can actually take a ferry over to Flores from Bali, but a 36 hour trip through treacherous waters doesn’t sound very appealing to me.

Coming from Lombok → Possible, but not the best choice

If you’re coming from Lombok, you’ll also find flights as well, although many make a stop in Bali (kinda silly, but that’s airlines for ya). After doing a bit of research, it looks like there’s ONE direct flight on Wings Air per day, so snatch that up if you’re able to (check LOP → LBJ).

If you really prefer not to head back to Bali and can’t catch a nonstop flight, you can also take a 24 hour bus/ferry combo (ouch), or a 4 day/4 night snorkeling boat trip (with conditions which I heard aren’t all that great). Just come from Bali if you can. 🙂

How to Get Around Komodo National Park

*Psst: There are only a handful of hotels on the Komodo Islands (which get booked up quite far in advance), and you’re only allowed to visit Komodo Island with an official guide and park ranger.

Meaning you’ll absolutely 100% NEED to book a tour (this isn’t a DIY type of trip, although there are Komodo tours for all price points). There are plenty of options for staying in Labuan Bajo, don’tchu worry.

You’ve basically got two options when it comes to touring around Komodo National Park. And no, since Komodo National Park is an archipelago (a group of islands), you cannot drive around yourself (ha!). 

Option #1. Basing yourself in the town of Labuan Bajo (the main gateway for the park) and taking day trips to the different islands of Komodo.

If you’re choosing this option I’d highly recommend finding tours ahead of time and getting yourself on those. I mean, how often are you gonna be visiting Komodo National Park? Might as well get on the exact ones you want, right?

If you’re more of a last-minute planner (I most definitely am not), you can show up in Labuan Bajo and book tours directly in the town itself once you arrive, but there’s no guarantee your preferred dates will be available. My advice? Just book tours ahead of time for some peace of mind.

Tours to check out beforehand:

• Best of Komodo Island Hopping : You’ll 100% want to do a full day Best of Komodo tour (like this one or this one ), as they go to a bunch of the hot spots, including Padar Island, Pink Beach, Kanawa Island, Taka Makassar, and of course, Komodo Island. If you only have time to do one tour during your time in Komodo, make it this one .
• Sunset tour at Kalong Island : Watching the flying foxes/bats (by the millions I might add) fly overhead at sunset is just one of those “must do” things in Komodo. Don’t miss it (book here).
• Komodo Diving : And if you’re a driver, definitely check this out . The underwater life in Komodo is just teeming with excitement – it’s a known hotspot for divers!
• Cave Tour on Flores Island :  If we had extra time I would have definitely wanted to take this cave tour on Flores Island near Labuan Bajo. There’s always a next time for us, but you can check it out now! And be sure to report back and lemme know how it is!

Option #2. Finding a Komodo island tour, inclusive of meals, island hopping, snorkeling equipment, and of course, accommodation on the boat .

This is essentially a complete Komodo tour package (meaning you don’t have to worry about a thing once you get yourself to Labuan Bajo). Most of these Komodo tours are 3 days and 2 nights, but you can easily find one for 1 or 3 nights instead, depending on your interests and time availability. Komodo island tours vary in price, with the average being approximately $100 or so per day.

Psst – As you could have guessed after reading about me gushing about the boat so much, we chose the second option and absolutely loooooved it. I can’t imagine staying in Labuan Bajo and missing out on boat life! For reference, we chose a 2-day/3-night liveaboard, and felt like it was the perfect amount of time. 

And now for some not-so-fun-yet-highly-necessary stuff:

Malaria pills: Unlike Bali and other parts of Indonesia, you’ll want to talk to your doctor about taking malaria pills if you’re planning a trip to the Komodo Islands, as malaria is quite common in these parts of the country. Key words: talk to your doctor (I ain’t a doc and I don’t pretend to be one).

We both chose to take malaria pills – we figure, better to be safe than sorry (and plus, I typically get eaten alive, although I only managed to get a handful of mosquito bites on our trip #notcomplaining).

Vaccinations : The CDC states that all travelers to Indonesia should be up to date on routine vaccines (MMR, tetanus, chickenpox, pollo, flu shot).

In addition, it’s also wise to get the Hep A, Hep B, and typhoid vaccination as well (some of these are good for years, so if you plan to do a lot of traveling to other undeveloped countries, you’ll probably need them there – might as well get them now and keep yourself protected always). As always, talk to your doctor.

Water : Do note that you absolutely cannot drink the water in Labuan Bajo or the Komodo area in general; you’ll find that all hotels/restaurants and Komodo tours provide fresh drinking water (either bottled or from large treated water jugs).

Because of the unsafe water, Bali belly is quite common – which is just a fancy name for food poisoning. We had no problem while in Labuan Bajo or with the food on our liveaboard. You may want to ask your doctor for a prescription of Ciprofloxacin for serious travelers diarrhea in case you find yourself with any disturbing stomach issues. We always pack immodium as well, just in case.

Travel insurance: Yes, you need this. I always recommend purchasing travel insurance before your trip. You never know what might happen (flight delays, lost baggage, illness), and travel insurance definitely helps with all of those unfortunate unexpectancies.

I highly recommend the company SafetyWing . I’ve recently been buying coverage with SafetyWing since they cover pandemic-related costs (which most travel insurance companies do not do).

Whenever we travel, we always buy a short term plan (depending on how many days/weeks we’ll be away) before leaving for any trip! Even if you don’t end up using it, peace of mind is 100% worth it in my opinion. Find plan options and pricing here (and at only a few bucks a day, there’s no excuse not to!) I always say, if you can’t afford travel insurance, you can’t afford your trip. It’s that easy.

Dragons : I can’t have a safety section and not mention the dragons. I mean, they’re called dragons for a reason .

However, fear not; visiting them on Komodo Island isn’t as scary as I initially perceived it to be – we casually strolled around (with an official park ranger of course) and saw the dragons lazing on the grounds, caring about us humans for less than .2 seconds. It was actually a bit anticlimactic to tell you the truth (yet still terrifying at the same time).

Their diet mostly consists of deer (and other large-ish mammals like the water buffalo – yup!); however , Komodo dragons also occasionally attack humans, which is why it’s oh soooo very important to do EXACTLY WHAT YOUR GUIDE SAYS. With shark-like teeth and poisonous venom, a bite from a Komodo dragon can kill a person within hours.

I don’t say this to scare you (or deter you from visiting), I just want you to understand the significance of not following directions. Just stay with your guide at all times and you’ll be golden. 🙂

A Note for the Ladies: You may wanna plan your trip around your cycle/period/menstruation (whatever you wanna call it). The dragons can smell blood from miles away, and are more prone to attack. If you can’t alter your plans to fit around this time of the month, be sure to ask your guide/park ranger the best course of action.

It’s possible they may advise to skip a visit to see the dragons. This may seem silly, but it’s no joke! Komodo dragons occasionally attack humans, although this is relatively uncommon (and guides will use all precautions to keep visitors safe). I’m pretty sure one girl on our trip was on her period (I overheard her talking to our guide), and she said it was ok to come along.

While no one will be checking of course, I’d highly advise you to disclose this information to your guide just in case.

An Extra Note on the Komodo Dragons

Can’t visit Komodo National Park without hanging out with a few dragons, right?! These dinosaur-esque looking creatures are endemic to the Komodo Islands and are a very rare species, meaning you can’t see them anywhere else in the world! There are about 5,700 dragons left in the wild, and they’re all over here in this stunning part of Indonesia.

Being the largest and most lethal lizard on Earth, they can weigh as much as 300 pounds, with some growing as long as 10 feet! The dragons are not only carnivorous, but cannibalistic as well! Since the dragons are known to eat their young, not many survive, which is a prime reason for their endangeredness. 

As noted earlier, Komodo Dragons are dangerous creatures, so be sure to stay with your guide (always) and follow all their safety instructions. Below are clear instructions we were given:

• Never look a Komodo dragon directly in the eye
• Keep your head down
• Stay together with your group (at all times)
• One ranger leads the group while another is at the back end
• Walk only on the specified trail
• Never go to the bathroom alone

Where to Stay on Labuan Bajo

If you’re planning to book a liveaboard Komodo tour like we did (sleeping on the boat and all that jazz), you’ll need to sleep in Labuan Bajo the night before. You don’t really have a choice, as flights don’t arrive early enough and you definitely won’t make it there by ferry in time. Since the Komodo tours start pretttyyyy early in the morning, getting to Flores island and Labuan Bajo in particular the night beforehand is a must. Don’t wanna miss your boat!

We decided to check out two different spots on Labuan Bajo → one before our Komodo tour package started (Le Pirate), and one once the Komodo island tour was finished ( Ayana Komodo ).

I planned it quite strategically, staying at the less expensive option the first night (since we were planned to arrive in Labuan Bajo around sunset and were getting picked up early the next morning – meaning not much actual time to enjoy the hotel) and a much more lux spot the last night (when we knew we would have much more time to actually enjoy the amenities).

Le Pirate Labuan Bajo: That first night before the Komodo tour started we stayed at the simple Le Pirate Labuan Bajo, which turned out to be a-okay, especially considering it cost about $60 a night and had a rooftop bar and pool (we saved our pennies for the resort afterwards).

It was that first night we witnessed our first Komodo sunset – and it was absolutely surreal. SO. MUCH. COLOR. All from the roof of our little hotel. There are dorm style rooms and private rooms to choose from.

Ayana Komodo : Once the trip was over, we checked into the Ayana Komodo , and it was by far one of our favorite hotels on our entire trip to Indonesia .

Besides the stunning infinity pool overlooking the exquisite Waecicu Beach, the design was exceptional, the cuisine superior, and the service unparalleled (everyone here’s so warm and friendly). And it’s basically brand new – it first opened its doors in September of 2018. 

Again, that sunset view! I swear we witnessed more golden sunsets in Komodo and Labuan Bajo than elsewhere in the world. If you’re looking for top notch (in terms of amenities and location), check out the Ayana Komodo , as it’s the only 5 star resort in Labuan Bajo. We loooooved it, and I don’t say that lightly (plus, I’m always keepin’ it real over here so you can be sure you’ve got our honest opinions).

Just beware – if you do decide to spend a night or two at the Ayana, don’t book any of their tours – they are ridiculously overpriced (FYI).

Other accommodations options in Labuan Bajo include Bintang Flores Hotel , Plataran Komodo Beach Resort , and The Jayakarta Suites Komodo Flores , but in all reality, I think we chose the best two (and trust me, I did tons and tons of research, like I always do before any big bucket-list trip).

What to Bring on any Komodo Tour

Thankfully, if you book a Komodo liveaboard tour like we did, you won’t need to pack any camping gear, cookware, or other heavy nonsense. The boat provides all that and more. Do be sure to ask your specific tour operator what specifically is needed, as I’m sure all don’t provide the luxuries we had on board. However, there’s a few things you will most definitely want to bring/be aware of when packing before visiting the Komodo islands!

First of all, you’ll want to pack on the lighter side . The planes to Labuan Bajo (for Komodo) are quite small, with a lighter luggage allowance than most other flights. With that being said, you can always pay for extra baggage, which is what we had to do since my husband brought along a full-size suitcase (he’s not as swift at packing for 2 weeks in a carryon like I am).

If I remember correctly, the prices were more reasonable than other times we needed to upgrade baggage. The bigger bag was fine on the boat, but I wouldn’t suggest bringing more than one suitcase per person. Most people on our liveaboard brought backpacking backpacks.

A few recommended items : a strong mosquito repellent, high SPF reef-safe sunscreen (to protect the fishies and coral of course), medicine for seasickness (we don’t suffer from seasickness, but if it’s your first time sleeping on a small-ish boat you may want to bring some dramamine just in case – we did), bathing suits, hiking shoes/sneakers for trekking (we both brought Tevas), and high-quality camera gear (photo spots alllll around, you’ll see).

Things to do in Komodo National Park

It’s hard to get bored in Komodo. There’s stunning beaches, colorful coral reefs, and exotic wildlife every corner you turn. Below are the most popular things to do in Komodo National Park, and exactly what we did on our few days in the area! Don’t miss any of them (I’d be hard pressed if I had to eliminate one or two).

Hike up Kelor Island, take in the views, then go swimming

Kelor is kinda the perfect island – there’s hiking, crystal clear water, sandy beaches, and coral underneath the surface.

Kelor Island was our first stop on our Komodo tour, and we trekked up the hill right away! To be honest, it was much more difficult than I had initially thought (read: steep), although others were breezing right by me. And plus, I get a tad nervous (okay, I’m scared shit) when hiking down on loose gravel/sand, so I did the crab walk for the better portion of the way back (ha, ha, ha). 

BUT the views more than made up for my dirty bum. Just look! And we didn’t even make it to the very tippy top (although the rest of our group who hiked did – some stayed at the surface enjoying a bit of extra beach time)! 

If you’re gonna trek up, I highly advise you do so in proper shoes with a good grip (my husband and I wore tevas); others in our group wore sandals but they obviously had much more hiking experience than us.

You can also go snorkeling here, but our guide noted that there was much better snorkeling nearby which we’d be doing soon anyways. After the quickish hike, I searched for seashells and swam in the shallow waters near the shore.

Meet the Dragons (on Rinca Island and/or Komodo Island)

Imagine standing next to a Komodo dragon. In the wild. Yup, it’s a terrifying and utterly fascinating experience all at the same time. I was petrified (just like I was of the monkeys in Bali ). But you absolutely cannot visit this group of Indonesian islands and not hang with the largest lizard in the world (fun fact)! 

Komodo Island National Park is the only spot on planet Earth where Komodo dragons call home (all 5,700 of them). And once you make it the area, you’ve got a few islands to choose from, particularly Komodo Island and Rinca Island.  Yes, it’s a little confusing, but Komodo is also the name of a specific island as well (although when many say they’re headed to Komodo Island they mean the area in general).

So which one to visit? Well, you can always visit both, but we just visited Rinca and found our experience to be satisfying enough (hey, more time for the beach, right?).

While you can easily spot dragons on both islands (with a guide, of course), there are a few main differences.

1) The amount of time it takes to get there – Komodo Island is reachable in about 4 hours from the mainland of Flores (originating from Labuan Bajo), whereas Rinca is significantly closer, taking roughly only 2 hours.

2) The number of dragons on the island (with the largest population existing on Komodo Island with roughly 1,700, with Rinca coming in as a close second with approximately 1,300).

If I had to choose just one, I’d pick Rinca.

Since Rinca is less impacted from tourism, you’re much more likely to spot the dragons in their natural habitat (a reason why Komodo Island is shutting its doors to visitors soon). The island is completely undeveloped, making it the perfect home for exotic and dangerous wildlife (hence the dragons).

On Rinca there are 3 main trekking paths to choose from; we chose the shortest trek (roughly 20-30 minutes) and saw a dozen or so of these 300ish pound monsters along with a spectacular view out to sea. And with Rinca’s extreme heat, I doubt you’ll be able to handle a much longer trek (we were dripping).

Regardless of which island you end up visiting, you’ll be walking through the bush in search of the Komodo dragons with a guide (always!) and armed only with a stick. We also saw a water buffalo lurking behind some trees, which was quite shocking to say the least! Do note that venomous snakes frequent the area, so be sure to stay on the path and always watch your step.

Snorkel with sea turtles

If there’s one thing I make sure of on any tropical trip, it’s including some time to snorkel with the sea turtles! And thankfully, not only did our Komodo tour include some great snorkelling spots, but green turtles and hawksbill turtles are quite plentiful in coral reefs in Komodo! Your guide/tour will know great spots to jump outta the boat for a good snorkel, so fingers crossed you see a few of these beauties yourself!

If you’ve never swam with a sea turtle before, you’re in for a real treat. There’s just something so majestic about these (larger-than-you-realize but) graceful creatures swimming below the surface.

And please oh please – do not attempt to chase/feed/pet/play with a sea turtle. Our touch is dangerous to their sensitive turtle shells, potentially causing disease and other harm.

Pro tip for spotting the sea turtles: While seeing animals in the wild is never guaranteed, there’s a few tricks you can use to increase your chances. First things first, you’ll wanna swim to where the edge of the reef meets the open ocean. Turtles seem to congregate over in these parts, and you’ll have a much higher chance of seeing them over here!

And just remember, turtles need to come to the surface for air every so often, so keep your eyes peeled all around you! You can see them resting on the sea bed, swimming up for a breath, and just casually hanging around. Patience!

Witness millions of bats overhead at Kalong Island

What’s more insane than watching a swarm of thousands upon thousands of the world’s largest bats fly overhead at sunset? People actually call them flying foxes they’re so big! It’s a pretty surreal experience, despite sounding extra odd (haha). 

Our guide anchored our boat some distance from the island, and we just couldn’t peel our eyes away from the sky full of bats! I mean, just look at these photos! Absolutely spectacular!

Where do the bats come from anyway (yes, I wondered about this too)? Kalong Island is covered with mangrove plantations which is where hundreds of thousands/millions of these bats live. Once dusk arrives each and every day, the bats leave their roost (where they rest during the day) and head for their feeding grounds on the mainland.

It’s really a magnificent spectacle. Be sure to book a Komodo tour package which includes this experience, it’s just like being in the pages of National Geographic.

Fun tidbit: Kalong actually means bat in the local language, which makes perfect sense all things considered!

Hike up Padar Island for Sunrise

Set your alarm clock, because we’re waking up early (as in 4am or so)! If there’s one thing you can’t miss on your Komodo tour, it’s the spectacular sunrise trekking on Padar Island. The views are by-far outta this world insane. BUT it comes at a grueling price – about 1,000 steps or so straight up the mountain!

It’s quite a steep hike, and was quite challenging to reach the top, but not impossible by any means.

I even wore sandals (with a strap on the back though, which really helped)! Just so you’re aware, the first few sets of wooden and then stone steps are safe, but then, near the top, they’re pretty crumbled and/or non-existent. You may want to grab your hiking shoes instead, which I probably should have done. Also a wise idea to come equipped with a water bottle and sunscreen!

However, WHEN you climb to the summit makes a huge difference. Since there’s little shade on the entire trek, come as early as possible (before sunrise) to not only avoid the crowd, but the intense heat. Yes, it was still blistering hot on our way down, but I can’t imagine trekking up with that scorching sun shining down on us nonstop.

I’m guessing it took us roughly 25-30 minutes to reach the top, including a few photo breaks. (Heading back down was way easier despite the heat).

Once you reach the top, you’ll get a grew view of this island dreamscape below – a full panoramic view of all of Padar. Those photos you see on IG are real – 3 turquoise bays, each with different colored sand (a rare combo of sparkling white, charcoal black, and baby pink sand beaches).  We then watched the sun rise above the horizon, making the ground a soft golden hue, before taking about a million and 5 photos.

Do note if you visit just after the rainy season (visiting between April to June), the mountains will be much more lush and green. We visited in July and the land was dry and brown, albeit beautiful, to say the least.

Relax at Pink Beach

Striking pink sands. Clear turquoise waters. Endless blue skies. Rolling green hills. I can go on and on. This idyllic spot has got to be one of the most spectacular places I’ve ever been. In my life . Yeah, yeah, I already deemed San Blas and the Zapatillas worthy of that title, but after visiting Pink Beach (and Komodo in general), I think they’ve been booted of the #1 spot.

And yes, my pink-obsessed friends, Pink Beach does in fact have pink sand; why else would it be called that?! The unique color is formed by crushed shells of microscopic single-cell sea creatures (called Foraminifera – whoaaa science). When you combine these small flecks of red shell with fine white reef sand, you get a soft pink tink! And trust me, you’ll notice the rosy hue even before getting off the boat, as it’s visible from the water.

There are actually quite a few different pink sand beaches in Komodo National Park, but any experienced guide will know the best spots to take you for that fine, fine pink tinted stuff. What to do once you get there? You can either relax, swim, and play in the waters like we did, and/or go snorkeling (the reefs here are booming with sea life).

Be sure to take some photos of this natural phenomenon – it’s not everyday you find yourself digging your toes into pink sand! We definitely took our fair share…

Go swimming with Manta Rays at Manta Point

Imagine crossing paths with a giant Manta Ray; what a magical, remarkable, mind-blowing experience. And no, you don’t even need to go diving to see them as these gentle giants play right on the surface! Definitely bring along your GoPro!

→ Learn my secrets for taking underwater photos here.

Unfortunately the weather didn’t cooperate during our Komodo trip (it was a bit windy making the tide too rough), so fingers crossed you’ll get better conditions! Of course safety is the number one priority on any Komodo tour package (as it should be), but to say I was bummed we missed out on this is a complete understatement! Next time!

Wander/Swim around Taka Makassar

Absolute perfection. This tiny blip of white sand in the Middle of Nowhere, Indonesia will surely help live out all your beachy postcard dreams. The sand and sea of Taka Makassar is surely on par with the blues of Bora Bora (can’t believe I’m admitting that), and I kinda wished we had brought along a few Bintangs or some fresh watermelon juice to shore! 

Yes, this banana-shaped sand bar is small – you can walk from end to end in about 5 minutes or so! There’s a bunch of coral lining the sand and water, so be careful! Tons of photo ops here, so don’t forget your camera. 

Sunset at Sebayur Island

Can there ever be enough sunset hikes during a Komodo island-hopping trip? Nope! Thankfully there’s a bit of shade of here, so you hopefully won’t be heading up in the heat!

And just so there’s no confusion, there’s actually two Sebayur Islands, differentiated by their size. I’m honestly not sure which one we hit up, but it was either Sebayur Kecil (small) or Sebayur Besar (big).

Psst: we didn’t actually make it up. We didn’t even make an attempt. It was a last minute decision and we were all waaaaay too tired, so we watched the sunset from the boat, and it was perfection. My husband hiked up the next morning for sunrise and he said it only took about 5 minutes, so there ya go, shouldn’t be too hard. 

Snorkel and relax at Kanawa Island

Before we headed back to Labuan Bajo, we made a pit stop at the fairytale island of Kanawa. Being only 15km or so from Labuan Bajo in Flores, it’s a great first or last place to hit up on any Komodo island tour itinerary.

We lounged and played in the water while others snorkeled. You’ll see – the water is soooo crystal clear you can even see the fish from above water!  And if you’re lucky, you may see a few starfish in the shallow water near the jetty. There are apparently some sea urchin so be careful when walking in the water!

Our Komodo Trip

Our Komodo trip was an overdose to the senses: think crystal clear waters, giant bats flying overhead, stunning views everywhere we looked, and brightly colored corals beneath the surface.

I’ve decided to give you an overview of our entire Komodo tour package so you get an accurate representation of all you can see and do within a short time period. As noted earlier, we chose a 2 night/3 day Komodo island tour, and felt this was the perfect amount of time to explore the islands and take advantage of the boat.

Do note that we slept in Labuan Bajo the night before the tour, and the night after the tour, making our time in the area 4 nights (2 nights in hotels, 2 nights on the boat).

Here’s how our entire Komodo trip went down:

Our Komodo Island/Labuan Bajo Itinerary:

Day 1: We arrived to Labuan Bajo in late afternoon, took a quick taxi ride to town and checked into Le Pirate right before sunset. Not wanting to miss our first Flores sunset, we headed up to the rooftop bar straight away for some dinner and much-needed drinks. 

Day 2:  We got picked up by Travass Life the next morning around 9, transferred to the boat, had some welcome snacks and fresh fruit juice on board, and set sail! First activity: a hike to the top of Kelor island for our first Komodo National Park views and some relaxation time on the beach/go in water/look for shells.

Rinca island was next, for a short trekking loop to see Komodo dragons (!!!), then we anchored the boat near Kalong Island to watch the bats overhead at sunset.

Day 3: Today was a super early day, as we did the sunrise hike at Padar Island. After the trek we spent a fair bit of time at Pink Beach and Taka Makkasar, then spent the rest of the afternoon jumping off our boat and snorkeling in the crystal clear waters of Komodo.

Day 4: On our last full day in Komodo, we relaxed at Kanawa Beach, enjoying the bath-like waters and searching for seashells. After one last liveaboard lunch, we arrived back in Labuan Bajo around 2pm, making our way to Ayana Komodo around check-in time (3pm).

Since we were utterly exhausted from the last few days of Komodo adventures, we hung at the pool and relaxed, before witnessing one of the best sunsets of our lives.

Day 5: We woke up early to take full advantage of the stunning Ayana Komodo, before making our way back to Bali in the early afternoon. PHEW, what a few days!

The Boat and our Full Komodo Island Tour Package

After doing an insane amount of research (as I always do), we ultimately decided to book our Komodo tour package with Travass Life. The itinerary included everything on my Komodo bucket list and then some, and promised delicious sounding Indonesian hot meals, fresh fruit juices multiple times per day, and a personal photographer with a DRONE.

We were shocked that meals consisted of freshly caught fish, juicy watermelon and dragonfruit (among other exotic fruits), healthy veggies, and enough variety so we never got bored of boat food, as well as snacks throughout the day; and nope, we never went hungry.

We were lucky that the company’s spankin’ new boat was juuuuust finished right before our trip, and we got to sail on the fully-equipped Papiton (which was an absolute dream).

Our boat consisted of 12 passengers and a handful of crew members, all sharing a few rooms and 3 bathrooms. My husband and I opted for a private room with a comfy full-size bed, and I was in awe of our space on the boat. The deck area was large enough to fit all of us comfortably, with bean bag chairs and chaise lounges for relaxing during our island hopping adventures. 

Are you planning a trip to the Komodo Islands any time soon?! What are you most excited for?

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September 16, 2020 at 2:21 pm

Thanks for this post. It's inspired me to venture from Bali to Komodo when we go next year 🙂 I'm even looking into Trevass Life for our liveaboard experience.

September 17, 2020 at 7:03 pm

You'll have the best time, promise! It's such a stunning set of islands!

April 20, 2022 at 11:36 am

Hi! I am wondering if this company (Travass life) had you wire them money for the payment? I have never paid like this before, so I am a little worried about it. Please let me know if you can! I really appreciate your blog and am using it a lot for my upcoming trip to Indonesia!

Thank you 🙂

April 20, 2022 at 2:58 pm

I just took a look in my emails and it looks like we were able to pay via PayPal (after asking them) — I’d ask if you can! Komodo was absolutely GORGEOUS and I can’t wait for you to go! Glad my blog is helpful! You’ll love Indonesia; we’re dying to go back!

November 17, 2022 at 9:24 am

How did you find the accommodations on the boat? Do you know which boat of theirs you were on?

November 17, 2022 at 10:02 pm

We had a full size bed and it was pretty comfy! A shared bathroom. Way better than we had thought it’d be! I’m not sure exactly what boat we were on, but it was definitely on the newer side and we loved it!

April 19, 2023 at 5:44 am

Hi Jess – thanks for writing about your experience and your trip in such detailed way. I quite enjoy your style of writing! I have couple of question: how was the boat itself? was it air conditioned? how were the bathrooms? private per room? I have also read that the shared/semi-private trips only depart on certain days of the week. is that true? My wife suffers from migraines and having an air conditioned room will ensure us not ruining our trip. We were able to get a room in one of the accommodations on the islands closer to the national park and were thinking of doing the day trips they offer. But now after reading your blog, I am second guessing myself 🙂

April 19, 2023 at 12:11 pm

So glad the you enjoyed the post! If you can, I highly recommend the 3 day/2 night sailing experience. By taking day tours, you will be essentially losing out on a lot of time, and we felt sleeping on the boat and looking up at the stars was an experience second to none. The company we used (Travass Life) has quite a few boats, so I would highly recommend reaching out to them to check for exact accommodations (air conditioning, bathrooms, etc). We were lucky that we were on a brand new boat — I do remember we had a shared bathroom, but a couple who picked a different room had a private bathroom upstairs. Definitely ask them; such a great company and we loved our entire experience and would definitely do it again!

July 1, 2023 at 9:25 pm

We stopping at Komodo Island for just one day on an P & O cruise, how do we book tickets with a park guide to see the dragons. The ones that i have seen all come from mainland, where as we just want to book a park ranger so we can get off the cruise ship and see the dragons. Any help would be very much appreciated.

July 11, 2023 at 9:41 am

Hmm.. I really don’t know! I’m sorry I can’t be helpful! 🙁

November 23, 2023 at 4:13 am

I love your blog. It’s full of details and beautiful pictures. Thank you. Now I wanna go. Great job!

January 20, 2024 at 10:59 pm

Komodo really is a special place! And oh so beautiful! Highly recommend it!

August 3, 2024 at 5:04 am

Are 3D/2N trips available only on Fridays?

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Together “ Le Pirate Bajo ”, Le Pirate is launched a fleet of overnight island Hopping Explorer boats. This tour comes as the ideal way to explore the Komodo Archipelago and get the best experience from The World Heritage Komodo National Park. Snorkelling, sightseeing, island trekking, or ….do nothing . The Explorer has it all to keep you busy during the day. When sunset time comes in, just plug in your i pod in the sound system or run our play list …Enjoy the evening dinner, watch an outdoor movie and sip a chilled glass of wine before your night under the thousand stars. Simplicity at its best, blended with barefoot luxury for an unforgettable island hopping cruise..

Note : If you have any specific dietary requirements whilst on-board your cruise, you can add this to your special requests on step 2 of the booking form. We will be allow these requests to religious beliefs reasons or food allergies reasons. The liveaboard serves great food (halal) and you will be hungry after trekking, snorkeling and a full day of diving.

• Private Boat Charter
• Accomodation (Live on Boat)
• Tour as our Itinerary
• Fullboard Meals on boat
• Mineral Drink (Aqua)
• Coffee or Tea on Boat
• Guide service onboard
• Snorkling Equipment
• Return hotel or Airport transfer

• All Enterance Fee
• All Flight Ticket
• Airport Taxes
• Personal Expensess
• Travel Insurance
• Alcohol Drink
• Gratuities (Tiping)
• Goverment Retribution

• Insect Repellent
• Sunscreen (Ribben)
• Sport shoes
• Handkerchief

Write a review for Le Pirate Explorer Cruise

Detail price, detail packages, boats & tour package.

5 Best Komodo Island Tours: My 2024 Picks with details

• 1 Komodo Island Tours Catagories
• 2.1 Komodo 3D2N Sailing Tour – PRIVATE BOAT
• 2.2 3D2N Standard Phinisi Komodo Sailing Tour – PRIVATE CABIN OPTIONS
• 2.3 4 Day Private Komodo Islands Tour – OVERNIGHT BOAT & HOTEL ACCOMMODATION
• 3.1 One Day Shared Komodo Tour – SHARING TOUR
• 3.2 One Day Private Komodo Boat Tour – PRIVATE TOUR
• 4 Komodo National Park Fees 2024
• 5 Drone Usage at Komodo National Park
• 6 Best Time to do Komodo Island Tours
• 7 Travel Tips for Visiting the Komodo Islands & Komodo Island Tours
• 8 What to Pack for a Komodo Islands Tour
• 9 Komodo Islands Tour FAQ

LOOKING FOR THE BEST KOMODO ISLAND TOURS? – You’re in the right place!

Visiting the Komodo Islands is an exciting adventure-filled trip that includes, vibrant culture, inspiring scenery and an untouched natural environment.

Padar Island, Pink Beach , stunning sunsets watching the flying foxes at Kalong and seeing the infamous Komodo dragons at Rinca and Komodo Islands, not forgetting the opportunity to swim with manta rays and turtles – These are just a few of the highlights of this epic trip!

KOMODO 3D2N SAILING TOUR – PRIVATE BOAT

⛵Completely Private Boat

⛵All Inclusive Private 3 Day 2 Night liveaboard trip

⛵Rinca Island, Padar Island, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Kelor Island

⛵Snorkelling at Manta Point, Siaba Point, Makassar and Kanawa

3D2N STANDARD PHINISI KOMODO SAILING TOUR – PRIVATE CABIN OPTIONS

⛵Boat shared with others

⛵Private and sharing cabins available

⛵Visit Rinca Island, Padar Island, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Kelor Island

1 DAY SPEEDBOAT TOUR TO KOMODO NATIONAL PARK

⛵SpeedBoat tour shared with others

⛵Fast-paced, action-packed day

⛵Visit 6 Destinations: Padar Island, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Snorkelling at Makassar, Kanawa and Manta Point

⛵Includes hotel transfers, lunch and snorkelling gear

Komodo Island Tours Catagories

OPEN/ PUBLIC (joining/sharing with others on a trip)

PRIVATE (only yourself and your group)

DAY TRIPS (Komodo Island tours from Labuan Bajo for the day)

MULTIDAY LIVEABOARD TRIP ( sleeping aboard the ship)

Best Komodo Island Tours: Multiday Liveaboard Tours

Komodo 3d2n sailing tour – private boat.

Escape on this 3-day excursion to the Komodo Islands and explore a world of stunning landscapes, diverse wildlife, and exciting activities.

⌚3 Days | ⭐4.5 Stars | ⛵Private Boat | 😎Private Tour | BOOK IT ➡️

Board your private vessel for an adventure around Kelor, Rinca, Kalong Padar Punya and Kanawa islands where you’ll have plenty of time to snorkelling with manta rays or swim alongside sea turtles! The real highlight will be seeing Komodo dragons up close and many other species including flying foxes in their natural habitat.

✅Minimum 2 People; Maximum 10 People

✅Trip runs any day of the week

✅2 nights in an Air-conditioned Cabin

✅Includes 3 lunches, 2 breakfasts and 2 dinners

✅ Day 1: 3 stops Kelor, Rinca and Kalong Island

✅ Day 2: 3 Stops – Padar, Komodo Island and Pink Beach

✅ Day 3: Get your snorkel on at Kanawa, Makassar, Siaba and Manta Point

CHECK PRICING AND AVAILABILITY ➡️

PRO’S:

• 4.5 Star Rating
• Clean and comfortable private boat
• Private trip = personalized experience
• Meals and snorkelling equipment included
• Certified English-speaking guide
• AC vehicle hotel/airport transfer included

CON’S

• Requires a minimum of 2 people
• Excludes entry fees for foreign tourists
• Excludes entry fees for a weekend surcharge
• Tour requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”Wonderful adventure trip with a dedicated team led by Robert. The boat travelled through beautiful areas, made a bunch of stops, and we relaxed completely. We had a great time seeing Komodo dragons, giant manta rays, deer, buffalo, reef sharks, turtles, splendid corals, and a plethora of fish. The trip is best enjoyed in if one is in good physical condition.” Austin C – (see more reviews)

BOOK THIS TOUR✅

3D2N Standard Phinisi Komodo Sailing Tour – PRIVATE CABIN OPTIONS

⌚3 Days 2 Nights | ⭐3.5 Stars | ⛵Sharing Boat | 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Sharing Tour | BOOK IT ➡️

Discover the incredible sights and scenery of Komodo National Park on this 3-day 2-night sharing tour . Go swimming and snorkelling in Kanawa Island, Manta Point, Taka Makassar, Pink Beach and Visit Komodo Island, Kelor Island, Kalong Island to see flying foxes at sunset.

✅Minimum 2 People; Maximum 12-14 People

✅4 room types: shared room (bunk beds for 4-5 pax), private sea view room (max 2 pax), private balcony room (max 2 pax), private master room (largest size, max 2 pax)

✅Facilities: Air conditioned room, towel, toiletries, ensuite bathroom

✅Trip runs Friday to Sunday Only

✅ Day 1: Kelor Island, Manjarite Island, Kalong Island

✅ Day 2: Padar Island, Pink Beach, Komodo National Park/Rinca Island and snorkelling at Taka Makasar and Manta Point

✅ Day 3: Snorkelling at Kanawa Island and then back to Labuan Bajo

• 3.5 Star Rating
• 13 Verified Reviews
• Comfortable Phinisi boat
• Only runs from Friday to Sundays

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”We absolutely loved this trip! The crew was all amazing and made us feel welcomed and were very helpful. We saw same amazing and beautiful spots on this tour. The boat itself was very nice. We spent a lot of time in the living room area enjoying the sail and meeting the other passengers. The food prepared was very good and fresh” Klook User – (see more reviews)

4 Day Private Komodo Islands Tour – OVERNIGHT BOAT & HOTEL ACCOMMODATION

This is a unique 4-day excursion on a private boat . Enjoy thrilling snorkelling experiences around Bidadari Island. Head to Rinca Island, home of the captivating dragons. Go explore Pink Beach’s shimmering sands, enjoy more trekking with Komodo Dragons, watch a sunset of flying foxes and snorkelling with Manta rays. Lastly, enjoy more sights of Labuan Bajo including local markets and Batu Cermin mirror cave.

⌚4 Days 3 Nights | ⭐4.6 Stars | ⛵Private Boat | 😎Private Tour | BOOK IT ➡️

✅No Minimum; Maximum 5 People

✅2 nights in beachfront accommodation (with breakfast)

✅Private overnight stay on a wooden boat

✅Includes meals and non-alcoholic drinks on the boat

✅All National Park entrance/guide fees

✅ Day 1: Arrival and Bidadari Island Exploration

✅ Day 2: Komodo Dragons and Kalong Island Adventure and snorkelling

✅ Day 3: Rinca Island Forest Trek, Pink Beach, and snorkelling at Manta Point

✅ Day 4: Batu Cermin Cave adventure, Local Market, and Departure

• 4.6 Star Rating
• 22 Verified Reviews
• Includes hotel accommodation
• Includes all fees
• Private boat
• No Padar Island or Kelor Island visit
• Only allows for a maximum of 5 people per booking
• The hotel cannot be selected

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”We loved spending this cruise with our Guide, Anceni (sorry to miss her first name) aboard the New Komodo and her captain Amin. The boat is no longer new but very comfortable and the crew is adorable. We really recommend this crew and their cook. Fantastic snorkeling spots, impressive encounters with Komodo dragons. The hotel for the 2 nights top. We really recommend this activity, and especially ask the crew of the New Komodo.” Marie-Hélène – (see more reviews)

Best Komodo Island Tours: Day Tours

One day shared komodo tour – sharing tour.

Embark on an unforgettable journey with Bintang Komodo , Visit three islands, Walk with Komodo Dragons, take an incredible hike across Padar Island’s volcanic landscape, swim and snorkel at Manta Point and bask on the sands of Pink Beach.

This is definitely one of the Best day trip Komodo Tours.

🥇Viator Badge of Excellence |⌚11 Hours | ⭐5 Stars | ⛵Shared Boat | 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦Sharing Tour | BOOK IT ➡️

✅Shared/Join In Tour (Not Private)

✅Visit Komodo Island, Padar Island & Pink Beach

✅Snorkelling at Makassar, Manta Point & Kanawa Island

✅Inclusions: Lunch, English Speaking Guide, Bottled Water & Snorkelling Equipment

✅Air-conditioned vehicle for hotel pick up and drop off

PRO’S :

• 5-star rated tour
• 635 Reviews
• Open trip – opportunity to meet new people/ share costs
• This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund

CON’S:

• 5:30 AM start time – you might not be an early riser 😉
• Single Komodo Island day trips can feel very rushed and cramped
• Group trips have less individualised attention
• Must adhere to the group schedule

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”Incredible tour! First boat to be at every stop and avoid the crowds. Highlights were swimming with manta rays, seeing Komodo dragons, pink sand beaches and epic views.” Carley Rosenberg – (see more reviews)

One Day Private Komodo Boat Tour – PRIVATE TOUR

🥇Viator Badge of Excellence |⌚10 Hours | ⭐4.5 Stars | ⛵Private Boat | 😎Private Tour | BOOK IT ➡️

Booking a private Komodo Islands boat tour is the perfect way to make the most out of your day and see the most incredible sights of this beautiful corner of Indonesia. This tour includes the major highlights of Komodo National Park and includes snorkelling at some epic locations.

✅Private Trip

✅No minimum persons, but 5 persons maximum

✅Professional Tour Guide (Multiple languages available)

✅Rub shoulders with Komodo Dragons at Komodo Island, Get the ultimate Instagram shots at Pink Beach, summit the most beautiful landscape and enjoy panoramic views at Padar island

✅Snorkel at Manta point, Taka Makassar and Kanawa Island

✅Inclusions: Speedboat, Packed Lunch, bottled water and snorkelling gear

• Private tours allow for customization of the trip
• Private Airconditioned car for Hotel Pick up and Drop off
• English Speaking Guide (German, Spanish, Japanese and French Speaking Guides also available)
• Snorkelling equipment included (mask and snorkel, fins & life jacket)
• 5:00 AM start time
• A single-day trip can feel rushed
• Komodo National Park fees are not included (for local or foreign tourists)
• Ranger fees are not included for KNP and Padar island
• Not wheelchair accessible

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐”I was doing this tour to see some Komodo Dragons, Because this was a private tour, I was able to customize the trip order and we also spent more time on Komodo Island itself. Most tours go to Padar first and then Komodo, but we were able to go to Komodo first, while it was still quiet and the dragons were active. I encountered no other tourists there for the first 90 minutes, which was great. I saw three big dragons, so I was very pleased!” Graham H – (see more reviews)

Looking for more Komodo Islands info:

📖 READ: How to Choose the Best Komodo Island Boat Tour: Everything to Consider + My Recommendations

📖READ: Planning a Perfect Komodo Trip: Your Guide to the Komodo Islands

📖READ: Where to Stay in Labuan Bajo: 20+ Seaview Hotels with the best views

📖READ: 20 Best Things to Do in Labuan Bajo: Island Hopping, Dragons and More

Komodo National Park Fees 2024

There have been a lot of discrepancies when it comes to the additional fees needed to visit Komodo National Park on Komodo Island tours. Even when doing my own research, I’ve come across various figures and I am honestly not 100% sure whether all are necessary, but regardless I’ll list them below:

⚠️ IMPORTANT NOTE: ALL KOMODO NATIONAL PARK FEES MUST BE PAID IN CASH TO THE KOMODO NATIONAL PARK TICKET OFFICE

What I can say from all my research and discussion with tour providers is that the fees will be between IDR 450 000 IDR to 600 000 IDR per person per day (depending on the number of people on the boat) , This is in addition to your Komodo Tour package. There still is currently no fixed information on the Komodo National Park Website, but you can refer to https://www.floreskomodoexpedition.com/ for more information on the transparency of the fees

Drone Usage at Komodo National Park

I recently found information from a tour agent that there is a drone use fee for Komodo National Park :

“Drone usage in KNP is Required to purchase a ticket at the National Park Office in Labuan Bajo. You have to buy a drone ticket 3 days before the trip. The cost of the ticket is IDR 1 000 000″

So this amount will be in addition to your Komodo island Tours package. I highly recommend mentioning when booking your tour if you are bringing a tour and checking the fees and payment situation with your tour company.

Best Time to do Komodo Island Tours

The best time to visit Komodo National Park in Indonesia depends on your preferences. If you’re looking for warm temperatures, sunny skies, and less rain then the dry season (May-October) is ideal.

However, if you prefer cooler temperatures and are willing to brave some showers then the wet season/rainy season (November-April) may be more suitable.

The water is usually calmer and clearer during the dry season, making it ideal for swimming and snorkelling.

But if you’re more interested in wildlife spotting then the wet season may be better as many species are more active during this time.

TRAVELIST TIP: We visited in October which was the best of both worlds for snorkelling and wildlife spotting. I would likely suggest visiting Komodo Island before October though for the most ideal experience.

Travel Tips for Visiting the Komodo Islands & Komodo Island Tours

1. When booking a tour, be extremely thorough in knowing what your itinerary is and what is included/ excluded. Whether you are on an open or private trip it’s essential to ensure you bring along the relevant cash, and items needed for your trip and aren’t surprised by any hidden costs or lack of equipment

2. Insect Repellent is a must! In Labuan Bajo I was extremely surprised at the number of mosquitos, this isn’t so much on the open waters, but if you head on land, be sure to coat yourself to prevent mosquito bites etc.

3. If you’re pressed for time Komodo Island day tours are a great way to see the popular spots of the Komodo Islands, however, it can feel incredibly rushed and super tiring . I highly recommend the multiday liveaboard Komodo islands tour to really see the unique destination at an easy pace and the experience of cruising and island hopping on a boat is pretty epic too.

4. If you’re on a day trip, bring along a towel and change of clothes, it gets hot and you’ll defs be up to jump into the waters to cool down and see some amazing creatures in the ocean

5. Bring along Cash (in local currency Indonesian Rupiah) – for your Komodo National Park entrance fees and if you’re looking to buy additional snacks/drinks on some of the beaches/ snorkelling islands you’ll need to pay in cash as there aren’t any ATMs in Komodo National Park

6. Dietary requirements: in a number of tours I’ve seen they don’t cater for vegetarian or vegan options. In this regard, you may want to stock up on your own food/snacks to ensure you don’t go hungry. On our tour, however, there were a number of vegetable dishes, so even if you just ate rice and a vegetable dish you wouldn’t go hungry.

7. Sailing and Boat trips require good weather . You’ll see on a number of tour provider websites that tours can be amended or cancelled due to poor weather conditions. Please check with your tour provider what their refund/rescheduling policies are to avoid any nasty surprises.

8. Day trips to Komodo Island also usually involve getting a packed lunch – I’ve seen on a number of reviews that many people have not been impressed with their packed lunch. On the liveaboard trips – all food was actually made fresh on the boat or caught (seafood) whilst we were on our excursion). Again I strongly suggest when in Labuan Bajo make sure to visit the mini marts/ supermarket to bring along your own food/snacks if you are a picky eater or want your own bits to snack on – we did

9. Certain tours may involve a one-night stay at a hotel either during or prior or after your trip. Check with your tour provider whether this is included.

TRAVELIST TIP: Our trip began at 8 am on a Friday – unfortunately there were no flights early enough to reach Labuan Bajo before the tour so we had to fly in on Thursday and stay one night before the multiday liveaboard tour. There are plenty of hotels in Labuan Bajo and they also have incredibly gorgeous sea views. Check out my post on the Best Seview Hotels in Labuan Bajo if you need a hotel stay during your trip

10. Please be aware that wooden boats offer a traditional sea-faring experience , prioritizing authenticity over modern amenities (all boats have a toilet, shower and rooms with aircon/fans). While comfort levels may vary, passengers can expect a rustic ambience as they explore Komodo National Park. This is obviously not the case for luxury yachts. None of the tours listed above are luxury yachts.

What to Pack for a Komodo Islands Tour

Swimwear for swimming, beach lounging and snorkelling. This is definitely to be packed whether you’re on a Komodo day trip or a multi-day liveaboard trip

Snorkelling Gear Depending on whether your tour provides this or not, you might want to bring along your own if you have a preference or check that your tour provider has the relevant life jackets, snorkel, mask and fins if you need them. I also tend to use aqua boots when snorkelling in coral areas where I don’t need fins, so bring those along if you’re the same 🙂

Closed shoes for the Padar Island hike. If you’re someone who feels they can manage the trek up the Padar Island rocky terrain in sandals – then good on you. Although all the trails in Komodo National Park aren’t technical I definitely had a preference for closed shoes on the Padar island trek as well as up the short steep trek on the Kelor Island summit.

Sunscreen and Mosquito repellent – for pretty obvious reasons. For the mosquito repellent, I just bought the Soffell (Indonesian brand) one I found in a mini-mart in Labuan Bajo but I strongly suggest bringing your own (sunscreen and mosquito repellent if you have a preference and what works for you.

Light quick dry clothing . Indonesia is a hot place. I found that light airy clothing worked best for me and I did not ever really get cold whilst on the boat (for the liveaboard trip) in the evenings I felt a shawl, swimsuit cover-up, and pashmina were sufficient. If you get very cold easily maybe bring a jersey.

Bring a waterproof bag for any electronic devices and camera equipment you might have with you or for your trips off the boat to hold your towel, change of clothes etc.

Komodo Islands Tour FAQ

Yes, there are Komodo Island tours from Bali. Check out this Bali Komodo tour: 3-Day Komodo island Tour with or without a Roundtrip Flight From Bali . Should you plan Komodo tours from Bali? Yes, sometimes there might not be a direct flight from your destination to Labuan Bajo. So you’re likely to fly from Bali to Labuan Bajo and begin your tour from LB.

The Komodo island tour price in Indonesia will depend on the length and type of trip you book. Generally, Komodo island tour packages for day tours cost around $50 to 150 USD per person, while multi-day expeditions can range from $200 to $1000 USD per person. Prices may also vary depending on the season, the number of activities included, and other additional amenities or how luxurious the experience or boat is. For more detailed pricing information, it’s best to contact the tour operator directly. It is also important to note that Komodo Island tours may require special permissions and fees for certain activities, so be sure to inquire about them beforehand.

I’ve compiled an entire post about How to Choose the best Komodo Island boat tour including, what facilities the boat should have, pricing etc. It can feel pretty overwhelming at first glance to visit Komodo island National Park so Check out the post

The closest airport to the Komodo Islands is Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, Flores Islandu. The most common way to get there is to take a flight from Bali directly to this destination. There are also ferries available from Bali and other nearby islands, however, they tend to be more time-consuming and unreliable. If you’re coming from another part of Indonesia, then you may need to take a connecting flight or ferry to reach Labuan Bajo. Once you arrive in Labuan Bajo, you can arrange a boat tour to the Komodo Islands.

Although visiting the Komodo islands from Labuan Bajo is the main attraction, there are a number of things to do in Labuan Bajo. I’ve written a full detailed post on the 20 Best Things to do in Labuan Bajo

Affiliate Disclosure : Some of the links in the article have affiliate links, what this means is , if you click a link and make a purchase I may earn some money to buy a coffee (whoohoo!) . Thanks for the support, I’d love to keep making this content freely available to all. As always opinions and thoughts remain my own.

If you’re looking for an unforgettable experience, a Komodo Island boat tour is definitely worth considering. From vibrant coral reefs to rare wildlife encounters, these tours provide the perfect opportunity to explore this unique part of Indonesia.

So book your tour today and get ready to discover the wonders of Komodo! And once you do, don’t forget to share your experience and photos with us! I’d love to hear all about your adventure.

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DAY CRUISES

Shared Cruise

Idr 4.500.000.

Minimum 4 Pax for Departure Sharing Boat with Other Guests Children under 16 years old are not accepted on shared cruise For larger groups please email [email protected]

Breakfast on board, morning trek in Padar, swimming, snorkeling and lunch in Pink Beach, visit and trek to Komodo Park

06:00 am to 06:00 pm

ABOUT OUR EXPLORER BOATS

Each Explorer is manned by a team of 4 crew (Captain, Cruise supervisor, Cook, and crew). Maximum guests capacity is 10 pax in 5 tented cabins on the upper deck and a shared bathroom, open sofa lounge, deck hammocks, and bean bags on the main deck. Electricity is supplied by a solar power system for lights, sound systems and to charge your HP and Laptop batteries. (No hairdryer please !) Activities onboard with a movie night and Board games.

PAYMENT METHOD AND REFUND / CANCELATION POLICY

In order to confirm your explorer overnight cruise a 10% non refundable deposit is required within 14 days from receiving this email. A 25% progress payment is required 30 days before your cruise departure. This payment of 25% is refundable if you cancel your cruise 14 days before your cruise departure. (You can also reschedule your cruise until 14 days from departure). The balance of 65% is due 13 days before your cruise departure which is non refundable.

• This itinerary is subject to last-minute changes, according to the weather and tide conditions to insure the safest cruise.
• Please bring sun protection (hats, sunglasses, sunblock +50, and moisturizer)
• Fishing is strictly not allowed in the National park.
• Drone flights in the National park are prohibited unless applying for a permit before departure. (Please give us an early notice to apply for the permit before the cruise)
• Being in physical contact with marine life (fishes, turtles, coral) land animals, taking home coral or sand, and littering the marine and land environments are strictly prohibited by the park authorities.
• Children under 16 years old are not accepted on shared cruise

WHAT’S INCLUDED

• All meals, morning and afternoon snacks, tea, coffee, and drinking water
• Snorkeling equipment & life /swim jackets
• Towels & linens, soap, and shampoo

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED

• Drinks such as beer, wine, soft drinks & spirits are available onboard (to be paid at the end of the cruise)
• Accommodation before and after the trip
• Crew gratitude (Tipping):. Tips reflect your appreciation for the good service and experience provided by our local crew during the cruise.
• Travel insurance to cover any flight delays or unforeseen circumstances out of our control. Le Pirate recommends you to purchase a travel insurance before joining the trip.
• Pick-up/drop off from/to the airport / Hotels (can be arranged on request)
• Flight ticket to/from Labuan Bajo
• National Park Fees and trekking tour guides approximately IDR 550.000/pax/day/normal day and approximately IDR 750.000/pax/day/sunday and public holiday (75% up), please check the Government statement HERE

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How to plan your perfect Komodo Island tour

• Published on December 4, 2019
• Last updated on November 12, 2023

In this post, we share all our experiences from our 4-day / 3-night Komodo Island tour. To visit this paradise has been a dream of ours for a very long time, and we are thrilled and grateful that we finally made this trip. This post should help you for planning your own perfect Komodo Island tour.

Best time for your Komodo Island Tour

It is possible to visit the Komodo National Park all year round. It has a tropical climate that has two seasons the dry season from Mai to October and the wet season from November to April. However, temperatures are pleasant all year round. We made our Komodo Island tour at the beginning of October, and the weather was perfect.

How to get to Komodo National Park

To visit the Komodo National Park, you have to book a flight to Labuan Bajo Komodo Airport. You can combine your visit, for example, with your Bali trip. The flight from Bali takes only one hour and cost us around 80$ per person. To book your flights at the best price available, we recommend either Skyscanner or Kayak .

Labuan Bajo

Most Komodo Island tours start in the Morning at the harbor of Labuan Bajo. Therefore we highly recommend you to arrive in Labuan Bajo the day before your tour. There are a lot of cheap accommodations and good places to eat here. We stayed here the night before and also after our boat trip. Which was way more comfortable and less stressful than to arrive or leave on the same day of our trip.

Where to eat in Labuan Bajo

• Happy Banana : they serve amazing vegan Sushi and Poke bowls
• La Cucina : very good Pizza – we usually don’t eat Pizza while traveling in Asia but this one was really worth the try
• Le Pirate Bajo Restaurant : excellent for sunset, good views & drinks

Where to stay in Labuan Bajo

We stayed at a basic hotel, Blue Ocean Hotel , directly next to the harbor. The room was clean, and the location was very good. We can recommend this place.

Meanwhile, Labuan Bajo has grown a lot, and the options for great hotels have become much bigger. For example, these amazing Elang bamboo villas

Choose a tour company for your Komodo Island tour

The Komodo National Park can only be visited by a guided tour. Many different tour operators are offering you all kinds of different tours. You can choose the duration of your stay, from day tours to overnight trips on all types of lengths, and also the comfort of the boat (private cabin, shared cabin, private tour).

We chose to go on a 4-day / 3-night Komodo Island tour with Le Pirate Explorer , and we can highly recommend this company (this is not sponsored; we are just happy with our choice and would like to share it with you). The trip was very well organized, the boat was very cool and comfortable, there was a nice deck to relax in between stops, and the staff was amazing. They did a great job. Also, the food was no problem for us vegans. You can find their rates and more information in the link above. 

We definitely recommend you go on an overnight Komodo Island tour of at least three days / two nights because there is so much to see in the national park, and it’s also a great adventure to sleep on a boat.

4-day Komodo Island tour

Day 1 – snorkeling with manta rays and turtles.

We met our crew at the Le Pirate Restaurant at 9 am. We got a coffee and an introduction and started our tour at 10 am. When we first came to the boat, we put our luggage (you can generally bring one backpack per person; if you have more oversized luggage, you can leave it at the tour operator’s office) into our lovely cabin and then got to know our crew better. After that, we had lunch all together. There were 10 people on this Komodo Island tour, which is the average size.

The first day was all about snorkeling and spending time in the water, which we greatly enjoyed. We saw giant turtles, and beautiful reefs, and the absolute highlight was that we swam with Manta Rays. This experience was a dream of ours for a long time, and we were so happy that we could swim with mantas twice that day. They are so much bigger than we expected; they can reach a width of 7 meters, but they are also so gentle and elegant. Manta Rays eat different kinds of plankton and are not dangerous for people at all. We were fascinated by these beautiful creatures. Several times, we came up to the surface to look at each other and say, “wow wow wow”.

Day 2 – Padar island, pink beach, Rinca island, and sunset at Kalong island

On the second day, we had an early wake-up call and experienced a beautiful sunrise on the boat while driving to Padar Island. Just after sunrise, we arrived at the Island and started our hike to the top where we enjoyed a spectacular view. Most tours come here for sunrise, and we heard that it gets very crowded, that is why we were happy to be there a bit later when most tours were leaving already. That is something we liked a lot about our tour company; they mostly tried to bring us to the places at other times than most tours do so that we could enjoy them with less other people.

From the top of Padar Island, you can see that this Island has beaches of 3 different colors, black, white, and even pink sand beaches. By the way, you can fly a drone here, but recently you have to pay a commission of 1 million Indonesian Rupia (about 70 USD), which we thought is too expensive. That’s why our tip is to place your camera at a higher point and you will get a photo like ours too, without flying the drone. The commission only has to be paid at the main Islands; there are also places where you can fly your drone without paying, just ask your tour company.

After the hike, we returned to the boat and drove to one of the pink beaches to swim and relax. It was such a fantastic experience to see a pink beach finally. And yes, they are really pink! We asked us this many times before. The pink color of the beach comes from tiny pieces of red coral in the sand. But sadly, the pink color is getting less. This happens because of coral bleaching, which is happening due to global warming and pollution of the ocean. This place showed us again why we want to do our best and fight for our beautiful planet: we really wish this paradise would last forever.

After lunch on the boat, we went to Rinca Island to visit the Komodo Dragons — the most giant lizard on the planet. One bite of a Komodo Dragon is deadly for a human. This is because the Komodo Dragons eat their prey only after the meat is rotten, and this leads to bacteria in their mouth, which is so strong that it kills humans very fast. Fortunately, today, there is a medicine that can help, but it has to be taken quickly. But don’t worry; you will visit this Island with a very well educated and experienced guide. It was exciting to see the world’s biggest lizard.

Just after a beautiful sunset on the boat, we stopped next to Kalong Island, where we experienced one of the most magical moments ever. The sky was full of bats flying above us. Strictly speaking, they are one of the world’s biggest flying foxes.

After that, we had dinner and a movie night on the boat with our crew. We watched Finding Nemo together, and it was super cozy.

Day 3 – Snorkeling, Kelor Island, and Le Pirate Island

On the morning of our third day, we again went to some fantastic snorkeling points, as on every day of the trip. We loved to spend so much time in the ocean. We have seen more beautiful fishes than ever before and all kinds of colors of corals, from red to green and even blue.

After the snorkeling, we went on a hike to Kelor Island, where we enjoyed another stunning view over the turquoise blue waters and the hills of the other islands.

In the afternoon, we arrived at “Le Pirate Island”, which is exclusively included in the tour with Le Pirate Explorer and not other companies. But you can, of course, visit this Island from Labuan Bajo without a tour or add this to your trip with another tour, you just have to organize it yourself and pay additionally for it.

On the Island, we stayed at an adorable beach hut just in front of the ocean. It was a dream to sleep there and wake up with the sunrise. We loved the whole Island because every corner is so beautiful and with a bohemian touch. It’s such a relaxing place. Also, there is excellent snorkeling just in front of the accommodation.

We had a great night on the Island with sunset drinks, a table barbecue and the most fantastic food. The food was also very vegan-friendly, we got so much tofu to grill. After dinner we had a glass of wine by the bonfire with some of our new friends.

Day 4 – Le Pirate island

We spend our last day on the Island of “Le Pirate” and had a great time. We made fruit juice without electricity, relaxed in a hammock and enjoyed the beautiful beach and crystal clear water.

In the late afternoon we they brought us back to Labuan Bajo by boat which took us about 1 hour.

Budget for a Komodo Island tour

There are many different tour companies, and the prices vary a lot depending on how much luxury you choose. But we listed here our costs, which can help you understand how much you have to count for a Komodo Island tour.

• Return flight from Bali: 150$ per person
• Cost of 3 day / 4-night tour including food: 680$ for two people
• National Park / Snorkeling Fee: 30$ per person
• Rinca Island: 10$ per person
• Hotel in Labuan Bajo before and after the trip: 40$
• 2 Dinner in Labuan Bajo before and after the trip: 30$

Total cost for two people for a Komodo Island Tour: 1’130$

• See what others think about this post and share your opinion with us

Hi there! beautiful post and really nice pictures. I am also planning to go to Indonesia in October (if Covid lets me :/) and I’m thinking of doing this kind of cruise. Were you alone onboard? or were there other couples? I’m reading some reviews and there are many bad ones. I just wanted to know a little bit more because is a high price and I’m a solo traveler. Many thanks, take care <3

Hi Rocio. Thank you very much for your lovely comment. We’re sure that you’re going to love Indonesia. It‘s a beautiful country with so much to see. We can highly recommend the Pirate Explorer to visit the Komodo National Park as we had a fantastic experience. We were a group of ten people (five couples). Four couples slept in the upper compartments and one couple in a lower one (behind the captain’s bridge). We were lucky and had funny people in our group. Compared to other boats we saw on our trip, the Explorer ships were the only ones that …  Read more »

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Komodo Island Shore Excursions, Day Tours & Trips from Cruise Port

Komodo Island is the largest island in Komodo National Park. Well-known for being home to the descendant of dinosaur Komodo Dragons on land, the island was also named as this unique animal. Moreover, the island is a land of different rare species including dozens of species of mammals, birds, and reptilians. Besides, walking out of the land, you will meet the deep ocean. The ideal condition and natural respect of locals create a diversity underwater ecosystem. There are hundreds of wonderful things to explore in Komodo Island shore excursions.

• Go scuba diving or snorkeling
• Enjoy a sight of coral reefs, sponges, green seagrass beds, Dugong, manta rays, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and different kinds of fish under the calm waves
• The spectacular Pink Beach is charmed with pink color mixed of white and red sand surrounded by the crystal clear water

Rated as one of Seven New Wonders of Nature, this island is worth a Komodo shore tour to explore. Asia Shore Excursions offers the best Komodo Island shore excursions and day tours from Loh Liang Pier for cruise passengers. If you do not find any suitable Komodo day tours, shore excursions, and trips, please contact us to tailor-make a tour on your own.

Komodo National Park with Pink Beach

• Duration: 7 hours
• Pick-up/Drop-off: Loh Liang Pier/Loh Liang Pier
• Highlights: Komodo National Park, Pink Beach
• Tour Customizable: Absolutely! (Tell us your specific requirements in the inquiry form)
• Tour Category: Komodo shore excursions

Komodo Island Half Day Tour

• Duration: 3 hours
• Highlights: Komodo National Park, Banunggulung

Amazing Things to Do in Komodo Island Shore Excursions

Experience the extraordinary with Komodo Island Shore Excursions. Dive into clear waters, encounter Komodo dragons, and explore pristine beaches. This curated adventure promises an unforgettable blend of nature, wildlife, and cultural immersion, ensuring an enriching experience with Shore Excursions Asia.

Komodo Island National Park

Explore the enchanting Komodo Island National Park, home to the legendary Komodo dragons. This biodiverse paradise invites you to witness stunning landscapes, diverse marine life, and unforgettable wildlife encounters. Join us for an extraordinary adventure with Komodo Island Shore Excursions, where nature's wonders come to life.

Manta Points

Dive into excitement with Komodo Island Shore Excursions at Manta Points. Located in the stunning Komodo National Park, this underwater paradise offers thrilling encounters with majestic manta rays. Immerse yourself in crystal-clear waters and witness the beauty of these graceful creatures in their natural habitat. Komodo Island Shore Excursions provide an extraordinary adventure at Manta Points, ensuring unforgettable moments beneath the waves.

Scuba Diving

Dive into exhilaration with Komodo Island Shore Excursions as we unveil the underwater marvels through Scuba Diving. Immerse yourself in the vibrant marine world of Komodo Island, where crystal-clear waters reveal a kaleidoscope of colors and diverse marine species. Our expert-guided Scuba Diving experience invites you to explore coral gardens, encounter fascinating sea life, and discover the extraordinary biodiversity that makes Komodo Island a premier diving destination.

Experience the captivating beauty of Pink Beach, nestled within Komodo National Park. This unique stretch of coastline boasts mesmerizing pink-hued sands, creating a picturesque and surreal landscape. Immerse yourself in the tranquility of crystal-clear waters, relax on the distinctive pink shores, and witness the breathtaking contrast of nature's colors. Komodo Island Shore Excursions offer an exclusive opportunity to explore the wonders of Pink Beach, ensuring a memorable and enchanting coastal adventure.

Discover the eclectic charm of Le Pirate. Situated in the stunning Komodo National Park, Le Pirate offers a unique blend of comfortable accommodations and a bohemian atmosphere. Unwind in the cozy surroundings, relish breathtaking views, and immerse yourself in the laid-back ambiance of this hidden gem. Komodo Island Shore Excursions provide an exclusive opportunity to experience the distinctive allure of Le Pirate, ensuring a memorable and stylish escape in the heart of Komodo's natural beauty.

Cunca Waterfall

Embark on a refreshing journey with Komodo Island Shore Excursions to the hidden gem of Cunca Waterfall. Tucked away in the lush landscapes of Komodo National Park, this cascading wonder invites you to unwind amidst nature's tranquility. Immerse yourself in the cool, crystal-clear waters, trek through picturesque surroundings, and discover the serene beauty of Cunca Waterfall.

Rangko Cave

Nestled within the breathtaking landscapes of Komodo National Park, Rangko Cave invites you to explore its mystical chambers and stunning stalactite formations. Immerse yourself in the cool, turquoise waters within the cave, creating a surreal and tranquil experience. Komodo Island Shore Excursions offer an exclusive opportunity to discover the wonders of Rangko Cave, ensuring a memorable and mesmerizing adventure in the heart of Komodo's natural wonders.

Local Cuisine

Immerse yourself in a culinary journey through vibrant markets and authentic eateries, sampling unique local dishes. From fresh seafood to traditional Indonesian specialties, savor the diverse and tantalizing tastes that reflect the island's culture. Indulge in the rich flavors of Komodo Island with Komodo Island Shore Excursions.

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Eilandhoppen bij de Komodo eilanden met Le Pirate Explorer

Eilandhoppen met le pirate explorer, vliegende honden bij kalong island, in de nacht snorkelen met lichtgevend plankton, viewpoints op de eilanden gili lawa en padar, snorkelen bij batu bolong, komodo varanen spotten op rinca, zwemmen met reuzenmanta’s bij karang makassar rif, paradijselijke eilandjes, le pirate island, hoe reis je naar de komodo eilanden, de beste reistijd voor de komodo eilanden, wat kost de komodo trip met le pirate explorer, waar te verblijven in labuan bajo.

De Komodo eilanden in Indonesië zijn zo waanzinnig mooi dat we er eigenlijk niet eens over willen schrijven. Dit is zo’n plek die je het liefst geheim wil houden en zeker niet met de rest van de wereld wil delen. Maar goed, het is ook zo’n enorme aanrader dat we toch echt verplicht zijn om deze tip met jullie te delen. Komodo National Park is een groep eilanden die je misschien wel kent van de Komodo varanen uit natuurdocumentaires zoals bijvoorbeeld Planet Earth II. Deze reuzen worden soms wel 3 meter lang en leven nog alleen maar in deze regio. Wat bijna niemand weet, is dat de Komodo eilanden nog heel veel meer bijzonders te bieden hebben. Je hebt er tropische witte en roze stranden, een rijke onderwaterwereld en bizarre landschappen. Wij maakte hier een vierdaagse boottocht langs de mooiste plekken en kunnen wel stellen dat dit onze mooiste boottrip ooit was.

Er zijn talloze aanbieders voor tours rond de Komodo eilanden. Van hele budget boten die minder comfort bieden tot luxe zeilboten en van dagtour tot vijfdaagse tours. Wanneer je ons al een tijdje volgt, weet je dat wij houden van avontuur en unieke ervaringen maar ook niet vies zijn van een beetje comfort. Le Pirate Explorer is wat ons betreft de beste optie waarbij je het meeste waar voor je geld krijgt. Met de vierdaagse tour zie je alle highlights van de Komodo eilanden en slaap je op een fantastisch mooie boot. Je slaapt bovenop de boot in een eenvoudige cabin vanuit waar je de meest waanzinnige uitzichten hebt. Vanuit je bed kan je in de nacht de melkweg zien en in de ochtend de zonsopkomst.

Aan de zijkanten van de boot heb je grote hangmatten en dan liggen er nog een aantal chille beanbags op de boot. Natuurlijk is er ook een zithoek om een spelletje te spelen of te eten. Er staat altijd een fijne playlist op maar je kan ook je eigen telefoon aansluiten. Helemaal te gek is dat ze in de avond het witte doek uitrollen en met een beamer de boot omtoveren tot een drijvende bioscoop. De grootste boot heeft 5 cabins waardoor je dus nooit met meer dan 10 mensen bent. Met Le Pirate Explorer gaat het niet alleen om het zien van de Komodo eilanden maar is de reis zelf ook enorm chill.

De mooiste plekken van de Komodo eilanden

Tijdens een trip door de Komodo eilanden val je van de ene verbazing in de andere. Wanneer je kiest voor de 4 of 5 daagse tour, kom je eigenlijk langs alle highlights. De route is altijd afhankelijk van de weersomstandigheden dus wees niet getreurd wanneer je iets mist, je krijgt er vast iets anders moois voor in de plaats. De volgende unieke ervaringen en plekken kan je verwachten.

Dit was by far het meest magische moment van deze trip. Net na de zonsondergang vertrekken tienduizenden vliegende honden vanaf een mangrove eiland naar het vasteland om eten te zoeken. Deze grote vleermuizen slapen overdag en eten in de nacht vooral vruchten die in de bomen hangen. Ongeveer tien minuten nadat de zon onder is, zie je de eerste vleermuizen boven de mangrove vliegen. Snel volgen er meer en meer, totdat de gehele lucht uiteindelijk gevuld is met vleermuizen. Dit, in combinatie met de lucht die nog rood is van de zonsondergang, is adembenemend mooi.

In het water bij de Komodo eilanden zit een bijzonder soort plankton dat licht geeft bij beweging. Dit is iets wat je op meer plekken hebt maar in het water rond de Komodo eilanden, zit een hele hoge concentratie van dit soort plankton. Wanneer je in de nacht met je handen of voeten door het water beweegt, zal je zien dat er honderden kleine lichtpuntjes verschijnen. Pak je snorkel en spring in het water om dit bijzondere natuurverschijnsel nog beter te zien. Tijdens een van onze nachten op het water, kwam er ook een soort strepen van groen licht in het water. Het waren een soort kleine kwalachtige dingen die een fel spoor van licht achterlieten. Tot op heden zijn we er nog niet achter wat het precies was en of dit hier vaker voorkomt. Op de nachtfoto’s hieronder zie je zowel de plankton als de strepen van licht. De plankton kan je hier in ieder geval het hele jaar door zien. Wel is het in sommige periodes meer of minder en is het het beste zichtbaar wanneer je weinig maanlicht hebt.

Tijdens de trip bezoek je ook twee te gekke viewpoints; Gili Lawa en Padar. Het landschap van Padar is onvoorstelbaar mooi met de vreemde rotsformaties en de grote baaien. Deze plek ken je vast van de foto’s maar wanneer je hier staat is het verrassend veel groter dan verwacht en daardoor nog veel indrukwekkender. Gili Lawa is ook een hele mooie plek om de zonsondergang te bekijken en een toffe klim te maken. Bij beide viewpoints is het een klein half uurtje hiken naar boven voor een briljant uitzicht.

De Komodo eilanden staan op #2 in het lijstje van ’s werelds beste plekken om te snorkelen volgens CNN Travel. De onderwaterwereld is dan ook te gek. Ben je een duiker dan wil je zeker wat langer blijven om hier nog een aantal duiken te maken. Batu Bolong is binnen de Komodo eilanden de mooiste plek om te snorkelen. Het is een piepklein eilandje met aan de zijkanten enorm sterke stroming. De stroming brengt veel eten mee voor de vissen dus dat zorgt ervoor dat je hier honderden gekleurde vissen en koralen ziet. Achter het eiland kan je rustig snorkelen zonder dat je last hebt van de stroming. We kunnen er veel over schrijven maar de foto zegt eigenlijk alles.

Toen wij hoorden dat we ook naar ‘Pink Beach’ gingen, hadden we zo onze twijfels. We zijn namelijk vaker naar een ‘Pink Beach’ geweest op Lombok en dat viel enorm tegen omdat het helemaal niet roze was. Vanuit de boot zag het er inderdaad verre van roze uit maar eenmaal op het strand aangekomen was de branding toch echt helemaal roze. In het zand zitten hele kleine stukjes rood koraal wat ervoor zorgt dat het roze is. De ene keer blijkt dit duidelijker zichtbaar dan de andere keer, dus het is een kwestie van geluk of pech hebben, maar roze is het altijd.

Vanzelfsprekend ga je ook de komodo varanen een bezoekje brengen. Dat doe je op het eiland Rinca waar je kan kiezen uit verschillende wandelroutes met gids. Voor ons was dit de enige tegenvaller van het hele Komodo avontuur. De kans dat je hier tijdens het wandelen komodo varanen gaat spotten is minuscuul. Natuurlijk is het wel tof om van de gids meer te leren over deze gevaarlijke dieren. Je ziet ze wel zeker in het begin liggen bij een hut maar het lijkt erop dat ze de dieren hier voeren. De gids zegt dat ze dit niet doen en dat ze op de geur afkomen van de keuken maar wat het ook is, erg spannend is het op deze manier niet.

Een andere highlight van de Komodo eilanden is het snorkelen met de gigantische manta’s. Deze reuzen zijn gemiddeld 2 a 3 meter breed. De kans dat je hier manta’s gaat zien is bijna 100%. Van december tot februari is het manta seizoen waarbij je zelfs groepen van wel 30 manta’s kan spotten maar ook buiten het seizoen zijn ze altijd wel ergens te vinden bij het Karang Makassar rif. Een hele bijzondere ervaring!

Natuurlijk kan je ook rekenen op wat fijne stops bij paradijselijke eilandjes met witte stranden. Deze eilanden zijn omgeven door heel helder blauw water en vaak mooie koraalriffen. Dit is de perfecte plek om mooie foto’s te schieten.

Als kers op de taart kan je na de boottrip nog een nachtje bij boeken op Le Pirate Island . Hier slaap je in een schattig hutje op het strand. Het is een paradijselijke plek en de perfecte locatie voor een gezellige avond. Overdag kan je je hier vermaken met snorkelen, tafeltennis, beachvolleybal , kajakken of cocktails drinken in je hangmat. Besluit je om met een andere organisatie een boottrip te maken en wil je toch ook op het paradijselijke Le Pirate Island verblijven? Dan kan je ook alleen één of meerdere overnachtingen boeken .

Het vertrekpunt voor deze tour is het havenstadje Labuan Bajo op Flores, dat ligt op een klein uurtje vliegen vanaf Bali. Dit is niet perse een hele leuke plek maar simpelweg een gateway naar de Komodo eilanden. Een enkeltje vanaf Bali kost je rond de €50 wanneer je op tijd boekt. Vanzelfsprekend kan je ook vanuit andere plekken in Indonesië naar Labuan Bajo vliegen. Bekijk de actuele prijzen en vertrektijden voor vlucht naar Labuan Bajo .

De beste reistijd voor een bezoek aan de Komodo eilanden is van april tot december. Dit is het droge seizoen en heb je veel kans op zonnige dagen. Dit is ideaal voor snorkelen, duiken, hiken en natuurlijk eilandhoppen. Van januari tot en met maart is het regenseizoen en deze maanden zijn daarom ook verre van ideaal voor een trip als deze. Juli en augustus zijn de drukste maanden omdat veel mensen dan vakantie hebben.

Wil je meer info over deze trip dan kan je eens kijken op de website van Le Pirate Explorer . Ze bieden verschillende tours aan en hebben meerdere boten. Ze zitten vaak een aantal maanden vooraf al volgeboekt dus als je mee wil, moet je er op tijd bij zijn. De 4 daagse trip kost zo’n €900 per cabin (€450 per persoon). Heb je een kleiner budget dan zijn er ook twee – en driedaagse cruises maar in verhouding is dit niet zo heel veel goedkoper.

Low budget alternatief: Heb je een klein budget dan kun je bij Wanua Adventue een vergelijkbare tour boeken op wat grotere en minder comfortabele boot. Luxere alternatief: Op Liveaboard.com kan je alle luxe boten die in dit gebied varen vergelijken en een boottocht boeken. Vaak kun je ook duiken op deze boten. Deze boten varen regelmatig in verschillende delen van Indonesië en in het overzicht zie je alle aangeboden boottochten per boot. Kijk bij het boeken van de boottocht dus altijd goed naar de locatie van de cruise. De locatie staat er altijd bij en moet dus Komodo Eilanden bevatten.

Het slim om eerst een nachtje in Labuan Bajo te verblijven om zo niet het risico te lopen dat je de boot mist doordat bijvoorbeeld je vlucht vertraging heeft. Seaesta Komodo Hostel & Hotel  is een van de beste plekken om te verblijven in Labuan Bajo. Wat deze accommodatie zo uniek maakt is dat er een dakterras is met een zwembad en een gezellige bar. Je kan hier heerlijk eten terwijl je een waanzinnig uitzicht hebt over de oceaan, zeker tijdens de zonsondergang. Het design van dit hotel is om door een ringetje te halen, zo mooi! Slaap je graag in een hostel? Dan is het knusse Bajo Bunkhouse perfect. Het ligt op een goede locatie in Labuan Bajo en de lieve eigenaresse zal je heel gastvrij ontvangen. Dit hostel heeft enkel dorms, dus ideaal voor de budget reiziger. De dorms hebben goed werkende airconditioning, comfortabele matrassen en fijne sanitaire voorzieningen.

Meer weten over indonesië ?

Bekijk hier al onze artikelen met tips, reisroutes en to do’s in indonesië.

Over de auteur

Hi! Wij zijn Greg & Irene Twee doorgewinterde reizigers die gek zijn op avontuurlijke reizen. Gewapend met een camera verzamelen we sinds 2014 de beste tips voor reisbestemmingen van over de hele wereld en bundelen deze in handige artikelen. Zo wordt het plannen van jouw reis een stukje makkelijker en leuker.

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