From Our Journal
Travel Stories
Insider tips, hidden gems, and inspiration for your next Komodo adventure.
The Ultimate Guide to Labuan Bajo: Everything You Need to Know Before You Go (2026)
Planning a trip to Labuan Bajo? This comprehensive guide covers how to get there, the best time to visit, what to pack, budgeting tips, cultural etiquette, and insider advice from local guides.
Top 10 Things to Do in Komodo National Park (2026)
From hiking the iconic Padar Island at sunrise to swimming with manta rays and walking among Komodo dragons - here are the 10 best experiences waiting for you in Komodo National Park.
Labuan Bajo vs Bali: Which Indonesian Destination Should You Choose?
If you have one trip to Indonesia and can only pick one, here's how to decide between Bali's beaches+culture+nightlife and Labuan Bajo's dragons+diving+wild islands.
How to Get from Bali to Labuan Bajo (2026 Flight & Ferry Guide)
The fast way (1-hour flight, USD 50-100) and the adventurous way (36-hour ferry via Lombok). Schedules, prices, airlines, and which flight to actually book.
Are Komodo Dragons Dangerous to Humans? A Local's Honest Safety Guide
Komodo dragons have killed people. They also let thousands of tourists walk past them every year without incident. Here is what actually happens, plus the safety rules our rangers swear by.
Best Time to Visit Komodo Island: Month-by-Month Guide From Locals
April to October is the dry season and the busy season. June, July, and September hit the sweet spot. November to March has fewer crowds but rough water on the boats. Real talk on what each month actually delivers.
Padar Island Sunrise Hike: Honest Difficulty Rating, Time, and What to Expect
Padar's three-bay viewpoint is doable for anyone reasonably fit. The climb takes 30 to 45 minutes, the trail has 838 steps (yes, we counted), and the wooden boardwalk near the top is the part most people remember. Here is everything you should know before 4:30 AM hits.
21 Komodo Dragon Facts That Sound Like Lies (But Are Not)
Komodo dragons can run faster than you. They smell blood from four kilometres away. Females can reproduce without a male. And that is barely scratching the surface.
Wae Rebo Village From Labuan Bajo: How to Get There, What to Expect, and Whether It Is Worth It
Wae Rebo is the traditional Manggarai village with seven conical houses that earned a UNESCO Asia-Pacific cultural heritage award. From Labuan Bajo it is a four-hour drive plus a three-hour uphill hike. Here is what the trip actually involves.
Labuan Bajo Airport (LBJ) to Harbour: Distance, Time, Cost, and How to Avoid Getting Ripped Off
The harbour is 2 km from the airport. A taxi costs IDR 100,000. Most arriving tourists pay IDR 250,000 or more. Here is exactly what to do.
Komodo vs Rinca Island: Which Is Better for Seeing Dragons (Honest Local Comparison)
Komodo Island has the bigger dragons and the bigger crowds. Rinca has higher dragon density per visitor and shorter ranger walks. Most day tours visit one or the other. Here is which to choose.
Kelimutu From Labuan Bajo: How to Visit the Three Coloured Lakes (and Whether You Should)
Kelimutu is the volcanic crater with three lakes that change colour (turquoise, green, black, occasionally red). From Labuan Bajo it is a serious commitment: 10 to 12 hours of driving each way, plus an overnight near the summit for sunrise. Here is whether it is worth it.
Is Labuan Bajo Safe? An Honest 2026 Safety Guide From Locals
Komodo dragons, boats, ATMs, scams, solo travel: what is actually risky in Labuan Bajo, and what is wildly overhyped. Straight talk from people who live here.
Labuan Bajo in August: Weather, Crowds, and What to Really Expect
August is the most-booked month in Labuan Bajo for a reason: dry, calm, clear visibility. It is also the most crowded and most expensive. Here is what it actually means for your trip.
Labuan Bajo Harbour: A Local's Guide to Where Your Boat Leaves From
Inside the harbour: piers, ticket desks, where to wait, where to eat, and which side your boat actually leaves from. Practical advice from people who walk it every day.
Is There Grab or Gojek in Labuan Bajo? The 2026 Answer
Yes, Gojek and Grab both work in Labuan Bajo. Rides around town cost IDR 15,000 to 30,000, and the airport run is IDR 30,000 to 50,000. Here is which app to install, how to pay, and when you need a car instead.
Best Time to Visit Labuan Bajo: The Town, Season by Season
May to early October is the window, with June, July, and September the sweet spot. But the town has its own rhythm: cheap hotel months, restaurant closures, sunset season, and days the harbour master keeps every boat in port. Here is the honest calendar.
How Much Does a Labuan Bajo Trip Cost? Real 2026 Prices From a Local Operator
A 3 to 4 day Labuan Bajo trip runs IDR 5 to 18 million per person, and the boat decides which end you land on. Three real sample budgets and every line item, priced by the people who run the boats.
Labuan Bajo in September: The Month We Tell Our Friends to Book
September keeps everything August is famous for: dry skies, calm seas, mantas on station. What it drops is the crowds and about 25% of the price. Here is the honest breakdown.
Labuan Bajo in October: The Last Honest Month of Dry Season
October is the last honest month of the dry season. Go in the first two or three weeks and you get near-September conditions for less money and fewer people. Here is the honest breakdown.
Labuan Bajo in July: Peak Dry Season, Peak Crowds
July is the deep end of the dry season: glass-flat seas, the best underwater visibility of the year, and mantas at their most reliable. It is also, with August, the busiest and most expensive month. Book early or shift to September.
Things to Do in Labuan Bajo: A Local's Honest Guide to the Town
Most people treat Labuan Bajo as a one-night airport stop before the Komodo boats leave at dawn. The town has more than that: caves, sunset hills, a grilled-seafood night market, waterfalls and beaches. Here are 11 things worth your time, with real prices.
Labuan Bajo Beaches: Which Ones Are Worth It and How to Reach Them
Labuan Bajo town has almost no swimmable beach. The famous ones (Pink Beach, the Padar bays, Taka Makassar, the island beaches) are reached by boat in the national park. Here is which are worth your day and how to get to each.
Komodo Diving From Labuan Bajo: A Local Operator's Guide
Manta rays, big-fish pinnacles, and serious current. A Labuan Bajo operator's honest guide to diving Komodo National Park, from dive sites to seasons to snorkellers.
Singapore to Labuan Bajo: The Easy Guide to a Komodo Long Weekend
Scoot now flies direct from Changi to Labuan Bajo in about 3 hours 24 minutes, which makes Singapore the simplest gateway to Komodo. Here is everything a Singapore traveler needs to plan the trip.
Malaysia to Labuan Bajo: A Practical Komodo Trip Guide
AirAsia now flies direct from Kuala Lumpur to Labuan Bajo in about 3 hours 40 minutes. Malaysians travel visa-free, and halal meals can be arranged on tours. Here is how to plan the whole trip.
China to Labuan Bajo: A Practical Guide to Reaching Komodo
How travelers from mainland China reach Labuan Bajo: fly via Bali, sort the e-VOA online, and prepare for cash payments because Alipay and WeChat Pay are not widely accepted.