A phinisi is a traditional Indonesian wooden sailing boat fitted for overnight trips, and in Labuan Bajo it is how most people spend 3 days and 2 nights in Komodo National Park. Shared phinisi trips start at IDR 6,000,000 per person on Ballona and IDR 6,500,000 on our standard Phinisi; a private charter for your whole group starts at IDR 120,000,000. Below are the three boats side by side, then how the trip works and which cabin suits you.
Phinisi prices in Labuan Bajo: the three options
| Trip | Boat | Cabins and guests | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballona Phinisi, 3 days 2 nights | Launched 2026, teak and ironwood | 8 cabins, up to 25 guests | from IDR 6,000,000 per person |
| Standard Phinisi open trip, 3 days 2 nights | Traditional Phinisi | 9 cabins, up to 21 guests | from IDR 6,500,000 per person |
| Private phinisi charter | Whole boat for your group | up to 10 guests in the base price, maximum 21 | IDR 120,000,000 (2 days 1 night) or IDR 140,000,000 (3 days 2 nights) |
Ballona starts at IDR 6,000,000 per person for Deluxe and Family suites. Ocean Suites are IDR 7,000,000, and the Grand Suite is IDR 9,000,000 per person. The standard open trip starts at IDR 6,500,000 per person; the price rises with your chosen cabin tier.
For the private charter, the published pricing tiers specify IDR 120,000,000 for 2 days and 1 night and IDR 140,000,000 for 3 days and 2 nights, covering a base group of up to 10 guests. Additional guests cost extra, with a maximum of 21. Compare total boat prices with per-person cabin rates carefully, and request a quote for your actual group rather than assuming a charter saves money.
Shared liveaboard prices include cabin accommodation, city-area harbour transfers, itinerary activities, meals, coffee, tea, water, snorkelling equipment, paddleboard, canoe, guide and photographer. Flights, travel insurance, alcohol, personal expenses and park fees are separate. The private charter lists its photographer as an optional extra, so its inclusions need a separate check. Our trip cost breakdown helps you account for the nights and meals you will still need on land.
How a Komodo phinisi trip works
The shared trips run for 3 days and 2 nights, starting from Labuan Bajo harbour. Transfers within the city area are included, with pickup listed at 08:30 on the first day. Arrive in town before your departure day instead of relying on a flight landing in time to board.
The route combines snorkelling, beaches, viewpoints and a ranger-led dragon walk. Stops include Taka Makasar, Manta Point, Pink Beach and Komodo Island, with Kelor and Manjarite on the final morning. These are sightseeing and snorkelling trips; spending nights aboard does not automatically make a vessel a scuba-diving liveaboard.
Check the itinerary for the boat you book. Ballona schedules Padar at sunset on the first day and Kalong on the second evening. The other open trip also lists a Padar sunrise visit. The published return window is 11:00 to 12:00 on the final day, but discuss your onward flight before paying. The liveaboard planning guide explains how sleeping inside the park changes the pace of the trip.
What a phinisi boat is like on board
Think of the boat as your base inside the park. You unpack in your cabin, eat on board and return to the deck between island walks and snorkelling stops. The appeal is the time between those stops as much as the destinations: dinner at anchor, a quiet seat looking over the water and no journey back to a town hotel each evening.
Ballona was launched in 2026, built in teak and ironwood by Bugis boatbuilders. Its cabins have air conditioning and ensuite bathrooms. There are indoor lounges as well as outdoor places to sit, so compare the spaces you will actually use rather than choosing from a photograph of the exterior alone. A balcony matters if you want somewhere private to sit; a lower-deck cabin with a porthole may suit you if most of your waking time will be outside.
Share cabin or Komodo private charter?
An open trip means sharing the vessel with other travellers, not necessarily sharing your bedroom with someone you do not know. Your cabin booking and the rest of the boat are separate questions. Couples can book a cabin on a shared departure while eating and travelling alongside the other guests.
Solo travellers should ask about the cabin policy before comparing headline rates. On the standard open trip, keeping a cabin private means paying for both beds; a same-gender share-cabin waitlist is another option. Ballona also allows a request for a solo match, but its stated policy is to refund a bed only if a match is found before departure. Do not budget as though that match is guaranteed.
A whole-boat private charter gives your group the vessel and a route designed with you. It suits people whose main priority is controlling the schedule: a family that wants an easier morning, friends with particular snorkelling interests or a group planning a celebration. Weather and the captain's decisions still govern where the boat can go.
Pick the trip that fits
Padar, Pink Beach, dragons and Manta Point by speedboat, back before dinner.
Komodo Day Trip: Speedboat to 6 Top Destinations
Three days on a phinisi with sunrise Padar before the crowds arrive.
Komodo Tour 3 Days 2 Nights: Phinisi Open Trip
The whole boat to yourselves. Your route, your pace, your music.
Komodo 3D2N Private Charter: Whole-Boat Phinisi
Which boat and cabin suit you?
Ballona's cabin options include Deluxe and Family suites below deck, Ocean Suites with private balconies and a Grand Suite with a balcony jacuzzi. The Family Suite has a double bed and separate single beds, so it is worth looking at the layout before assuming everyone needs their own room.
Ballona has 8 cabins and a maximum of 25 guests. The standard Phinisi open trip has 9 cabins and a maximum of 21 guests, with cabin tiers ranging from standard rooms to the Misool master suite. Both options have air conditioning and ensuite bathrooms, so the cheaper cabin does not mean giving up those essentials.
Choose by how you travel. If your priority is the islands, a simpler cabin can leave more of your budget for the rest of the holiday. If you expect to spend afternoons in your room, inspect its windows, deck position and private outdoor space. For a group, compare sleeping arrangements as carefully as the maximum passenger count.
When to sail and what to prepare
May to early October is the preferred calm-sea window, with June, July and September particularly good choices. September is worth considering if you can travel outside the busiest holiday period. Late January to early March carries a greater risk of rough crossings and boats staying in port. The Komodo season guide gives the month-by-month context.
Pack a soft bag, swimwear, quick-drying clothes, sun protection and closed-toe shoes for the island walks. Bring a headlamp if your itinerary includes the sunrise hike. Discuss dietary requirements before departure, and treat onboard internet as intermittent rather than planning work around a dependable connection.
For time in the water, distinguish snorkelling from diving before booking. Asik Travel runs sightseeing and snorkelling trips and does not offer dive certification. Our Komodo diving guide explains the currents and the separate planning that diving requires. Send the team your dates, group size and preferred cabin so they can check the departure and quote the boat that fits.
Frequently asked questions
What is a phinisi boat?
It is a traditional Indonesian wooden sailing boat, adapted on these trips with cabins, a kitchen and deck space. You sleep aboard while travelling between the Komodo islands instead of returning to a hotel every evening.
How much does a phinisi trip in Labuan Bajo cost?
Ballona starts at IDR 6,000,000 per person and the standard open trip at IDR 6,500,000 per person. Your cabin choice changes the price, and park fees and flights are separate.
Should I choose a shared trip or private charter?
Choose a shared departure if you want to book a cabin and follow an established schedule. Choose a private charter if your group wants the whole boat and an itinerary planned around its preferences.
What is included on a phinisi trip?
The shared trips include your cabin, meals, city-area harbour transfers, itinerary activities, snorkelling equipment, guide and photographer. Confirm the exclusions before booking, particularly park fees, flights, insurance and any extras specific to your trip.
How many people fit on a phinisi?
Capacity depends on the vessel: Ballona lists 25 guests across 8 cabins, while the standard open trip lists 21 across 9 cabins. Ask about the actual sleeping arrangement for your group, especially when booking a family cabin or travelling solo.
