Komodo National Park is a 1,733 km² UNESCO World Heritage Site spanning three large islands (Komodo, Rinca, Padar) and 26 smaller ones across the Lesser Sunda Sea. It's the only place on Earth where you can see Komodo dragons in the wild — and the snorkeling and diving here rival anywhere in Southeast Asia.
This guide answers the 12 questions we get on WhatsApp every week. We're a local team in Labuan Bajo and these are the answers we'd give our own friends.
Entrance fees (2026)
Park fees are paid in IDR cash at the harbour the morning of your trip. Foreigners pay roughly double the local rate, and weekends/holidays add ~25%. These numbers are averages across the islands you actually visit — exact amounts depend on which islands the boat anchors at.
| Visitor type | Weekday (avg) | Weekend / holiday |
|---|---|---|
| Foreign visitor | IDR 400,000 | IDR 525,000 |
| Indonesian national (KITAS / passport) | IDR 200,000 | IDR 250,000 |
Last verified Oct 2024. Can change by government regulation — we WhatsApp the current rate to every guest two days before departure. You can also pre-pay through us as a booking add-on so you don't deal with cash at the harbour.
When to visit
Dry season (April–November) is the headline answer — calm seas, blue water, dragons active. But each month inside that window has its own personality:
April — start of dry season
Seas calm down, fewer tourists than peak. Manta sightings improve.
May to June — sweet spot
Best balance: warm, dry, mantas peaking, prices not yet spiked.
July to August — peak season
Busiest months, school holidays. Book 2-3 months out.
September to October — quietest dry month
Our favourite. Dry, fewer crowds, mantas still around.
November to December — shoulder
Rain risks pick up late Nov. Still mostly fine, fewer tourists.
January to February — wet season
Rain, choppy seas, some boats don't sail. Cheapest prices though.
Top 6 destinations
- Padar Island — The famous 3-bay viewpoint (white, pink, black sand). 30-minute hike, the most photographed spot in the park.
- Pink Beach — One of only seven pink-sand beaches on Earth. Colour comes from crushed red coral mixed with white sand. Great snorkel directly off the beach.
- Komodo Island — Home of the dragons. A park ranger walks you through dragon territory at Loh Liang. Real dragons, real jungle, not a zoo.
- Manta Point — Cleaning station where oceanic manta rays cruise. Apr-Nov is peak. Drift snorkel, life jackets, follow the captain's signal.
- Taka Makasar — A tiny crescent sandbar in the middle of the Flores Sea, surrounded by turquoise water. Iconic drone shot.
- Kalong Island — Thousands of giant fruit bats fly across the sunset sky toward Flores. Strange and beautiful — usually a Day 2 sunset stop on liveaboards.
Komodo dragons
Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis) are the world's largest living lizards — up to 3 meters and 70 kg. The wild population is roughly 3,000 split mostly between Komodo and Rinca islands. They're carnivores with venomous saliva, but attacks on humans are very rare — rangers carry forked sticks and walk you in groups.
Best dragon-spotting is morning (before 10 AM) when they're active. The dry season they hunt deer; in wet season they're more lethargic. Rinca often has more dragons per visit than Komodo Island — both are good. Tell us if you want the less-touristy Rinca route — we'll route the trip there.
How to book
We curate three trips for three travel styles. Pick the one that fits your time and group:
Honest answers to the questions we get every week
Ready to plan
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We've sailed every boat we sell, walked every trail, eaten every lunch. Tell us your dates and we'll send you the right trip back in under 10 minutes.