Komodo Tour from Labuan Bajo

The three ways to do it

After a few thousand guests, we can say the choice comes down to time and sleeping arrangements. There is no wrong answer, but there is usually an obvious one once you know your dates.

1. The day trip

One long, extraordinary day. A speedboat leaves the harbour around 6:30 and covers the five headline stops: the Padar Island viewpoint, Pink Beach, the ranger-guided dragon trek on Komodo Island, the Taka Makassar sandbar, and snorkelling at Manta Point. You are back in town by about 17:30, in time for a shower and a harbourfront dinner. If you only have one free day in Labuan Bajo, this is the trip. Read the full route on the Komodo day trip page.

2. The liveaboard

Three days and two nights on a phinisi boat. Same islands, completely different experience: you anchor near Padar and walk the sunrise ridge before the day boats arrive, watch thousands of flying foxes leave Kalong Island at dusk, and snorkel sites the day trips never reach. Cabins are private, meals are cooked on board, and the pace is unhurried. Details and cabin options are on the 3D2N liveaboard page or the liveaboard guide.

3. The private charter

The whole boat for your group: your route, your schedule, your music. This is what families, groups of friends, and honeymooners book when they want the liveaboard experience without sharing it. Pricing is per boat, not per person, so it gets reasonable quickly for groups of six or more. See the private charter page for the boat and rates.

What every route includes

Whichever format you pick, the core stops are the same because they are genuinely the best things in the park: Padar, Pink Beach, the dragons, Taka Makassar, Manta Point. Day trips do them in one sweep. Liveaboards spread them out and add quieter sites. All our boats carry licensed crew, snorkel gear, meals, and documentation photos; the ranger on the dragon walk is mandatory for everyone, on any boat, from any operator.

What it costs

Real prices, not teaser rates: the shared day trip starts at IDR 1,450,000 per person. The liveaboard open trip starts at IDR 6,500,000 per person for 3 days and 2 nights. The private charter is IDR 120,000,000 for the whole boat. National park fees are separate, set by the government, and paid at the park. Our trip cost guide breaks down a full Labuan Bajo budget beyond the boat.

Planning around the boat

Fly into Labuan Bajo by late afternoon the day before your tour; day trips leave before the first morning flights land. The airport transfer guide covers the ten-minute ride into town, and the best time guide covers what each month does to sea conditions. May to early October is the comfortable window; June, July, and September are the sweet spot.