Komodo Island

Home of the Legendary Komodo Dragon

Komodo Island is part of the Komodo National Park UNESCO World Heritage Site in Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda chain of islands. It is famed as the home of the legendary Komodo dragon, the largest species of lizard on the planet.

This is the only place on earth to see them in the wild, yet Komodo has so much more to offer too. Komodo Island boasts stunning and diverse terrain — from white sand to pink beaches and tropical rainforests to grassy savannah hillsides.

Explore beyond the Komodo Dragons

Although for many people, the Komodo dragon is the main motivation to visit Komodo, there are many more reasons to visit this island.

Komodo is one of Indonesia’s top scuba diving destinations with dozens of pristine reefs filled with a wealth of colourful marine life. As well as home to more than 1,000 species of fish, the waters around Komodo Island are teeming with whales, sea turtles, reef sharks and manta rays.

The many islands of the Komodo National Park are picturesque and varied. The magnificent dragons are found on four different islands: Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montong and Gili Dasami. Rinca Island is the better option to spot the dragons in the wild since it hosts more Komodo dragons. This island is also nearer the gateway town of Labuan Bajo, making it accessible for a day trip with a snorkelling adventure.

Komodo National Park is an incredible destination to discover with a boat tour, but the adventure doesn't end there. To perfectly conclude your journey, reserve two, three, or even more nights at Le Pirate Island. This private island offers exceptional accommodations and is one of my favourite places I've ever stayed. This is the place where you regret that you didn't book more nights -- regardless of the number of nights you already booked. For Labuan Bajo, I recommend staying in Seasta Komodo. They offer fantastic dorm and double rooms and host a very lively vibe.

Looking to extend your trip? Check out this incredible 2-day activity where you visit the Wae Rebo Village in Flores. This traditional Flores village is located about 1,000 metres above sea level and can only be reached by a 3-4 hour hike through the hills, The starting point is only about a 2-hour drive from Labuan Bajo, which makes it a worthwhile side trip after you've visited the Komodo Islands!

How to book a tour to Komodo Islands

There are hundreds of companies selling services for boat tours to Komodo islands, but which one is the best? There is no straight answer to that as everyone has their own preferences and budget.

Booking with a reliable company that caters to various budgets simplifies the process. During my trip planning, I struggled to find such a contact, but I'm happy to share the details of an operator I learned about from a fellow traveller.

Waturanda Trip offers around 15 different boat options. Their prices are very affordable and they ask similar prices to what we paid via a local contact. As a reference, a 3-day, 2-night trip typically costs between 2,850,000 IDR ($165) and 9,250,000 IDR ($537), depending on the boat and room you select. The best rooms often fill up months in advance, so book early for the most choices.

Other suppliers I found recently are Wanua Adventure, Ocean Earth Travels, and Komodo Luxury. Although I have no knowledge of anyone's experiences with booking them, they appear to have excellent options for both private and a few open trips.

Most visitors travel to the Komodo Islands on weekends, leading to crowded sites like Padar Island. You might find yourself hiking alongside hundreds of tourists, which can detract from the experience. To avoid this, consider booking a boat tour during weekdays when it's less busy. Alternatively, you can ask your boat crew to deviate from the standard route and visit Padar Island around 08:00 instead of at sunrise. This can help you dodge the busiest times and enjoy a more peaceful trip.

How to get to Komodo Islands

The most common option to get to Komodo Island is taking a flight to Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, followed by a boat tour to Komodo. You can take a flight from some of the most popular destinations in Indonesia:

Flight	Duration	Cost	Ticket
Flight from Bali	1h10m	875,000 IDR ($51)	Check Flights
Flight from Surabaya	1.5 hours	1,400,000 IDR ($81)	Check Flights
Flight from Jakarta	2.5 hours	1,800,000 IDR ($104)	Check Flights
Flight from Lombok	1h 15m	1,500,000 IDR ($87)	Check Flights
Flight from Yogyakarta	8 hours	3,100,000 IDR ($180)	Check Flights

The second option is joining a boat tour from Lombok to Flores, suited for the more adventurous travellers. Along the way, the boat will make several stops on the north coast of Sumbawa and around the Komodo National Park. For many travellers, this is one of the best experiences for the entire Indonesia trip!

Boat tour	Duration	Cost	Ticket
Wanua Adventure	4 days	3,500,000 IDR ($203)	Check Boat Tours
Ocean Earth Travels	4 days	5,500,000 IDR ($319)	Check Boat Tours
Komodo Luxury	4 days	6,500,000 IDR ($377)	Check Boat Tours

Below, we share a guide on the available flight options to Labuan Bajo and the multiple-day cruises departing from Lombok and Labuan Bajo to Komodo.

Flight to Labuan Bajo, Flores

Labuan Bajo is the main gateway by both air and sea to Komodo and the other islands for Komodo dragon spotting, tours, snorkelling trips, pleasure cruises and scuba diving.

Komodo Airport is located just outside the town of Labuan Bajo. From here, you can reach the town centre in just 10 minutes by taxi. Fares start at 50,000 IDR ($3), but make sure to agree on a price beforehand.

There are direct flights daily from Bali, Lombok, Jakarta, and Surabaya to Labuan Bajo. On the other hand, if you're coming from Yogyakarta, flights to Labuan Bajo make a stopover in Bali, Jakarta, or Surabaya.

Option 1: Flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo

Another option to travel to Komodo Islands is joining a boat tour from Lombok or Labuan Bajo. Other tour operators also offer pickup in Gili Islands.

Prices depend on whether you're staying on deck or in a private cabin. Rates start from 3,500,000 IDR ($203) for a 4-day-3-night tour from Lombok to Komodo Islands.

Wanua Adventure

For budget travellers to Komodo Island, we recommend Wanua Adventure. It isn’t a luxury trip, but you get a 4-day cruise from Lombok to Labuan Bajo or vice versa for about 3,500,000 IDR ($203). Onboard accommodation is deck class. For a little more privacy, the cabin class costs 4,000,000 IDR ($232).

These rates already include all entrance fees, 3 meals per day (including vegetarian options), and unlimited tea, coffee and mineral water. This tour departs on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday.

Komodo Luxury

There are now many companies offering luxurious boats for Komodo Island tours. Among them is Komodo Luxury. Capacity is 18 to 23 guests. Private tours are also available. Rates start at 6,500,000 IDR ($377) per person, depending on the accommodation class you choose.

Ocean Earth Travels

Ocean Earth Travels is a highly-rated tour company around Indonesia. It offers a 4-day cruise from Lombok to Komodo Island for 5,500,000 IDR ($319) per person. This tour includes a 4-day boat tour, 3 nights accommodation on the boat, and full board meal service during the tour.

Boat tours from Labuan Bajo to Komodo Islands

Are you coming from Labuan Bajo? You have plenty of choices to choose from when exploring the Komodo Islands — from day tours to multiply-day cruises. Here are some of your options:

• One-day speedboat tour to Komodo Islands: This includes a visit to Padar and Komodo Islands, the famous Pink Beach, and snorkelling and manta swimming spots. Prices start from 1,500,000 IDR ($87).
• Komodo and Pink Beach 2-day shared boat tour: You get to stay overnight in a shared cabin — all meals included — for 2,940,000 IDR ($171).
• 3D2N Komodo sailing boat tour from Labuan Bajo: Operated by Sailnesia, this tour includes two nights in your cabin of choice plus fullboard meals, as you explore the land of Komodo dragons as well as surrounding islands. Rates start from 4,400,000 IDR ($255) for a shared cabin.