I have been on a safari in Kenya, an elephant sanctuary in Thailand and been up and close with monkeys in Sri Lanka, but Komodo dragons still feel like a long lost creature to me. They’ve been around for about 3-4 million years and they look like something from Jurassic park.
Well if you want to see one, there aren’t too many options, only being present on a few islands in the whole world, dotted around Eastern Indonesia, but Komodo National Park is the main spot people go in order to see them.
You will find the national park within the province of East Nusa Tenggara, in between Sumbawa and Flores.
We tend to think of a national park as one big park, but it’s actually over three main islands, being Komodo, Rinca and Padar (plus a few tiny ones).
Whether it’s trekking with Komodo dragons or swimming with manta rays (never again for me after my experience…That’s for another day), there is something to see and do for every type of backpacker, as this is a once in a lifetime experience.
Travel With Style on a Luxury Cruise
You can sail through on cruises in Indonesia, in incredible luxury and living the dream lifestyle on a yacht expedition vessel specially designed for lavish travellers. Luxury expedition yachts are really something special, managing to combine the comfort of being in what feels more like an expensive home with the ability to explore some of the world’s most remote and beautiful places. Plus you can visit more than one destination in a single trip!
The destination in discussion being Komodo National Park, which is a popular option for cruise trips. These vessels have packages where you can get your meals included, spacious suites, plus you should look out for ‘all inclusive’ options, so you can get your drinks included….Just saying.
Plus many of the cruises have other forms of entertainment, from evening shows to water slides, plus a chance to relax on the sun deck chairs as the islands float by.
The ship’s itineraries offer guests more than just comfort and a break from the mundance life at home. They offer guests access to some of Indonesia’s most amazing sights and attractions. Guests can book themselves in to snorkel, reef dive, or scuba dive in and out of the stunning coral gardens, hike to volcanic peaks, take photos of the famous Komodo dragons, and come back to a feast and five-star dining every night.
Getting There
So let’s start with how you actually make it here. Labuan Bajo on Flores Island is your entrance to Komodo. You can fly here from Bali (Denpasar) on a flight taking around 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 mins. The lines that offer this service is Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Transnusa, Citilink and Wings Air. As always, make sure the option you book with is ATOL protected and from a reputable seller, while you should also use a credit card. You’re probably look at around £80 for a ticket when booked in advance, while during the summer months it might go above £100.
If you are flying from Jakarta, then you’re looking at a 2.5 hour direct flight, either with Garuda, Lion Air or Batik. The third option is from either Surabaya or Lombok, which aren’t very regular, so can cause issues if the flight gets cancelled.
If you happen to be backpacking through Asia, then you often have months rather than days, at which point you could look into a ferry or a liveaboard boat, but these take several days and often multiple switches between boats and buses, I couldn’t think of anything worse, but I am almost 40 years old now.
A good 7 days is enough time around Komodo and Flores in order to tick off the majority of the activities and tours. This will give you enough time for an overland tour of Flores and at least a couple of nights on a boat exploring the park.
Choosing a Boat Tour
I love a boat trip! Sorry, random excitement. To see Komodo properly, you need a decent boat tour. There are two main options:
- Day trips – Perfect for tight schedules but they can feel rushed.
- Liveaboard trips – Spend 1-3 nights at sea, giving you time to explore multiple islands at a relaxed pace. Some will even offer luxurious week long trips.
Most visitors choose at least a one-night liveaboard. Tours can be booked in advance or directly in Labuan Bajo. Some of the most popular options will book up quickly, so it’s worth arranging this months in advance, especially if you’re coming during peak season.
How Much Will It Cost?
- Day trips – You get a speedboat from Labuan Bajo, 1,400,000-2,400,000 IDR (around £70-£120pp). This includes a hotel pick-up, lunch, snorkel equipment and island visits. If you don’t get all this then be suspicious. You can also book private day trips for around £150-£250pp.
- 2-3 day budget liveaboard – 4,000,000-6,000,000 IDR (£200-£300pp). Again, this should include all your meals, snorkelling equipment, a cabin, plus national park highlights (not access, just that they stop at the national park).
- 3-4 day decent Liveaboard – This jumps to 8,000,000-12,000,000 IDR (£400-£600pp), however you can expect a better cabin size, either completely private or ‘semi private’, while the food quality tends to be better and you have more time to dive or snorkel. This is the step up in luxury that many holiday makers opt for.
- Luxury 4-7 day trips – 60,000,000+IDR (£3,000+), how much money have you got? This is certainly not for everyone, it’s way out of my budget, but we can all dream. You tend to find people opting for this on their honeymoon, or rich couples in their 50’s and 60’s having a once in a lifetime experience. The cabins are again much bigger and ensuite, while the food is called ‘fine dining’ but I can’t say I’ve tested it to truly say if it is.
Keep in mind that park entrance fees is not included in most tours and costs around 250,000 IDR (£12.50) which is the standard access cost, but you also might have other costs like harbour fees and ranger trekking fees.
What To See In Komodo National Park
Padar Island
The short hike here will bring you to one of the most picturesque views in all of Indonesia. From the summit, you will take in the three bays, each with a different coloured sand: white, black, and pink. Go early to avoid the crowds and the midday heat. You should be looking at around a half an hour hike each way, along stone steps and some dirt pathways. There are some steep points along the route, but nothing too challenging.
You won’t spot any komodo dragons here unfortunately, but it’s still worth a visit, especially if you enjoy hiking.
Pink Beach
This wonderful beach gets its colour from tiny crushed red coral (also known as foraminifera) combined with white sand. This beach is both a place to swim and relax while taking those bucket list photos. The reefs are just offshore, while they’re ideal for beginners or people who get a bit nervous (like myself). If you do happen to go on a longer trip, then you should visit here in the morning or evening, as this place gets packed out midday by the day trippers.
Rinca Island
If your goal is to spot a dragon, this is your best bet as this area has the highest population density. Yep, even more than Komodo island. You can book a guided hike, which will take 1-2 hours and will be led by park rangers, to ensure your safety. Along the way, you might glimpse monkeys or exotic birds as well, so keep an eye out and your camera ready. People often get sunburnt here, with not much covering in the heat, so remember to pack some sun tan lotion and maybe a hat and some sunglasses.
Manta Point
Swimming with manta rays is such an exhilarating experience for others, not so much for me since I was stung, but don’t let that take away from your experience. These supposedly gentle giants move effortlessly about the water and are typically within arm’s reach. If you are lucky enough to see a large group of mantle rays, it will occur between December and March, especially if you happen to be standing near some plankton which they’ll happily eat up. This is an hour away from Labuan Bajo on a boat.
Kalong Island
Watching thousands of bats depart the mangroves at sunset to feed is something that should be on your personal bucket list! I got to see something similar in Austin Texas. The flying foxes (fruit bats) will fill the night sky around sunset, however their presence means you don’t actually go onto the island, you’ll be watching them on the boat, as the island is a protected habitat.
Kanawa Island
When you think of an exotic island, this is often what people think of. Imagine the sandy white beach with turquoise water, you’ll want to get some photos to make everyone jealous at home. This is also a popular last stop so you can relax at the end of your holiday after exploring and plenty of excursions. People tend to enjoy snorkelling here during dry season, which is between April and November.
Snorkeling and Diving
Ok, this isn’t a place, but considering it’s one of the main reasons people come and the most popular activity to do, I thought it was worth highlighting. Komodo National Park is a paradise for snorkellers and divers. The coral reefs are beautiful to admire, with such a fascinating marine ecosystem in place. The UNESCO World Heritage Site isn’t simply because of those stunning dragons, it’s also recognised due to the marine life. Even beginner snorkellers can spot turtles, reef sharks, and schools of tropical fish.
If you’re a certified diver, consider booking a dive-focused liveaboard. The park is known for some of the best dive sites in the world, many of them still untouched by heavy tourism.
Travel Tips
- Book early. The tours, especially overnight ones, tend to sell out fast.
- Travel light. You don’t want to be lumping around big suitcases, especially as the cabins on the boats are quite small, so it will end up taking up most of the room.
- Be flexible where possible. Weather and tides can change daily itineraries, therefore you can’t be too set in your ways when it comes to activities.
- Bring cash along. Many smaller operators and shops don’t take cards unfortunately.
- Respect the nature. Follow the rangers’ guidance, especially around dragons. You don’t want to be one of ‘those’ tourists that damage the climate you visit.
Why Visit Komodo National Park
Most people visit Komodo to see the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo dragon. But there’s so much more to experience, as already highlighted. The park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 3 main islands, while surrounding them is one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. Here, turtles, manta rays, dolphins, and even whales glide through crystal clear waters, while you might get the chance to swim alongside them.
Every stop in the park offers something magnificent, from pink sand beaches (how often do you get to spot them in your lifetime), fantastic views and fish-filled coral reefs. Whether you’re here for adventure, a relaxing break, or even to do some photography, Komodo will certainly leave you impressed.
What to Pack
Please do remember that the boats are very limited in space, so don’t bring multiple suitcases, unless you plan on sleeping on them! I have highlighted some key items you might want to pack for your trip below:
- A dry bag to protect electronic items like your phone from sea spray
- A portable charger to keep your camera ready
- Mosquito spray for open-air nights, they bite me like crazy. Make sure it has plenty of deet
- Comfortable trainers or boots for hiking, plus any other hiking gear you want to bring. You should also pack flip flops, but don’t forget the trainers.
- Sun tan lotion, plenty of it. Also, be aware that some sunscreens are bad for coral reef, so you might want to look into the best one to buy
- Travel insurance
- Camera equipment, nowadays that’s mainly on your phone, but if you have a DJI or a drone, this is the place to bring it!
- reusable water bottle, you’ll get thirsty in the sun and you don’t want to be caught short, although most boats will provide you with water bottles
- Light clothing, to tackle the heat, but also pack a waterproof rain jacket
- Pack some cash on you, as many places won’t accept card