Padar Island
The ridge hike and the three-bay view, best in an early entry session.
Steep stepped trail
Start here · the complete guide
Komodo National Park cruise: the complete guide
A day or multi-day sailing trip from Labuan Bajo aboard a wooden phinisi or a modern yacht, linking Padar's viewpoint, the dragons on Komodo or Rinca, Pink Beach and Manta Point.
Plan my tripThe short version
Boats leave Labuan Bajo, the gateway town served by Komodo Airport (LBJ). On multi-day trips you sleep aboard at anchor; day and sunset guests are back in town the same evening.
- The main decision is one cabin or the whole boat — the two are priced differently
- 3D2N is the best balance for most guests, and the only length with shared cabins
- Every figure here is dated; the desk's written quote is the final price
- Dragon and manta sightings are never guaranteed, on any format
Plate I
Share, private or luxury
The main decision is whether you book one cabin or the whole boat. Private charters are priced per boat, not per person.
Scroll the table sideways for every column
| Format | Price basis | Durations | Who is aboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shared open trip | Per person, by vessel and cabin | 3D2N; 2D1N on request; 4D3N selected dates | Roughly 8–22 fellow guests |
| Weekday open trip | Per person, quote on request | 3D2N weekday departures | Shared |
| Private phinisi charter | Per vessel, capacity-based | 2D1N to 4D3N | Your group only |
| Luxury yacht charter | Per vessel, capacity-based | 2D1N, 3D2N | Your group only |
| Day or sunset cruise | Quoted by the desk | Hours | Shared or private |
Plate II
The stops every itinerary is built on
Longer trips add Taka Makassar, Kanawa and Kalong Island at dusk.
Komodo or Rinca
A dragon walk at Loh Liang or Loh Buaya, led by a park ranger.
Sightings never guaranteed
Pink Beach
Snorkelling off the pink sand, coloured by red coral fragments.
Shallow off the sand
Manta Point
Drift snorkelling where mantas are often seen but never promised.
Currents can be strong
Plate III
How many days do you need
Each length is a different trip, not a longer version of the same one.
Scroll the table sideways for every column
| Length | What it gives you | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Day trip | A short sample of the park, back in town the same evening | Fitting Padar, the dragons and snorkelling into one day is tight |
| 2D1N | One night at anchor, and a sunset from the water | Little buffer if weather or a park slot shifts |
| 3D2N | The full core route at an easier pace | The only length with shared cabins, so dates are limited to six departure days |
| 4D3N | More reefs and islands, including Taka Makassar and Kanawa | Runs on selected departures only |
Plate IV
What it costs in 2026
Open trips include the boat, all meals, snorkelling gear and a guide. Alcohol and the park fee are extra.
Scroll the table sideways for every column
| Option | Price | Duration | Guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open trip, share cabin | Quote on request | 3D2N | Per person |
| Weekday open trip | Quote on request | 3D2N | Per person |
| Malca Voyages private | Quote on request | 2D1N / 3D2N | 1–12 |
| Riley phinisi private | USD 4,350 for 3D2N, 1–8 persons | 2D1N / 3D2N / 4D3N | 1–8, higher band 9–10 |
| Lady Grace phinisi private | Quote on request | 2D1N / 3D2N | 1–10 |
| Le Costa yacht private | Quote on request | 2D1N / 3D2N | 1–14 |
Riley's package rate was checked on 16 September 2026. Elbark, Ayvara, Raffles and Vinca are quoted on request. Confirm the current park fee with the desk before you travel.
Plate V
When to go, month by month
Cruises run all year, but most open-trip departures fall in the dry season, April to November.
Scroll the table sideways for every column
| Months | Season | Typical conditions | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| December–February | Wet | More rain and schedule changes | Keep flights flexible |
| March | End of wet season | Still changeable | Check the departure again close to the date |
| April–June | Early dry | Seas usually settling | More open-trip departures |
| July–August | Dry | Generally calmer | Popular holiday period; book early |
| September–October | Dry | Generally calmer | Book cabins and park sessions early |
| November | End of dry season | Conditions start to vary | Ask what happens if the weather turns |
No month guarantees calm water, clear visibility or seeing mantas.
The 2026 park rules, as reported
Check the latest with the desk before you travel. Each of these changes what a day in the park can look like.
- Park fee: paid separately, once per trip. Confirm the current amount with the desk.
- Visitor cap: about 1,000 visitors a day across the park was reported, trialled January–March 2026 and enforced from 1 April 2026.
- Timed sessions: entry reportedly runs in slots of roughly 05:00–08:00, 08:00–11:00 and 15:00–18:00.
- Registration in advance: operators add your passport details to their guest lists before the trip. You cannot count on getting in without registering.
- Daylight sailing: tourist boats were reportedly banned from moving after dark in high-risk park zones from 10 January 2026, so boats reach their overnight spots before dark.
Plate VI
What to pack, and who it suits
Pack shoes with good grip for Padar's steep steps, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a light long-sleeved top, a dry bag, seasickness tablets, your own medication and your passport.
Rangers lead the dragon walks, so stay with the group. Currents at Manta Point can be strong: snorkel with the guide, and wear a life jacket if you are not a strong swimmer. Once at sea, medical help is far away.
On a private charter you can skip the Padar climb without holding up other guests. Tell the desk the ages of your group and any mobility needs before it suggests a boat.
Plate VII
How booking works
Confirm the cruise before you ticket the flight. The boat has one date; the flight has several.
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Send dates and guest count
By WhatsApp or email, with any flexibility either side.
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Choose shared or private
A shared cabin, or a charter of the whole boat.
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Get a written quote
Showing the boat, cabin, what is included, and the payment and cancellation terms.
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Send passport details
So the desk can register you for park entry and book an entry slot.
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Book flights
Denpasar to Labuan Bajo, landing the day before departure.
Before you book
Guide questions
Four ways in
Go deeper on the decision that matters to you
Twenty pages sit under these four hubs. Pick the one that matches the question you actually have.
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Priced per person
Share trips
How sharing works, the cabin ladder, and the three share formats.
Open the page
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Priced per vessel
Private & luxury
Whole-boat charters: phinisi, yachts, honeymoons and family trips.
Open the page
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Getting there
From Labuan Bajo
Pickup times, the flight from Bali, day trips and sunset sails.
Open the page
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How a fare is built
Prices
The fleet, the calendar, the routes, the levers and the paperwork.
Open the page
Plan your Komodo National Park cruise
Message the Komodo Luxury reservations team with your travel dates and number of guests. Every figure on this site is dated, and the written quote is the final price.