Photo: Hotel Kaesong ↗THE JOURNEY IN DETAIL
Dragons, mantas and pink sand.
Komodo National Park is a set of dry savannah islands with the Komodo dragon, the only living reptile capable of killing a deer, and straits where currents run to six knots and mantas come to feed. We sail a traditional wooden phinisi schooner with crew out of Labuan Bajo: Rinca, Padar, Komodo and Gili Lawa. Legs are short, but every one crosses strong tidal streams where timing matters.
- Dragons on Komodo and Rinca with park rangers
- Dawn on the Padar ridge above three bays
- Mantas at Manta Point and Karang Makassar
- Pink Beach, Pantai Merah
With old friends or new ones
Join a group or arrange a separate departure for your own team. Before travelling, we get to know each other, discuss everyone's experience and find suitable dates. You can also prepare together.
DAY BY DAY
Your daily itinerary.
A provisional itinerary. Weather, group readiness and local conditions may change the order and length of the stages.
- DAY 1 · 10 nautical miles
Labuan Bajo and boarding the phinisi
Fly into Labuan Bajo and board the schooner in the harbour. A short 10 miles to Sebayur island, a first snorkel on the house reef and sunset over Flores.
Overnight: Yacht, off Sebayur - DAY 2 · 15 nautical miles
Rinca and the first dragons
Fifteen miles south to Loh Buaya on Rinca. A ranger-led walk through savannah to the dragons and buffalo, then flying foxes over the mangroves at Kalong in the evening.
Overnight: Yacht, off Kalong island - DAY 3 · 18 nautical miles
Padar and Pink Beach
A pre-dawn start, 12 miles to Padar and the climb to the ridge above three differently coloured bays. Afternoon to Pantai Merah and a snorkel off the pink beach.
Overnight: Yacht, off Pink Beach - DAY 4 · 8 nautical miles
Komodo and Loh Liang
A morning landing at Loh Liang on Komodo for the long ranger trail. After lunch, drift snorkelling with mantas at Karang Makassar on the right tide.
Overnight: Yacht, off Komodo - DAY 5 · 10 nautical miles
Gili Lawa Darat
Ten miles north to Gili Lawa. Climb the hill for sunset over the strait and snorkel the wall at Gili Lawa Laut.
Overnight: Yacht, Gili Lawa bay - DAY 6 · 14 nautical miles
Northern reefs and Siaba
Snorkel Crystal Rock and Batu Bolong, one of the richest reefs in Indonesia. Anchor off Siaba Besar among the turtles.
Overnight: Yacht, off Siaba Besar - DAY 7 · 20 nautical miles
Back to Labuan Bajo
A morning at Kanawa beach, then 20 miles back into Labuan Bajo harbour. A farewell dinner facing the sunset.
Overnight: Yacht, Labuan Bajo harbour - DAY 8 · Transfer
Departure
Breakfast on board and transfer to Komodo airport.
Overnight: —
Included in the estimated price
Double cabin on a wooden phinisi sailing schooner
Captain, crew and cook
Full board on board
Komodo airport — harbour transfers
Snorkelling kit and a tender
Park rangers on the walks
Not included in the price
Flights to the meeting point
Personal travel insurance and visas
Personal equipment
Single-room supplements and personal expenses
Komodo National Park entry tickets and fees
Scuba diving
Drinks on board
YOUR PREPARATION
Arrive ready for the route.
No experience required, but you need to be confident in the water: drift snorkelling from the tender. Walks on Padar and Komodo are short but hot, so Ivan asks for closed shoes and a hat.
Prepare with IvanROUTE QUESTIONS
BEFORE WE MEET ON THE TRAIL
What to prepare in advance
- A soft bag rather than a hard suitcase
- Shoes with clean, non-slip soles
- Sun and wind protection, and a light rain layer
- Personal essentials suited to your experience at sea
Once we choose a date, we agree on the equipment list, meeting point and transfer time. Please wait until the programme is confirmed before booking flights.