Komodo Island Travel Guide

Contributed by Tsetseflying!

It has always been my dream to complete and see all the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’. In 2016, I travelled to Jeju Island to see the famed Island of the Gods, to Palawan to re-visit the Underground River, and to Labuan Bajo where the Komodo dragons are nested, to which I dedicate this post.

Komodo National Park or Komodo Island is the home of the largest living species of lizard. These wild giant reptiles usually weigh as much as 300 pounds and measure 9 feet. The place is said to be the habitat of 2,000 Komodo dragons out of more than 5,000 total population in the country. The island is situated in the centre of the Indonesian peninsula, between the islands of Sumbawa and Flores. Aside from being one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’, the park was listed as a World Heritage Site and a Man and Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 1986.

Also read: 16 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Southeast Asia For Your Next Weekend Getaway

Getting there

Labuan Bajo is the nearest jump off point to Komodo Island. It is an inhabited island and approximately 4 to 5 hours away from Komodo (by boat). There are many ways on how to get to the island.

By plane

It is the most convenient and fastest way to get there. Flight from Ngurah Rai International Airport of Denpasar, Bali to Labuan Bajo is available 7x daily. The earliest departs at 7.30 in the morning and the latest leaves at 2.20 in the afternoon. The duration of the flight is approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes. Below is the list of airlines offering a direct flight to Labuan Bajo from Bali.

• Garuda Indonesia
• Lion Air or Wings Air
• Kalstar Aviation
• Nam Air (by Sriwijaya Air)

From Labuan Bajo Airport, you can ride an ojek (motorcycle) or taxi to the town proper. The travel time is approximately 10 minutes and the taxi fare is fixed at IDR60,000.

I chose the route coming from Denpasar because it was the most convenient for me at that time. Kalstar Aviation, among the others, offered the cheapest available fare. Their round trip fare costs IDR1,041,000 (USD79) which already includes a light snack and a juice. I remembered booking my tickets just a week before our actual trip because of schedule constraints at school. So you can probably get a better deal if you book your tickets in advance. 😉

By boat

From Lombok: The boat leaves at Tanjung Benoa Harbour and ends at Labuan Bajo. I met two fellow travellers in the island who went through this route. They told me that views were very scenic, however, inconvenient and very time-consuming. The travel time was approximately 4 days and you would have to stop along the way for some scheduled activities (they stopped at Komodo National Park). The fare is around IDR1,500,000 with full board meal and exclusive of park entrance fee. They recommend bringing some motion sickness medications, extra money, snacks and drinks.

From Bali: The boat leaves at Benoa Harbour, South of Bali (not to be confused with the harbour in Lombok) and ends at Labuan Bajo. The travel time is approximately 2 days (36 hours) and there are also stops also along the way. This route operates only thrice a month. You can check their schedule and fare here. Other options you can have is by taking a liveaboard or chartering a private boat to get to the island but expect it to be more expensive.

Where to stay

There are plenty of cheap hotels and backpacker’s inns around Labuan Bajo town proper and the price ranges from IDR200,000 to IDR500,000. I stayed at Bajo View for two nights. The place really caught my attention because it had a unique style. It was located on the hillside of the town and the view was overlooking the Flores sea. They had this ‘camp-style concept’ dedicated for backpackers but already on the modern side. Their tents had two separate thin bed foams, electric fan, light bulb and electric outlets. They also have a mini resto-bar, numerous outside toilets and shower rooms. The whole place was guarded by a security officer. Nightly rate starts at IDR100,000. CONSIDERABLY CHEAP!

Aside from inland accommodations, a liveaboard is widely offered around the area. This is the one RECOMMENDED for diving enthusiasts who are PADI licensed (or not?). After all, Komodo Island’s underwater is one of the island’s major attractions. You can choose from a number of diving companies around the area. The rates basically depend on the number of days and the type or class of accommodation you would want to avail. Their offer already includes scuba diving gears, full board meal and stops at nearby beaches and attractions which also includes the Komodo National Park.

Also read: 10 Best Dive Destinations in Indonesia That Are Downright Mesmerising

Personally, I would have wanted to dive and try the waters of Komodo Island if only I were a licensed diver! But since I am not, I can only encourage other people to try and see it for themselves. 😁

Where to eat

There are many restaurants and cafes around town. Some already offer free wifi. You can also try some of their local street foods. Mostly, the foods are Halal since majority of the locals are Muslims.

Activities

Water activity

Since I was there for a limited time (I had only 3 days and 2 nights to spare), I only booked a day tour to Komodo Island. The tour started at 7am and ended at 6pm. It already includes a visit to the Komodo National Park, swimming and snorkelling at the Pink Beach and Manta Ray Point, and trekking to one of the mountains nearby the park. I am not a true blue mountaineer but I must say the view is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. I got the tour for IDR500,000 (Of course, I haggled!) which already includes lunch, water and coffee and a tour guide aboard. The boat is also very spacious, has restroom and lively crews.

Originally, I booked my tour with Mr. Victor but since it was low season during the time of my visit, he had a hard time finding other tourists to join me with the tour. He decided to transfer me with Mr. Marsiano instead and join their already organised Komodo day tour. Good thing he did not ask for any additional payment!

Also read: 6 Gorgeous Islands in Indonesia Other than Bali

I highly recommend that you book your tour with Mr. Marsiano. They are very accommodating, friendly and lively.

You can contact Mr. Victor thru his mobile number +6281236843972 or email him at [email protected] / [email protected] or visit their website.

You can also contact Mr. Masiano through his facebook account or visit their official website.

In-land activity: I still had some more time left before my flight back home so I asked Mr. Victor where else I could visit. He offered me to do an inland tour in Labuan Bajo for IDR100,000 only (I haggled, again!) The three-hour tour includes spelunking at Mirror Cave (Batu Cermin), trekking at Love Hills (Bukit Cinta) and swimming at Wae Cicu Resort. The tour started at 7am and ended at 10.30am. I had to do it very quick because my flight was at 11.30am.

 

Expenses

Round-trip airfare (Bali-Labuan Bajo-Bali) : IDR1,041,000
2 nights accommodation at Bajo View: IDR200,000
Komodo day dour: IDR500,000
Komodo Island entrance fee: IDR250,000
In-land day tour: IDR100,000
Airport transfer: IDR60,000
Food and drinks: IDR415,000
Total: IDR2,566,000 (US$195)

Notes

• Aside from Komodo Island, you may also see Komodo Dragons at Rinca island.
• Most tourists visit Labuan Bajo for scuba diving.
• There are available banks/ATMs in the area.
• Make sure to bring universal power plug to avoid charging inconvenience.
• Advance booking of accommodation is advised.
• Bring snacks prior to Komodo day tour.
• Do not get close to Komodo Dragon, they are dangerous.
• Enjoy Komodo Island!

Thank you for reading! Suggestions and updates are appreciated. I will be posting my Jogjakarta and Bali adventure soon.