Komodo’s best moments arrive by sea: a sunrise climb above Padar, a close look at Komodo dragons, and a sunset sky filled with bats. This three-day sailing trip links those headline sights with smaller islands and snorkel stops, while your boat is also your hotel, dining room, and transport.
I like the mix of land and water stops, which gives you more than a string of beach visits, and the small-boat format, with a stated capacity of 12 to 14 people. A crew that handles meals and daily transfers also means less time arranging transport between separate excursions.
The trade-off is that this is a busy schedule, and the boat or cabin may change with availability. Weather can also alter the route, so book for the chance to explore Komodo, not a promise that every stop will happen exactly as planned.
- Padar at sunrise: Start early for a short trek and a 360-degree view of the islands and sea.
- Komodo dragons on Komodo Island: A guided national park visit gives you a chance to see the famous lizards and other wildlife.
- A sunset bat flight: Kalong Island’s mangroves are home to thousands of bats that emerge around dusk.
- Five named water stops: Swim or snorkel at Manjarite, Pink Beach, Manta Point, Taka Makassar, and Kanawa.
- Two nights aboard: Air-conditioned accommodation, an ensuite bathroom, meals, snacks, and refreshments are included.
- A plan that can change: The captain decides what is safe and possible based on weather and conditions.
- A three-day Komodo circuit, with your bed on board
- Day one: Kelor, Manjarite, and a sunset at Kalong
- Day two: Padar at dawn, then dragons and pink sand
- Day three: a gentle finish at Kanawa Island
- What the boat stay adds, and what to check
- Crew, timing, and the realities of a shared trip
- Is this Deluxe Phinisi trip a good fit?
- FAQ
- How long is the sailing trip?
- Where does the trip depart from?
- What time does the trip leave?
- Which places are included in the planned route?
- Are meals included?
- Is the Komodo National Park admission included?
- What facilities are listed on the Phinisi?
- Is the boat private?
- Can I be sure I will see manta rays?
- What happens if weather affects the trip?
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A three-day Komodo circuit, with your bed on board
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7 / 7This 3D2N shared sailing trip leaves Labuan Bajo at 9:30 on Friday and returns on Sunday, with drop-off planned between 13:00 and 14:00. It is designed to join several of Komodo National Park’s best-known stops in one trip, rather than making you arrange separate day tours from town.
The boat is a traditional-style Phinisi, with air-conditioned rooms, an ensuite bathroom, towels, toiletries, and room service listed among the facilities. You get two nights aboard and three daily meals, plus snacks, refreshments, and welcome fruit. The meal menu includes chicken, fish, and vegetarian dishes, but special dietary requests cannot be arranged.
Capacity is listed as 12 to 14 people, depending on the boat. That is a useful detail: the boat is shared, not a private charter, and you’ll be living close to the other people on board. The operator may substitute another boat or room when availability changes. It is meant to offer similar facilities without a downgrade, but you should confirm the final boat and room assignment before departure.
👉 See our pick of the 2 Best 2 Day Tours In Komodo
Day one: Kelor, Manjarite, and a sunset at Kalong
The boat leaves Labuan Bajo at 9:30, with pick-up available from a hotel or the airport. This is a shared transfer, so the pick-up time may be earlier or later than expected. Be ready at least 10 minutes before the stated departure and enter your hotel name and address when booking. The operator is due to confirm your pick-up time in advance.
After time on the water, the first planned stop is Kelor Island at about 13:00. You have roughly two hours here for the beach and a guided trek up the island. The walk is short, but it is worth bringing shoes you can manage on a hill. The reward is a broad view across the surrounding islands and sea. If you would rather take it easy, the beach gives you a gentler way to enjoy the stop.
Manjarite follows at around 16:00, with about an hour for swimming or snorkeling. Its clear water and coral reef make this a good early chance to get comfortable in the water before the longer day of stops ahead. Bring your own swimwear and personal medication, and pack a towel even though towels are listed among the boat facilities.
The day ends at Kalong Island around 17:30. Its mangroves shelter thousands of bats, which leave their roosts to feed as the sun goes down. It is a distinctive wildlife moment, and the boat gives you a view of the island without needing to hike. The timing depends on the day’s conditions, so treat the sunset stop as a planned highlight rather than a guarantee.
You can also read our reviews of more boat tours in Komodo
Day two: Padar at dawn, then dragons and pink sand
Day two begins early. The boat is scheduled to travel from about 04:00 to 06:00, then you head to Padar Island for a two-hour guided visit. The climb is timed for sunrise, and the top offers a 360-degree view over the island’s bays and surrounding sea. Set an alarm, have water ready, and keep in mind that the view comes after a trek, not from the boat deck.
Breakfast is served aboard at about 08:00, giving you a chance to rest and eat before the next outing. Meals are served in the Phinisi dining room, so you can return to the boat rather than searching for food between stops.
At around 11:00, the group visits Komodo National Park for about 90 minutes. A guide leads the walk, and this is your chance to see Komodo dragons and other wildlife. The dragons are the star, but this is also a national park visit with a ranger fee not included in the tour price. Rangers are also listed as an extra cost, so budget for park-related charges rather than assuming every admission is covered.
Lunch is served aboard around 12:30. At about 14:30, the boat reaches Pink Beach for an hour. The sand’s pink color makes this a natural photo stop, while the nearby water offers time to swim or snorkel. Bring sun protection: a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen are on the recommended packing list, and there is little reason to count on shade at every beach stop.
Manta Point is planned for 16:00, with about 30 minutes to look for manta rays and swim if conditions allow. Seeing mantas is a matter of luck, not a promise. The short visit also means you should be ready to get in the water promptly if the captain and guide say it is safe.
Around 17:00, the boat stops at Taka Makassar, a crescent-shaped sandbar and atoll with snorkeling opportunities. The contrast with the earlier beach visits is part of the appeal: this is a small, open patch of sand surrounded by water, rather than a substantial island. The stop lasts about an hour, then dinner is served aboard at around 19:00.
Day three: a gentle finish at Kanawa Island
After another early stretch of sailing, breakfast is served at about 08:00. Kanawa Island is scheduled for 09:00, with roughly an hour to relax and snorkel in clear water. It is a calmer final stop after the early start and full program the day before.
The boat returns to Labuan Bajo at around 13:00, with drop-off expected between 13:00 and 14:00 at your hotel or the airport. If you have a flight or other timed plans, leave room for changes caused by sea conditions and the shared transfer. The captain makes the final call on the route and activities.
What the boat stay adds, and what to check
The practical value of a liveaboard is simple: you wake up close to the islands you came to see. There is no daily return to Labuan Bajo between stops, and meals are included on board. With transfers, a guide, accommodation, and several outings bundled together, the price can be reasonable compared with arranging each element separately.
The boat is still a working vessel, not a land-based hotel. Cabin comfort and condition can vary, and a past trip included a room change and a report of cockroaches in a suite near the galley. Another guest wanted rooms renovated. That does not establish what your cabin will be like, but it is a good reason to confirm your room assignment and the exact boat rather than choosing on photographs alone.
Boat options are listed from US$367.25 to US$537.05, while the advertised starting price is also shown as US$422.35. Those figures do not line up neatly, so check the total for your selected boat and date before paying. High-season dates, including school holidays, Eid, Christmas, and New Year, carry an extra surcharge. The operator says it will communicate the amount.
Meals are listed as chicken, fish, and vegetarian options, but the operator cannot arrange special diets. If you have a dietary restriction, this trip may not suit you unless you can manage with the stated menu. There is no promise of a particular dish each day because ingredients and menus can change with the season.
Crew, timing, and the realities of a shared trip
The crew is one of the strongest parts of the experience. The trip depends on the captain and guides to manage a demanding schedule, organize transfers between boat and shore, and keep everyone moving safely. Guide names can vary; John and Rodrigues are names associated with one sailing, but you should not expect a specific guide to be assigned to your departure.
Shared pick-ups and boat arrangements call for patience. A past departure involved a late pick-up, and another passenger was moved to a different cabin and charged for an upgrade. These are not reasons to assume the same will happen to you, but they point to the details worth confirming: pick-up time, exact boat, room type, and whether any change would involve an added charge. If a substitute Phinisi or a different option is proposed, you are asked to agree before the change is made; a surcharge may apply.
Weather matters more than a printed schedule. The captain can adjust the route and water activities according to conditions, and severe weather may lead the operator to cancel. If a stop is important to you, understand that sea safety takes priority. The trip is also not recommended for anyone more than one month pregnant, children aged 1 to 7, or people with health problems.
Pack light but bring the essentials: a change of clothes, swimwear, sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, toiletries, personal medication, cash, a water bottle, and a camera. The voucher is valid only for the booked date and time. Infants and children must be included in the passenger count when booking.
Is this Deluxe Phinisi trip a good fit?
I’d choose this trip if you want to see several signature Komodo stops in one go, enjoy being on the water, and can handle early starts and a shared cabin environment. The combination of Padar at sunrise, Komodo Island, Kalong’s bats, beaches, and snorkeling gives you a strong spread of the region’s highlights over one weekend.
I’d hesitate if you need a guaranteed room or boat, have strict dietary needs, or want a leisurely schedule with lots of downtime. Check your chosen boat’s exact price and cabin details, allow flexibility for the return, and treat manta sightings and weather-dependent stops as bonuses. If those conditions suit you, two nights aboard can be a practical way to cover a lot of Komodo without constantly returning to shore.
Deluxe Phinisi: 3D2N Sailing Liveaboard from Labuan Bajo
“We loved the boat tour in the komodo national park! The crew is very friendly. We ate a lot and everything was really good! The two guides John and…”
FAQ
How long is the sailing trip?
It lasts three days and two nights, scheduled from Friday to Sunday.
Where does the trip depart from?
It departs from Labuan Bajo. Pick-up is available from a hotel or the airport in Labuan Bajo.
What time does the trip leave?
Departure is scheduled for 09:30. You should arrive at the pick-up location at least 10 minutes early.
Which places are included in the planned route?
Stops include Kelor Island, Manjarite, Kalong Island, Padar Island, Komodo National Park, Pink Beach, Manta Point, Taka Makassar, and Kanawa Island.
Are meals included?
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included, along with refreshments, snacks, and welcome fruit. Menus include chicken, fish, and vegetarian food, but special dietary requests cannot be arranged.
Is the Komodo National Park admission included?
No. Admission to Komodo National Park and ranger fees are listed as not included.
What facilities are listed on the Phinisi?
The listed facilities include air-conditioned rooms, an ensuite bathroom, towels, toiletries, and room service. The boat and room may change based on availability.
Is the boat private?
No. This is a shared sailing trip. The listed maximum capacity varies between 12 and 14 people, depending on the boat.
Can I be sure I will see manta rays?
No. Manta Point is included as a planned stop, but seeing manta rays depends on conditions and luck.
What happens if weather affects the trip?
The captain decides which stops and water activities are safe based on the weather and conditions. In extreme weather, the operator may cancel; rescheduling or a refund may be offered, subject to the operator’s approval.
