Visiting Komodo National Park to see the Komodo Dragons is a unique experience during a trip to Indonesia.
The Komodo Dragon, or Komodo Monitor, is the largest lizard in the world, plus it’s both carnivorous and venomous.
Komodo is located in the archipelago west of the large island of Flores, off the coast of Labuan Bajo town. The new Labuan Bajo International Airport allows to get quickly to Flores from tourist destinations such as Bali and Jakarta.
In addition to Komodo Island, the National Park includes some heavenly islands, ideal for a day tour by boat from Labuan Bajo, or for sailing trips of multiple days and nights in the archipelago.
KOMODO NATIONAL PARK
There are many tours to Komodo departing from Labuan Bajo, every day and of various types. Some tours with traditional boats touch the highlights of the archipelago, while other trips on fast speedboats visit more places more quickly, and finally multi-day excursions on wooden boats, catamarans, or sailboats are available too.
In Komodo National Park and the surrounding islands you can see the Komodo Dragons, land on and admire the beautiful views of Padar Island and Pink Beach, and discover bays and beaches where you can snorkel and dive.
In addition to the panoramic points, the fauna plays a fundamental role in Komodo. Other than monitor lizards, you may see manta rays, sea turtles, dolphins, giant bats, starfish, and thousands of fish species.
Follow our step-by-step guide to plan your excursion and find out what to expect from Komodo National Park.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- Padar Island
- Pink Beach
- Komodo National Park
- Taka Makassar
- Manta Point / Kanawa Island
- Flying Foxes
- How much does it cost to visit Komodo?
- What to do in Labuan Bajo
- Conclusions and useful links
1. HIKE TO PADAR ISLAND VIEWPOINTS
Our first stop was Padar Island, and we started with a bang. After an hour of sailing where the staff gave some information about the boat and the tour itinerary, we landed at a protected bay on Padar Island.
From here you can freely hike to different viewpoints. There are 3 main spots along the trail, so those who don’t feel like going all the way up can still enjoy a great view.
Obviously the highest view is the best. From the top we appreciated and captured the 3 iconic bays that make Padar Island famous.
Beware of the crowds! Unfortunately you will find people who’ll shoulder push and cut you off to take photos before you. Be patient, the trail is narrow in some places, and enjoy the view.
There’s usually a local guide at the top of the last viewpoint who helps take photos of tourists, trying to streamline the procedure. Leave him a small tip for his hard work!
2. PINK BEACH, KOMODO ARCHIPELAGO
For the second stop we moved just a little bit, we actually stayed on Padar Island but went around the island by boat. After 15-20 minutes we arrived in front of long Pink Beach.
Here you’ll be free to lie down on the beach, drink something at the local bars, go swimming or do some snorkelling.
The beautiful pink sand of Pink Beach owes its colour to the corals that break with the waves and are reduced to a thousand pieces along the coast. From up close you can actually see the tiny pieces of red and pink coral. On the beach you can also find whole red or bleached corals, stolen from the sea.
We admit that at first the beach didn’t look as pink as we expected. Because of the high sun, to the naked eye it seemed quite light, almost white.
However, in the evening, looking at the photos we took, we realized that the beach was indeed pink, especially in contrast to the blue and crystalline water. Pretty amazing! Surely at sunset or from above the optical effect must be even more spectacular.
Please note: There isn’t just one Pink Beach in the area, there are others on Komodo island for example. Your tour might take you to a different beach.
3. VISITING KOMODO NATIONAL PARK
Now we get to the highlight of the tour, the encounter with the Komodo Dragons!
A brief introduction to Komodo Dragons. As mentioned, these lizards are classified as monitors, the common giant lizards that live in Asia. Monitors can also be found in the city parks of Bangkok (known as Monitor Lizard, herbivorous and non-poisonous).
However, the species that lives in Komodo is larger, carnivorous, and has a deadly venom in its gums, which paralyses its victims. It’s easily recognisable by its large curved claws and long tail, as well as from its size that can reach 3 metres. For these characteristics, the lizard was nicknamed “Dragon”.
The Komodo Monitor eats mammals such as deer, goats, pigs, wild boars, monkeys, but also birds and their eggs. It usually chases weak or dying animals, or it ambushes them, managing to poison the victim with its bite. Even if the prey runs away, the Komodo Dragon slowly pursues it until it’s paralysed by the venom.
KOMODO DRAGONS
Komodo monitors have an extremely developed sense of smell, so much so that they can smell blood up to 10 kilometres away. For this reason, our guide specifically asked the women in our group to communicate any menstruation, as the Komodo Dragon could become more aggressive near the smell of blood!
That said, monitor lizards very rarely attack humans, in fact they are scared of them. Normally monitor lizards, like other reptiles, run away when hearing human footsteps. However, the specimens in the National Park that live near the main beach have become used to tourists, and are also helped in finding prey.
Once they ingest a goat or a deer, Komodo Dragons must remain still in the sun for hours to digest, and days or even weeks may pass before a new meal.
For this reason, it’s safe to walk among the Komodo Dragons in the National Park, almost boring…
For those who want a more authentic experience, it’s necessary to hire a private guide who’ll take you inland, away from the tourist crowds. Here you walk behind the guide, always equipped with a stick in case of need, in search of the elusive monitor lizards that live inland.
The photos you’ll see of the Komodo Dragons engaged in wrestling-style fights or tearing apart large preys are evidently taken in their true natural habitat, at a safe distance from the groups of visitors.
SEEING KOMODO DRAGONS UP CLOSE
As for our visit to the Park, it was interesting to be able to see these reptiles up close. They really seem to belong to the age of dinosaurs. Walking under the welcome gate at Komodo National Park feels like being at the entrance of Jurassic Park!
Today, the Komodo Dragon is still hunted by poachers for its rarity and for its skin. The Komodo National Park established in the 80s protects the species, now in danger of extinction. There are a few thousand free specimens among the islands of Komodo, Padar, Rinca and Flores.
During the short tour of Komodo, you’ll see some small monitors exploring the area here and there, or resting in the trees shade. Park guides are always informed about the location of the larger monitors, and they also know when they eat. Therefore, the key moment of the visit was when we were guided to an adult male, with a full belly, in the digestive phase and motionless in the sun.
Here everyone got their classic souvenir photo in perspective (pictured above), which makes it seem much closer than we actually were (you always have to stay 2-3 metres away).
As mentioned, don’t expect to find Komodo Dragons fighting or moving quickly, you have to take private tours for more in-depth excursions. Despite this, seeing a nearly 3-metre-long Komodo Dragon up close was exciting!
4. TAKA MAKASSAR SAND BAR
After avoiding becoming a meal for the Komodo Dragons, it was our turn to have lunch, safe on the boat.
Depending on the time available, lunch time can vary. Usually, you eat on the boat, as it moves during the longest transfer.
When booking the tour, you can request a meat, fish, or vegetarian meal.
Later, our fourth stop was at Taka Makassar. It’s a beautiful moon shaped sand bar, surrounded by the blue waters of the Flores Sea. Heaven on Earth!
Walk up to where the sand disappears, or enjoy the area while lying in the shallow water.
5. MANTA POINT / KANAWA ISLAND
Finally, the last stops of our tour were decided based on the season. Unfortunately, they made us skip the famous Manta Point, as the best season to see several manta rays is the rainy season, when water is colder (November-March).
In summer, visibility is better and you can still see manta rays, but in fewer numbers and farther areas, as the guide told us.
For this reason, they took us in front of Kanawa Island, another beautiful atoll with a nice coral reef. Here the choice was between snorkelling among the corals, or relaxing on the beach.
Be aware that for each stop you’ll have a period of time established by the guides, usually between 45 and 90 minutes, before returning to the boat. If you’re tired of getting on and off, you can simply stay on the boat or by the beach.
6. FLYING FOXES AT KOMODO
The last show of the day was on the way back to Labuan Bajo. If the weather conditions are favourable, especially in dry season, when the sky turns pink and orange at sunset, hundreds of flying foxes emerge from the mangroves.
Flying foxes are giant bats typical of tropical countries. They are greedy for berries and fruit, and come out in the evening to search for food among the trees on the mainland.
The bats cover the sky with their large wings, offering a unique panorama in the islands around Komodo National Park.
7. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO VISIT KOMODO?
The Komodo tour is becoming more and more popular as the years go by. With the recent opening of the Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo, tourists can arrive daily from Bali in just over an hour.
Previously, the trip to Flores was a real adventure, a 3-4 day boat crossing from Lombok. In the archipelago there were only wooden boats and the sailings took longer.
Today with the speedboats everything is faster, and prices have also adapted to the market. The classic tour to Komodo costs around €90 per person (100 US$) plus fees, i.e. the various costs for entrances to the Park, for the rangers, for snorkelling equipment, etc.
Usually this additional expense is paid in cash at the beginning of the tour. In 2025 the fees were 350,000 rupiah (20€/25$) per person during the week, or 400,000 IDR on weekends.
It’s generally necessary to carry cash for any payments in Komodo and the isolated areas in Flores.
2-3 DAY SAILING AROUND KOMODO
The high prices for licenses are part of a government strategy aimed at avoiding overcrowding in the area, although there’s certainly a good margin for local agencies. However, we agree with the measure, to avoid seeing the Park overcrowded as happens in many tourist places in nearby Bali.
For those with a more limited budget and more time to explore the area, you could take a slow wooden boat tour. The old boats called phinisi are slowly disappearing, but they maintain their charm. These tours are not as advertised and cost less, starting from about €50 per person, negotiable on site.
Usually, phinisi boats are preferred by Indonesian tourist groups, who like to take two or three-day sailing trips in the Komodo archipelago.
Several companies have transformed their wooden boats into small luxury boats, on which you can do 3-day/2-night tours like in popular Halong Bay, Vietnam, spending the days among the fantastic islands of the archipelago. Multi-day tours cost from €150 per person or €250 per cabin per trip, with meals included.
SLEEPING ON A BOAT IN KOMODO
Multi-day boat trips allow to explore the area at a more leisurely pace, enjoying special moments such as the night and sunrise among the islands, while staying in the most beautiful places in solitude.
On the boats you can sleep in shared rooms to spend less, or choose to have your own private cabin. The smaller boats accommodate 14-16 guests.
Nights on the boat in the archipelago are quiet among the bays with the usually flat sea. In case of bad weather forecasts the tour is postponed.
Finally, there is also the option of spending the night on Komodo Island. Here locals live in villages and houses on stilts, safe from the Komodo Dragons. Some guest houses are being built such as Dua Putri Komodo Homestay. Don’t expect luxury hotels in the National Park!
If you’re staying in these remote areas, to avoid consuming data, we always recommend downloading an app such as Maps.me in the hotel and using it in offline mode. To travel and stay connected in Indonesia, get an Airalo e-sim or a local SIM with Telkomsel.
HOW DOES A KOMODO TOUR WORK
Each tour, depending on whether it’s a one-day or multi-day tour, has its own stops in no particular order. The crew members have the experience to coordinate and try to avoid finding themselves all together in the same spot.
However, in high season and in the most famous places, it’s almost inevitable to find crowds in Komodo.
Unless you do the 3-day / 2-night tour, as mentioned above.
The meeting point is at Labuan Bajo port around 7am. The tour includes pick-up at your hotel, alternatively you can reach the port on foot if you’re staying in the area. During the first transfer, the staff explains the itinerary of the excursion.
The price of the tour always includes lunch and drinks during the day, as well as snorkelling equipment.
In the evening, you return to the port around sunset. You’ll then be taken back to your hotel for drop-off and the end of the tour.
Having to fit in the different 1, 2 or 3-day tours, some excursions only depart on certain days of the week. The same goes for the other popular tour in Flores, the trek to the remote village of Wae Rebo. We talk about it in depth in our article Hiking to Wae Rebo village, Flores.
GETTING TO KOMODO FROM BALI
Komodo tours can be booked from anywhere in Labuan Bajo, and also from Bali with flights and hotels included. While it’s possible to wait until you get to Bajo and book there, we recommend planning ahead as tours don’t depart every day and are often sold-out.
There are daily flights between Bali and Labuan Bajo, usually 2 or 3 per day. These are operated by Air Asia and Batik Air, but we believe they will increase in the near future.
For those who like a slower and more adventurous journey, consider the option of taking a boat from Bali and Lombok to Labuan Bajo, a 3-4 day crossing that stops at the most beautiful spots in the Flores Sea.
8. WHAT TO DO IN LABUAN BAJO
Labuan Bajo is a nice and developing destination, a perfect base to visit Komodo National Park and its natural wonders.
Other attractions include Rangko Cave. This beautiful grotto by the sea is about 30-45 minutes by car or scooter (or by boat) from Labuan Bajo.
We also had the opportunity to take an unforgettable excursion to Wae Rebo, a traditional village hidden in the mountains in the interior of Flores. After about 4 hours of driving from Labuan Bajo and 3 hours of trekking, we slept in the village with the local tribe, an experience that is quite unique nowadays!
If possible, travel in low or mid season to find good deals and enjoy the area without too many people. Otherwise, Labuan Bajo and its islands are quite busy during high season.
As said, multi-day tours to Wae Rebo and to Komodo National Park don’t depart every day of the week. Remember to plan ahead to fit in flight schedules and tours to Labuan Bajo.
In our article Best months and seasons in Bali we discuss the ideal times to visit this part of Indonesia.
9. CONCLUSION AND USEFUL LINKS
We recommend the Komodo tour for those traveling to Indonesia who want to explore an alternative destination from nearby Java, Lombok, and Bali.
You can spend 3-5 days in Labuan Bajo with many activities and tours available. Or you could spend a whole week in Flores to explore the rest of the island, which also offers volcanoes and lakes.
It’s well worth paying the price to visit the archipelago of Komodo National Park. If you have time, enjoy the 2-day or 3-day boat tour. We also recommend visiting Wae Rebo before Flores gets too crowded!
We hope we’ve inspired you to travel consciously and see the Komodo Dragons in Flores.
Enjoy your trip to Komodo!
PLAN YOUR TRIP TO INDONESIA:
- Indonesia online Visa costs and how to get it
- Ceremonies, festivals and culture in Bali
- Bali best beaches in Uluwatu, Kuta, Amed, Sanur
- Full Bali itinerary and travel guide
- What to do in Labuan Bajo in 4 days
HOTELS – WHERE TO STAY IN KOMODO / LABUAN BAJO
You can book all your stays in Flores and Indonesia with free cancellation here.
- Dua Putri Komodo Homestay: a nice guesthouse with great reviews, to spend a night on Komodo Island.
- Manta Manta Guesthouse Labuan Bajo: simple budget rooms, great base for Labuan Bajo tours.
- Wae Rebo Lodge, base camp before the trek. Or, if unavailable, check Villa Molas, another guesthouse in the area.
- Seaesta Komodo Hostel & Hotel: a modern place with swimming pool, offering both dorms and private rooms.
- Cool Breeze Hotel Labuan Bajo: nice hotel with wooden island-style details, beautiful views over Labuan Bajo bay.
TOURS AND TRANSFERS
- 2 day/1 night Wae Rebo private tour, including all transfers, meals and entry fees.
- Day-tour to Komodo National Park: from morning to afternoon, seeing the Komodo Dragons and touching a few islands.
- 2-day or 3-day tour to Komodo: sail and sleep within Labuan archipelago, enjoying the best places like Padar Island and Pink Beach from sunrise to sunset and with no crowds.
- Bali-Labuan Bajo flights, with Air Asia or Batik Air, about 1h15.
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