4 Day Boat Trip to Komodo Island with Komodo Adventure and Beyond
When I said I was going to Indonesia, I was told by other backpackers that I had to go on a boat trip to Komodo Island to see the Komodo Dragons. After looking at a map and realizing how far away it was from everywhere else, I started getting creative in my planning.
With a bit of research and flexibility, I made it possible to include a 4 day/3 night boat trip from Bangsal in Lombok to Labuan Bajo in Flores, and I recommend you do the same!
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Finding a Boat Trip to Komodo Island
Research indicated that these boat trips to Komodo National Park were poorly rated but within my price range – not terribly convincing. I decided to hold out judgement until I asked around to get some firsthand knowledge about the trip.
Once I started digging into the Komodo boat trips, it was included as “one of the best things” travelers had ever done and the price was even lower than listed online. The base price was just 1,750,000 RPH for sleeping on the deck or a bit more for a cabin. You can get it even a bit lower if you haggle well. The lowest I heard was 1,500,000.
I asked around and ended up booking in Gili Trawangan across from the Jungle Bar with a guy named Mif. He had been on the Komodo tour himself about a year ago and had pictures from his trip to show me. The company name was Komodo Adventures and Beyond.
Of course, being the researcher that I am, I immediately turned to the internet to see what I could find out online about them… however, I couldn’t find them online anywhere. So, if you are also looking at going with Komodo Adventures and Beyond, maybe this will help you.
Almost any tourism agency in Indonesia seems happy to book the Komodo trip for you. However, in many cases you need to pay up front, so you really need to do your research and find one you can trust.
The Printed Agenda from Komodo Adventures and Beyond
To get an idea of what the boat trip to Komodo Island entails, here’s the printed plan that was provided.
- First Day: Bangsal Lombok Cafe for check-in and admin process & Sugian Bay stop over for dinner
- Second Day: Moyo Island for swimming and snorkeling & Satonda Island for more swimming and snorkeling
- Third Day: Laba Island with soft trekking & Manta Point
- Fourth Day: Komodo Island, Red Beach for swimming and snorkeling, & Rinca Island
What’s Included in the Price of the Boat Trip
The boat trip itself is 4 days/3 nights starting in Lombok and ending in Flores. The price of 1,750,000 RPH includes:
- Every Meal: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Free coffee and tea
- Six 1.5L bottles of water
- All of the Komodo Island fees
You’ll need to factor in additional expenses, like any additional snacks or alcohol you want to purchase for the trip. You will need to take everything you want with you as you don’t stop at any inhabited islands along the way. Also remember, that there will not be a refrigerator, so as the days go on and the ice in the coolers melt, drinks start to get a bit warm… less than ideal for beer!
Day 1: Lombok to Sugian Bay
I was picked up at my hotel in Senggigi, Lombok at 8am and transported with my two Canadian friends from the hotel to Lombok Cafe, our meeting point for the trip. The next four hours were spent in transport and waiting around, filling out paperwork, and ordering snacks, soft drinks, and beer for the next four days.
They then collected payment for anything ordered and loaded them up on the boat. From there it was our turn to load onto the boat.
About the Boat Itself
Turns out, the boat was not as big or beautiful as the picture and jokes about it sinking abounded.
The main floor of the boat included a small front area, a central covered area with two benches, the captains enclosure, two cabins, and two toilets at the back.
Upstairs was a covered platform about four feet tall with 20+ mats laid out for sleeping. Each mat included a small pillow and blanket.
Setting Off on our 4 Day/3 Night Adventure
Having gotten the lay of the land (boat), we were off for our day one adventure: a stop for dinner on the boat.
The waves were pretty brutal knocking down two of the 20 guests with sea sickness. The rest of us hung out getting acquainted. Turns out we had an Irishman, a Brit, four French Canadians, two Dutch, two Germans, two Indonesians, one Japanese, and multiple French. The group mingled well, although the French mostly kept to themselves but always pleasant and sharing.
What to Expect of Meals on the Boat to Komodo Island
After a few hours of bouncing around the waves, we stopped for dinner. Meals are served in the middle of the floor on a blanket with four or five dishes, rice, and fruit for dessert.
All in all, the food was pretty good the entire trip. Although it’s a lot of rice and noodles! Meat is rare as there’s no way to keep it refrigerated, but occasionally they caught fish, like a giant mahi mahi and a few squid which increased our protein intake.
Day 2: Moyo Island & Satonda Island
The second day we pulled into Moyo Island for a short hike to a waterfall. Well, truly we swam to shore to go to the waterfall. They had a small boat to take our non-swimmers, the two Indonesian girls, in life jackets and our items that should stay dry being placed in a “dry box”.
The water was so rough the small row boat ended up capsizing and the dry box was not so dry anymore. Fortunately, I had placed my camera in its dry bag as I don’t trust it around water. Highly recommend investing in a dry bag….
The hike to the waterfall on Moyo Island only took twenty minutes or so. And it actually lacked the wow factor the waterfalls on Lombok had, but the water felt amazing to swim in! We stopped one more time to snorkel off the boat near Satonda Island before driving onward for the evening.
Day 3: Laba Island with Soft Trekking & Manta Point
Come morning, we had arrived at Laba Island where we spent the whole day. It had excellent snorkeling, a beach, and a mountain to climb. For some, the most important part was the water had calmed down and so had their stomachs.
The snorkeling was good with lots of coral and even more fish. We entertained ourselves with the volleyball someone had brought before some of the guys decided to try fishing. Eventually we decided to climb the mountain.
Climbing to the Highest Point on Laba Island
Unfortunately, the intent behind this swim to shore was not well spread so I climbed the mountain in my flip-flops and sarong along with one of the French Canadian guys who was barefoot hobbled up the loose rock behind everyone else (only like half the group had come).
The view from the top was excellent but getting back down the steep incline was looming in front of us. We started down the hill slowly, just in time to hit rain, in case there wasn’t enough challenge already.
Eventually I got the hang of it and monkeyed my way down leaving our barefoot French Canadian behind. At the bottom, one of the guys took his shoes off and sent them back up to help, and in no time at all we had him down at the base as well.
Day 4: Komodo Island, Red Beach, & Rinca Island
Day four started off with a bang as we pulled into Komodo Island and got off to take a walk around hunting down the Komodo dragons.
Although we had been told all of the fees were included in our trip, we were asked to pay a 50,000 RPH government tax which the one guy said he watched them then pocket. You have to love corrupt countries.
Searching for Komodo Dragons
Komodo Island is part of Komodo National Park – a UNESCO World Heritage site – and really held up its end of providing wild Komodo dragons. We saw small baby ones up to the large male adults. The island also has a large quantity of deer which eventually become food as the Komodo dragons hide, bite them, and then the venom kills them off in two to three days.
As the Komodo dragons are dangerous, they provided our group with three armed guards. Ha – who am I kidding, we had three small men with sticks to fend off the dragons.
Fortunately, the adult dragons seem pretty lazy and only really moved around when the employees antagonized them, something I’m fairly positive you’re not supposed to do to wild animals in a national park…
Having spotted probably twelve or so of these magnificent creatures, we were satisfied and headed back to the boat to continue on our Komodo boat adventure.
Continuing to Red Beach
From Komodo Island, we sailed onward to a snorkeling spot at “Red Beach”. I’m not sure if the name is misleading or the crew was lying but I guarantee the beach was not red. In fact, it was a glowing white sand beach. Beautiful, but not what was promised or shown in the pictures.
At this point the crew told us we wouldn’t have time to make it to Rinca Island before the office closes at 3pm. Since this was a big part of the appeal of the tour as it holds more Komodo dragons, the boat banded together, skipped the snorkeling at Red Beach, and continued onward with renewed promise of going to Rinca.
Swimming with Manta Rays
First, we stopped for snorkeling with the Manta Rays. We all stood prepared to jump overboard at the first sighting of a ray.
Within minutes that opportunity came, and we all splashed into the water to swim with one of the grandest creatures in the sea. I think it had about a five meter “wing-span”. It was swimming in big circles so we were able to follow it for quite some time before headed back to the boat to head on to Rinca.
Heading to Rinca Island, or Something Like That
One of the guys had checked the distance and we were only 10km away moving at a 10km pace, so the trip should take one hour – plenty of time as it was just past noon. Somehow though, it came back around from the crew that there was not time to make it there.
There were all kinds of rumors circulated such as the owners didn’t want to pay for us to go even though we had technically paid for it in our boat trip.
In any case, it left a bad taste in our mouths and some people started planning to go the following day. Unfortunately, I was flying out the following day which meant I would have to skip it all together – not happy.
Within a few hours we docked at Labuan Bajo and everyone parted ways with an agreed upon meeting spot for dinner.
So Do I Recommend the Boat Trip to Komodo Island?
Would I suggest making this trip? Maybe.
Set your expectations low and know that what’s promised to you is definitely far from guaranteed. Some were promised a sail boat others a larger boat, neither of which were true. Even the itinerary was made up.
However, the people are great, the stops we made were good and remote, and ultimately we did see the Komodo dragons which was my hope and with it not being close to “mainstream” Indonesia it’s harder and more expensive to get to. Also, the price is right.
But, if you like structure, concrete plans, and not feeling like you’ve been lied to, skip it. Fly to Labuan Bajo to get to Komodo Island.
Helpful Tips and Insight for Taking a Boat Trip to Komodo Island
Avoid surprises by knowing as much as possible before you go. While these points are from my trip with Komodo Adventure and Beyond, I’m sure they translate to other companies as well.
Basics About the Boat
- There are two toilets: one western and one squat available. While there are no showers available, you will swim in the ocean many times, so you’ll be clean, but covered in salt.
- Outlets are few and far between onboard, but you’ll be able to charge electronics in the evening when the lights are on. Just know that demand is high.
- Luggage is stored under the boat and a pain to get to. Keep a small bag with what you will need separate to take to the sleeping deck. Honestly, you don’t need a lot available as some people wore the same clothes daily.
- There is no wi-fi on the boat or anywhere we stopped for four days.
- Consider taking cards, a ball, wireless speakers and music, a guitar if you can play, etc. for entertainment on the boat. My boat mates came through with it.
Food and Drink Onboard
- All drinks are stored in a cooler with ice but after the first day the ice has melted and things get progressively warmer.
- The number of drinks purchased did not equate to the number brought on board, but everyone had already paid, and there is no refund.
- Food was plentiful and good but repetitive with lots of rice, noodles, and cabbage. Some fresh fish, when caught, but otherwise mostly tofu after day one due to lack of refrigeration.
Sleeping Deck & Cabins on the Boat
- The sleeping deck provides mats with a blanket and pillow but there is no covering on the mats or pillows. I used my blanket to sleep on and my sarong as a cover.
- The engine is loud in the sleeping area and cabins, bring ear plugs or music to help drown it out to sleep.
- The cabins were much warmer and stuffier than the sleeping deck but provide some privacy.
Other Ways to Visit Komodo Island
Not interested in a 4 day boat trip to Komodo Island? No worries. There are other ways to get there. As mentioned above, you can fly directly into Flores and take a day trip or multiple day trip. Here are some of your best bets.
Explore More of Indonesia
Indonesia offers so many wonderful experiences. From this four day boat trip to Komodo Island to hiking some incredible volcanos, you will not be bored. Learn more through these related posts:
- Renting a Motorbike to Get Off the Beaten Path in Lombok
- Gili Trawangan: The Island Life
- Kuta, Bali: Paradise for Australians
- Yogyakarta: Culture Capital of Indonesia
- Day Trip to Borobudur and Prambanan
- Mount Bromo: Visiting an Active Volcano
- Midnight Hike to Ijen Crater
- Jakarta: Capital City of Indonesia
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what is the 1750 place’s whats app /fcontact info?
Hi Emil – Unfortunately, it’s been a few years since I went and I don’t seem to have their number anymore, but the company was Komodo Adventure and Beyond. If you’re looking for a good deal (and have some flexibility on timing) I recommend looking for a tour provider once you’re in Indonesia. They will be cheaper than booking online in advance, but if you’re on a strict timeline – book in advance as boats don’t go every day and you don’t want to miss out!