A very special 3-day boat trip around the Komodo Islands
A very special 3-day boat trip around the Komodo Islands
–
Exploring the Komodo Islands by boat was one of our best trips we’ve ever done. Feeling the salty ocean wind on our body, the sun on our skin while seeing constantly new angles from the Komodo Islands. We were able to explore many different islands and to soak in every minute of this trip.
With 9 other wonderful people and the crew we shared our adventures starting at the little town Labuan Bajo. We can absolutely recommend this trip.
Labuan Bajo – Starting Point
Most of the boat trips around the Komodo Island start at the harbor of Labuan Bajo. Here, you will find a meeting point of our boat trip company as well as the famous restaurant, hostel and beach club Le Pirate. Labuan Bajo isn’t really pretty and it hasn’t a lot to offer, but the nature around the town is absolutely stunning and there are a few restaurants. It’s the starting point for everybody’s trip.
Viewing Platform in Labuan Bajo
For sunset we highly recommend renting a scooter or hiring a driver to get to a beautiful view point near the town. It’s called “Pulo Cinta – Staircase to Heaven” view point. From the center of the town it’s a 10 or 15-minute ride. But actually there are a few hills with a wonderful view on the ocean and mountains next to each other. Just walk on a hill and realize in which paradise you’ve arrived. The sunsets here are outstanding.
Day 1 – On the boat with Travass
At 8:30 am we got a pick up at our airbnb with the travass shuttle. We directly met another couple from Vienna in the car, Nino and Vicky, and we very absolutely happy to share the boat trip with them and excited who else will join us. They dropped us at the harbor and a little speed boat brougt us to the big wooden ship. It really looks like a sailing boat, but it had a motor.
On the boat we met the other 7 young people. We were sure that we would have a great time with them. Indah, our lovely guide, introduced the crew to us and gave us a welcome smoothie. Around 10 am our boat trip started.
First stop: Kelor Island
Our big boat stopped in front of a cute little island and the small speed boat brought us to Kelor Island. We walked to the top of the mountain, it was steep but absolutely doable. The view on the blue water from there was amazing. Back down we had some time to swim in the crystal clear water a at the beach. The sun was so hot, so the water was a nice cool down.
Boat time – Fun time – Chill time
Back on the boat we had some fun and chill time. Everyone could decide what to do depending on the mood. We decided to jump from the top deck of the boat and to swim a little. Afterwards we took some drone shots. Indah waited for everyone with a small snack of baked bananas and a smoothie.
Rinca Island – The Komodo Dragons
Meanwhile our boat drove to Rinca Island, an island with Komodo dragons. We were really excited to see these special animals in the natural habitat and absolutely sad when we realized at what place we arrived.
We found ourselves in an absolutely touristic ranger village with dragons laying in front of their houses, for sure the people fed them. We saw a map with hiking roots but our ranger only went for a small 15 minute walk with us to the nesting. We didn’t see a dragon in their natural habitat, only in front of the houses. That was really disappointing. But then something happened which made us want to leave the island immediately: another ranger started to beat a sleeping dragon several times with his wooden stick, so that the almost 50 tourists around could see the dragon walk.
This was not the dragon experience we wanted to have. All people of our group liked the adventures on the boat and around the islands without animals a lot more. Next time we would skip the Rinca islands or maybe visit another less touristic area with dragons.
Snorkeling in front of Klapa Island and Lunch
After this experience we were very happy to be back on the boat and to spend some time in the blue water in front of Klapa Island. We saw loads of corals and fish and were able to dive with some turtles.
Back on the boat we got an amazing vegan lunch with the best tasting tofu. We spend the time talking about traveling routes with the other like minded travelers, coming from all places around the world.
Chilling Time, Dinner
Everybody relaxed and sunbathed all together on the beanbags, feeling the salty breeze on our bodies and the hot sun on our skin. Definitely use a good sun cream! After an incredible dinner – again with loads of vegan options – the crew drove us to a really special place. BATS!
Hundreds of bats around us for sunset – near Kalong Island
The boat stopped in a hidden cove next to the sister boat of travass. We waited for sunset. Just a few minutes before it was absolutely dark, hundreds of perfectly formed bats came from one direction and flew above our heads. It was absolutely fascinating. This was definitely a highlight moment we will never forget! Afterwards we played cards with the group and went to bed early.
Day 2 – On the boat with Travass
Padar Island – The most beautiful island
For sunset our speed boat dropped us at Padar Island. This island is absolutely mind blowing. You have to be there as early as possible because loads of tourists go there. There is a hiking trail all the way up ontop of the mountain, but even on the way up there are beautiful views and definitely places worth a stop. From above you will see that there are 3 different beaches in the coves, a pink, a black and a white beach.
We would have loved to spend more time here on our own, the iconic view is one of the best there around the Komodo Islands. But with the rising sun more and more tourists came, until the cove was filled with many boats and we made our way back down and to the main boat.
On our boat we had breakfast, smoothie bowls with peanut butter…
Pink Beach – almost alone there
We left Padar Island really early therefore we were almost the only people on the Pink Beach, the other tourists would arrive later there. The beach isn’t really big but really pink! The water is absolutely clear and we even saw a little Manta Ray. We took lots of pictures and drone shots there.
The light pink sand gets its hue from thousands of broken coral pieces, shells, and calcium carbonate materials left behind by foraminifera that live in the coral reefs surrounding the beach.
Back on the boat we got some snacks, smoothies and bananas.
Manta Point – diving with a Manta
Our small boat brought us to a place which is often visited by Manta Rays. From the boat the crew looked for Mantas in the clear water and we really found one. Unfortunately the Manta wasn’t visible when we jumped into the water. We were snorkeling around and suddenly there was a second Manta Ray deep down on the ground of the ocean. We were allowed to dive deep under water to get close to the Manta. Well, the Manta Ray was a lot faster than me but it was an experience I will never forget. I was able to watch this animal a long time. You realize how big these creatures are if you come close to them and they move majestically.
Chill Time, Dinner and Sunset
The last hours before sunset we only chilled on the upper deck in the sun. On this day we experienced so many new things and the salt water and the sun make you quickly feel really dizzy ;). For sunset all of our group set down on the highest roof and enjoyed the sunset together. You will never get enough of the golden light and the beautiful mountain silhouettes that surround you. Afterwards we got dinner and everyone loved the well cooked Tempeh. We went to bed really early after playing some cards.
Day 3 – On the boat with Travass
Little Island near Taka Makassar
For our last sunrise Indah drove us to a little island with a hill. The sunrise behind the other islands looked really beautiful and the soft warm grass under our feed was shining in all golden colors. There was a cute little girl on this island which seemed to live there with her family.
Back on the boat we ate breakfast and enjoyed the last morning. Again we jumped from the roof into the water and filmed it with a drone. We had a lot of fun.
Snorkeling in front of Sebayur Island
With the boat we stayed at the place where we woke up in the morning and our little boat brought us to another snorkel spot in front of a resort. But there were no people around, it seemed almost abandoned. We saw a turtle and enjoyed the water. On a wooden walkway we enjoyed the sun.
Our last stop Kanawa Island
Another really beautiful island and beach was our last stop. Our little boat stopped at a big wooden walkway, we took some group pictures with the drone on it. On the beach we found 3 really big shells and a cute looking wooden swing. We saw so many beautiful things the last days, I wasn’t really receivable anymore, to see the beauty of this island. Would it have been the first stop of our boat trip I would have been blown away ;).
Then the boat drove back to the harbor of Labuan Bajo while we were eating breakfast. After 1 hour we arrived at the harbor and left the boat climbing over a bigger freighter in the first row. It felt strange to be back on firm ground. With the couple from Austria a driver dropped us at the restaurant Le Pirate in the center of the town.
Sleeping and living on the boat?
There were 2 private cabins for two people on the boat, one on the first deck and one on the upper deck. Also there were 2 more cabins on the first deck with bunk beds for 4 people per cabin. One double room also had a private really small toilet. On the first deck were the rooms for the crew, the kitchen, toilets and a wonderful net in the front of the boat for the special Titanic moment.
On the upper deck was a big chill area with beanbags and the dinner area at the back of the boat. One more special thing: We were allowed to climb on the highest roof and to jump in the water from there. There was enough space for everyone and a lot of possibilities for some private time.
Two more great things if you travel with Travass: You will get all the snorkel equipment from them and you will have a photographer and drone pilot as a tour guide.
What to do on the boat?
We were dropped of at so many places around the Komodo islands, there was never something like boredom on the boat. When we had some time on the deck, we very glad to chill and snooze in the sun or to play cards with the others. The rest of the time we ate, swam, jumped from the roof in the water or just talked to like minded travel people.
About the meals?
Before the trip we were a little worried about being vegan on this trip. When we booked this trip we wrote them about our plant based diat and it wasn’t a problem at all. Every meal we had at least two vegan options with tofu or tempeh instead of meat or fish. And it tasted ahh-mazing!! Everyone liked the food and no one had problems with their stomaches. We had 3 main eating times and in between we could grab smoothies, water, coffee, tea, cookies, bananas and peanut butter. We never felt hungry ;).
How to get to Labuan Bajo?
From Bali/ Denpasar we took a short national flight (a little longer than 1 hour) with Air Asia to Labuan Bajo. The flight was already incredible because we could see a lot of the Komodo Islands from above. We arrived at 3 pm on the little airport. Keep in mind to put your tripod in the check in luggage, because the airlines might take it if they find it in the carry on luggage. Arriving on the airport one hour before departure for a short national flight was perfect.
The streets of Labuan Bajo and where to sleep?
A shuttle picked us up from our basic “World BnB” homestay. The room was around 20$, clean but a little outside the town and they didn’t have a scooter rental but a shuttle. The breakfast was really good though and the staff very friendly. We heard good things about the hostel Le Pirate as well.
On our first night in Labuan Bajo we ate at an cute Italian restaurant “La Cucina”. We highly recommend this place, the pizza was really good.
How long to stay in Labuan Bajo, Komodo? And about Le Pirate
Only for Labuan Bajo 1-2 days are enough. But Le Pirate has a really nice option to sleep on a private boat in a bay of Labuan Bajo and to visit a little sand island. If you want to experience that you might plan 1 to 2 days extra. In the town Le Pirate has also a nice restaurant with great smoothies and a beach bar on the roof. The 3 day boat trip around the Komodo islands gave us a great amount of time to see several places in this area, we would always choose the 3-day tour over a day trip.
Anzeige/ad because of mentioning the boat company Travass. We payed for everything on this trip and this article represents our own and honest opinion about the trip.
Follow our journey on Instagram