The Thrilling Komodo Islands Boat Tour
Written by Em Em’s Globetrotting Gems
In late 2024, I spent three days on a Komodo Islands boat tour, cruising around this stunning part of Indonesia.
But it got even better – I had the chance to come face-to-face with the legendary Komodo dragons!
I had an unforgettable journey filled with excitement, wonder, and a fair amount of fear!
In this guide, I’ll talk through everything you need to know to plan your own Komodo adventure and come face to face with one of nature’s rarest reptiles, including why you should choose a liveaboard cruise, how to pick the right one for you and what you can expect on the trip.
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Why You Should Visit The Komodo Islands
There’s far more to Indonesia than just Bali and the nearby islands!
While Bali has undeniable beauty and culture, and Java has an incredible history, the Komodo Islands offer a chance to explore a beautiful part of Indonesia that still feels very remote.
Get off the beaten track and explore this lesser-known part of Indonesia!
The Komodo Islands, east of Bali and Lombok in Indonesia, are a UNESCO World Heritage site.
They’re home to some of the richest marine biodiversity in the world, including over 1,000 species of fish, 260 species of coral, and 14 species of whales, dolphins, and sea turtles.
They’re a haven for snorkelling and diving, from amateur enthusiasts like me to professional divers.
All that is before you get to the main event: Komodo dragons.
These terrifying reptiles are only found on five islands in the whole world, and all are in this area. Komodo dragons are the world’s largest living lizard, growing up to a terrifying 3 metres long, and their bite is extremely venomous.
They’re also an endangered species, with only 3,500 remaining in the wild, so it’s definitely worth seeing them before it’s too late!
Is It Safe To See Komodo Dragons?
That’s a really good question, and the answer is both yes and no.
Komodos are dangerous creatures. They move very fast when they want to, and their bite is extremely venomous. There have been cases of tourists being injured and even dying as a result of the Komodo attack.
However, that’s extremely rare, with 24 attacks and only five fatalities between 1974 and 2012.
All tours are accompanied by two local rangers, who are accustomed to dealing with Komodos – their families have been doing it for generations.
You’ll have a safety briefing before you start your walk around the island, and you’ll always be instructed on where to stand and how to behave.
For the most part, Komodos aren’t bothered by humans. The ones we saw were practically comatose, just baking in the sun.
It was very clear from our rangers and the guides that you are entirely safe as long as you behave respectfully towards these magnificent creatures, and follow the rules laid out for you.
And the good news is that if the worst did happen, there’s a brand new shiny hospital only steps away from the area where you see the dragons.
This is fully equipped to deal with any Komodo dragon bites.
It’s also a great reminder of why you should always have travel insurance.
Day 1: Your Adventure Begins
You’ll board your Komodo Islands boat tour in the morning, and have a chance to explore your home for the next 3 days!
Depending on the boat, you can choose a private room or a dorm. Trips to Komodo are pretty expensive so I opted for a dorm room – as it was a boat it was pretty small but very comfortable.
Our beautiful boat also had sun decks with loungers and a dining area. We settled into our rooms and got to know each other as the boat moved towards our first stop – snorkelling with turtles.
Snorkelling And Sandbars
The water in the Komodo National Park is crystal clear and snorkelling is a blissful experience.
Our first stop gave us the chance to see majestic manta rays floating in the water, a beautiful experience.
We then had lunch as we moved on to our second stop, a beautiful sandbar in the middle of the ocean.
This was really a desert island moment – the narrow sandbar was alone in the middle of the ocean, with nothing else in sight.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t a desert island in terms of people – this is also a popular spot for day cruises and the sandbar was very busy. But we were still able to get some stunning photos.
Sunset At Padar Island
Our final stop of the day was the majestic Padar Island. This popular sunset spot has a solid 500 stairs to the top for the spectacular view and gets very busy.
It’s split into five stages to help you climb, and rather than choose the busy summit, I settled near stop 4 for a quieter sunset experience.
The landscape at Padar is truly mind-blowing, with the narrow island set out beneath you before widening out again.
As a friend said, it looks like something out of a sci-fi movie. This is definitely a must-see experience, and totally worth climbing all those stairs!
Day 2: The Big Day – Dragons And Pristine Pink Sand
Day two of your Komodo Islands boat tour is the one you’ve been waiting for!
The Amazing Komodo Dragons
We were up bright and early to have breakfast onboard before heading to Komodo Island for our dragon trek.
The island is well set up for tourists, and you are greeted by your rangers and given a safety briefing before your walk starts.
There are three walking options for your Komodo island tour, and most groups are encouraged to pick the medium option. This suggests a more difficult walk than a short walk, but in reality, you cover a very short distance.
There’s a quick walk out of the village and a tiny hill before you’re onto flat land dotted with trees.
That’s not to say the walk doesn’t have its difficulties.
While we started early, the extreme heat and humidity made standing out in the sun a struggle, and our guide encouraged us to make use of our boat’s complimentary umbrellas for extra shade.
It was the trees we wanted, as the Komodo dragons had exactly the same priorities as humans and were shading underneath them along the short walk.
Approaching the first one is a moment of wonder – you’re approaching a dangerous wild animal with only the support of two rangers carrying forked sticks…!
But we soon realised that as long as we didn’t bother the Komodos, they weren’t interested in us.
Our guide and rangers were experts in making sure we stayed safe while taking the most amazing photos!
We saw several adults and even a couple of young ones – these weren’t as keen to lounge under the trees and moved terrifyingly fast.
Komodo dragons really have to be seen to be believed – they’re absolutely huge, and look like they belong with the dinosaurs.
Seeing them was one of the most amazing experiences of my life!
The Pristine Pink Beach
Our next stop was the Instragram-perfect Pink beach.
This beautiful cove has sand that really is as pink as it looks online! I was lucky to have a professional photographer on my boat, and he used a drone to get some incredible shots!
Once the photoshoot was over, we snorkelled through the bay. There was an amazing array of different fish and types of coral to see in the beautiful water. We even spotted some turtles!
During the afternoon, we stopped at Pempe Island for some more beach time.
This small island has a beach with snorkelling opportunities (although not as spectacular as some of the others on the trip). As an introvert, by this time I was feeling a bit peopled-out, so I took the opportunity to chill out on the boat with a book.
Being alone on the boat was unbelievably peaceful, with just the rocking of the waves for company.
Flying Foxes At Sunset
Our final experience of the day was watching the flying foxes stream out from Kalong Island at sunset.
Sitting on the top of the boat as the sun went down and waiting for this spectacular sight was the perfect way to end this amazing day.
Day 3: Turtles And Viewpoints
We started the day with an early hike on Kelor Island.
This hike is quick but steep and takes you to a beautiful viewpoint where you can see Flores and many of the surrounding islands spread out before you.
After the hike, it was time for another snorkelling session – this time to spot turtles. We had a decent amount of time in the water, enabling us to peacefully float about and enjoy the calm water, as well as the friendly inhabitants.
Once again, we were lucky to have a photographer on our trip with a GoPro, and this was his opportunity to grab some shots of us in the water!
After we’d showered and dried off, we had time to quickly pack up before having our last meal on board.
By lunchtime, we were back in Flores, devastated that this unbelievable adventure had to end.
FAQs
How To Get To The Komodo Islands Boat Tour, And Where To Stay Beforehand?
The jumping-off point for your Komodo Islands boat tour is Labuan Bajo, on the island of Flores.
This island has a new international airport, and the main starting point is Bali, just over an hour’s flight away.
However, this is a growing tourist destination and new routes are being added all the time, including from international destinations such as Kuala Lumpur.
Heading to Bali before or after your Komodo Islands Boat Tour? Check out my guide on how to have 1 Perfect Day in Ubud.
Most Komodo Islands boat tours are set up so that you can fly into Flores in the morning before boarding your boat, and your cruise provider will usually pick you up from the airport.
This is an excellent option if you’re flying in from a nearby island such as Bali or Lombok, although it will mean a very early start.
If you’re flying from further afield, or don’t like the morning, you can stay the night before in Labuan Bajo.
This growing tourist town has a wide variety of hotels, restaurants and bars, as well as a few shops. Your Komodo Island boat tour will then pick you up from your hotel.
A Liveaboard Cruise – Why Is It The Ultimate Way To Explore To Explore Komodo National Park?
There are a couple of different ways you can visit Komodo National Park and see the Komodo dragons.
The cheapest is to stay on Flores Island, the nearest major island, and take a one day tour to Komodo Island.
However, I really recommend taking a 3 day, 2 night liveaboard Komodo Islands boat tour. This gives you the chance to really tour Komodo National Park, which has far more to offer than just an encounter with a terrifying reptile.
Taking a liveaboard cruise means you’ll get the chance to visit other highlights such as the stunning Pink Beach, and the fabulous Manta Point and see the sunset from the epic Padar Island.
You’ll also get to do so at a relaxed pace, with time in between stops to soak up the sun on your boat.
And living on a boat is itself a bucket list experience – I’d never done it before and I loved the feel of the waves gently rocking me to sleep.
Most live-aboard open trips run from Friday to Sunday, so factor this into your planning.
How To Pick The Right Liveaboard For Your Komodo Islands Tour
Liveaboard cruises range from extremely budget to luxury, and if you’re part of a big group, you can even charter a private tour.
The very budget options often have upwards of 20 people sleeping on mats on deck – this is really only for the very budget-conscious traveller.
Other boats have private rooms and dorm options. For couples, the private rooms are a bit more expensive than two dorm beds but offer obvious benefits in terms of privacy and comfort.
If you’re a solo traveller, the private rooms can be prohibitively expensive, but note that I saw some dorms that only had double beds… (are you expected to share with a stranger?
I never got to the bottom of that). Check your boat before you buy!
As part of the price, you’ll get your food and board for the two nights of the cruise, as well as a tour guide who’ll take you around the national park. Our tour guide was amazing – he made sure to get the best spots for photos and was a fount of knowledge about Komodo dragons!
What’s My Recommendation?
I went for a mid-range option with Travass Life on their Papiton Lopi boat.
Like many companies you’ll see offering Komodo tours, Travass Life is an agent selling trips on boats owned by other companies, meaning it can be hard to find accurate reviews of specific boats or trips (this is true for other providers such as SeekSophie and Liveaboard.com as well).
I chose Travass Life because their two Papiton boats, Lopi and Duwa, are actually owned by Travass Life, and therefore there’s more accountability.
I would highly recommend them!
Make sure you check out what to do in Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo Island National Park.
What Is The Price Of A Komodo Island Boat Tour?
The price for a dorm bed on the Papiton Lopi is about £250, or just under $300. A private room starts at £625/$762 for two people.
When I was researching my trip, I found this to be the typical price for a boat that didn’t have 20-odd people sleeping on an open deck sharing one bathroom.
It’s likely that you could get a dorm or private room cheaper if you book last minute while in Flores, but that means giving up a chance to research the reviews on your chosen boat.
As you spend 3 days on board with no option to leave or change boat, reading the reviews felt more important than usual to me.
Conclusion: Don’t Hesitate To Book Your Komodo Adventure
As I look back on my unforgettable 3-day boat tour around the Komodo Islands in Indonesia, I can’t help but smile at all the incredible memories and bucket list moments.
From witnessing a stream of bats during stunning sunsets to seeing one of the world’s rarest animals up close and personal, each moment was filled with wonder.
It was such a unique and breathtaking journey, and I’ll always cherish these memories (and photos).
If you’re considering a Komodo Islands boat tour, don’t wait – do it!
About The Author
Em is in her late 30s and has been travelling solo since her early 20s. She’s been to 48 countries (and counting) and is currently travelling for a year around South East Asia. She shares tips and tricks, destination guides, and what it’s really like to travel solo when you’re over 21, all on her blog Em’s Globetrotting Gems.
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