3-day Komodo National Park snorkeling tour: Pinishi boat

Nine snorkeling stops, a Komodo hike, and sunsets from the deck of a wooden sailing boat

A 3-day snorkeling and sailing tour of Komodo National Park departing from Labuan Bajo aboard a traditional Pinishi boat, with nine destinations including Pink Beach, Padar Island and Manta Point. The boat carries you between sites, so you move through the park without arranging separate transport. Meals and park entry are included. Choose between a shared cabin or private cabin, and decide whether to add the national park entrance fee to your booking or pay it separately.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Arrival and island exploration

• Meet team at pick-up point
• Transfer to harbor and board pinisi ship
• Receive voyage rules and room allocation
• Store belongings in room
• Visit Kelor Island and hike hill
• Swim and relax at Kelor Island
• Lunch on boat en route to Manjarite
• Swim and snorkel at Manjarite
• Watch bats fly at Rinca at dusk
• Dinner on boat

Day 2: Island hikes and snorkeling

• Wake up and climb Padar Island
• Enjoy views from Padar summit
• Breakfast on boat
• Visit Pink Beach for swimming and snorkeling
• Explore Komodo Island with ranger
• Swim with manta rays at Manta Point
• Relax and snorkel at Taka Makasar
• Sunset party on pinisi ship

Day 3: Final island and return

• Dock at Siaba Island in morning
• Swim with fish at Siaba Island
• Enjoy morning snacks and breakfast on boat
• Return to Labuan Bajo pier
• Transfer to airport or hotel

The experience

The boat leaves Labuan Bajo harbor in the morning after hotel pickup. Your first stop is Kelor Island, a small uninhabited rise where you climb roughly 100 meters to see the sea in three shades of blue spreading below you, then swim or snorkel in the shallows. Lunch arrives on deck as the boat moves toward Manjarite, where the coral reefs are dense and the water is clear enough to see thousands of colored fish moving through it. The day closes at Kalong Rinca, where thousands of large bats fly out from the islands at dusk to hunt, passing directly above the boat as it anchors for the night.

Day two starts early with a climb to the top of Padar Island using stone stairs. The view opens across three bays with beaches in different colors, and the morning light makes it worth the climb. Breakfast waits on the boat afterward. Pink Beach comes next. The sand really does look pink from a distance, colored by fragments of red coral worn down by waves over time. You can swim, snorkel or wade here. Then the boat takes you to Komodo Island itself, where a ranger leads you on foot to see the Komodo dragons in their habitat. They can reach four meters long and you stay at a safe distance while the guide photographs you with them. The afternoon brings Manta Point, where you swim near manta rays in clear water while an underwater camera captures the moment. The day ends at Taka Makasar, a sandbar island with strong currents in the afternoon but excellent coral reefs, and a sunset party on deck.

The final morning takes you to Siaba Island, where you swim among thousands of fish in shallow water before a snack and breakfast on the boat. The Pinishi returns to Labuan Bajo harbor around 11 a.m., giving you time to catch an afternoon flight or head back to your hotel. Snorkeling equipment is provided. Your cabin stays the same all three nights, and meals are served on board.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off at the harbor in Labuan Bajo.
• Komodo National Park entrance fee (depending on which cabin option you choose).
• snorkeling equipment for all three days.
• all meals on board the boat.
• your cabin for three nights.

Options for this experience

4 options

Shared cabin, with the TNK fee includedGuide in English · 09:30Shared cabin for 4 people per room, includes pickup

Shared cabin, TNK fee not includedGuide in English · 09:30Without TNK entrance fee, includes pickup

Private cabin, TNK entrance fee not includedGuide in English · 09:30Without TNK entrance ticket, includes pickup

Private cabin, with the TNK fee includedGuide in English · 09:30Private cabin for 2 people per room, includes pickup

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except Thursday and SaturdayDeparts at 09:30

AgesUp to age 75

GroupUp to 22 · max 5 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.You can choose from 12 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats available

Operated by CAN Tours

Is this one for you?Book the shared cabin if you are traveling solo or want to meet other travelers and keep the cost down. Choose the private cabin if your group wants its own space. Either way, the three-day length gives you time to reach the outer snorkeling sites like Manta Point and Taka Makasar that shorter trips skip, and the boat's schedule means you do not need to arrange separate transport between islands.

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Top questions

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What is the Komodo dragon hike actually like on day two?

A ranger from Komodo Island meets your group and leads you on foot through the habitat where the dragons live in the wild. You keep a safe distance for photos and follow the ranger's instructions throughout. It is not a long trek, but you are walking in the open heat of the day.

Can I snorkel every day, or are some stops just for swimming?

Snorkeling is possible at most stops: Manjarite, Pink Beach, Manta Point and Taka Makasar all have reefs and fish. Kelor Island and Siaba Island are better for swimming and wading, though you can snorkel there too. The guide will tell you the conditions at each site when you arrive.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear?

No. Snorkeling equipment is included and provided on board the boat. Bring a towel and sunscreen. The boat has fresh water for rinsing off salt.

What are the cabin options, and what is the difference between them?

You can book a shared cabin with other passengers or a private cabin for your group. The national park entrance fee can be added to either option at checkout, or you can pay it separately when the boat arrives at the park.

How much time do you actually spend in the water each day?

Most days include two to three snorkeling or swimming stops, each lasting roughly an hour depending on conditions and how long you want to stay in the water. The boat moves between sites, so you are not in the water all day, and there is time to rest, eat and explore on foot at some stops.

What happens if the weather is rough on one of the three days?

The Pinishi is a sturdy wooden sailing boat designed for these waters, but the guide will adjust the day's stops if conditions make a site unsafe. The boat will find a sheltered anchorage each night.