Komodo 3 Days Private Boat: Dragons, Pink Beach & Manta Rays

Three days on a private boat hunting Komodo dragons and manta rays

You board a private boat in Labuan Bajo and spend three days sailing through Komodo National Park, hiking to see Komodo dragons on Rinca and Komodo islands, snorkeling at Pink Beach and Manta Point, and watching flying foxes at sunset from Kalong Island. You sleep in an AC cabin each night, eat meals cooked on deck, and return to Labuan Bajo on the afternoon of day three with snorkeling gear and a guide included.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1: Labuan Bajo to Kalong Island

• Sail to Kelor Island
• Hike to island top viewpoint
• Lunch on boat at Kelor Island
• Relax, swim, and snorkel
• Head to Rinca Island
• See Komodo dragons and wildlife
• Sail to Kalong Island
• Watch flying foxes at sunset
• Dinner and overnight on boat

Day 2: Padar, Komodo, Pink Beach, Punya

• Breakfast on boat sailing to Padar Island
• Trek 30 minutes on Padar Island
• Visit Komodo Island for wildlife
• Snorkel or relax at Pink Beach
• Sail to Punya Island
• Dinner and overnight on boat

Day 3: Taka Makasar to Labuan Bajo

• Breakfast on boat sailing to Taka Makasar
• Swim and snorkel at Taka Makasar
• Sail to Manta Point
• Swim and snorkel with manta rays
• Visit Siaba Island for swimming
• Sail to Kanawa Island
• Swim and snorkel at Kanawa Island
• Sail back to Labuan Bajo

The experience

The boat leaves Labuan Bajo at dawn, and within hours you're standing on Kelor Island watching the water turn from turquoise to deep blue as smaller islands fade behind you. Your guide points out Rinca Island in the distance (that's where the dragons are), but first there's the hike up Kelor's ridge, maybe thirty minutes, and then lunch cooked fresh on deck while you float in crystal water. The snorkeling here is quiet. Small fish scatter as you move through the shallows, and the reef below is still intact enough that you can see why people come back.

Afternoon takes you to Rinca Island itself, where the real work starts. A ranger meets you at the beach (this is Komodo National Park, so there are rules), and you walk inland looking for the dragons. They're not always visible. Sometimes you see tracks, sometimes you see nothing but deer and wild boar and the heat pressing down. When you do spot one, it's smaller than you expected, or larger, depending on the angle and the light. The boat anchors that night at Kalong Island, and at sunset thousands of flying foxes pour out of the trees like smoke, heading to the mainland to feed. Dinner is on board, in the AC cabin where you'll sleep.

Day two starts with breakfast while sailing to Padar Island. The thirty-minute trek up the ridge rewards you with three bays visible at once: white sand, turquoise water, the kind of view that makes the climb feel necessary. Then it's on to Komodo Island proper, where the dragons are more reliably spotted, and after that the Pink Beach, where the sand really does have a pinkish tint from crushed coral and shell. You can snorkel or just lie there. The third day brings Manta Point, where you might swim alongside the rays if conditions are right, and Taka Makassar, a white sandbank that appears and disappears with the tide. By afternoon you're back in Labuan Bajo, salt-dried and tired in the way that means something happened.

The boat has air conditioning in the cabins, which matters when you're sleeping on deck in the tropics. Your guide speaks English and knows the park well enough to read the animals' behavior, not just point at them. Snorkeling gear is included, though you can bring your own. The minimum is two people, so you're not paying for a solo charter, but you're also not crammed into a tour boat with thirty others. Meals are cooked on board. Nothing fancy, but hot and enough. If you're booking this, aim for the dry season, May to September. The seas are calmer and the dragons more active.

What’s included

• Professional English-speaking guide for all three days.
• two nights accommodation in an air-conditioned cabin on the boat.
• all meals prepared on board (breakfast, lunch, and dinner).
• snorkeling equipment.
• visits to Kelor Island, Rinca Island, Padar Island, Komodo Island, Pink Beach, Kalong Island, Manta Point, Taka Makassar, Siaba Island, Punya Island, and Kanawa Island.
• return transport to Labuan Bajo on day three.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 09:30

Book up to2d before

AgesAdult (20 to 60 years) · Child (3 to 19 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Paid on siteUS$ 25

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyNot recommended with heart problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bintang Komodo Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Komodo dragons and explore the national park without arranging a guide, boat, meals or snorkeling gear separately. The private boat means you control the pace and stops, and sleeping on board keeps you in the park for all three days instead of commuting from town.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 19 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the minimum group size for this trip?

Two people. Smaller groups are possible but the price is based on a minimum of two travelers.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear?

No, snorkeling equipment is included. You can bring your own if you prefer.

Where do I sleep at night?

In an AC cabin on the boat. You spend both nights aboard, anchored at Kalong Island on night one and Punya Island on night two.

Will I definitely see Komodo dragons?

Rinca Island and Komodo Island are their habitat, so sightings are likely but not guaranteed. The guides know where to look, but the dragons are wild animals and their movements vary.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes an English-speaking guide, two nights in an AC cabin, all meals on board, and snorkeling equipment. Park entry fees are separate.

How much hiking is involved?

There are three short hikes: about thirty minutes up Kelor Island, thirty minutes up Padar Island, and a ranger-led walk on Rinca or Komodo Island to look for dragons. None are strenuous.

What's the best time to book this tour?

May through September is the dry season, when seas are calmer and dragons are more active. Outside this window, weather can be rougher and visibility lower.