3-Day Komodo Island Sailing Tour: Deluxe Phinisi Private Cabin

Three days anchored between islands: Pink Beach, Padar's three-colored bays, Komodo dragons, and manta rays from the water

A 3-day sailing tour of Komodo National Park aboard the Bale Laut Liveaboard, a traditional Indonesian Deluxe Phinisi with private cabin accommodation. You sail between Flores and Komodo islands, stopping at Pink Beach, Padar Island, Kalong Island, Manta Point, and smaller anchorages for snorkeling and wildlife viewing. Hotel pickup and drop-off in Labuan Bajo, an English-speaking guide, snorkeling gear, and meals are included; Komodo National Park entrance fees are added at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Visit Kelor, Manjarite, Kalong Islands

• Hike Kelor Island viewpoint
• Relax and swim at Kelor beaches
• Snorkel at Manjarite Island
• Enjoy lunch and refreshments on board
• Observe bats flying at Kalong Island at dusk

Day 2 — Explore Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo, Manta

• Visit Padar Island and view beaches
• Relax at Pink Beach
• See Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island
• Snorkel or dive at Manta Point
• Swim at shallow Taka Makassar Island

Day 3 — Relax and snorkel at Kanawa Island

• Snorkel on Kanawa Island coral reefs
• Climb hill for panoramic views
• Admire sunset over Sangeang volcano

The Experience

You board the Deluxe Phinisi in Labuan Bajo and spend three nights living on the boat, waking to a different anchorage each morning. The first day takes you to Kelor Island—a 15-minute hike to views across the Flores Sea—then Manjarite Island, where the shallow greenish water (3–5 meters deep) holds clownfish, scorpionfish, angelfish and blue ribbon eels visible from the surface. By dusk you reach Kalong Island, where thousands of bats leave the mangrove forest in a coordinated flight to hunt on neighboring islands, a natural show that repeats at dawn when they return.

Day two is the centerpiece. Padar Island rises as savannah-covered peaks ringed by three turquoise bays, each with sand a different color—white, black, and the rare baby pink that gives Pink Beach its name. The pink comes from Foraminifera, microscopic animals that produce red pigment on the coral reefs; when their fragments mix with white sand, the shoreline turns soft rose. You swim and snorkel here, then move to Manta Point, where manta rays (about 3 meters across) pass through peacefully, and Taka Makassar, a shallow sandbank smaller than a soccer field where the water is so clear and calm it feels like a swimming pool. The boat's crew prepares meals and refreshments at anchor while you're in the water.

The final day brings you to Kanawa Island, known for white sand beaches and coral reefs where dolphins, stingrays, turtles and starfish live. You can climb the small hill for a panoramic view over the bay and watch the sunset over Sangeang volcano before returning to Labuan Bajo. Snorkeling equipment, mineral water, snacks and fruit are provided throughout; your guide speaks English and coordinates all timing so you move between stops without arranging transport yourself.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Labuan Bajo.
• three nights accommodation in a private cabin aboard the Deluxe Phinisi.
• English-speaking guide.
• snorkeling equipment.
• mineral water, soda, snacks and fresh fruit throughout the cruise.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Bale Laut Lombok Tour Organizer

Is this one for you?The 3-day itinerary gives you time to anchor at five separate stops and snorkel multiple reefs without rushing between them—the boat's schedule holds the timing so you move with the tides and light, not a clock. Choose this length if you want to see Padar, Pink Beach, manta rays and Komodo Island in one trip without adding a fourth day.

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Top questions

What exactly is Pink Beach and why is it that color?

Pink Beach on Komodo Island gets its striking rose hue from microscopic animals called Foraminifera that produce red pigment on the coral reefs. When tiny fragments of red coral combine with white sand, the result is the soft pink color visible along the shoreline—one of only seven pink beaches on the planet.

Will I see Komodo dragons on this tour?

Komodo Island is home to the Komodo dragon, the largest living species of lizard, growing to an average length of 2 to 3 meters. The island is part of Komodo National Park, which provides refuge for these creatures and many other terrestrial species including Timor deer and endemic birds.

What happens at Kalong Island and when is the best time to visit?

Kalong Island is named after the thousands of bats that live there in mangrove forest. The best time to visit is during dusk, when the bats fly out in large groups to hunt on neighboring islands—a natural formation you can also see early in the morning as they return to their homes.

Can I snorkel every day, and what will I see underwater?

Snorkeling is included at multiple stops. Manjarite Island has shallow water (3–5 meters deep) with clownfish, scorpionfish, angelfish and blue ribbon eels. Kanawa Island's coral reefs host dolphins, stingrays, turtles and starfish. Taka Makassar offers shallow, calm water similar to a swimming pool with clear turquoise color.

How do I get picked up, and what's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Labuan Bajo is included, along with accommodation on the Deluxe Phinisi, an English-speaking guide, snorkeling equipment, mineral water, soda, snacks and fruit. Komodo National Park entrance fees are added at checkout.

What is Padar Island like, and why is it special?

Padar Island is mostly savannah-covered with surreal peaks fringed by bright green-capped mountains. It is surrounded by three turquoise bays, each with a different colored beach—one pearly white, one charcoal black, and one baby pink—a rare combination found nowhere else.