Komodo National Park: 3-Day Sailing & Snorkeling from Labuan Bajo

Three Days Sailing Komodo: Pink Beach, Dragons & Manta Rays

You board a pinisi sailing ship in Labuan Bajo and spend three days visiting nine destinations across Komodo National Park: climbing Padar Island at sunrise, swimming at Pink Beach, hiking to see Komodo dragons with a ranger, snorkeling with manta rays, and anchoring at remote islands. Meals, snorkeling gear, and accommodation on the ship are included; the schedule gets you back to port by late morning on day three, leaving time for an afternoon departure.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Meet, Kelor, Manjarite, Kalong Rinca

• 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 climb hill
• Swim and relax on Kelor Island
• Enjoy lunch on boat to Manjarite
• Swim and snorkel at Manjarite
• Watch bats fly at Kalong Rinca at dusk
• Dinner on board after sunset

Day 2 — Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo, Manta, Taka Makasar

• Climb Padar Island hill at sunrise
• Enjoy breakfast on boat
• Visit Pink Beach and swim
• Explore Komodo Island with ranger
• Return to boat and sail to Manta Point
• Swim with manta rays and take photos
• Visit Taka Makasar for swimming and snorkeling
• Enjoy sunset party on board
• Dinner on board at shelter

Day 3 — Siaba Island and Return

• Dock at Siaba Island in morning
• Swim with colorful fish
• Enjoy morning snacks and breakfast on boat
• Sail back to Labuan Bajo
• Arrive at pier around 11:00
• Transfer to airport or hotel

The Experience

You'll feel it the moment the pinisi ship leaves the harbor at Labuan Bajo — that pull between curiosity and calm, knowing you're about to see something most people only read about. Three days and two nights on the water around Komodo National Park means nine stops, each one a different kind of wonder. The itinerary moves you through Kelor Island first, where a 100-meter hill gives you the whole seascape at once, then into Manjarite for your first snorkel among coral and thousands of small fish. By evening you're anchored near Kalong Island, watching thousands of fruit bats lift off as the sun drops — the kind of moment that stays with you.

Day two is the one people talk about afterward. You climb Padar Island at dawn, stone stairs all the way, and the view from the top shows you three different colored beaches on three sides of the island at once. After breakfast on deck, you're at Pink Beach, where the sand actually looks rose-colored because of crushed red coral — you can swim there, snorkel, or just sit with a young coconut. Then comes Komodo Island itself. A ranger meets you and walks the group through the wild to see the dragons up close; they're real, they're four meters long, and you keep your distance. Manta Point comes next, and if the water's clear and you're lucky, you'll be in the frame with several manta rays while a guide films it underwater. The day ends at Taka Makasar, a sandbar that's being worn away by waves, where you can snorkel the coral or watch the sunset before the sunset party starts on the ship.

The final morning takes you to Siaba Island, where you swim in clear water with dozens of fish species moving around you, then breakfast and snacks on the boat as you sail back to Labuan Bajo, arriving around 11 a.m. The ship is your accommodation for all three nights — you get the same cabin the whole time, and the crew handles meals and explanations about what comes next. Snorkeling equipment is included, so you don't pack your own. Hotel pickup happens on day one, and the timing is built so you can catch an afternoon flight if you need to, or stay another night in town.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup on day one.
• accommodation on the pinisi ship for two nights.
• all meals during the trip.
• snorkeling equipment.
• entry to Komodo National Park.
• ranger-guided hike on Komodo Island.
• underwater photography service at Manta Point.
• documentation during the trip.
• air-conditioned vehicle for transfers.

Good to know

Easy physical levelInfant seats availableNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by CAN Tours

Is this one for you?Right for travelers who want to see Komodo's main attractions — dragons, manta rays, and remote islands — without arranging boats, park permits, or meals separately; the three-day schedule and fixed itinerary handle all the logistics so you just show up at the hotel pickup.

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Top questions

What's included in the 3-day Komodo sailing trip?

Accommodation on the pinisi ship for two nights, all meals, snorkeling equipment, hotel pickup on day one, and entry to Komodo National Park. A ranger accompanies the Komodo Island visit.

How many stops are there, and what can you do at each one?

Nine destinations across three days. You climb Padar Island, swim and snorkel at Pink Beach and Manjarite, hike to see Komodo dragons on Komodo Island, snorkel with manta rays at Manta Point, watch bats at Kalong Island, and swim at Kelor Island, Taka Makasar, and Siaba Island.

What time does the ship return to Labuan Bajo?

Around 11 a.m. on the morning of day three, which allows time for an afternoon flight or a hotel stay.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling gear?

No. Snorkeling equipment is provided and included in the trip.

Is there a guide on Komodo Island?

Yes. A park ranger meets the group and accompanies you while viewing the Komodo dragons in the wild. You must follow the ranger's instructions and keep a safe distance.

What happens if I want to stay longer in Labuan Bajo?

The ship arrives back at the harbor by 11 a.m., so you can go directly to a hotel if you're staying another night instead of catching a flight.

What's the Pink Beach, and why is it pink?

Pink Beach is the longest beach in the Labuan Bajo area. The sand appears pink because it contains fragments of red coral reefs that have been eroded by waves into red sand grains.