Where to stay in Labuan Bajo?
The recommended accommodation in the top segment (especially for families or for a peaceful stay) is Villa Domanik. While on a walking distance from the city centre, this peaceful resort is far from the city buzz and is located on a hill facing mountains and the sea.
Recommended accommodations in the mid-budget segment are Seaesta Komodo Hostel & Hotel and Wae Molas Hotel, while in the low-budget segment we recommend Ciao Hostel.
How to get to Labuan Bajo?
The gateway to Flores is Bali. There are frequent flights from Denpassar (Bali) to Labuan Bajo and it takes ± 1 hour. You can book both your international flight to Bali as well as domestic flights Labuan Bajo via Skyscanner. Since recently, there are also direct flights to Labuan Bajo from Makassar, Sulawesi! Consider booking a window seat to enjoy the beautiful view when approaching Flores.
An adventurous way to get to Labuan Bajo from Gili island is by boat, and the standard boat tour takes 4 Days. We only recommend this option for low budget travellers that have plenty of time, because the facilities onboard are very basic. Most travellers prefer to fly from Gili to Labuan Bajo via Denpassar (there are no direct flights).
What is included in the Komodo Tour?
Included: transfer service to/from harbour, private boat, guide & boat staff, snorkelling gear, meals, mineral water
excluded: entrance fee to Komodo National park, alcohol & soft drinks, voluntary tips
What is the entrance fee to Komodo National Park?
According to the default itineraries for the 2D, 3D and 4D Komodo Tours, each passenger needs an entrance ticket for 2 days. The reason the entrance fees are excluded from the tour price is that sometimes we need to change the itinerary due to weather conditions and we do not want to overcharge you unnecessarily beforehand.
The extra price for the entrance fees for the 3D2N Komodo Tour is 620.000 IDR per person for regular days (in total for the entire tour), and 750.000 IDR per person for national holidays.
Do children get a discount for the Komodo Tour?
Yes, discounts apply for children of 5 years and younger:
- Children of 1 year and younger don't pay anything for the entire Komodo Tour.
- Children of 5 years and younger get a free entrance to the National Park.
What are the safety measures on board?
Safety is the number one priority with the livaboard Komodo Tours.
We tailor the tour itinerary to the weather/sea conditions. In case these conditions at some sites are too wild according to the captain, we visit the site on a different time/day or skip it and visit other sites instead.There are life jackets on board for all passengers.There is radio communication on board.
Is the Komodo tour safe for children?
While it is common that visitors do the tour with infants, we recommend to be cautious with children under 3 years if you have no experience with boat trips together with your young children.
Bigger children usually love the Komodo tour. However, because kids are usually more sensitive to the heat, we advice to always book a boat with AC (as is the case with the boats we use).
Does the crew speak English?
We only work with English speaking, licensed guides that will join you throughout the tour. The cook and captain on board usually don't speak English well.
Do I share the boat with other visitors?
No. All our tours are private which means that you are the only ones on board together with your own private staff. Therefore the itineraries are not set in stone and we happily accommodate your wishes in a tailored itinerary.
When does the tour start/end?
Because of the private nature of our tours, we will start the tour whenever you arrive in Labuan Bajo or whenever you wish to be picked up from your accommodation in Labuan Bajo, as long as it is before noon.
The tour end is also flexible. The tour usually ends around noon, but we can stretch it in case you have a late flight or drop you of earlier at the airport in case you have an early flight.
What's the best period to visit Komodo National Park?
The weather is usually best and the sea is most calm from the beginning of May to the end of October.
Between November and March - and especially in December and January - the weather can sometimes be in bad conditions. We have a zero-risk policy and therefore the itinerary may be adjusted based on the weather.
However, these winter months are the best period for seeing large groups of Manta Rays. The emphasis is on "large groups", as individual Manta Rays can usually be seen throughout the year.
What is the payment process?
A small online pre-payment is required to confirm your booking request. The outstanding amount is usually paid in cash upon arrival. Alternatively - and only if you wish - the outstanding balance can be transferred in advance to our guide's Indonesian bank account.
In case you wish to pay the outstanding balance in advance, we recommend using TransferWise .
This is an increasingly popular payment platform among Western travellers for payments to non-Western countries, because international transfers via bank or PayPal usually use unfavourable currency exchange rates on top of the commissions. You can create a Transferwise account here ; the confirmation process takes a few days. Just contact us for the bank details.
BOOKING PROCEDURE
Before booking, please contact us to confirm availability. When confirmed, the boat will be blocked for 24 hours within which you should submit your booking request below.