Komodo Island: Ultimate Guide To Komodo National Park

Komodo Island in Indonesia is considered one of the 7 New Wonders of the Natural World for good reason. On the group of islands that make up the National Park, you will find unspoiled landscapes, crystal clear waters, and some of the world's most fascinating creatures.

There's never been a better time to book a Komodo Island trip to rediscover the wonders of Mother Nature.

What makes Komodo Island so famous

When you hear the word “Komodo” you may think of the famous Komodo Dragon, the largest lizard in the world. Yes, these fascinating animals are indeed native to the Indonesian islands.

Komodo National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has a unique natural habitat that is home to many fascinating animal and plant species and is characterized by volcanic cliffs, coral reefs, and beaches of pink sand.

Where is Komodo Island

Komodo Island, Pulau Komodo in Indonesian, is in the south of Indonesia among the Lesser Sunda Islands. It sits between the larger islands of East Nusa Tenggara and West Nusa Tenggara. It is the largest of a number of islands that sit in this gap, including Rinca Island, Padar Island, and Banta Island. They are all considered part of Komodo National Park and are often referred to collectively as Komodo Island, despite them being a group of islands.

If you're visiting, you'll usually stay in East Nusa Tenggara, in the northern region known as Labuan Bajo on Flores Island. Many Komodo tour companies operate from this peninsula as a day or multiple-day trips.

How to Get to Komodo Island

To make your way to Komodo Island, you need to head to Labuan Bajo on Flores, where you can fly directly into the small airport (LBJ). There are flights from airports around the country, including Bali, Lombok, Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar, and Kupang.

From Labuan Bajo, you will find multiple companies and boats that operate Komodo National Park tours. You can only visit the National Park as part of an organized and guided Komodo Islands tour. I recommend taking at least a full-day trip out to Komodo National Park. This one day tour regularly sells out!

If you've got more time, multiple-day trips are great to fully appreciate the National Park and have enough time to see the highlights while taking time to snorkel with manta rays and turtles, hike Padar Island lookout, and so much more.

There are a limited number of Komodo Island tours from Bali, but if you're limited on time, have a look at this tour. The tour will include a return flight between Bali and Labuan Bajo Airport rather than a direct boat. If you have at least 1 or 2 nights, I'd prefer to find accommodation in Labuan Bajo rather than book a Bali to Komodo Island day trip.

Your last option is to take a liveaboard trip from Lombok to Labuan Bajo, which typically takes 2 or 3 nights. This way, you get to experience all the highlights and more, plus you will also save on flights and time spent at the airport.

Where to Stay on Komodo Island: The Best Labuan Bajo Hotels

When visiting Komodo Island, you will need to stay at a hotel in nearby Labuan Bajo. When you search Komodo Island hotels, you will automatically be directed here as it's the only place near Komodo where you can actually stay in a hotel or guesthouse.

If you book an overnight trip to the National Park, you will stay on a boat. These are often referred to as Komodo Liveaboard accommodations and provide shared bunk beds or small individual cabins, depending on your price range.

($$$) Ayana Komodo Waecicu Beach

This five-star hotel is directly on the Waecicu beachfront and has complete amenities, including a fitness center, swimming pool, and kids' club. The views are spectacular from everywhere in the hotel, but especially from the long deck that stretches hundreds of meters into the sea.

Check availability & best rates

($$) Elang Hillside Bamboo Villas

Stay in a traditional stilted bungalow supported by a luxury hotel complex. Relax in the outdoor swimming pool, grab a drink in the shared lounge, and enjoy your choice of Asian or American breakfast.

Check availability & best rates

($) Seaesta Komodo Hostel & Hotel

This quality budget accommodation is less than one kilometer from Wae Rana Beach. Choose between hostel rooms and four-star hotel rooms, all of which can access the outdoor swimming pool, fitness center, and games room.

Check availability & best rates

Day Tours from Labuan Bajo vs Multi-Day Komodo Sailing Trip

You can book a Komodo Island tour with one of the dozens of tourism companies operating out of Labuan Bajo on Flores. If you are short on time, there are Komodo Island boat tour day trips that touch on the highlights.

But the best options are multi-day sailing Komodo trips. Most will offer accommodation on the boat itself. There is very limited bungalow accommodation on Komodo dragons island itself and it is usually reserved for VIPs and film crews.

You can expect a single-day trip, like this option on Viator, to take about 8 hours and include trekking to see the Komodo dragons, exploring the volcanic landscapes on Padar Island, and multiple swimming and snorkelling stops, including Manta Point and Komodo Island Pink Beach.

Visiting Komodo National Park on a four-day trip like this option, you can expect additional experiences such as trekking on Kelor Island and Rinca Island and meeting the flying foxes at sunset on Kalong Island. You will also jump into Cunca Wuland Waterfall, visit Rangko fishing town, and explore the gorgeous Rangko Cave.

Komodo Island Entrance Fee

There is an entrance fee to visit Komodo National Park that is used to help maintain the environment.

There are different fees depending on where you visit and the activities that you participate in. For example, treks cost between IDR400,000-450,000 (US$27-30), and snorkelling fees range between IDR500,000-600,000 (US$33-40). Tour companies will usually calculate their fees for tourism activities and include the entrance fee to the National Park in the overall price.

In late 2022, the Indonesian government was talking about raising fees to IDR3,750,000 (US$90) per person, which would limit the number of people visiting tremendously! This did not happen following protests, but there is an expectation that prices could rise again in the near future. Maybe better to plan your trip to Komodo Island sooner than later!

Things to do in Komodo Island National Park

There are scores of amazing places to visit and things to experience in Komodo National Park. Below are the best of the best that I think should be at the top of your list!

Spot a Komodo Dragon

No visit to Komodo National Park would be complete without seeing the giant lizards. The largest colonies of Komodo dragons are, in fact, on Rinca Island and there are guided tours with a park ranger that will give you a good view of the dragons from a safe distance. They can be ferocious!

Hike Padar Island

Padar Island is the third largest in the National Park archipelago and is famous for its volcanic terrain piercing the sky and giving excellent views out over the surrounding clear water. You will see the island's white, black, and pink sand beaches, so you can choose your next swimming spot.

Relax on a Pink Sand Beach

Komodo National Park is known for its spectacular pink beaches, resulting from white sand mixing with red coral. No filters are needed to capture the contrast of the aqua-blue waters meeting the shores of the baby-pink sands.

Snorkelling in Komodo National Park

Komodo dragons are not the only fascinating creatures to call these islands home. Scuba diving in the waters, you will find giant manta rays, sea turtles, and fascinating tropical fish living in the colorful coral. Your boat will take you to Manta Point, located just northeast of Komodo Island, where you can dive with large squadrons of manta rays.

Visit Komodo Village

You will find the locals who live on the Komodo Islands make a living through fishing and making handicrafts. A visit to the village is a refreshing way to return to life's simpler things.

Get stranded on a Sandbar

There are scores of tiny islands of white sand in the water between the main islands. Some are only big enough for a couple of people to sit together and many disappear with the high tide. Your boat can drop you off for a lonely swim.

Rangko Cave

Rangko Cave is on the very edge of the National Park near Labuan Bajo and is an amazing hiding place. The water within the cave is so salty that you will float effortlessly on the water.

Experience a Bat Cauldron

There are many beautiful places to see sunsets in the National Park. Expect skies of orange, gold, and pink. But if you park your boat near a mangrove, you can see a cauldron of fruit bats exploding into the sky. Stay up late into the evening to see the stars, which shine bright with very little light pollution in the area.

Cunca Waterfall

When you are back in Labuan Bajo, you can visit the stunning Cunca Falls. The crisp water falls into a dark blue lagoon that is surrounded by greenery, creating a secluded paradise.

Komodo Sailing Trip

A tour of Komodo National Park will inevitably involve a sailing trip, as it is the only way to get to the islands. But this relaxing way of island hopping with stops on small islands and dive sites is one of the highlights and a memorable experience of the Komodo, along with seeing all the main attractions.

Komodo Island: Ultimate Guide to Komodo National Park – Frequently Asked Questions

⭐ Is Komodo Island worth visiting?

Komodo Island is one of the most beautiful and untouched places on the planet. It is still considered off the beaten track when it comes to tourism, so it still feels like a genuine adventure.

✔️ Is Komodo Island open for tourism in 2023?

Komodo Island is open year-round. Prices were supposed to be raised in early 2023 as part of reopening after COVID, but they remain the same for now. We'll keep this article up to date to reflect any changes.

☀️ What is the best time of year to visit Komodo Island?

Komodo Island, just like Bali, has a tropical climate with a dry and wet season. I recommend the autumn months between April and June for the best time to visit Komodo Island for clear waters and comfortable temperatures. The rainy season is between December and March.

📅 How many days do you need to see Komodo National Park?

You need at least two days to see the best of Komodo National Park. Three days and two nights is the ideal time to spend exploring. Add an extra night if joining the boat tour from Lombok to Komodo.

❓ Are you able to visit Komodo Island on your own or do you need a local guide?

For the protection of you and the unique environment, Komodo Island can only be visited as part of an organized tour. Many authorized companies operate out of Labuan Bajo in Flores.

🏨 Can you stay on Komodo Island itself?

Accommodation on Komodo Island itself is very limited and usually only available for VIPs and film crews. Look for places to stay at Labuan Bajo on Flores Island.

🐉 Is Komodo Island safe to visit?

Komodo Island is safe to visit as long as you take care of the rocky terrain (wear good hiking shoes!) and give the native animals, especially the Komodo dragons, their space.

Ultimate Guide to Komodo National Park – Final Words

If you are looking to discover one of the best islands in Indonesia and experience Mother Nature, then I highly recommend you book yourself a visit to Komodo National Park.

While it is most famous for being the home of the largest lizard in the world, the Komodo dragon, this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to what is on offer. Visiting Komodo is an amazing experience and you will surely see unique vegetation and animals, incredible marine life, and twinkling stars as far as the eye can see when the sun goes down.