Labuan Bajo, a harbor town on the western tip of Flores in East Nusa Tenggara, is the gateway to Komodo National Park, home of the Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. From a sleepy fishing port it has grown into one of Indonesia’s “super-priority” tourism destinations, with a new waterfront, hotels on the hills and a bay full of traditional wooden phinisi schooners waiting to take visitors among the park’s islands: Komodo and Rinca for the dragons, Padar for its famous three-bay viewpoint, pink-sand beaches, and some of the richest coral reefs and manta-ray dives on Earth. The park, founded in 1980 and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1991, is managed by the Ministry of Forestry, which sells tickets through its own app and sets quotas and strict rules. Labuan Bajo is one of the driest corners of Indonesia, and the best time to visit is from April to November, when the seas are calmer and the hills turn golden.
Right now in Labuan Bajo (Komodo) (Labuan Bajo)
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Top tours in Labuan Bajo (Komodo)
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Labuan Bajo at a glance
- Best for: Komodo dragons, island boat trips, snorkeling and diving with manta rays, viewpoints, sunsets over the bay and overland trips into Flores.
- How long: 3–4 days for a two-day boat trip and the town; 5–7 with diving or Flores.
- Best time: April to November, the dry season; July to September is busiest.
- Getting there: Komodo Airport (LBJ) has direct flights from Bali in about 1 hour 15 minutes and from Jakarta.
- Getting around: walking and short motorbike or car rides in town; boats, from day speedboats to liveaboards, in the park.
- Good to know: park entry is booked through the official SiOra app or website, and you must stay with rangers on the dragon islands.
- Before you go: visas, the arrival card, money and general safety are in our Indonesia travel guide; see also our Bali guide.
Labuan Bajo’s areas and where to stay
The town spreads along the bay and up the steep hills behind it, with sunset views over the islands from almost everywhere. Distances are short, but streets are steep.
The harbor and Jalan Soekarno-Hatta
The main street runs along the waterfront past the harbor, the new marina and promenade, dive shops, tour agencies, restaurants and guesthouses. Busy, convenient and walkable.
The hills above town
Hotels and villas climb the hillsides, with sweeping views over the bay; you’ll need short rides down to the harbor.
Pede Beach and the south
South of town, the coast road leads to Pede Beach and resort hotels with private beaches and pools.
Waecicu and the north
North of the airport, beachfront resorts face small islands; quieter, about 10–15 minutes from town.
Island resorts
A handful of lodges and resorts sit on islands such as Kanawa, Seraya and Sebayur, reached by boat; some lie inside or at the edge of the park.
Top things to see around Labuan Bajo
Komodo dragons on Rinca and Komodo
Komodo dragons live only on Komodo, Rinca, the small islands of Gili Motang and Nusa Kode, and parts of western and northern Flores. On Rinca, the closest island, ranger stations at Loh Buaya and Kampung Rinca offer walks of 30 minutes to two hours; on Komodo, longer treks start at Loh Liang. According to the park’s SiOra service, Loh Buaya and Loh Liang are open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Dragons can reach 3 m (10 ft), and the park describes them as wild predators: stay with your ranger at all times, keep your distance, never feed them, and don’t walk away from the group.
Padar Island viewpoint
A climb of 20–40 minutes up stone steps leads to the ridge with Padar’s famous view over three crescent bays of white, black and pink sand. SiOra lists the Padar Selatan gate as open from 5:30 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 5 p.m., to avoid the midday heat, and the park caps each session at 330 visitors. Arrive early for sunrise.
Pink Beach and snorkeling
Several beaches, including Pink Beach on Komodo, owe their color to red coral fragments in the sand. The reefs around them are excellent for snorkeling, as are Kanawa Island, Siaba Besar (Turtle City) and Taka Makassar, a sandbar that appears at low tide.
Manta Point and diving
At Makassar Reef (Manta Point), manta rays glide over the seabed in strong currents, often seen by snorkelers too. Komodo is one of the world’s great dive areas, with sites such as Batu Bolong, Castle Rock and Crystal Rock famous for fish life and currents best suited to experienced divers. The park charges a diving activity fee on top of the entry ticket. See our diving and snorkeling guides.
Kalong Island at sunset
At dusk, thousands of flying foxes leave the mangroves of Kalong Island to feed on Flores; most overnight boat trips anchor nearby to watch.
More classic sights
- Gili Lawa: a hilltop viewpoint in the north of the park, open in the early morning and late afternoon.
- Batu Cermin: a limestone cave on the edge of town, where sunlight reflects off the rock at midday.
- Bukit Sylvia and Amelia Hill: sunset viewpoints over the bay, a short drive from town.
- Puncak Waringin: a city viewpoint with a crafts center.
- Cunca Wulang: a canyon with waterfalls and pools in the hills, about an hour inland.
Other things to do in Labuan Bajo
Boat trips into the park
There are three main ways to see the park: a day trip by speedboat, which typically covers Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo or Rinca, Manta Point and Taka Makassar in a long day; an overnight trip on a phinisi or wooden boat, with a night anchored off Kalong and a sunrise climb of Padar; and multi-day liveaboards for divers. Choose licensed operators with life jackets, a radio and enough crew, and confirm whether park tickets are included. See our boat trips guide.
Food and drink
Labuan Bajo’s evening fish market along the waterfront grills snapper, squid and lobster to order. Try ikan kuah asam (sour fish soup), se’i (smoked meat from East Nusa Tenggara) and Flores coffee from Manggarai’s highlands. The main street has Italian, Indonesian and seafood restaurants and rooftop bars with sunset views. Drink only labeled alcohol.
Culture in Manggarai
Western Flores is the land of the Manggarai people, mostly Catholic (Easter and Christmas are major celebrations), with traditional villages, spider-web rice fields (lingko) around Ruteng and ikat weaving. Caci, a ritual whip-fighting dance, is performed at festivals and for visitors.
Day trips from Labuan Bajo
- Komodo National Park: the classic day trip by speedboat, or overnight on a phinisi.
- Wae Rebo: a mountain village of conical drum houses, an overnight trip with a 3–4-hour hike from Denge, about 5–6 hours’ drive away.
- Ruteng and the spider-web rice fields: the cool highland town and the lingko fields at Cancar, about 3–4 hours east.
- Kelimutu: the three colored crater lakes of central Flores, best as part of an overland trip across the island.
- Rangko Cave: a sea cave with a saltwater pool, reached by boat and a short walk.
Getting there and getting around
By air
Komodo Airport (LBJ), on the edge of town, has several daily flights from Bali (about 1 hour 15 minutes) and direct flights from Jakarta, with some international routes. The harbor is 5–10 minutes away by taxi, and many hotels offer pickups. Flights in eastern Indonesia are sometimes disrupted by ash from volcanoes; in early October 2026, PVMBG listed Lewotobi Laki-laki, in eastern Flores, at Level II (Waspada).
By sea and overland
Pelni ships and ASDP ferries link Labuan Bajo with Sape on Sumbawa and other ports, and multi-day boat trips sail between Lombok and Labuan Bajo through the islands; check safety standards carefully. The Trans-Flores Highway runs east to Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, Moni (for Kelimutu) and Maumere; private drivers are the usual way to travel it.
In town and in the park
Town is small enough to walk, though hilly. Ojek (motorbike taxis), local taxis and hotel shuttles fill the gaps. All visits to the park are by boat, arranged through hotels, licensed agencies or dive operators at the harbor.
Park tickets, quotas and rules
Komodo National Park sells all entry tickets through SiOra, the park’s official e-ticketing app and website (siora.id), with cashless payment by bank transfer, virtual account or e-wallet; only visitors with a SiOra QR e-ticket may enter, and tickets are scanned at the Komodo Visitor Center in Labuan Bajo and at gates on Rinca, Komodo, Padar and Gili Lawa. According to SiOra’s tariff list, which follows Government Regulation 36 of 2024 on non-tax state revenue, the regular entry ticket is 250,000 rupiah (about US$14) per day for foreign visitors and 50,000 rupiah for Indonesians, with a diving activity fee of 25,000 rupiah, a drone fee of 2,000,000 rupiah, and daily boat entrance fees by engine size. SiOra also sets session quotas, currently up to 1,000 visitors per session for the park and 330 for Padar Selatan. Refunds after payment are possible only for force majeure. Tour operators usually buy tickets for their guests; check what your price includes. Local ranger and guide fees may be charged separately at the islands.
The park’s rules prohibit ignoring rangers’ instructions, trekking outside operating hours or off marked trails, approaching or feeding wildlife, diving without an instructor or guide, flying drones without a permit, littering, collecting coral, shells or animals, anchoring in shallow water under 30 m (100 ft) or in manta habitats, speeding over dive sites, jet skis and other motorized water toys, fires and cigarette butts, fireworks, loud music near the cockatoo colonies of Kalong Rinca, and dinner set-ups and barbecues on the beaches.
When to go and how long to stay
Labuan Bajo lies in one of the driest parts of Indonesia, with a short, intense rainy season from about December to March and a long dry season when the hills turn brown. BMKG has no published normals for Labuan Bajo, so the temperatures in the table are 1991–2020 averages of BMKG’s observations at Bima, on neighboring Sumbawa, about 130 km (80 miles) to the west, compiled from NOAA’s global daily records; the rain column describes the seasons rather than giving figures, because no official rainfall normals for the town could be read.
| Month | Average high / low (Bima) | Rain | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | Rainy season; heavy showers | Rough seas possible; some boat trips canceled |
| February | 32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | Rainy season | Wettest period; strong winds at times |
| March | 33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | Rainy, easing | Green islands; quieter |
| April | 33 °C (91 °F) / 24 °C (74 °F) | Transition | Lush hills; good diving |
| May | 33 °C (91 °F) / 23 °C (73 °F) | Mostly dry | Excellent month; calm seas |
| June | 32 °C (89 °F) / 22 °C (71 °F) | Dry | Cooler nights; good visibility |
| July | 32 °C (89 °F) / 21 °C (70 °F) | Dry | Peak season; book ahead |
| August | 33 °C (91 °F) / 21 °C (69 °F) | Dry | Peak season; cooler water in the south of the park |
| September | 34 °C (93 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F) | Very dry | Golden hills; busy |
| October | 35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | Very dry; hottest | Hot treks; go early |
| November | 35 °C (95 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | First storms | Good diving; quieter |
| December | 33 °C (92 °F) / 24 °C (76 °F) | Rainy season begins | Holiday crowds over Christmas |
In BMKG’s outlook for the 2026–27 rainy season, a very strong El Niño was expected to delay the start of the rains across most of East Nusa Tenggara to December 2026, with a peak in February 2027 and a shorter season than normal. Water temperatures vary: the north of the park is warmer, while upwellings in the south bring cooler, plankton-rich water that attracts mantas.
3 days in Labuan Bajo
Day one, arrive, visit Batu Cermin and watch sunset from Amelia Hill, then dinner at the fish market. Days two and three, an overnight boat trip: Rinca, Pink Beach, Manta Point and Kalong at sunset, then Padar at sunrise, Komodo and Taka Makassar.
5–7 days with diving or Flores
Add two or three days of diving, or travel overland to Wae Rebo and Ruteng, or across Flores to Kelimutu.
Where to stay in Labuan Bajo
- Harbor area: guesthouses, hostels and mid-range hotels close to boats and restaurants.
- The hills: hotels and villas with bay views.
- Pede Beach and Waecicu: beach resorts a short drive from town.
- Island lodges: remote stays on Kanawa, Seraya or Sebayur.
- Liveaboards: sleep on a phinisi for one or more nights.
Rooms and boats sell out in July, August and around Christmas; book early.
What a trip to Labuan Bajo costs
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about 17,900 rupiah to the US dollar.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Komodo National Park entry, foreign visitor, per day | 250,000 rupiah (about US$14) |
| Diving activity fee | 25,000 rupiah (about US$1.40) |
| Shared speedboat day trip, per person | 1,500,000–2,500,000 rupiah (about US$84–140) |
| Overnight shared boat trip, per person | 2,000,000–5,000,000 rupiah (about US$112–279) |
| Two fun dives with equipment | 1,800,000–2,800,000 rupiah (about US$100–156) |
| Grilled fish at the night market | 50,000–150,000 rupiah (about US$2.80–8.40) |
| Ojek or taxi in town | 20,000–50,000 rupiah (about US$1.10–2.80) |
| Guesthouse double, per night | 300,000–600,000 rupiah (about US$17–34) |
| Hillside hotel double, per night | 800,000–2,000,000 rupiah (about US$45–112) |
| Luxury phinisi charter, per night | from about 20,000,000 rupiah (about US$1,117) |
Practical tips for Labuan Bajo
- Tickets: use the official SiOra app or website, or a licensed operator who includes park tickets.
- Cash: ATMs are in town but not on the islands; boat crews and rangers appreciate tips in cash.
- Start early: Padar’s morning session and the dragon walks are cooler and calmer before 9 a.m.
- Reef-safe: use a rash guard and avoid standing on coral.
- Seasickness: take tablets on speedboats, which can be bumpy.
Safety
Komodo dragons are wild and dangerous: their bite is venomous and they have attacked people, mostly villagers and rangers. Stay with your ranger at all times, keep at least several meters away, don’t make sudden movements, and tell the rangers if you are menstruating or have an open wound. Never feed or approach wildlife. At sea, currents at Batu Bolong, Manta Point and other sites are among the strongest in Indonesia; snorkel only where the crew advises, wear a surface marker and fins, and dive with experienced local operators. Choose boats with life jackets, radios and safety equipment, and avoid unlicensed or overloaded vessels; boats have sunk in bad weather. Heat: treks on Padar and Komodo are hot and exposed; carry water and wear a hat. Medical care in Labuan Bajo is limited, with serious cases flown to Bali, so buy travel insurance with evacuation cover. Avoid unlabeled spirits because of the risk of methanol, and drink bottled water. In an emergency, call 112.
What to pack for Labuan Bajo
A hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard, swimwear, closed-toe shoes for the dragon walks and the Padar climb, sandals, a dry bag, seasickness tablets, a light jacket for overnight boats, insect repellent and enough cash for tips. Indonesia uses 230 V and round two-pin plugs.
Labuan Bajo travel FAQ
How much is the Komodo National Park entry fee?
According to the park’s SiOra system, the regular entry ticket for foreign visitors is 250,000 rupiah (about US$14) per day, with separate fees for diving, drones and boats.
How do I buy Komodo National Park tickets?
Through the official SiOra app or website (siora.id), with cashless payment; most tour operators buy tickets for their guests. Only visitors with a SiOra QR e-ticket can enter.
Is there a quota for Padar Island?
Yes. SiOra lists up to 330 visitors per session at Padar Selatan, which opens from 5:30 to 10 a.m. and from 3 to 5 p.m.
Is it safe to see Komodo dragons?
Yes, if you stay with the park rangers, keep your distance and follow their instructions. Dragons are wild and their bite is dangerous.
How do I get to Labuan Bajo?
By air from Bali in about 1 hour 15 minutes or from Jakarta; there are also ferries and multi-day boat trips from Lombok and Sumbawa.
When is the best time to visit Komodo?
April to November, the dry season, with calmer seas; July to September is the busiest period.
When is the rainy season in Labuan Bajo?
Usually from about December to March. BMKG expected the 2026–27 rains to begin late, around December 2026, because of El Niño.
Day trip or overnight boat in Komodo?
A speedboat day trip covers the highlights in one long day; an overnight boat is more relaxed, with sunset at Kalong and sunrise on Padar.
Can you see manta rays in Komodo?
Yes, at Manta Point (Makassar Reef) and other sites, often from the surface while snorkeling. Sightings vary with the season and currents, so ask operators which sites are best during your visit.
Can I fly a drone in Komodo National Park?
Only with a permit and the park’s drone fee of 2,000,000 rupiah, arranged through SiOra.
Plan your trip
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Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Komodo National Park tickets, fees, quotas, gate hours, rules, refund conditions and the SiOra system: the park’s SiOra service (siora.id) and the Ministry of Forestry’s KSDAE directorate; park history and UNESCO listing: SiOra; Lewotobi Laki-laki’s alert level: PVMBG’s MAGMA Indonesia; the 2026–27 rainy season outlook: BMKG; temperatures: BMKG observations at Bima (Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin Airport) via NOAA GHCN-Daily (1991–2020 averages); exchange rate: Bank Indonesia. Flight times, boat-trip and diving prices, dive sites, manta seasons, travel times in Flores and typical prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Prices and rules change, so check SiOra and your operator before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Indonesia travel guide.
Data: Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch · Rates: ECB · Costs: World Bank ICP and price levels · Wikidata (CC0)