Vinca Voyages

Vinca Voyages is a 31-metre wooden phinisi sailing from Labuan Bajo into Komodo National Park on 3 day 2 night sharing trips. Its six air-conditioned cabins on three decks each have a private bathroom with a hot shower, and every cabin takes a third guest on an extra bed.

The cabins of Vinca Voyages come in three styles, Western, Japanese and Balinese, and the boat has an indoor lounge with a bar, an outdoor relaxation area and an outdoor dining area with a view of the sea. Wi-Fi is included on every trip.

• Length 31 m
• 6 cabins in three styles, each for up to 3 guests
• Private bathrooms with hot showers
• Wi-Fi on board
• Fibreglass speedboat with a 40 hp Yamaha engine

Each pair of cabins on Vinca Voyages has its own style. The Western rooms on the main deck have a classic, comfortable design, the Japanese rooms on the upper deck a calm and minimal one, and the Balinese rooms on the lower deck a cosy Balinese style.

Whatever the style, the comfort is the same: air conditioning, a private bathroom with a hot shower and room for a third guest. That makes Vinca Voyages a good choice for small families and for three friends who want to share a cabin.

All six cabins on Vinca Voyages have air conditioning and a private bathroom with a hot shower, and each takes up to three guests.

Western Rooms. The two Western rooms on the main deck each have a queen bed and a single bed, with a balcony shared with the cabin next door.

Japanese Rooms. The two Japanese rooms on the upper deck each have a queen bed and a single bed, also with a shared balcony.

Balinese Rooms. The two Balinese rooms on the lower deck each take up to three guests and offer the lowest price on Vinca Voyages.

Prices on Vinca Voyages are per person and depend on the cabin. The cabin cards on this page show the current price of every cabin, and the booking form shows which cabins are still free on each departure.

Day 1. Vinca Voyages picks you up at the airport or your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 10:00 and sets sail, with lunch on board. The first stop is Kelor, a small island with a short, steep hike to a wide view of the bay. Next comes Manjarite for the first snorkel, and the day closes at Kalong Island, where thousands of flying foxes rise from the mangroves at sunset.

Day 2. An early start takes the group up Padar Island for the view over three bays, and breakfast follows on board. Vinca Voyages then sails to the Pink Beach for snorkelling and sunbathing and on to Komodo Island, where park rangers guide the walk to see the Komodo dragons. In the afternoon the boat stops at Taka Makassar, a sandbar that appears at low tide, and at Manta Point, where manta rays often feed in the current.

Day 3. After breakfast the trip ends with a snorkel at Siaba or Sebayur, two islands with shallow reefs; Siaba is known for its green turtles. Vinca Voyages is back in Labuan Bajo at about 12:00, and the transfer drops you at the airport or your hotel at about 13:00.

The order of the stops can change with the tides, the weather and the rules of the park. Every snorkel and trek is optional, so guests who prefer to rest can stay on board.

Kelor Island. The first trek of the trip is short but steep, and the top of the hill looks over turquoise water and the islands around Labuan Bajo.

Komodo Island. The dragon walk is the heart of the trip. Rangers lead the group along a forest trail to see the Komodo dragons, which can grow to three metres, and explain how they live and hunt.

Pink Beach. Microscopic red organisms called foraminifera give the sand its soft pink colour, and the coral starts just off the beach.

Taka Makassar. A sandbar of white sand appears in the middle of the sea at low tide, with clear, shallow water all around it.

Siaba. The calm, shallow water around Siaba is known for its green turtles, a gentle last snorkel before the return to Labuan Bajo.

The rhythm on Vinca Voyages is set by the sun and the tides, and with six cabins the group on board stays small. On the second morning the group goes ashore early to climb Padar, then returns to breakfast on board before the Pink Beach and the dragon walk on Komodo Island. Lunch is served as the boat sails on.

The afternoon is for the water, with Taka Makassar and Manta Point and a snack with juices in between. Dinner is served in the outdoor dining area while Vinca Voyages lies at anchor, and the evening belongs to the bar, the karaoke and the bean bags under the stars.

Vinca Voyages stops at five snorkelling spots on the 3 day 2 night trip: Manjarite on the first afternoon, the Pink Beach, Taka Makassar and Manta Point on the second day, and Siaba or Sebayur on the last morning. Fins, masks, snorkels and life jackets are on board, and the guide accompanies the group.

Most of the reefs are shallow and suit beginners, with reef fish at every stop, turtles around Siaba and manta rays at Manta Point when the current is right. The speedboat of Vinca Voyages takes the group to the reefs and the beaches, and between the stops the paddle board is free to use around the boat.

Three meals a day are served on board, with mineral water, coffee and tea and an afternoon snack with juices. The outdoor dining area looks out over the sea, so every meal comes with a view of the islands, and many guests take their first coffee of the day on deck to watch the sunrise.

The indoor lounge has air conditioning with a HEPA air filter, sofas, a bar, a TV and karaoke, and the outdoor relaxation area has bean bags, pillows and an umbrella for the shade. Wi-Fi is included, there are charging points for phones and cameras, and the crew records the highlights with a camera, a drone and a GoPro.

Vinca Voyages is powered by a Mitsubishi 8DC9 engine and cruises at eight to twelve knots. A 30 kVA generator supplies the power on board, with an emergency generator in reserve, and the tanks hold 3,000 litres of fuel and 6,000 litres of fresh water.

For safety, Vinca Voyages carries a life raft for 25 people, lifebuoys, fire extinguishers and a flare gun. The crew navigates with a compass, GPS and charts and keeps in touch with SSB, VHF and handheld radios.

On a sharing trip you book one or more cabins on a scheduled departure and share Vinca Voyages with other guests. Sharing trips leave on Mondays and Fridays, and on some Thursdays, for three days and two nights, and the price is per person.

On a private charter the whole of Vinca Voyages is yours, with its crew. Charters run for two days and one night, three days and two nights or four days and three nights, and the price depends on the length of the trip and the size of the group. With six cabins for three, Vinca Voyages suits a family reunion or a group of friends.

The charter tab on this page shows the charter rates for each trip length, for groups of up to fourteen guests. Send us your dates and we will check them with the operator.

Komodo National Park, between Sumbawa and Flores, was created in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on earth. It became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, and its islands are a mix of dry hills, savannah, mangroves and white and pink beaches.

The sea between the islands is one of the richest in Indonesia, with coral reefs, turtles, reef fish and manta rays. Park rangers lead every walk among the dragons, and the park entrance fee is added to the invoice of every Vinca Voyages trip.

The dry season, roughly from April to November, brings calm seas, clear water and golden hills, and it is the busiest time in the park. December and the first months of the year are wetter, with greener islands and fewer boats.

Vinca Voyages has sharing departures every week from March to December. The water stays warm all year, and the departure list on this page shows every date that is still open.

Labuan Bajo, on the west coast of Flores, is the gateway to Komodo National Park. Komodo Airport (LBJ) has direct flights from Bali and Jakarta, and the flight from Bali takes a little over an hour.

Vinca Voyages picks you up between 8:00 and 10:00 on the first day, so an early flight or a night in Labuan Bajo before the trip both work. On the last day the transfer drops you at the airport at about 13:00, in time for an afternoon flight. The transfers between the airport or your hotel and the boat are included in the price.

You can book Vinca Voyages online with live availability: choose a departure, pick your cabins and send the booking. A 50% deposit is due within 72 hours and the balance 60 days before the trip; bookings made less than 60 days ahead are paid in full. The payment policy and the cancellation policy give the details.

Every Vinca Voyages sharing trip includes:

• Transfers between the airport or your hotel and the boat
• Three meals a day, mineral water, coffee, tea, an afternoon snack and juices
• Shore excursions with a tour guide
• A canoe, a paddle board and snorkelling gear
• Photos and videos by camera, drone and GoPro
• Wi-Fi

The Komodo National Park entrance fee is paid per person per trip, at one rate for foreign guests and a lower rate for Indonesian citizens, and it is added to the invoice. Flights, hotels, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks and tips for the crew are not included.

How many guests does Vinca Voyages take? Two guests in each of the six cabins, and a third on an extra bed in every cabin.

Can three friends share a cabin? Yes. Every cabin on Vinca Voyages takes up to three guests.

Which cabins are on the upper deck? The two Japanese rooms, with a queen bed, a single bed and a shared balcony.

When does Vinca Voyages leave? Sharing trips leave Labuan Bajo on Mondays and Fridays, and on some Thursdays, and return on the third day.

Is there Wi-Fi on Vinca Voyages? Yes. The connection depends on the mobile network in each part of the park and can be slow at times.

Do I need to be a good swimmer? No. Snorkelling is optional, fins, masks and life jackets are on board, and many stops are beaches, viewpoints and the dragon walk.

Can I see the Komodo dragons? Yes. On the second day Vinca Voyages stops at Komodo Island, where park rangers take guests on a walk to see the dragons.

What should I bring? Light clothes, a hat, sunglasses, reef-safe sunscreen, sandals and closed shoes for the treks, a light jacket for the evenings and any personal medicine.

Are drinks included on Vinca Voyages? Mineral water, coffee and tea are included all day, with juices in the afternoon. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

Is Vinca Voyages good for families? Yes. Every cabin takes a third guest, so a family of three can share one cabin, and a larger family can book two or three cabins on one departure.

How do I get from the airport to the boat? The transfer is included: Vinca Voyages picks you up at Komodo Airport or at your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 10:00 on the first day.

Can I charter Vinca Voyages for my own group? Yes. The whole boat can be chartered for two to four days for up to fourteen guests; ask us for a quote with your dates.