Semesta Voyages

Semesta Voyages is a 32-metre wooden phinisi built in 2023, sailing from Labuan Bajo into Komodo National Park on 3 day 2 night sharing trips. It takes up to eighteen guests in eight air-conditioned cabins, each with a private bathroom, and four of the cabins have their own jacuzzi or bathtub.

Semesta Voyages is one of the newer boats on the route, with a wide choice of suites for couples and families. A 7-metre dinghy with an 85 horsepower engine takes guests to the beaches and the reefs, and sharing trips leave every Friday.

• Length 32 m, beam 5.86 m
• Built in 2023
• Up to 18 guests in 8 cabins with private bathrooms
• 7 m dinghy with an 85 hp Yamaha engine
• Sharing trips every Friday, 3 days 2 nights

Semesta is the Indonesian word for universe, and every cabin of Semesta Voyages carries the name of a planet or a heavenly body: Moon, Mars, Earth and Sun, then Pluto, Venus, Jupiter and Mercury.

The names fit a trip where the nights at anchor are dark and clear, far from the lights of the towns. On a cloudless night in Komodo the Milky Way is easy to see from the deck of Semesta Voyages.

All eight cabins on Semesta Voyages have air conditioning, a double bed and a private bathroom. Moon and Mars are on the upper deck, Earth and Sun on the main deck, and the other four cabins on the lower deck.

Moon Cabin. The owner's suite is the best cabin on board, with a private balcony and a private jacuzzi. Two extra beds make room for up to four guests.

Mars Cabin. A suite on the upper deck for two guests, with a private bathtub.

Earth Cabin. A suite on the main deck for two guests, with a private balcony and a private jacuzzi.

Sun Cabin. A suite on the main deck for two guests, with a private bathtub.

Pluto and Venus Cabins. Two identical deluxe cabins on the lower deck, each for two guests.

Jupiter and Mercury Cabins. Two identical superior cabins on the lower deck, each for two guests, with the lowest price on Semesta Voyages.

Prices on Semesta 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 (Friday). Semesta Voyages picks you up at the airport or your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 9:30, and lunch is served once the boat is under way. The first stop is Kelor, a small island with a short, steep climb and a wide view back over the bay. Manjarite follows for the first snorkel of the trip, and the day ends at Kalong Island, where thousands of flying foxes leave the mangroves at sunset.

Day 2 (Saturday). The longest day starts with the trek up Padar Island, whose viewpoint looks over three bays with beaches of different colours. Semesta Voyages then sails to the Pink Beach for snorkelling and sunbathing and on to Komodo Island, where park rangers lead the walk to see the Komodo dragons. After lunch 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 (Sunday). After breakfast the last snorkel is at Siaba or Sebayur, two islands with shallow reefs; Siaba is known for its green turtles. Semesta 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. Snorkelling and treks are always optional, so guests who prefer to rest can stay on board and enjoy their suite.

Padar Island. A stepped path leads to the viewpoint in about half an hour, and the view over the three bays of Padar is one of the best-known in Indonesia.

Komodo Island. Park rangers lead a walk through the dry forest to see the Komodo dragons, which can grow to three metres. The group walks together and keeps its distance, and the ranger explains the life of the dragons and the rules of the park.

Pink Beach. The sand owes its colour to microscopic red organisms called foraminifera, mixed with the white sand, and the reef starts a few metres from the shore.

Manta Point. Also known as Makassar Reef, Manta Point is a feeding and cleaning area for reef manta rays. They are seen in most months of the year, though never on every visit.

A day on Semesta Voyages follows the light. On Saturday the group leaves the boat early to climb Padar before the heat, and the rest of the morning is for the Pink Beach and the dragon walk on Komodo Island. Lunch is served as the boat sails on.

The afternoon belongs to the water, with Taka Makassar and Manta Point and a snack with juices in between. Dinner is served on board while Semesta Voyages lies at anchor in a quiet bay, and the guests in the Moon and Earth suites can end the day in their own jacuzzi under the stars.

Semesta Voyages stops at five snorkelling spots on the 3 day 2 night trip: Manjarite on Friday, the Pink Beach, Taka Makassar and Manta Point on Saturday, and Siaba or Sebayur on Sunday morning. Fins, masks, snorkels and life jackets are on board, and the guide stays with the group at every stop.

Most of the reefs are shallow and easy for beginners, with reef fish at every stop, turtles that are often seen at Siaba and manta rays that come to Manta Point when the current is right. The fast dinghy of Semesta Voyages takes the group to the reefs and the beaches, and between the stops the canoe and the paddle board are free to use.

Three meals a day are served on board, with mineral water, coffee and tea and an afternoon snack with juices. Many guests take their first coffee of the day on deck to watch the sunrise over the islands.

Four suites of Semesta Voyages have a private jacuzzi or bathtub, a rare comfort on a three-day trip, and two of them have a private balcony as well. A tour guide joins every trip, and the crew records the highlights with a camera, a drone and a GoPro, so the photos and videos of your trip come home with you.

Semesta Voyages cruises at seven to nine knots and carries 10,000 litres of fresh water, enough for the whole trip. Its 7-metre dinghy has an 85 horsepower Yamaha engine, so the transfers to the beaches and the reefs are quick.

For safety, Semesta Voyages carries life vests, life buoys, a life raft, a lifeboat, fire extinguishers and a first aid kit. The crew navigates with GPS and keeps in touch with SSB and VHF radios.

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

On a private charter the whole of Semesta 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. With eight suites and cabins, Semesta Voyages suits a family celebration, a group of friends or a company trip.

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

Komodo National Park covers the islands of Komodo, Rinca and Padar and many smaller ones between Sumbawa and Flores. It was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard, and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.

Beneath the surface, strong currents carry food to coral reefs that are among the richest in Indonesia, home to turtles, reef fish and manta rays. Every walk among the dragons is led by park rangers, and the park entrance fee is added to the invoice of every Semesta Voyages trip.

From about April to November the dry season brings calm seas, clear water and golden hills, and the park is at its busiest. December and the first months of the year are wetter, with green islands and fewer boats.

Semesta Voyages has sharing departures every Friday from March to December. The water is 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.

Semesta Voyages picks you up between 8:00 and 9:30 on Friday, so it is easiest to arrive on Thursday and spend a night in Labuan Bajo. On Sunday 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 Semesta 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 Semesta 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

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 Semesta Voyages take? Up to eighteen guests in eight cabins.

Which cabins have a jacuzzi? The Moon cabin on the upper deck and the Earth cabin on the main deck, both with a private balcony.

Which cabins have a bathtub? The Mars cabin on the upper deck and the Sun cabin on the main deck.

Can a family of four share one cabin? Yes. The Moon cabin has a double bed and two extra beds for up to four guests.

When does Semesta Voyages leave? Sharing trips leave Labuan Bajo every Friday and return on Sunday.

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

Can I charter Semesta Voyages for my own group? Yes. The whole boat can be chartered for two to four days; ask us for a quote with your dates and the number of guests.