Bombana 02

Bombana 02 is a wooden deluxe phinisi with a length on deck of 22.6 metres and a beam of 5.15 metres. It takes up to fifteen guests in five cabins, a size that keeps the trip relaxed and personal, and it brings a shared jacuzzi, a spacious sundeck and an indoor dining room for the group.

A Mitsubishi 6D22 engine of 160 horsepower moves Bombana 02 at seven to eight knots between the islands, and the tanks hold 6,000 litres of fresh water.

• Length on deck 22.6 m, beam 5.15 m
• Up to 15 guests in 5 air-conditioned cabins with private bathrooms
• Two cabins on the upper deck, two on the main deck and one on the lower deck
• Home port: Labuan Bajo, Flores

Bombana 02 offers a lot for its price: a master cabin with a king bed and a bathtub on its own balcony, a private cabin with a balcony of its own, and a shared jacuzzi on deck. Every cabin has air conditioning and a private bathroom, the two sharing cabins included.

The sharing cabins sell a single bed, so travellers on their own, or on a tighter budget, can join a trip on Bombana 02 without booking a whole cabin. With only fifteen guests on board, the group stays small enough to get to know each other over dinner.

All five cabins on Bombana 02 have air conditioning and a private bathroom. Two are on the upper deck, two on the main deck and one on the lower deck.

Master Cabin. On the upper deck, with a king bed and a private balcony with a bathtub. It is for two guests, or three with an extra bed.

Private Cabin with Balcony. On the upper deck, with a queen bed and a private balcony with chairs, for two guests or three with an extra bed.

Private Cabin. On the main deck, with a queen bed for two guests.

Sharing Cabin 4. On the main deck, with two double beds for four guests, sold by the bed. Guests who share a bed are of the same gender.

Sharing Cabin 3. On the lower deck, with a double bed and a single bed for three guests, sold by the bed.

The master and private cabins are booked by at least two guests. Prices are per person and depend on the cabin; the cabin cards on this page show the current prices, and the booking form shows which cabins and beds are still free on each departure.

Couples. The master cabin, with its king bed and a bathtub on the balcony, and the private cabin with balcony suit a couple who want their own outdoor space at sea.

Families. The two cabins on the upper deck take a third guest on an extra bed, and a family of four can book all the beds of Sharing Cabin 4.

Groups of friends. With space for fifteen guests in five cabins, a group can fill most of Bombana 02 on one departure.

Solo travellers. The two sharing cabins sell a single bed, so you can join a trip on Bombana 02 on your own and meet other travellers on board.

Day 1. Pick-up at the airport or your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 10:00, then Bombana 02 sets sail and lunch is served on board. The afternoon brings a walk on Kelor Island and snorkelling at Manjarite, and the day ends with the sunset and the flying foxes at Kalong Island, followed by dinner.

Day 2. An early climb on Padar Island before breakfast, for the view over its bays. Then the Pink Beach for snorkelling and sunbathing, the walk on Komodo Island to see the dragons, lunch on board, Taka Makassar for snorkelling and sunbathing on the sandbank, Manta Point in the afternoon and dinner on board.

Day 3. After breakfast, a last snorkel at Siaba or Sebayur Island and lunch on board. Bombana 02 is back in Labuan Bajo at about 12:00, and the drop-off at the airport or your hotel is at about 13:00.

The order of the stops can change with the weather and the tides, and the crew chooses the best moment for each visit.

Padar Island. About thirty minutes of climbing lead to the viewpoint over three bays with white, black and pink beaches, the best-known view in Komodo National Park.

Komodo Island. The home of the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on earth. Park rangers lead every walk and know where to find the dragons.

Pink Beach. The pink colour comes from tiny red sea creatures mixed with the white sand, and the reef just off the beach is good for snorkelling.

Taka Makassar and Manta Point. A sandbank that rises from turquoise water, and a channel where manta rays come to feed.

Kelor, Manjarite, Kalong and Siaba. Kelor has a short climb to a view over the islands, Manjarite has calm water and coral close to the surface, at Kalong thousands of flying foxes leave the mangroves at dusk, and Siaba or Sebayur gives a last swim before Bombana 02 sails back to Labuan Bajo.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner are cooked on board, with an afternoon snack and juices, and mineral water, coffee and tea.

The indoor dining room has a long wooden table with cushioned benches, and the covered deck has another table in the shade. The spacious sundeck and the lounge beds on the bow are the places to watch the islands go by, the shared jacuzzi is there after a swim, and in the evening there is karaoke. At night Bombana 02 lies at anchor in a calm bay.

A tour guide joins every sharing trip, and the crew records the highlights with a camera, a drone and a GoPro, so you take the photos and videos of your days on Bombana 02 home with you.

Every guest has snorkelling gear with fins, mask, snorkel and life jacket, and the snorkelling stops are Manjarite, the Pink Beach, Taka Makassar, Manta Point and Siaba or Sebayur.

Between the stops Bombana 02 has a canoe and a stand-up paddle board to borrow, a calm way to explore a bay, and the round jacuzzi on the wooden deck is the place to relax with a view of the islands.

Bombana 02 is a wooden phinisi built in the traditional style of Sulawesi. Its Mitsubishi 6D22 engine of 160 horsepower moves the boat at seven to eight knots between the islands, and the tanks carry 6,000 litres of fresh water.

The crew navigates with GPS, AIS and a compass, and keeps in touch by navigation radio and handheld radios. On board there are a life raft for 25 people and 30 life jackets.

On a sharing trip you book a cabin, or a bed in a sharing cabin, on a scheduled departure and share Bombana 02 with other guests. Each trip lasts three days and two nights, and the price is per person.

Bombana 02 can also be chartered as a private boat for your own group. The charter price depends on the dates, the length of the trip and the number of guests, so ask us for a quote.

Komodo National Park covers the islands between Sumbawa and Flores. It was created in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The currents between its islands feed some of the richest reefs in Indonesia, home to turtles, reef fish and manta rays.

Walks among the dragons are always led by park rangers, and every visitor pays the park entrance fee, which is added to the invoice of every Bombana 02 trip.

The dry season, from about April to November, brings calm seas, clear water and sunny days, and it is the busiest time in the park. December and March are quieter, with short tropical showers and green islands.

Bombana 02 sails 3 day 2 night trips from Friday to Sunday and, in most weeks, from Monday to Wednesday. There are no sharing departures in January and February. The departure list on this page follows the operator's own schedule and shows every date that is still open.

Labuan Bajo, on the west coast of Flores, has its own airport, Komodo Airport (LBJ), with direct flights from Bali and Jakarta. The pick-up for Bombana 02 is at the airport or at your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 10:00, so it is easiest to arrive the day before or on an early flight.

On the last day the boat is back at about 12:00 and the drop-off is at about 13:00, so a late afternoon flight is usually possible. Many guests add a night in Labuan Bajo before or after the trip.

Pack light and bring a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase, as it is easier to store in a cabin. Bring swimwear, a hat, sunglasses and reef-safe sunscreen, sandals for the boat and closed shoes for the walks on Padar and Komodo.

The sun is strong on the water, so drink plenty and take breaks in the shade of the covered deck. If you are sensitive to motion, bring your own remedy; the sea in the park is usually calm, but some crossings can be choppy. Some cash in rupiah is handy for tips and small purchases in Labuan Bajo.

You can book Bombana 02 online: choose a departure, pick your cabins or beds and send the booking request. We check it and email your invoice within 24 hours. A 50% deposit is due within 72 hours of the invoice 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 Bombana 02 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 and guide are not included.

How many guests does Bombana 02 take? Up to fifteen guests in five cabins, with the extra beds.

Which cabin has a bathtub? The master cabin, on its private balcony on the upper deck.

Is there a jacuzzi on Bombana 02? Yes, a shared jacuzzi on deck.

Does every cabin have a private bathroom? Yes. All five cabins have air conditioning and a private bathroom, the sharing cabins included.

Can I travel alone? Yes. The two sharing cabins sell a single bed, so you can book one place.

Will I see the Komodo dragons? Yes. Bombana 02 stops at Komodo Island, where park rangers lead a walk to see the dragons.

Is the park fee included? No. It is paid per person and added to the invoice.

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

Can I charter Bombana 02? Yes. Ask us for a quote with your dates, the length of the trip and the number of guests.