Komodo liveaboard: sharing trip, private charter & diving

A Komodo liveaboard is a boat with cabins, a crew and a guide that takes you around Komodo National Park for two to five days, and sometimes longer. Most are phinisi, the traditional wooden sailing ships of South Sulawesi, built with modern cabins, bathrooms and air conditioning. Meals are cooked on board, and the guide leads the treks, the snorkelling and the walk with the park rangers to see the Komodo dragons.

Compared with a day trip by speedboat from Labuan Bajo, a Komodo liveaboard can reach the stops at quieter times, such as Padar at sunrise, and leaves time for sunsets and nights at anchor among the islands.

On a sharing trip you book one or more cabins on a scheduled departure and share the boat with other guests. You pay per person, see the live cabin availability and reserve online. It suits couples, solo travellers and small groups.

On a private charter the whole boat and crew are yours. You choose the dates and the trip length, the price is per boat, and the operator confirms availability within 24 hours of your request. For a family or a group of friends, a private Komodo liveaboard charter can cost less per person than separate cabins.

Most trips start in Labuan Bajo, on the west coast of Flores. On a typical route the boat stops at Kelor for a short climb, at Manjarite for a first snorkel and at Kalong Island to watch thousands of flying foxes leave the mangroves at dusk.

The next day starts with the climb up Padar for its view over three bays, followed by the Pink Beach, the walk with the rangers on Komodo or Rinca, the sandbar of Taka Makassar and Manta Point. The last morning is often a snorkel at Siaba or Sebayur before the boat returns to Labuan Bajo.

Some boats sail between Lombok and Labuan Bajo instead, along the north coast of Sumbawa, with stops such as Kenawa Island and Saleh Bay, known for its whale sharks. The route map above shows the main stops.

Three days and two nights is the most common length and covers the main stops. A four-day trip adds quieter places in the north of the park, such as Gili Lawa, and five days give a slower pace with more time at each stop. Trips between Lombok and Labuan Bajo take four days and three nights, and on some boats the way back takes five.

Compare the lengths on the pages for 3 days 2 nights, 4 days 3 nights and 5 days 4 nights.

Cabins range from beds in a shared cabin to master cabins with a private balcony. Most have air conditioning and a private bathroom, and each boat page shows the beds, how many guests each cabin takes and, on most boats, a deck plan. Some cabins are booked by at least two guests, while cabins marked “Solo OK” can be booked by one.

Days on board follow the light: early starts for the treks, snorkelling in the middle of the day and sunsets on deck. Three meals a day are served on board, with drinking water, coffee and tea, and many boats have Wi-Fi.

On most boats the price includes your cabin, all meals, drinking water, coffee and tea, the snorkelling equipment, the guide, the shore excursions and the transfer between the airport or your hotel and the boat. Flights, hotels in Labuan Bajo, travel insurance, alcoholic drinks and tips for the crew are paid separately.

The Komodo National Park entrance fee is added to your invoice per person per trip, for example IDR 650.000 for foreign guests and IDR 400.000 for Indonesian citizens on a standard Komodo trip. See the Komodo liveaboard price guide and the park fees.

The dry season from April to November brings mostly clear skies and calmer seas, and July and August are the busiest months. From December to March there is more rain and fewer boats sail, but the islands are green and quiet. The Komodo dragons live on the islands all year, while manta rays depend on the season and the current. Read more about the best time for a Komodo liveaboard.

For a sharing trip, choose a boat and a departure, select your cabins and enter your details. Your cabins are held while you book, the invoice follows by email within 24 hours, and you pay a 50% deposit within 72 hours of it and the balance 60 days before the trip, or the full amount if you book less than 60 days ahead.

For a private charter you send a request with your dates, and nothing is paid until the operator confirms. Read how to book a Komodo liveaboard.

Every boat page lists the safety equipment on board, such as life jackets, life rafts, first aid kits and radios. Snorkelling and treks are optional, life jackets are always on hand, and the captain can change the route for the weather or for safety.

Pack light clothes, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen, sandals and closed shoes for the treks, a light jacket for the evenings and any medicine you need, including something for seasickness if you are prone to it. Bring some cash for tips and drinks, and keep your phone and camera in a dry bag on the tender rides. Travel insurance is not included, so arrange it before you sail.

Families and groups of friends often charter the whole Komodo liveaboard, so the boat sails at their pace and the cabins are theirs alone, and children under 2 do not pay the park fee. Solo travellers can join a sharing trip and book a cabin marked “Solo OK” or a bed in a sharing cabin, which is also the easiest way to meet other travellers on board.

With more than thirty Komodo liveaboards on this site, the quickest way to choose is to start with your dates and your group, then compare the boats that fit. Each boat page shows the live availability, the cabins, what is included and the itinerary. Read how to choose a Komodo liveaboard, or message us on WhatsApp and we will suggest a boat.