Komodo liveaboard 5 days 4 nights

This is the five day charter route of several Komodo liveaboard boats from Labuan Bajo. Each boat page shows its own itinerary, and the crew can change the order for the tides and the weather.

Day 1. Pick-up in Labuan Bajo between about 8:00 and 10:00, lunch on board, a short climb on Kelor, a snorkel at Manjarite and the flying foxes of Kalong Island at dusk.

Day 2. Sunrise on Padar, then the Pink Beach, the walk with the rangers on Komodo Island, the sandbar of Taka Makassar and Manta Point.

Day 3. North to Gili Lawa, with a climb up Gili Lawa Darat and a snorkel at Gili Lawa Laut, then the turtles of Siaba and a sunset at Kanawa.

Day 4. A slower day: a morning snorkel at Kanawa, lunch on board, snorkelling at Bidadari Island and the sunset at Seraya Island.

Day 5. A last snorkel at Sebayur, lunch, and the return to Labuan Bajo around midday, with the drop-off at about 13:00.

A five day Komodo liveaboard suits travellers who want to see the park without rushing it: families who need a calmer pace, photographers who want the best light at each stop, and groups who would rather spend an afternoon on a quiet beach than tick off another island.

The extra time also gives a margin. If the weather moves a stop, there is usually room to come back to it later in the trip, and an early start on one day can be followed by an easier morning the next. By the second half of a long trip everyone knows the boat and the crew, and the days feel easier.

On some Komodo liveaboards the trip from Labuan Bajo to Lombok takes four or five days, depending on the departure. Alfathran 3, for example, starts with the highlights of Komodo National Park, Padar, Komodo Island, the Pink Beach and Manta Point, and then sails west along Sumbawa.

On the way it stops at Savana Beach and Coral Beach, at Saleh Bay for the whale sharks and at Kenawa Island, before reaching Kayangan Harbour in Lombok, where the shuttle takes you to Senggigi or Kuta. The departure list on the boat page shows the length of each trip.

Most five day Komodo liveaboard trips from Labuan Bajo are private charters, so you choose the start date and plan the days with the crew. On some boats the charter price is per night, so the fifth day adds the same amount as each night before it, and guests above the group size pay a set price per extra guest for each night. The charter tab on each boat page shows the rates and the largest group the boat takes.

When you send your request, say what matters to your group: more snorkelling, an extra trek, a quiet beach day or a special occasion. The operator confirms availability within 24 hours, and nothing is paid until then.

The list above shows every Komodo liveaboard with trips of this length. Over four nights the boat matters more than on a short trip, so compare a few boat pages: the cabins and bed types, how many guests each cabin takes, the bathrooms, the deck plan on most boats and the shared spaces, such as shaded sun decks and a lounge.

For a private charter, also check the largest group the Komodo liveaboard takes, the charter rates for five days and what is included in the charter price. If two boats look alike, the one whose cabins all have a private bathroom is usually the more comfortable choice for a long trip.

The fourth day of a five day Komodo liveaboard is often the calmest. There may be no sunrise climb, the snorkelling stops are close together, and the afternoon can be spent on a beach, on a paddle board or simply on deck with a book while the boat moves to the next anchorage.

Evenings are the same on every trip and still the best part for many guests: dinner at anchor, the stars over the islands and the sound of the water. On a private charter you can ask the crew to plan one of these slow days around what your group likes most.

A five day route has room for eight or more snorkelling stops, from Manjarite and the Pink Beach to Gili Lawa Laut, Siaba with its turtles, Kanawa, Bidadari and Sebayur. Masks, snorkels, fins and life jackets are on board, and most reefs are shallow enough for beginners.

Certified divers can ask for a private charter planned around diving. Boats with diving rates show them on their page, and for the other boats the operator quotes on request; tell us your certification level and how many dives you would like.

On a five day Komodo liveaboard the boat becomes your home, so the cabin matters more than on a short trip. Look for a private bathroom, air conditioning and enough space for your bags, and check the deck plan to see where your cabin is. Sun decks with shade, a lounge and, on some boats, Starlink Wi-Fi make the hours between the stops easier.

Meals are cooked on board three times a day. Tell us about food allergies or diets when you book, so the crew can plan the shopping before the trip.

Four days in the sun add up. Use reef-safe sunscreen, wear a long-sleeved top and a hat on the treks and in the water, and drink more water than you think you need. If you are prone to seasickness, take something before the longer crossings and spend them on deck in the fresh air.

The treks on Padar, Kelor and Gili Lawa Darat are short but steep, so wear closed shoes and go early, when it is cooler. Bring any medicine you need, because there are no pharmacies between the islands.

The starting prices at the top of this page are read from the live rates of the boats, in Indonesian rupiah, and the boat pages also show an approximate amount in US dollars. A five day Komodo liveaboard costs more than a shorter one, but on a private charter the cost per day for a full group can be lower than the price of separate cabins.

The Komodo National Park entrance fee is added to your invoice per person per trip, not per day. On most boats from Labuan Bajo it is IDR 650.000 for foreign guests and IDR 400.000 for Indonesian citizens, and children under 2 do not pay.

Four nights on a Komodo liveaboard need a little more than a short trip, but still less than most people think. Pack two or three sets of swimwear so one is always dry, light shirts and shorts, a long-sleeved top and leggings against the sun in the water, a hat, a light jacket for the evenings and closed shoes for the treks.

Add reef-safe sunscreen, any medicine you need, something for seasickness, a dry bag for the tender rides, a power bank and some cash for tips and drinks. Most boats provide towels and the snorkelling equipment.

Komodo Airport (LBJ) in Labuan Bajo has direct flights from Bali and Jakarta, and Lombok International Airport (LOP) serves the trips that end in Lombok. Arrive the day before the trip starts, and on the last day keep the afternoon free for the transfer and your flight.

The dry season from April to November is the best time for a long trip, with calm seas and clear skies; July and August are the busiest months, so book early. From December to March there is more rain and fewer boats sail. See the best time for a Komodo liveaboard.

For a private charter, pick your dates on the boat page, see the price and send the request with your WhatsApp number; nothing is paid until the operator confirms. For a sharing trip of this length, select your cabins on the departure, and the invoice arrives within 24 hours, with a 50% deposit due within 72 hours and the balance 60 days before the trip. Read how to book a Komodo liveaboard.

Arrive in Labuan Bajo, or in Lombok if your trip starts there, the day before your Komodo liveaboard leaves. The transfer from the airport or your hotel to the boat is included on most boats, and pick-ups start in the morning.

Arrange travel insurance before you go, because it is not part of the trip price, and check the list of what is included on the boat page. Tell us about food allergies, diets and any special occasion when you book, so the operator can plan for them before the trip.

Five days on a private Komodo liveaboard can be a good way to mark a birthday, an anniversary or a family reunion, because the boat, the crew and the plan are yours. Tell us about the occasion when you send your request, and we will pass it on to the operator with your dates and group size.

If your group includes non-swimmers, older travellers or young children, say so as well. On a private charter the crew can plan easier stops, shorter treks and more time on the beaches.

Is five days too long? Not if you like the sea. The pace is slower, and the fourth day is usually the most relaxed of the trip.

Can I book five days as a sharing trip? A few routes run this long, mostly between Labuan Bajo and Lombok. From Labuan Bajo, five days is usually a private charter.

Will we see more than on a shorter trip? Yes: the north of the park around Gili Lawa, the turtles of Siaba and quieter islands such as Kanawa, Bidadari and Seraya.

Can we change the plan during the trip? The captain and the guide plan each day with the tides and the weather, and on a private charter they take your wishes into account.

Is it suitable for children? Families often choose five days for the calmer pace. Children under 2 do not pay the park fee, and you can ask us about the boat you have in mind.

How do I start? Open a boat page, choose the private charter tab and pick five days on the calendar to see the price.

How many guests can join? It depends on the boat; each Komodo liveaboard page shows the cabins and the largest group it takes.

Is there Wi-Fi on board? Some boats have Starlink Wi-Fi, and the boat page says which. Elsewhere the phone signal comes and goes between the islands.

What if the weather changes? The captain can change the route for safety or for the weather, and on a five day Komodo liveaboard there is usually time to make up a missed stop.