Alfathran 3

Alfathran 3 is a 30-metre wooden phinisi with twelve air-conditioned cabins that sails between Lombok and Labuan Bajo, crossing the north coast of Sumbawa on the way to Komodo National Park. It turns the journey between the two islands into the trip itself, with whale sharks, island hikes, snorkelling and the dragons of Komodo.

Alfathran 3 has cabins for every kind of traveller, from family rooms for up to five guests to sharing cabins sold by the bed. On board there is an indoor dining room, a large sun deck with sun chairs and bean bags, a jacuzzi and a Bluetooth sound system.

• Length 30 m, beam 7 m
• Up to 40 guests in 12 cabins, crew of 9
• Route: Lombok to Labuan Bajo and back
• Indoor dining room and large sun deck
• Fibreglass speedboat with a 40 hp Yamaha engine
• Shuttles in Lombok and Labuan Bajo included

Most visitors fly to Labuan Bajo and see Komodo on a short trip. On Alfathran 3 you travel by sea instead: the boat leaves from Kayangan Harbour on the east coast of Lombok and follows the coast of Sumbawa to the Komodo islands, or sails the same route the other way.

The crossing adds places that the short trips never reach: the white beach and grassy hill of Kenawa, the whale sharks of Saleh Bay and the quiet beaches of Sumbawa. It also solves a travel puzzle, because you can start in Lombok and end in Labuan Bajo, or the other way round, without flying back.

All cabins on Alfathran 3 have air conditioning, and most have a private bathroom.

Sengigi Rooms. Two family cabins on the upper deck with a queen bed, room for three extra beds, a private balcony and a view of the ocean, for up to five guests.

Rinjani Rooms. Two cabins on the main deck with an ocean view and two queen beds, or a queen bed and two single beds, for up to four guests.

Flores Rooms. Two cabins on the upper deck with an ocean view and a queen bed, for up to three guests with the extra bed.

Gili Rooms. Four cabins on the lower deck with a queen bed, an extra bed for a third guest and a private bathroom, for up to three guests.

Sumbawa Rooms. Two sharing cabins on the lower deck with five places each, sold by the bed, with the lowest price on Alfathran 3.

Prices on Alfathran 3 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.

Families. The Sengigi Rooms on the upper deck take up to five guests, so a family of five can share one cabin on Alfathran 3.

Groups of friends. The Rinjani Rooms take up to four guests each and the Gili Rooms up to three, and a group can book several cabins on the same departure.

Solo travellers. A bed in a Sumbawa Room is the most affordable way to cross from Lombok to Komodo on Alfathran 3.

Day 1. The shuttle collects you in Kuta, Senggigi or Bangsal between 8:00 and 10:00 and drives across Lombok to Kayangan Harbour. You check in on board between 13:00 and 14:00, Alfathran 3 sails at 14:00, and the first stop is Kenawa Island off the coast of Sumbawa.

Day 2. The morning is spent in Saleh Bay, where whale sharks often gather around the fishing platforms, followed by a stop at Savana Beach.

Day 3. A full day in Komodo National Park: Manta Point, Komodo Island with its dragons, the Pink Beach and the climb up Padar Island.

Day 4. A last snorkel at Manjarite and the walk up Kelor Island, then Alfathran 3 reaches Labuan Bajo harbour at about 12:00, and the transfer takes you to the airport or your hotel between 12:00 and 13:00.

From Labuan Bajo, Alfathran 3 sails the route the other way. The trip starts with the highlights of Komodo National Park: Padar Island, Komodo Island, the Pink Beach and Manta Point. The boat then sails west along Sumbawa, with stops at Savana Beach and Coral Beach, the whale sharks of Saleh Bay and Kenawa Island, before reaching Kayangan Harbour in Lombok. The shuttle then takes you to Senggigi or Kuta.

Depending on the departure, this direction takes four or five days. The itinerary on this page gives the stops and times, and the departure list shows the dates and the length of each trip.

Kenawa Island. A small island off the west coast of Sumbawa, with a white beach, clear water and a grassy hill that is perfect for the sunset or the sunrise.

Saleh Bay. This large bay on the north coast of Sumbawa is known for its whale sharks, which often come to the fishing platforms of the local fishermen early in the morning.

Komodo Island. Park rangers lead a walk through the dry forest to see the Komodo dragons, which can grow to three metres.

Padar Island. A stepped path leads to the viewpoint over three bays with beaches of different colours, one of the best-known views in Indonesia.

Manta Point. A reef where manta rays come to feed and to be cleaned by small fish, seen in most months of the year.

The whale shark is the largest fish in the sea, and in Saleh Bay it often feeds around the bagan, the fishing platforms of the local fishermen. Alfathran 3 visits the bay early in the morning, when the chances are best, and guests can watch from the boat or swim with the sharks with a mask and snorkel.

Sightings are common but never guaranteed, as the sharks are wild animals. Guests keep a few metres away, do not touch the sharks and do not use a flash, so that the sharks keep coming back.

Days on Alfathran 3 start early. The best moments of the route come at dawn, from the whale sharks of Saleh Bay to the sunrise over Kenawa or Padar, and the crew plans each day around them. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the indoor dining room, with coffee, tea and snacks during the trip.

Between the stops, the sun deck with its sun chairs and bean bags is the place to watch the coast of Sumbawa go by, and the jacuzzi is the place to relax after a swim. In the evening music plays on the Bluetooth sound system under the stars.

Alfathran 3 stops at Kenawa, Saleh Bay, Savana Beach, Manta Point, the Pink Beach and Manjarite, with snorkelling gear and life jackets for every guest. A fibreglass speedboat with a 40 horsepower Yamaha engine takes the group from the boat to the beaches and the reefs, and paddle boards are on board for the calm anchorages.

Alfathran 3 cruises at seven to eleven knots, carries 9,000 litres of fresh water and 5,500 litres of fuel, and has two generators with an emergency generator in reserve.

For safety, Alfathran 3 carries a life raft for 50 people, life jackets, a lifebuoy, fire extinguishers and a first aid kit. The crew navigates with a compass, GPS, AIS and charts, and keeps in touch with SSB, VHF and handheld radios.

On a sharing trip you book a cabin, or a bed in a Sumbawa Room, on a scheduled departure and share Alfathran 3 with other guests. Trips from Lombok usually leave on Fridays and trips from Labuan Bajo on Tuesdays, and the price is per person.

A private charter of the whole of Alfathran 3, for a large family or a group of friends, is possible on request. Send us your dates, the direction and the number of guests, and we will ask the operator for a quote.

Komodo National Park lies between Sumbawa and Flores. It was created in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard on earth, and has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The currents between its islands feed some of the richest reefs in Indonesia, with 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 Alfathran 3 trip.

The dry season, roughly from April to November, brings calm seas, clear water and golden hills. December and the first months of the year are wetter and greener. Alfathran 3 has departures in both directions from March to December, and the departure list on this page shows every date that is still open.

Lombok International Airport (LOP) and Komodo Airport (LBJ) in Labuan Bajo both have direct flights from Bali and Jakarta. From Lombok, the shuttle of Alfathran 3 collects you in Kuta, Senggigi or Bangsal; in Labuan Bajo the transfer runs between the harbour and your hotel or the airport.

Because the trip ends on the other island, book a one-way flight home from the place where you arrive, and leave the afternoon of the last day free for the transfer.

You can book Alfathran 3 online with live availability. 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 Alfathran 3 sharing trip includes:

• The shuttle in Lombok and the transfer in Labuan Bajo
• Breakfast, lunch and dinner during the trip
• Mineral water, snacks, coffee and tea
• Snorkelling gear and life jackets
• A local guide and all excursions on the itinerary
• Photos and videos by drone, GoPro and camera

The park entrance fee is paid per person per trip and depends on the direction of the trip; the park fee section on this page shows the rates for foreign guests and Indonesian citizens, and the fee is added to the invoice.

How many guests does Alfathran 3 take? Up to forty guests in twelve cabins, with a crew of nine.

Where does Alfathran 3 start? In Lombok, at Kayangan Harbour, or in Labuan Bajo, depending on the direction you choose.

How long is the trip? Four days and three nights from Lombok; the trips from Labuan Bajo take four or five days, as shown in the departure list.

Can a family share one cabin? Yes. The Sengigi Rooms on the upper deck take up to five guests.

Can I book a single bed? Yes. The beds in the Sumbawa Rooms are sold one by one.

Will I see whale sharks? They are often seen in Saleh Bay, but as wild animals they are never guaranteed.

Will I see the Komodo dragons? Yes. Alfathran 3 stops at Komodo Island, where park rangers take guests on a walk to see the dragons.

Is the shuttle included? Yes. The shuttle in Lombok and the transfer in Labuan Bajo are included.

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 Alfathran 3? Yes, on request. Ask us for a quote with your dates, the direction and the number of guests.