Lamborajo 3

Lamborajo 3 is a 38-metre wooden phinisi with a beam of 6.8 metres, a large boat for the 3 day 2 night sharing route from Labuan Bajo into Komodo National Park. It carries up to twenty-two guests in eight air-conditioned cabins, each with a queen bed and a private bathroom, and a crew of nine looks after the boat and its guests.

Four of the cabins on Lamborajo 3 are ocean-view cabins with a private balcony and a jacuzzi, which is rare on a sharing trip. The other four are Superior cabins on the lower deck, the simplest way to join the trip.

• Length 38 m, beam 6.8 m
• Up to 22 guests in 8 cabins with private bathrooms
• Crew of 9
• Fibreglass speedboat with a 40 hp Yamaha engine
• Home port: Labuan Bajo, Flores

Most guests choose Lamborajo 3 for its cabins. The two Royal Master cabins and the two Master Ocean cabins each have a private balcony, a jacuzzi and a view of the sea, so the islands stay in sight even while you rest between the stops. The Royal Master cabins take up to four guests with their two extra beds, which suits a family or a group of friends.

The size of Lamborajo 3 helps as well: at 38 metres there is room on deck for every guest, even on a full departure. Sharing trips leave twice a week, on Fridays and Mondays, so there is usually a departure that fits your plans in Labuan Bajo.

All eight cabins on Lamborajo 3 have air conditioning, a queen bed and a private bathroom. The four ocean-view cabins are on the upper deck, and the four Superior cabins are on the lower deck.

Royal Master Cabins. The two Royal Master cabins are the best on board, with a queen bed, a private balcony, a jacuzzi and a view of the ocean. Two extra beds make room for a third and a fourth guest, so each cabin takes up to four.

Master Ocean Cabins. The two Master Ocean cabins also have a balcony, a jacuzzi and a sea view, with a queen bed and an extra bed for a third guest.

Superior Cabins. The four Superior cabins on the lower deck each have a queen bed for two guests and offer the lowest price on Lamborajo 3.

Prices on Lamborajo 3 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. Lamborajo 3 picks you up at the airport or your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 10:00, 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. The longest day starts before breakfast with the trek up Padar Island, whose viewpoint looks over three bays with beaches of different colours. Lamborajo 3 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. After breakfast the last snorkel is at Siaba or Sebayur, two islands with shallow reefs; Siaba is known for its green turtles. After an early lunch Lamborajo 3 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 the deck.

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. The early start on the second day means cooler air and soft morning light.

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 Lamborajo 3 follows the light. On the second morning the group leaves the boat early to climb Padar before the heat, and breakfast is served on board after the walk down. The Pink Beach and the dragon walk on Komodo Island fill the rest of the morning, and 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 Lamborajo 3 lies at anchor in a quiet bay, and the evening is free for the stars, a coffee on the sun deck or an early night before the sunrise.

Lamborajo 3 stops at five snorkelling spots on the 3 day 2 night trip: Manjarite on the first afternoon, the Pink Beach, Taka Makassar and Manta Point on the second day, and Siaba or Sebayur on the last 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 speedboat of Lamborajo 3 takes the group from the boat to the beaches and the reefs, so every stop is quick to reach.

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, and the sun deck is the place for the sunset at the end of the afternoon.

The four ocean-view cabins of Lamborajo 3 each have a balcony and a jacuzzi, a private corner to rest between the stops. 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.

Lamborajo 3 is powered by a Mitsubishi 8D C9 engine, with a double PS120 generator for the power on board. It cruises at seven to ten knots, and its tanks hold 8,000 litres of fuel and 13,000 litres of fresh water, enough for the whole trip.

For safety, Lamborajo 3 carries a life raft, life jackets, ring buoys, fire extinguishers and a first aid kit. For navigation the crew uses a compass, GPS, AIS and charts, with SSB and VHF radios on board.

On a sharing trip you book one or more cabins on a scheduled departure and share Lamborajo 3 with other guests. Sharing trips leave on Fridays and Mondays for three days and two nights, and the price is per person.

On a private charter the whole of Lamborajo 3 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 and the size of the group. With eight cabins, Lamborajo 3 suits a large family, 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 twenty guests. Send us your dates and we will check them with the operator.

Komodo National Park lies between the islands of 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 dragons live only on Komodo, Rinca, the west of Flores and a few smaller islands.

The currents between the islands feed some of the richest reefs in Indonesia, where snorkellers meet 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 Lamborajo 3 trip.

The dry season, roughly from April to November, brings calm seas, clear water and golden hills, and it is the busiest time in Komodo. December and the first months of the year are wetter, with greener islands and fewer boats in the park.

Lamborajo 3 has sharing departures twice a week from March to December. The sea stays 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.

Lamborajo 3 picks you up between 8:00 and 10:00 on the first day, so an early flight or a night in Labuan Bajo before the trip both work. On the last day 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 Lamborajo 3 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 Lamborajo 3 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
• Snorkelling gear and water sports
• 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 Lamborajo 3 take? Up to twenty-two guests in eight cabins, with a crew of nine.

Which cabins have a jacuzzi? The two Royal Master cabins and the two Master Ocean cabins, each with a private balcony and a view of the sea.

Can a family of four share one cabin? Yes. Each Royal Master cabin has a queen bed and two extra beds for up to four guests.

When does Lamborajo 3 leave? Sharing trips leave Labuan Bajo on Fridays and Mondays and return on the third day.

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 the second day Lamborajo 3 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 Lamborajo 3? Mineral water, coffee and tea are included all day, with juices in the afternoon. Alcoholic drinks are not included.

How do I get from the airport to the boat? The transfer is included: Lamborajo 3 picks you up at Komodo Airport or at your hotel in Labuan Bajo between 8:00 and 10:00 on the first day.

Can I charter Lamborajo 3 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.