Manta rays, turtles and Komodo dragon - snorkelling & kayaking

“Komodo national park is one of those unique places that everyone should visit at least once in their lives. Dotted with gorgeous islands and home to one of my favourite animals – Manta Rays. We’ll also snorkel regularly with turtles and on land encounter the legendary Komodo dragons.” Ian Wood

Komodo national park in Flores, Indonesia, protects a large area of ocean and islands which we’ll explore together on a very special liveaboard boat. Opportunities for wildlife abound and we’ll snorkel on lovely reefs every day. There’s an area here called Manta point which will give us the chance to snorkel with these graceful animals. Manta rays have the largest brain of any fish relative to body size and are extremely inquisitive animals. There’s a short video of us snorkelling with them at the bottom of this page from our trip last year to give you an idea of how close you’ll see them. But let’s not forgot the turtles though ! Both Green and Hawksbill turtles thrive in these waters and we’ll also snorkel with them on a daily basis. We’ll stop off to explore various islands including permits to visit both Rinca and Komodo where we’ll encounter the legendary Komodo dragons. Our boat will also have kayaks on board and there will be daily opportunities to use these for anyone interested. Kayaking around mangrove swamps and small islands here is simply divine. And then when we’re finished at sea we have a few days on land to visit some beautiful places including the enchanting Unesco world heritage site of Wae Rebo village. This isn’t a diving trip – although if anyone does dive we’d recommend staying on after and having a wander underwater too – we can point you in the right direction and will probably come and join you !

Komodo dates, cost and booking

The next Komodo trip will now run in November 2023 – contact me here. to register an interest. 

A few photos and trip report from our 2019 Komodo tour are here.

£2400 per person based on sharing double/twin air conditioned cabins on our boat. To enquire contact us here.

Whats included in the price: Boat charter for 6 days, kayak hire, all meals on the boat tour and land tour, soft drinks, bottled mineral water, accommodation in Labuan Bajo on Day 7, accommodation in Ruteng and Wae Rebo days 8 and 9, porters for Wae Rebo walk, transport for land tour, experienced local guide, Komodo Park fee, Komodo Park Rangers fee, Snorkelling gear.
 
What’s not included: Flights to Labuan Bajo, accommodation in Labuan Bajo on Day 1, alcohol, tips for guides, park ranger, driver and boat crew.

Komodo Itinerary

Day 1 –  Arrive Labuan Bajo. Evening dinner together where we’ll start to get excited about  what lies ahead ! Stay hotel Labuan Bajo

On the Sea:
Day 2  – An early start in our boat, sailing out of Labuan Bajo into the Komodo National Marine Park. Kayaking and snorkelling the mangroves of Kunawa Island, visit the indigenous Rinca village on Rinca Island, watch the nightly bat migration of thousands of bats and eat dinner on a beach under the stars. Sleep on our comfortable liveaboard boat.
 
Day 3 – Early trip onto Rinca island to see Komodo Dragons. Snorkelling with Manta Rays at Manta point and then an evening walk up the uninhabited peak of Padar Island for a stunning sunset over the beaches of Padar and the ocean. Sleep on our boat near Padar Island.
 
Day 4 – Walk up Padar island to witness the sunrise, then breakfast on the boat. Head back to Manta Point to snorkel with Manta rays again. Kayaking around Makassar Island for sunset. Sleep on our boat near Makassar island.
 
Day 5  –  Sunrise at Makassar – a seagrass paddle in our kayaks looking for dugong. Snorkelling at Batu Bolong with huge shoals of fish and a certainty of turtles, and then an evening visit to the dragons on Komodo island. Sleep on our boat near Komodo Island.
 
Day 6 – Komodo sunrise dragon trek followed by breakfast on the boat. Snorkelling the reef at pink beach, sunset walk at Gili Lawa island. Sleep on our boat.
 
Day 7 – Breakfast on our boat, and sail across the ocean to snorkel with Mantas once again. Dock in Labuan Bajo for dinner and sleeping in our hotel.
 
On Land:
Day 8 – Head inland from Labuan Bajo to walk up to the cloud village of Wae Rebo for a warm welcome and sunset dinner. Sleep in the village with our indigenous hosts.  
 
Day 9 – Sunrise and breakfast with our hosts at Wae Rebo. Visit the terraced ricefield hills on our scenic route to the incredible indigenous market at Ruteng. Enjoy local life and Ruteng and sleep at Ruteng convent.
 
Day 10 – Visit the spiderweb rice fields and Cunca Rami waterfall for a close encounter with the local kids and water buffalo. Return to Labuan Bajo for dinner and debrief. Over night Labuan Bajo or onward travel depending on people’s flight timings.

And below is a short Youtube video I’ve made to give a glimpse into a typical day on board