A Komodo 12 days 11 nights itinerary is an extended private liveaboard expedition through Komodo National Park and the wider Flores Sea, departing from Labuan Bajo on Flores. It combines every sailing area of the park with the volcanic islands off Sumbawa and an overland extension across Flores to Kelimutu.
Updated January 2026
This is the ceiling of our product ladder. Eleven nights is the maximum length we operate on a private whole-boat charter, and it exists because a handful of travellers each year want the thing the short trips can only sample: the entire cruising ground, at the pace the sea actually sets, with the boat as a moving home rather than a shuttle between viewpoints. Komodo Luxury has run sailing trips out of Labuan Bajo since 2015 with an owned, in-house-crewed fleet, and this is the itinerary we build when the request is simply show us everything.
Who this expedition is for
Twelve days is a serious commitment of time and money. It suits multi-generational family groups, chartering parties who want the whole vessel to themselves, photographers working a subject properly, and travellers who have already done a short Komodo trip and want the version without compromise. If you have a week or less, the honest answer is that a 4D3N charter or the 3D2N shared liveaboard covers the park’s signature sites well. Three nights remains our recommended minimum for a proper Komodo boat tour. Twelve days is not more of the same — it is a different category of trip.
What the 12D11N covers that shorter trips cannot
- Both dragon locations, unhurried. Rinca Island (Loh Buaya ranger station) and Komodo Island (Loh Liang), each on its own morning, with time to walk the longer ranger trails rather than the short loop.
- The northern sailing grounds. Gili Lawa, Sebayur, Siaba and Tatawa, which shorter itineraries visit in passing or skip entirely.
- The Sumbawa volcanic leg. Sangeang Api, an active volcano rising straight out of the sea, plus Satonda’s crater lake and the coast of Moyo. This is a full day’s sailing west of the park and simply does not fit in a week.
- The Flores overland extension. Two days ashore driving east from Labuan Bajo through Ruteng and Bajawa to Moni, and a pre-dawn climb to the tri-coloured crater lakes of Kelimutu.
- Weather margin. With eleven nights, a bad morning at Padar or a closed crossing costs you nothing — the captain simply re-orders the plan.
Day-by-day plan
The sequence below is our standard build. On a private charter it is a starting document, not a fixed timetable: your captain and cruise director adjust daily for swell, tide and what your group is enjoying.
| Day | Area | Highlights | Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Labuan Bajo → Kelor, Kalong | Afternoon board, Kelor Island climb, flying foxes over Kalong Island at sunset | Aboard, Kalong |
| 2 | Rinca Island | Loh Buaya ranger station, long dragon trek, Kanawa Island snorkelling | Aboard, Kanawa |
| 3 | Padar & Pink Beach | Padar Island sunrise, three-bay viewpoint, Pink Beach (Pantai Merah) | Aboard, Komodo |
| 4 | Komodo Island | Loh Liang trek, Manta Point (Karang Makassar), Taka Makassar sandbar | Aboard, Siaba |
| 5 | Northern park | Siaba Bay, Sebayur, Tatawa, Gili Lawa sunset hike | Aboard, Gili Lawa |
| 6 | Crossing west | Open-sea day toward Sumbawa, Sangeang Api approach at dusk | Aboard, Sangeang |
| 7 | Sangeang Api & Satonda | Volcanic black-sand shore, Satonda crater lake walk | Aboard, Satonda |
| 8 | Moyo & return east | Moyo waterfalls, long sail back toward the park | Aboard, at sea |
| 9 | Southern Komodo | Manjarite, Mawan, quiet southern bays, second Padar option | Aboard, Manjarite |
| 10 | Disembark → Flores overland | Morning arrival Labuan Bajo, drive to Ruteng and Bajawa, spider-web rice fields | Hotel, Bajawa |
| 11 | Bajawa → Moni | Traditional villages, hot springs, drive on to Moni below Kelimutu | Hotel, Moni |
| 12 | Kelimutu → departure | Pre-dawn ascent to the crater lakes, transfer to Maumere or return flight | — |
How many days do you need for a Komodo tour?
Most travellers need three days and two nights. That is enough for Padar, Pink Beach, Manta Point, Kalong Island and one dragon trek, sleeping aboard so you reach the viewpoints before the day boats. A one-day speedboat tour works if you are short on time and accept that Padar sunrise and the flying foxes are both out of reach. The 12D11N is for people whose constraint is not time but appetite — it is the only format that reaches Sumbawa and Kelimutu in one continuous journey.
How much does a 12 days 11 nights Komodo charter cost?
Private whole-boat charters are priced per night, not per person. Entry-luxury phinisi start from USD 5,300 per night; larger VIP vessels run USD 8,000 and above; VVIP flagships such as Lamima or Prana by Atzaro reach USD 35,000 or more per night. Across eleven nights that is a total charter cost from roughly USD 58,300 at the entry tier. Minimum charter length is three nights and maximum is eleven — this itinerary sits at the maximum.
| Vessel class | Guests | Per night (USD) | 11-night charter (USD, from) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phinisi (Yumana, Naturalia, Vinca Voyages, Elbark Cruises) | up to 20 | 5,300–8,500 | 58,300 |
| Cruise (Ayvara Cruises 36m, Malca Voyages 30m) | 14–25 | 5,300–13,500 | 58,300 |
| Signature phinisi (Komodo Signature 78.2m, Komodo Prestige 66m, Neptune Cruise) | 16–20 | 8,000+ | 88,000 |
| Yacht (Lamima 65.2m, Prana by Atzaro) | up to 14 | 10,000–35,000+ | 110,000 |
The overland Flores extension (days 10–12) is quoted separately and covers private vehicle, driver, guide, two nights’ hotel and the Kelimutu entrance. Booking terms are the same as every trip we run: a 50% deposit secures the date, with the balance due 14 days before departure. On a charter of this length we ask for the deposit early — eleven consecutive nights on a specific vessel is a large block to hold. See full pricing or compare sharing versus private.
What are the Komodo National Park fees for a long trip?
As of January 2026, Komodo National Park fees for foreign passport holders are IDR 250,000 (about USD 16) per person per calendar day, set by Government Regulation PP No. 36/2024 — multi-day trips are charged per day in the park, not as a flat trip rate. Longer itineraries are charged in the same duration bands by the park authority, and Indonesian citizens pay a lower domestic rate. These fees are set by the park authority and are paid separately from your tour price. Our operations team files the permits for the whole party before departure — you do not queue at a counter. Details on park fees and tickets.
Is it safe to walk with Komodo dragons?
Komodo dragons are wild, dangerous animals. You must always stay with your assigned park ranger during any trek and follow their instructions. Do not walk ahead, do not separate from the group to take a photograph, and tell your ranger before the walk if anyone in your party has an open wound — dragons track blood. Rangers carry a forked staff and set the pace. On this itinerary you trek twice, at Loh Buaya and Loh Liang, which gives you two independent chances at good sightings. More on dragon trekking and the differences between Rinca and Komodo Island.
When should you run a 12-day expedition?
The dry season from April to November is the sailing window, with July to September the peak. For an eleven-night charter we push clients toward May, June or October: the sea is settled enough for the Sumbawa crossing, the light is good, and the park’s headline sites are not carrying peak-season crowds. December to March brings stronger winds and rain, and the long open-water legs of this itinerary are the first thing weather takes away. See the best time to visit.
Leisure cruising, not a dive expedition
This is a cruising and sightseeing expedition — island hopping, snorkelling, ranger-guided trekking, sunsets and long unhurried days aboard. No diving certification is required and no dive programme is included. Guests who want a dedicated dive liveaboard, with compressors, a dive deck and divemasters, should look at our sister operation at komododivingtour.com, which handles courses and dive-site itineraries properly. We will happily coordinate the handover.
Practical notes
- Getting there: Labuan Bajo (LBJ) is roughly a one-hour flight from Bali. Most guests arrive the day before and overnight ashore. See Komodo tours from Bali.
- Group size: phinisi carry up to 20 guests; yachts are configured for as few as 14 with a higher crew-to-guest ratio.
- Connectivity: mobile signal is intermittent inside the park and effectively absent on the Sumbawa leg. Plan accordingly.
- Vessel choice matters more at this length. Cabin size, air-conditioning capacity and deck space that felt adequate for three nights will define eleven. Browse the fleet before committing.
Plan your expedition
Because this itinerary blocks a vessel for eleven consecutive nights, it is planned by direct conversation rather than an online form. Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com with your dates, group size and preferred vessel class, and we will come back with a costed plan and available boats — or start at book your Komodo dragon tour.
Frequently asked questions
Can the itinerary be shortened or reordered?
Yes. On a private charter the plan is yours. Common variations are dropping the Sumbawa leg for more time in the northern park, or ending after day 9 without the Flores overland extension. Charters run a minimum of three nights.
Do we sleep aboard for all eleven nights?
No. Nights 1 to 9 are aboard the vessel. Nights 10 and 11 are in hotels ashore at Bajawa and Moni during the Flores overland drive to Kelimutu. If you prefer to stay aboard throughout, we replace the overland leg with additional southern-park cruising.
Is this trip suitable for children or older travellers?
Generally yes, on the right vessel. The dragon treks are flat to gently undulating, Padar is a stepped climb of around 30 minutes, and Kelimutu is a short paved ascent. Tell us the ages in your party and we will match a boat with the cabin layout and deck access to suit.
What is included in the charter price?
The per-night charter rate covers the vessel, full crew, all meals and soft drinks aboard, snorkelling equipment, tenders and cruise-director service. Park fees, ranger fees, flights, alcohol on some vessels and the Flores overland extension are quoted separately.
How far in advance should we book?
For an eleven-night charter in the April to November window, six to twelve months. Peak dates in July and August on the signature vessels are often held a year ahead. A 50% deposit secures the date; the balance is due 14 days before departure.
Can we combine this with diving?
You can snorkel freely throughout, including at Manta Point and Taka Makassar. Certified diving is a separate product handled by our sister site komododivingtour.com, and we can arrange for it to run alongside your charter.