A Komodo 3 days 2 nights itinerary is a liveaboard sailing route through Komodo National Park in Flores, Indonesia, departing from Labuan Bajo. You sleep two nights aboard a phinisi or cruise vessel, and the standard route covers Kelor, Manjarite, Kalong, Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Manta Point and Kanawa.
Updated January 2026 — route, times and park fees verified against our own departures from Labuan Bajo.
This is the itinerary we run most often. Komodo Luxury has operated in Komodo National Park since 2015 with an owned, in-house-crewed fleet, and the 3D2N route below is the one we recommend to almost every first-time visitor. It is the shortest trip that reaches Padar Island at sunrise, gets you to Komodo Island and Rinca Island in daylight, and still leaves time at Manta Point (Karang Makassar) without rushing.
The 3D2N route at a glance
| Day | Route | Overnight anchorage |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Labuan Bajo — Kelor Island — Rinca Island (Loh Buaya) — Kalong Island | Kalong Island |
| Day 2 | Padar Island — Pink Beach (Pantai Merah) — Komodo Island (Loh Liang) — Taka Makassar — Manta Point | Siaba or Sebayur |
| Day 3 | Kanawa Island — Labuan Bajo | — |
Day 1. Labuan Bajo — Kelor Island — Rinca Island (Loh Buaya) — Overnight at Kalong Island
08:00–09:00 — Boarding at Labuan Bajo harbour. You are met at the pier, luggage is taken aboard, and the cruise director runs a short safety briefing: life jackets, tender boat procedure, snorkelling rules and the ranger rules for dragon trekking. Park fees are collected or verified here.
09:30–10:15 — Sail to Kelor Island (about 45 minutes). Kelor is a small conical island with a steep 15-minute climb to a viewpoint over a clear turquoise channel. It is the warm-up: short hike, first swim, first snorkel. Good for photographs in morning light.
11:30–13:30 — Sail to Rinca Island, Loh Buaya ranger station (about 1.5–2 hours). Lunch is served underway. Loh Buaya is where we do the main dragon trek on this itinerary. Rinca is drier, more open savannah, and in our experience it gives better sighting odds than Komodo Island — dragons gather near the ranger station, the water holes and the nesting mounds.
13:30–15:00 — Ranger-guided trek at Loh Buaya. Short (30 min), medium (1 hr) and long (2 hr) trails are available; medium is standard. 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, do not crouch or squat near a dragon, and tell your ranger before the trek if you have an open wound or are menstruating.
15:30–17:00 — Sail to Kalong Island (about 1–1.5 hours). Kalong means “flying fox”. At sunset, thousands of fruit bats lift off the mangroves in a continuous stream overhead for roughly 20 minutes. This is the single signature moment that day-trippers never see — it happens after the speedboats have already returned to Labuan Bajo.
19:00 — Dinner aboard, overnight at anchor. Calm mangrove-sheltered water, which usually makes this the steadier of the two nights.
Day 2. Padar Island — Pink Beach — Komodo Island (Loh Liang) — Taka Makassar — Manta Point — Overnight at Siaba
04:30 — Wake-up call, tender to Padar Island jetty. The vessel repositions overnight so you are anchored at Padar before first light.
05:00–07:00 — Padar sunrise trek. Around 30–45 minutes of stepped climbing to the classic viewpoint over three crescent bays. Bring a head torch and water; the steps are uneven. This is the reason to take an overnight trip rather than a day trip — the viewpoint is at its best before 07:00, before heat and haze.
07:30–08:30 — Pink Beach (Pantai Merah), about 30 minutes’ sail. Breakfast aboard, then snorkelling straight off the beach. The pink tone comes from crushed red organ-pipe coral mixed into white sand, strongest at the waterline.
09:30–11:30 — Komodo Island, Loh Liang ranger station (about 1 hour). Second ranger-guided trek, on wider forested trails. Loh Liang is the more developed of the two stations, with a deer population that draws dragons through the area.
12:30–14:30 — Taka Makassar and Manta Point (Karang Makassar). Lunch underway. Taka Makassar is a crescent sandbar that shrinks and disappears with the tide. Manta Point is a shallow cleaning-station channel where reef mantas are seen year-round; you drift-snorkel while the tender follows. Currents here are real — stay with the guide and the boat.
15:30–17:00 — Optional stop at Siaba, Mawan or Tatawa, depending on tide and weather. Siaba is reliable for green turtles. The captain chooses based on current, not on a fixed script.
18:00 onwards — Sunset drinks, dinner, overnight anchorage at Siaba or Sebayur.
Day 3. Kanawa Island — Labuan Bajo
06:30 — Breakfast aboard while sailing towards Kanawa Island (about 45 minutes).
07:30–09:30 — Kanawa Island. A long white sandbar with a house reef that drops off within a few metres of the beach — the easiest good snorkelling of the whole trip and the best place to swim without current.
10:30–11:30 — Return sail to Labuan Bajo (about 1 hour). Disembarkation around 11:00–12:00, with a transfer to Komodo Airport (LBJ) or your hotel. If you are flying out the same day, book a flight after 14:00.
How long are the sailing legs between stops?
| Leg | Approximate sailing time (phinisi) |
|---|---|
| Labuan Bajo — Kelor | 45 minutes |
| Kelor — Rinca (Loh Buaya) | 1.5–2 hours |
| Rinca — Kalong | 1–1.5 hours |
| Kalong — Padar (overnight repositioning) | 2.5–3 hours |
| Padar — Pink Beach | 30 minutes |
| Pink Beach — Komodo Island (Loh Liang) | 1 hour |
| Komodo — Taka Makassar / Manta Point | 45 minutes |
| Manta Point — Siaba / Sebayur | 1–1.5 hours |
| Siaba — Kanawa | 45 minutes |
| Kanawa — Labuan Bajo | 1 hour |
Phinisi vessels cruise at roughly 7–9 knots. A speedboat covers the same water two to three times faster, which is why day trips can reach Padar and Pink Beach but never Kalong at sunset.
What does a 3D2N Komodo trip cost?
Shared trips (locally called an “open trip”) are priced per cabin, so the per-person rate moves with cabin tier and occupancy.
| Option | Vessel / cabin example | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 3D2N Shared Liveaboard (Phinisi) | Yumana Superior | USD 330 per person |
| 3D2N Shared Liveaboard (Phinisi) | Elbark Banda Neira / Savu · Naturalia Lagoon | USD 400 per person |
| 3D2N Shared Liveaboard (Phinisi) | Catnazse Grandis · Vinca Balinese | USD 430 per person |
| 3D2N Shared Liveaboard (Phinisi) | Ayvara Superior | USD 450 per person |
| 3D2N Shared Liveaboard (Phinisi) | Malca Master · Neptune Deluxe | USD 580–610 per person |
| 3D2N Shared Liveaboard (Phinisi) | Mosalaki Adonara · Neptune Mansard | USD 800–850 per person |
| Extra bed / additional person | Any cabin | USD 250–410 |
| 4D3N Private Charter | Whole boat, priced per night | From USD 5,300 per night |
Private whole-boat charters run this same route but start at 4D3N — the minimum charter length is 3 nights, and the maximum is 11 nights. Entry-luxury phinisi start at USD 5,300 per night, larger VIP vessels reach USD 8,000+ per night, and VVIP flagships such as Lamima or Prana by Atzaro go to USD 35,000+ per night. Booking terms are the same throughout: a 50% deposit secures your date, with the balance due 14 days before departure. See full pricing and the fleet.
How much are Komodo National Park fees on a 3D2N 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. Fees are set by the park authority and paid separately from tour prices. Indonesian citizens and KITAS holders pay a lower domestic rate. Full detail is on our park fees and tickets page.
How many days do you need for a Komodo tour?
Three days and two nights is the recommended minimum for a proper Komodo boat tour. A day trip suits travellers short on time, but it cannot deliver Padar at sunrise or Kalong at sunset, and the whole day is spent moving. A 2D1N trip fixes the sunrise problem but compresses Manta Point and the second dragon trek. 4D3N adds Gili Lawa, more northern snorkelling, and genuine unhurried time at anchor.
Is the 3D2N itinerary fixed?
No, and it should not be. Tides at Manta Point, wind at Padar and swell in the Sape Strait all shift the order of stops. Our captains reserve the right to reorder or substitute anchorages for safety — Siaba, Sebayur, Mawan, Manjarite and Tatawa are the usual swaps. Every named highlight above (Padar, Pink Beach, both dragon treks, Manta Point, Kalong) is included on every departure; only the sequence flexes.
Which vessel should you choose for 3D2N?
- Phinisi — traditional wooden sailing boat, up to 20 guests, open decks, the classic Komodo look. Neptune Cruise Phinisi, Naturalia, Vinca Voyages, Yumana, Mosalaki, Catnazse, Elbark Cruises, Velocean, Celestia, The Maj Oceanic, plus Komodo Signature (78.2m, world-record wooden phinisi superyacht, 10 balcony suites) and Komodo Prestige (66m, 8 suites).
- Cruise — larger vessel with indoor lounge and dining, 14–25 guests. Ayvara Cruises (36m) and Malca Voyages (30m teak, up to 21 guests).
- Yacht — highest service ratio and privacy: Lamima (65.2m, the largest phinisi-hulled yacht in the world, up to 14 guests) and Prana by Atzaro.
Note that this is a cruising / leisure sailing itinerary: sightseeing, island hopping, snorkelling and ranger-guided dragon trekking. It is not a dive liveaboard. If you are a certified diver wanting a dive-configured vessel with compressors and divemasters, that belongs to our sister site komododivingtour.com.
What to pack for 3 days aboard
- Closed walking shoes or trail sandals for Padar and the dragon treks
- Head torch for the 04:30 Padar start
- Reef-safe sunscreen, hat, long-sleeve rash guard
- Motion-sickness tablets taken before boarding, not after symptoms start
- Cash in IDR for crew tips and park extras — there are no ATMs after Labuan Bajo
- A dry bag for phones on tender transfers
- Any prescription medication; the nearest hospital is in Labuan Bajo
When is the best time to sail this route?
April to November is the dry season and the reliable window; July to September is peak, when boats and cabins sell out weeks ahead. December to March brings more rain and occasional rough crossings, but also greener islands and lower rates. More detail on the best time to see Komodo dragons.
Book your 3D2N Komodo itinerary
Komodo Luxury owns, crews and maintains its own fleet — we are not a broker reselling someone else’s boat, which is why we can tell you what the cabins actually look like and which vessel handles the Padar repositioning best. Four consecutive TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice awards (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), TripAdvisor “Best Boat Agency in Labuan Bajo” 2025, and 4.8 stars from 152 Google reviews.
Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875, email sales@komodoluxury.com, or book your Komodo dragon tour. Tell us your dates and group size and we will send live cabin availability for that week.
Frequently asked questions
Do I sleep on the boat for both nights of a 3D2N Komodo trip?
Yes. Both nights are aboard the vessel at anchor — night one at Kalong Island, night two typically at Siaba or Sebayur. There is no hotel component. Cabins are air-conditioned on almost all vessels in our fleet, with private or shared bathrooms depending on cabin tier.
Is one dragon trek or two included in the 3D2N itinerary?
Two. Rinca Island (Loh Buaya) on Day 1 and Komodo Island (Loh Liang) on Day 2. Both are ranger-guided and mandatory to join with a ranger. Rinca generally gives the better sighting odds because of its open savannah terrain and the dragons that gather near the station.
Can I do the Padar sunrise on a day trip instead?
Not properly. A speedboat leaving Labuan Bajo at 05:00 reaches Padar well after sunrise. Only vessels that anchor overnight nearby can put you on the ridge before first light, which is the main practical reason we recommend 3D2N over a one-day speedboat tour.
What happens if the sea is too rough for a stop?
The captain reorders or substitutes the stop. Manta Point is the most tide-dependent site and may be moved between days; Padar may be delayed by wind. Safety decisions sit with the captain and cruise director, and we do not run tender transfers in conditions we would not put our own families in.
How do I pay and when?
A 50% deposit confirms and holds your cabin or charter date; the remaining balance is due 14 days before departure (H-14). Park fees are separate and paid per person as listed above.
Is 3D2N suitable for children or older travellers?
Yes, with one caveat: the Padar climb involves roughly 30–45 minutes of uneven steps. Guests who prefer to skip it can stay aboard or wait at the lower viewpoint. Everything else — snorkelling, both dragon treks on the shorter trails, Pink Beach, Kanawa — is comfortable for mixed-age groups. Private charter is the easier option for families who want the pace set by them.