Overview
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Things to do in Komodo
Meet the Komodo Dragons
One of the most unique things to do in Komodo National Park is meet the Komodo Dragons. They are the biggest lizards in the world and Rinca Island and Komodo Island in Komodo National Park are the only places in the world where you can find them. It is probably the main reason why most people visit Komodo National Park. Seeing these magnificent animals should be on everyone’s bucket list.
For your own safety, those two islands are only accessible with an authorized park ranger. With this ranger, you can do a trek looking for the dragons. Besides the dragons, you can see some other wildlife here as well, such as cockatoos, black-naped orioles, and timor rusa deer.
Interesting facts about the Komodo Dragons:
- They can run up to 20 km/h.
- They can swim up to 700 m, but they don’t like it.
- There live approximately 1,500 living dragons on Komodo Island, together with other animals such as the timor rusa deer and approximately 1100 bird species.
- They can survive on only 12 meals a year.
- Komodo monitors are the largest lizards alive. They can weigh up to 100kg and being up to 3m long.
- They live on only those 2 islands of Komodo National Park and are classified as an endangered species.
- They eat almost every kind of meat: from small reptiles, to large animals, such as water buffalos. They are cannibals and have also killed human victims in the past.
Pink Beach
National Park Komodo is also home to several beautiful pink beaches. The beach gets its color from pink corals mixed up with the sand. There are only a small number of pink beaches in the world. So definitely a unique experience to visit one on the Komodo Islands.
Padar island
Padar Islands has one of the most famous views of Komodo National Park. It is a short but steep hike of around 20 minutes to the top of the hill, from where you have this incredible view of the island. If you look closely, you can see that the 3 beaches each have a different color: Pink, black, and white.
Go Snorkeling or Diving
The Komodo Islands are home to an incredible and diverse underwater world. You will find colorful coral reefs, sea turtles, small reef sharks, thousands of kinds of fish, and even manta rays on different snorkeling and diving spots around the islands. It’s a true paradise for both snorkelers and divers. The most visited reefs are Karang Makassar and Penga Kecil.
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How to visit Komodo National Park
You can only visit Komodo National Park by joining a boat trip from Labuan Bajo or a multiple-day boat tour between Lombok and Flores. You can choose from different Komodo tours: from one-day private trips or shared tours by slow or speedboat to overnight tours and complete expeditions. The best way to explore the islands depends entirely on your preference, budget, and time. We chose to visit Komodo National Park on a 4-day boat tour from Lombok to Flores and can highly recommend such an overnight boat tour!
How to get to Komodo National Park
The only way to get to Komodo National Park is by boat. The main gateway to visit Komodo National Park is Labuan Bajo on Flores Island where you can take a one or multiple-day boat trip to the national park.
To get to Labuan Bajo, you have multiple options, depending on where you are coming from.
By air
Labuan Bajo has its own international airport, known as Komodo Airport. It’s well-connected to major Indonesian cities like Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali), and Surabaya, as well as to some international destinations.
By boat
From Lombok, you can take a boat to Labuan Bajo. This boat tour usually lasts 3 to 4 days and along the way you will visit Komodo National Park, so win-win! And, of course, it is also possible to do it the other way around and sail from Labuan Bajo to Lombok via the national park.
By land
If you are coming from other cities in Flores, such as Moni or Bajawa, it is possible to reach Labuan Bajo by bus over land.
What does it cost
How much a visit to Komodo Island costs, depends completely on what you want to see, the comfort you prefer, and how many days you want to spend in the national park.
Shared tours are of course cheaper than private tours and speedboats are also often more expensive than slowboats. The price range for day trips is therefore quite big.
For a multiple-day boat tour, the prices vary between 2.500.000 and 4.300.000 IDR depending on how much comfort you’d like to have.
The Komodo National Park entrance fee varies between 150.000 and 250.000 IDR, depending on if you are visiting during weekdays, Sundays, or local holidays. For multiple-day boat tours, the entrance fee is often included in the tour price.
Activities
Discover Komodo National Park by joining a full day trip or multi-day tour.
Where to Stay
There are no accommodations on any of the islands of Komodo. All accommodations are located in Labuan Bajo, the gateway to visit Komodo National Park, where the boat tours depart. From budget-friendly guesthouses and hostels to more luxury resorts, there is something for every budget. Another option is to book a multi-day boat tour and stay one or more nights on the boat.
Hotels
Discover the best places to sleep in Labuan Bajo!
Best time to Visit
The best time to visit Komodo depends mostly on what you’re planning to do and visit.
You can see the dragons all year round. The months of July to August are considered high tourist season. This is when you can expect bigger crowds and higher prices.
If you want to go diving, the best season is March to October, when the sea conditions are more favorable and visibility is at its best.
Visiting Komodo National Park is not recommended from December to February, during rainy season. The landscapes are lush and green during this time, but outdoor activities such as diving may be more challenging or even canceled due to the rain. The multi-day boat tours along Komodo National Park, between Lombok and Flores usually do not even sail during this period.
Overall, we’d recommend traveling in March or April, at the end of rainy season. During these months, you can expect great weather, the best sea conditions, and the most beautiful landscapes. September and October would also be a great period keeping the weather and crowds in mind, but expect the landscapes to be yellow and dry.
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
