Komodo Expedition
Komodo Islands, Indonesia
17 - 24 May 2027 : WOMEN ONLY
From A$3360 (more details below)
ADD ON ADVENTURE
24 - 26 May 2027 : Wae Rebo Village trip
From A$420
Calling all nature-loving adventurers!
Join me for an unforgettable 8 Day/7 Night journey through Indonesia’s spectacular Komodo Islands.
We will spend three incredible days sailing aboard our privately chartered traditional phinisi boat, complete with air-conditioned double cabins and private ensuites. Along the way, we will encounter the legendary Komodo dragons, hike beautiful Padar Island at sunset, visit Pink Beach and with a bit of luck, snorkel alongside graceful manta rays and sea turtles.
We'll also spend two nights in beautiful beachfront glamping tents on a private adults-only island and stay at a beachfront resort on the mainland, to experience the lively atmosphere of Labuan Bajo's harbour area and seafood market.
Combining extraordinary wildlife, breathtaking scenery and unique accommodation, this comfortable adventure is perfect for women and couples ready to explore somewhere truly remarkable with a small group of like-minded travellers.
Sounds like your type of adventure? Then read on for the details...
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Accommodation
- 1 night in a boutique hotel in the heart of Labuan Bajo town
- 2 nights on the amazing Emocean Komodo Phinisi boat
- 2 nights in a beautiful beachfront glamping tent on Le Pirate Island
- 2 nights at a 4+ star beachfront resort
Meals
- 7 Breakfasts
- 6 Lunches
- 5 Dinners
- Coffee, tea, water and soft drinks on the boat
Transfers
- All group airport transfers in air-conditioned vehicles
- Van transfer to harbour for the boat trip
- Boat transfer to and from Le Pirate Island
- Van transfer from harbour to resort
Local Taxes
- Komodo National Park entry and conservation fees and local tax for site visits
Snorkelling Gear
- Good quality snorkels, masks and fins are included at Le Pirate Island and on board the boat.
Activities
- Experience the beauty of Komodo in comfort and style during 3 days sailing through the islands aboard our own privately chartered traditional phinisi boat
- Visit Komodo or Rinca Island for a walking adventure through the National Park while trying to spot Komodo dragons
- Hike to the top of beautiful Padar Island for an unforgettable sunset over the ocean
- Walk along the soft sand of beautiful Pink Beach
- Watch thousands of flying foxes take flight at dusk from Kalong Island
-Lots of opportunities to snorkel in the beautiful clear waters surrounding the islands, including a stop at Manta Point in search of majestic Manta Rays.
- Early morning visit to beat the crowds to crescent shaped Taka Makassar sandbar
- Snorkel, swim, dive, paddle or simply relax on adults-only Le Pirate Island
- Wake up to the sound of the waves in your beachfront glamping tent
- Afternoon trip to the underwater worlds of Rangko Cave and Mirror Cave
- Sunset views from Sylvia Hill over the rolling coastal hills of Flores Island.
- Visit the vibrant Labuan Bajo Seafood night market
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
- International flights and domestic flights to Labuan Bajo
- Individual airport transfers outside of group pick up times
- Comprehensive Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
- Any Visa requirements
- Meals and drinks not specified in the itinerary
- Airport arrival taxes
- Optional and extra activities and transport not specified in the itinerary
- Tips for boat crew and guides
- Spending money
Please read our full Terms and Conditions before completing your booking. By paying your deposit you agree to the
Terms and Conditions.
THE ITINERARY
Day 1 – Labuan Bajo
Today you arrive in Labuan Bajo, the starting point of our Komodo adventure. You will be greeted at the airport by our driver and transferred to our boutique hotel right in the heart of town. It is preferable you plan your flight arrival to Labuan Bajo by 4pm at the latest, to ensure you can make it for our 5pm welcome briefing.
Around 5pm, we will meet upstairs at the pool bar for introductions and a short briefing, before heading to a pre-arranged restaurant for the welcome dinner.
After dinner, you are welcome to have a wander around town, find a bar for another drink or finish the evening with an ice-cream from the famous Maison Belmont.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2 – Emocean Komodo Phinisi Boat
This morning you can wake up at your own leisure with breakfast being served around 8.30am on the top floor by the pool. If you are an early riser, you may want to wander down to the waterfront for an explore before breakfast.
Around 9.15am we will be picked up by a driver to transfer us to the harbour for the start of our 3 day cruise around the islands.
Our tender boat will pick us up from the dock and transfer us to our home on the water for the next 3 days (2 nights), where, on boarding, we will be greeted by the amazing crew with a snack, before setting off on our sailing expedition.
Depending on conditions, today we will snorkel near Penga Island in search of turtles and dugongs, visit a shelly sandbar and anchor near Kalong Island to watch thousands of flying foxes set flight from the island at dusk.
As we sail off to our overnight spot in a calm bay, we can enjoy a drink on the deck before dinner is served. For the rest of the evening, you can enjoy the beautiful night sky or good conversation with your fellow travellers, and retreat to your cabin when you are ready for a good night's rest.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (plus snacks in between)
Day 3 – Emocean Komodo Phinisi Boat
This morning the crew will be ready nice and early with a cup of coffee or tea and a quick bite to eat before we hop in the tender boat for our Komodo Dragon experience. We will aim to get there as the gates open as to avoid the later crowds.
On the island we will be escorted by 2 local guides, to ensure we stay safe as we scan the savannahs for the famed Komodo Dragons on a leisurely walk. Our knowledgeable guides will share all about these incredible creatures and if we're lucky, we will encounter them in their natural habitat.
On our return to the boat, a full breakfast will be served to us on the deck as we head off to our next destination for the day, Manta Point. At Manta Point we will follow our guide into the deep water in search of majestic Manta Rays. Sightings are not guaranteed, but if we are lucky we will witness these graceful creatures 'flying' through the clear water beneath us.
We will sail on to the famed Pink Beach, where we will have lunch on board before taking the tender to shore to spend a couple of hours on this stunning beach. Here our boat guide will take some spectacular drone photos, which will be part of our package, and can be individually downloaded via a WhatsApp link (they will take complimentary photos and videos throughout our 3 day trip). You can return to the boat at any time, should you wish to get out of the sun and simply relax in one of the bean bags on deck.
Our final stop for the day is beautiful Padar Island, where we will climb to the top of the hill to watch the sun set over one of the most beautiful landscapes I have ever watched a sunset at.
On return to the boat, our dinner will be ready which we can enjoy as we sail off to our new overnight spot. Tonight will be a good night to share a few drinks outside after dinner as we don't have to rise too early in the morning; however, should you feel exhausted after our big day of adventures, you can retreat to your cabin when you're ready.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (plus snacks in between)
Day 4 – Le Pirate Island
This morning, we will enjoy our last breakfast on board before being transferred to the beautiful Taka Makassar sandbar for a morning swim. This crescent shaped sandbar consists of soft white sand and is surrounded by the clearest blue water.
Back on board the boat, we will get ready for our last snorkelling adventure at one of the most alive reefs in this area, where we can snorkel with multiple turtles, eagle rays, reef sharks and a multitude of other stunning sea creatures.
For the next couple of hours, we can relax and enjoy the beautiful ocean and island scenery as we start our return journey towards Le Pirate Island. After a final lunch on board the boat, it will be time to say 'Selamat Tinggal!' to our amazing crew, before hopping in the tender for the short ride to shore on Le Pirate Island.
On arrival at Le Pirate Island, we will be greeted with a refreshment and briefed on our stay here, before being shown to our beautiful glamping tents on the beach.
The rest of the afternoon is free to explore this small island - snorkel straight off the beach, join a volleyball game, enjoy some cocktails from the beach bar or simply relax in a deckchair or hammock with a book.
After dinner at the island restaurant, you can join others around the bonfire for another drink or relax in a beanbag watching a movie under the stars on the projector screen.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 – Le Pirate Island
Today is big day of free time to yourself! You may choose to do some more snorkeling or perhaps take out the kayak for a paddle around the island. Maybe you want to burn some energy and walk the easy track up the hill behind the beach for a view around the island. If you're a diver, you can arrange a couple of dives at the dive shop on the island or give diving a try with their Try Scuba experience. You can even choose to take a morning or afternoon boat trip to pretty Bird Island for a change of scenery. The choice is completely yours! Just make sure you listen out for the bell to head over to the restaurant at meal times.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Labuan Bajo
This morning we have a relaxed start to the morning , after which we will pack up our belongings from our glamping tents, ready for our 45min boat transfer to the mainland.
On arrival at the harbour, we will be met by our resort driver who will take us the short distance to our beachfront resort where we will spend the next couple of nights.
Tonight you have an opportunity to head into town to the famous SO Bajo seafood market, where you can choose from a huge range of fresh fish and seafood to be prepared to your liking and wash it down with a cold Bintang from the corner convenience store across the road. If seafood is not your thing, there are many other well-priced restaurants to choose from in town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 7 – Labuan Bajo
This morning after breakfast you will have some time to enjoy the resort facilities for a few hours before our afternoon excursion.
You can lounge by the pool, take a kayak out for a paddle in the bay or book in for a relaxing spa treatment.
After lunch, we will be picked up by our driver for an afternoon trip to Rangko Cave and Mirror Stone Cave. At Rangko Cave we will have a swim in the luminous natural underground pool and at Mirror Stone Cave we will wander through a system of ancient limestone walls and tunnels. On our way back, we will stop off at Sylvia Hill to watch the sun set into the ocean across the rolling hills of Flores Island on our last day in Indonesia.
We will return to the resort, where we will have a final dinner together (at your own expense) at the resort restaurant. During dinner we can share our highlights of the trip and exchange details with new friends before saying goodnight.
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 – Departure Day
(unless you join the optional 2 day adventure to Wae Rebo Village)
After a final breakfast together we say farewell to our fellow travellers as everyone heads home. The pre-arranged airport shuttle will drop you off at the airport in time for your flight.
If you are adding on the 2 day adventure to Wae Rebo Village please read on for the details.
Meals: Breakfast
Optional 2 Day Adventure to Wae Rebo Village and Cunca Plias
Day 1 – Wae Rebo Village
After breakfast this morning we will get picked up by our driver for the 4hr journey to Denge Village, where we will have a quick local lunch before starting the hike to Wae Rebo. A motorbike will take us on a 10 min ride to the start of the track, from where it is a 5km uphill hike to the village.
On arrival at the village, we will be invited into the home of the chief to pay our respects, followed by a welcome drink of coffee. This coffee is grown by the villagers in the surrounding mountains.
We will be shown to our beds for the night, which consist of a simple mattress, pillow and blanket, in a large local hut which we will share with up to 30 people in the room. It is important to note that the facilities in the village is very basic, with no showers and only a few of toilets to share with all the visitors, and the meals at dinner and breakfast are very simple.
During the evening we can wander around the village and gardens or join in a ball game with the village kids, until we get invited to dinner. During dinner one of the male villagers will tell us the history of the village and stories about the community and how they work and live together.
The rest of the evening is yours to enjoy the absolutely spectacular night sky (especially when they switch off the generator at 10pm) or snuggle up in your comfortable blanket for an early night.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 2 – Cunca Plias to Labuan Bajo
Wake up early to soak in the peaceful village atmosphere while most of the visitors are still sleeping and to watch the sun rise slowly over the hilltops. After a quick breakfast, we will start the trek down the mountain to where our driver will be waiting for us.
We will drive back to Labuan Bajo and on the way will stop at a local eatery for lunch before doing the short hike to Cunca Plias. Cunca Plias consists of a series of 3 pretty waterfalls, with the last one pooling on the edge before cascading down into the valley. Here you can swim to the edge of the pool to watch the water tumble down over the edge around you.
We will end our journey back in the heart of Labuan Bajo at the boutique hotel where our trip started.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 3 – Departure Day
After breakfast this morning, we will say goodbye and transfer to the airport for our flights home.
Meals: Breakfast
The Emocean Phinisi Boat
Check it out here:
Room Options and Prices
Sunset Room - $3685 pp (King share)
The sunset room is the pick of the cabins. Located on the top deck, it is a large king size room with its own private balcony and larger ensuite bathroom.
Horizon Room - $3545 pp (Queen share)
The Horizon Room is also located on the top deck. It has 2 large windows that can open, a queen size bed and a larger ensuite.
Lagon Room - $3465 pp (Twin or Triple share)
The Lagon Room is located on the lower deck. It is the most spacious of the rooms and can accommodate up to 3 people comfortably in 2 twins and a double bed. This room is ideal if you are travelling solo or not comfortable sharing a bed.
Coral Room and Wave Room - $3360 pp (Queen share each)
The Coral Room and the Wave Room are both located on the lower deck. These two cabins mirror each other in layout. They both have a porthole window and private ensuite each.
Important things to note:
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Accommodation is booked on Twin Share basis. On Le Pirate Island you will be required to share a king size bed with another guest as twin beds are not available. On the boat, your bedding configuration will depend on your choice of cabin as outlined in the boat information section above. Please ensure you are comfortable with this before proceeding with a booking. Alternatively, you can opt for the single supplement to have a glamping tent all to yourself.
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Our accommodations will vary in comfort levels, from a boutique hotel, to unique glamping tents on the beach and a 4+ star resort. Please ensure you are comfortable with this. If you expect high-end 5 star accommodations, sadly, this trip is not for you.
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This adventure is designed to ensure a good mix of activity and relaxation, but will be more on the active side with early mornings, boat trips, island hopping, snorkelling and a few easy walks. If you are looking for a lie-by-the-pool kind of holiday, this trip is unfortunately not for you.
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It is essential that you have a suitable Travel Insurance policy for the duration of the trip, before you head off to Indonesia. I am happy to assist with recommendations. Unfortunately you will not be able to join the group without personal Travel Insurance.
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International flights and a short domestic flight is not included in this itinerary. International flight costs will vary depending on which city you depart from, but as an indication you can expect approximate domestic flight costs as follows:
- Bali to Labuan Bajo return: approx. A$250 incl luggage
*If you can manage 7kg carry on luggage only, the domestic tickets can be significantly cheaper
*Assistance with booking domestic tickets is available and will incur an inclusive $60 booking fee per person.
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It is essential that your arrival flight into Labuan Bajo is before 4pm on the start date of our group trip. Should you wish to arrive a day earlier to start relaxing in the little town of Labuan Bajo, I’d be happy to assist with booking accommodation.
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Apart from drinks specified in the itinerary, all other drinks with meals and on daytrips will be at your own cost.