Komodo National Park in Indonesia is one of the most amazing and exotic parts of the world that you can experience. Indonesia officially has 17,508 islands, making it the world’s largest archipelagic state, with Komodo Island as one of them. Visiting Komodo National Park will be a trip of your life, so find out everything about how to get to Komodo Island to meet the dragons – the world’s largest lizards.
How to get to Komodo Island?
Komodo is known for its stunning natural beauty and is home to the famous Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. How to get to Komodo for a unique experience – Komodo National Park is composed of three major islands, but there are more than 20 exotic paradise islands and the surrounding waters, where you can swim, snorkel, dive and trek.
Few facts about Komodo Island.
The Komodo Islands are located in Komodo National Park, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Park.
The islands are home to Komodo Dragons – the world’s largest living lizards, growing up to 10 feet (3 meters) long and weighing over 150 lbs (70 kg)!
The lizards are overwhelming! I could not stop staring, admiring their beauty and giant posture. Although they are predators, most of them got used to human presence, thanks to thousands of tourists trekking the island.
Visiting Komodo Island is only possible by boat. I would highly recommend visiting the neighbouring islands like Rinca and Padar. I’ve visited Komodo Island, Rinca, Bats Island and went for an independent boat trip to Kanawa Island – the whole archipelago is a true wonder of the world.
GETTING THERE: The nearest major airport is in Labuan Bajo on Flores Island. I flew to Labuan Bajo from Bali, but the flights are available from other major Indonesian cities.
Most of the boats to Komodo National Park depart from Labuan Bajo – Flores Island.
It is very easy to access Komodo Island by boat from Labuan Bajo. The majority of visitors to Flores Island would be aiming to explore Komodo National Park.
Komodo National Park tour.
TOUR TO KOMODO ISLAND: The easiest way to get to Komodo Island is to book a boat tour from Labuan Bajo – Flores Island.
Most tours to Komodo Island include transportation to the island to Komodo Island, guide services, and sometimes accommodation and meals. The tours usually do not include the Komodo National Park fee and a trekking fee.
If you prefer a more independent experience, you can arrange your own transportation to Komodo Island by hiring a boat. I was so impressed by the island’s nature that I did both.
Komodo National Park Islands.
- Komodo Island – the main island in the Komodo National Park and the namesake of the Komodo dragon. You can see and get close to these fascinating creatures in their natural habitat, as well as enjoy activities such as trekking, snorkelling, and diving in crystal waters surrounding the island.
- Rinca Island – is another island within the park. Rinca is home to a large population of Komodo dragons and offers trekking opportunities to see these reptiles up close. The island also boasts beautiful landscapes and excellent diving spots.
- Padar Island, best known for its breathtaking panoramic views and trekking trails.
Best place to stay near Komodo Island.
The best place to stay is Flores Island and the famous Labuan Bajo, a famous old port city. The accommodation prices are really low, exceptional hotels start from 10USD/per night on agoda.com.
One of the most extraordinary places to stay around is Le Pirate Island, located 1 hour by boat from Labuan Bajo harbor, a destination only for adults.
Boat trip to Komodo Island.
The Komodo Island tour is a highly exciting way to explore the beauty and wildlife of the Indonesian wilderness. Here are a few options to get to Komodo Island:
- The best available tour, in my opinion and highly rated is full day Komodo with snorkelling: One day Komodo trip with Bintang Komodo Tours.
- Another full day Komodo with snorkelling option: From Labuan Bajo: Day Tour of Komodo Island with Snorkelling.
- From Labuan Bajo: Full-day tour to Komodo National Park with snorkeling.
- Klook offers very pleasant All-Day Speed Boat Tour from Labuan Bajo to Komodo National Park.
LIVEABOARD – you have the option of either chartering a private boat or joining a liveaboard tour, which takes you to several destinations across the islands. Full Day Trip to Explore 6 Destinations in Labuan Bajo and Komodo is one of the options for such a tour – we did something similar and it was adventure of a lifetime (check below), because Liveaboards offer the opportunity to stay on the water for multiple days, exploring various islands within the Komodo National Park.
Make sure the tour includes stops at both Komodo and Rinca Islands, as well as other highlights within the national park. We spent a night at the shores of Bats Island, the next day we spent on Kawana Island snorkelling and relaxing – simply paradise.
Komodo National Park fee.
In 2024 the entrance fee to Komodo National Park was between 150.000 and 250.000 IDR, depending on visiting time – weekends or casual days.
Most of the boat tours do not include an entrance fee to the park.
Once you get to Komodo Island, there are several trekking options in the Komodo National Park, which is actually the best part of the whole trip! The treks differ with lenght – you can choose from short, medium and long trekking across the island.
How to visit Komodo Island.
You need to know that strict rules apply while visiting Komodo National Park.
BEFORE VISITING: All visitors are required to register online by submitting identity details.
From the moment you board the island, strict rules and regulations apply. Walking alone on the island is prohibited.
Taking anything from the island is against Indonesian law!
Remember you are entering the dragons’ island – a pure, wild area. Of course, Rangers are with you all the time, guiding you along the trek. They will also provide safety tips ahead of the adventure. One Ranger is walking in front of the group, and one is at the end. Rangers are well-trained, and they know exactly what to do in case of any emergency. However, you also need to know that the dragons are used to human presence at this stage; they rarely act aggressively.
Komodo National Park trekking routes.
You will have several trekking options to choose from – the short, medium and long routes. You will be accompanied by Rangers, leading the tour.
KOMODO ISLAND – the trail leads to a viewpoint overlooking the surrounding islands.
PADAR ISLAND – Loh Liang trek combines a visit to Komodo Island with a boat trip to Padar Island, known for its iconic three-colored beaches. The trek takes you up a steep hill for panoramic views of the island.
RINCA ISLAND – a popular Loh Buaya Trek trekking route in Rinca Island starts at Loh Buaya, the main ranger station. The trail meanders through savannahs and forests, where you can encounter Komodo dragons, wild boars, and monkeys.
Komodo Dragons - the biggest lizards on earth.
Komodo and Rinca Islands boast diverse landscapes, including hillsides, savannahs, turquoise waters and a pink beach. Seeing these ancient and impressive creatures – Komodo Dragons in the wild is a remarkable experience. The views from the hills spread over the surrounding islands.
Rangers will tell you everything about the life habits of Komodo Dragons. Dragons’ saliva teems with over 50 strains of bacteria. Even if the bite is not heavy, the wound is unlikely to heal, and you will probably get blood poisoning. Any bite needs to be treated immediately. Dragon’s toxins lower blood pressure and cause massive bleeding. Dragons are often hunting buffalo, the animal that is much bigger than the predator. Dragons usually bite the leg of the buffalo and wait for days for the toxins to kill the animal.
Once the buffalo is bitten, the dragons track it for days until it’s too exhausted to move because of the bacterial infection. However, this hunting technique is not recognized any more among the predators. Komodo Dragons tackle more often medium-sized mammals like pigs or deer, which die much quicker from blood loss.
We almost bumped into a dragon passing our trail. It’s scary to know the predators are twice faster than human.
Kalong Island- bats island in Komodo National Park.
On day 2 of the boat tour, we slept on the top deck near the shores of Bats Island. This was one of the most incredible nights of my life!
Kalong Island (also known as Pulau Kalong) is a small island located within Komodo National Park. The island is famous for being the habitat of large colonies of flying foxes, also known as fruit bats.
Kalong Island is situated in Komodo National Park, between the islands of Rinca and Flores in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia. It is close to Komodo Island and it’s a popular stop for boat tours in the area, so do not miss it!
Kalong Island is home to a massive population of large flying foxes – known as Pteropus. These bats are fruit-eating mammals that play a crucial role in pollination and seed dispersal in the ecosystem.
SUNSET BATS WATCHING – Every evening at sunset, thousands of bats emerge from the mangrove forests of Kalong Island in search of food, creating a spectacular sight as they fill the whole sky – it’s pure magic! You can book a tour with Klook on the surrounding islands: Boat Trip to Rinca and Kalong Island or a beautiful Sunset Komodo Island Tour on Tripadvisor, including all activities: watching flying foxes and mangroves in Kalong Island, trekking to see Komodo dragons on Rinca Island.
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