The following content was provided by group member Astrid Chang for us to reorganize:
Bottom line: Komodo National Park is located east of Bali, with no direct flights. You need to fly from Bali’s DPS Airport to Labuan Bajo’s LBJ Airport (about a 1-hour flight), then take a boat from the local harbor for an island hopping day tour. If you don’t have enough people, consider joining a standard speedboat tour offered by travel agencies, which covers Pink Beach and close-up observations of Komodo dragons.
How It All Began: Meeting the Travel Agency
This day tour was arranged through a local travel agency in Komodo. Since the three of us initially wanted to charter a boat for a custom itinerary on Labuan Bajo Island but couldn’t gather enough people, we decided to join their standard speedboat day tour. This trip allowed us to experience Indonesia’s unique natural wonders and the warm hospitality of the locals, so we wanted to share our experience.
Getting to Komodo: How to Reach There
Komodo National Park is located east of Bali, about a one-hour flight away. Since there are no direct flights, you need to take a domestic flight from Bali’s DPS Airport to Labuan Bajo’s LBJ Airport, then board a boat from Labuan Bajo harbor for an island hopping day tour. Komodo is famous not only as the sole habitat of Komodo dragons but also for having one of Asia’s few pink beaches—both sights are truly eye-opening.
No editing or filters—every beach among the six spots was stunning, and it wasn’t crowded. Right image: Pink Beach is actually quite prickly because it’s a mix of coral fragments and fine white sand. In person, it looks slightly pink, turning more reddish at noon; overly pink colors online are likely edited 😉 (Provided by Astrid Chang)
The Truth About Pink Beach
(Photo by Astrid Chang)
Trip Overview & Costs
⚠️ Specific times and locations may be adjusted slightly due to weather and sea conditions.
This standard one-day tour includes six main attractions and costs approximately USD$97 (prices may vary due to exchange rate fluctuations and new government taxes; final price is subject to the tour operator’s quote). The itinerary is as follows:
- 6:00 Pickup from hotel and departure to the harbor
- 8:00 Stop 1: Summit Padar Island
- 10:00 Stop 2: Enjoy the scenery at Pink Beach
- 11:20 Stop 3: Komodo dragon adventure (hiking observation)
(Photo by Astrid Chang)
- 12:20 Lunch on board
- 13:30 Stop 4: Stroll and snorkel at Taka Makasar (Crescent Moon Bay)
- 14:30 Stop 5: Snorkel with manta rays (Manta Spot)
- 15:30 Stop 6: Stroll and snorkel at Kanawa Island
After the tour, you’ll return to the harbor around 16:00-17:00. ASRI Labuan Bajo also offers two-day, one-night trips and itineraries that include sunset viewing—the bat sunset at Kalong Island is said to be spectacular.
What’s Included & What to Pack
💡 Package Includes:
- One-way airport-to-hotel transfer
- Round-trip transfers for the day’s itinerary
- Lunch, water, and drinks
- Snorkeling gear
- English-speaking guide service (you might get lucky with a Chinese-speaking guide)
(Photo by Astrid Chang)
💡 What to Bring:
- Hat (preferably with a strap to keep it from blowing away)
- Swimsuit
- Sunscreen
- Comfortable walking shoes and flip-flops
- Water bottle or drinking water
- Change of clothes or an easy-to-remove cover-up
Travel Diary: Dreamy Scenery & Local Charm
The sunset kept shifting colors, leaving us in awe (Photo by Astrid Chang)
The highlight of this Komodo island-hopping trip was the breathtaking scenery. Compared to Bali, it’s less crowded and more serene—every beach felt like a pristine paradise. The sunset we caught at the Ayana hotel was undoubtedly the most beautiful of the trip, as if we had stepped into a magical world.
👍 Why the local tour operator recommends this:
- Professional Service: Arda, the owner of the local tour operator, is polite and patient with guests, especially those from Taiwan. He offers meticulous service. We contacted him via Line, and he responded quickly with well-organized itineraries.
- Attentive and Thoughtful: The boat crew and guides were very concerned about each traveler’s well-being. On this trip, we were lucky to have a Mandarin-speaking guide—such guides are rare locally, so it was a pleasant surprise.
In summary, this one-day island-hopping tour of Komodo National Park was an unforgettable experience. Beyond the stunning natural scenery, the tour operator’s professional service added greatly to the journey. If you want to explore this relatively untouched paradise, consider booking with them!
Here’s a picture story:
Left: We had to gather at the dock by 6:15 AM, where all the day-trippers met. It seemed the operator tried to group travelers by language. Right: At the first stop, the guide recommended climbing to the fifth viewpoint for the best views. Due to time, we only made it to the fourth, but a companion who went higher said the scenery looked similar. (Photo by Astrid Chang)
Left: The entire route has wooden boardwalk stairs—easy to climb but a bit tiring. Right: The colors are unedited; pinkish in the morning, turning redder as the sun gets stronger. (Photo by Astrid Chang)
Left: The ground was quite prickly, and my swimsuit fabric brought home many tiny red coral particles. Right: The caption is wrong—this is actually the third stop. If you don’t want to walk, you can wait outside. (Photo by Astrid Chang)
Left: Fourth stop: Taka Makasar crescent moon bay—you can just stroll even if you don’t snorkel. Right: Chasing manta rays! (Photo by Astrid Chang)
Right photo: Fifth stop: Chasing manta rays—this spot is more dangerous, recommended for experienced divers. If you’re not a strong swimmer, don’t push it. Our friends who went in said the waves were strong and the current was intense. (Photo by Astrid Chang)
Left: Last stop: Kanawa Island—also crystal-clear glassy waters, perfect for snorkeling or a beach stroll. Right: Unbelievably beautiful. (Photo by Astrid Chang)
Left: Overall, I feel the service at Ayana Komodo doesn’t quite reach five-star level—probably because it’s on a remote island and relatively new, so the attention to detail isn’t fully there yet. But the hotel has plenty of facilities and the scenery is truly stunning. Just make sure to book a sea-view room; otherwise, I don’t think it’s worth it. Right: Thank you to Arda, the owner of Asri Labuan Bajo, for the arrangements and care 🥰🙇🏻♀️ (Provided by Astrid Chang)
Two All-Inclusive Five-Day, Four-Night Itineraries
- Includes round-trip direct flights from Taiwan to Bali, flights from Bali to Komodo, four nights’ accommodation, private car for two throughout the trip… etc.: ⭐⭐Bali + Komodo Dragon Island: Four-Night Light Luxury Stay / No Shopping / No Optional Tours / Five-Day Tour⭐⭐
- Includes flights from Bali to Komodo, two nights at Ayana Bali / two nights at Ayana Komodo, private car for two throughout the trip… etc.: ⭐⭐Komodo + Bali Double AYANA Luxury 5-Day Tour: Stay at World-Class Resorts, Pink Beach, and Komodo Dragons All in One⭐⭐
Do you find Astrid Chang’s itinerary exciting? Plan your own Bali free-and-easy trip now! Feel free to share your itinerary in the community group too!
Latest update: Komodo Officially Limits Visitors! No Reservation by 2026, You’ll Be Sent Back to Shore—Spur-of-the-Moment Trips Are History!
Bali Travelogue Treasure Trove
Click here for more Bali travel stories
Want to write a travelogue but don't know where to start? Check out "How to Write an Amazing Bali Travelogue" to make your travelogue shine!
No discussions yet — be the first to ask.