Seeing the Komodo dragons had been on my bucket list for years, so when I started planning an Indonesian trip, visiting Komodo National Park was non-negotiable. Stunning beaches, crystal-clear water, colourful coral reefs, incredible hikes and rare wildlife. It sounded like absolute paradise, and I couldn’t wait to experience it all.
Of course, our trip to Komodo did not exactly go to plan.
Why We Almost Didn’t Go
While we were in Lombok, I slipped on a wet rock at a waterfall in Tetebatu and badly injured my ankle. At the time I thought it was just a bad sprain at the time, although once I returned to Australia and had more scans done, it turned out to be fractured. Typical!
For a few days, I seriously considered cancelling our Komodo trip altogether. But after spending three days relaxing by the pool in Lombok, my ankle started feeling a little better. Gentle swimming each day seemed to help enormously, and once I could put some weight on it again, I made the very stubborn decision that I was not missing Komodo National Park.
Getting from Lombok to Labuan Bajo on crutches sounded stressful, but honestly, the kindness we experienced throughout Indonesia was incredible. At the airport, security staff immediately organised wheelchairs for me, and by the time we arrived in Labuan Bajo, I had barely needed to put weight on my foot at all.
I had already warned our tour company about my ankle injury, and they reassured me they would help however needed. Still, I was nervous about managing all the boat transfers over the next three days.
But by the following morning, it was finally time to board the Lita boat and begin our Komodo adventure.
Day One
After being picked up from our hotel, we headed to the port to finalise our permits for Komodo National Park before boarding a small transfer boat out to the Lita, which was anchored further out in the bay.
Getting into the little boat with a sore ankle and crutches was the first challenge of the trip. With some help from the crew, though, I managed it without too much drama. Slightly stressful? Yes. Successful? Also yes.
Once onboard the Lita, I immediately felt relieved. Our room was on the top deck, which meant tackling eight steep stairs every time I needed to go up or down, but thankfully the crew were constantly there to help. On the way down, bum-shuffling down the stairs actually worked surprisingly well. Dignity slightly questionable, but effective!
Our first stop was Sebayur Island for snorkelling.
Sebayur Island
I will admit, climbing carefully into the small boat again had me nervous. I was trying so hard not to lose my balance or make the ankle worse. But the second I slipped into the water, everything changed. Swimming felt amazing on my ankle, and I could feel it loosening up more and more every time I got in the ocean.
Before the trip, I had told myself I might skip some snorkelling stops depending on how good they were. Living in Australia, we are incredibly spoiled when it comes to snorkelling, and I figured I should probably save my ankle for the stops I really wanted to do, especially the manta rays and turtles.
That plan lasted about five seconds.
The moment I put my head underwater at Sebayur Island, I knew there was absolutely no chance I would be sitting any snorkeling out. The coral was stunning, colourful, vibrant and surprisingly healthy considering the amount of plastic pollution visible elsewhere around Indonesia. Fish were everywhere, and best of all… turtles. More turtles! Even after the Gili Islands, I still was not remotely tired of seeing turtles. Honestly, the more turtles, the better.
Back onboard, I could not stop talking about how incredible it all was, and soon we were heading towards our next stop: Manta Point.
Manta Point
This stop was definitely more challenging.
The water was rougher, the boats were rocking constantly, and climbing into the smaller boat felt far more unstable than earlier in the day. Once we arrived, our guide jumped into the water first to check if any manta rays were nearby. The mantas tend to swim where the currents meet, which unfortunately also means rougher water conditions.
Sadly, no mantas appeared while we were there, so the guide took us slightly away from the stronger current where it was safer to snorkel. Even without manta rays, it still ended up being another incredible snorkelling experience. Once again, there were turtles everywhere, so many that I started trying to count them before eventually giving up completely. The coral gardens were beautiful, the fish life was incredible, and despite the rough conditions, I was so glad I had pushed through the nerves and gone in.
Taka Makassar
Our final stop for the day was Taka Makassar, a stunning little sandbank island surrounded by turquoise water. We spent some time relaxing there while, in the distance, an enormous storm slowly rolled across the horizon. The sky turned darker and darker until eventually our guide decided it was probably time to head back to the boat. We made it onboard just as the storm reached us. Perfect timing!
That evening was wonderfully relaxing. We enjoyed dinner onboard before heading to bed early, ready for the sunrise hike at Padar Island the next morning.
Sadly, there was no way my ankle was going to survive the famous Padar Island climb. Simon planned to do the sunrise hike while I stayed behind on the boat. I was definitely disappointed to miss it, but at least I could still enjoy the snorkelling parts of the trip and honestly, after how amazing day one had already been, I still felt incredibly lucky just to be there.
Day Two
Day two started very early for Simon, who was up at 4:30am for a quick breakfast before heading off for the sunrise hike up Padar Island. Thankfully, my sunrise viewing spot was only a few metres from our cabin, so I happily stayed in bed a little longer and set my alarm for fifteen minutes before sunrise instead.
Honestly, I absolutely loved having the deck to myself that morning. Sitting there alone on the beanbags, watching the sky slowly light up over Komodo National Park, was so peaceful and relaxing. The soft colours in the sky reflected across the calm ocean, and for a little while it felt like we had the entire place to ourselves.
Padar Island
Of course, the view from the top of Padar Island is the famous one and after seeing Simon’s photos, I can absolutely understand why. The hike itself takes around thirty minutes and involves climbing roughly 900 steps to the summit. From the top, you can see Padar’s three stunning bays, each with completely different coloured sand. One beach is bright white, another has darker volcanic sand, and the famous third beach has a soft pink hue created by tiny fragments of red coral mixing into the white sand.
Simon said the hike itself was worthwhile,
but he also admitted it was far from peaceful. There were people everywhere, all trying to capture the perfect sunrise photo at the top. As someone who really dislikes overcrowded tourist spots, hearing that honestly made me feel a little better about missing out. Still, those views looked absolutely spectacular, and if I ever make it back to Komodo for round two, which I really hope I do someday, Padar Island will definitely be back on the list.
After Simon returned and I enjoyed my first breakfast while he enjoyed his second, we headed off to our next stop: Pink Beach.
Pink Beach
Thankfully, the boat anchored close enough to shore that I could simply snorkel my way straight from the main boat to the beach, which was much easier for me than climbing in and out of the smaller boats again.
Pink Beach really was beautiful. The soft pink tones of the sand beside the unbelievably turquoise water looked almost surreal. The snorkelling near the beach was lovely too, although the coral was not quite as spectacular as what we had seen the previous day. It was still an absolutely gorgeous place to swim and relax.
The main section of the beach was busy but not unbearably crowded. However, once we wandered a little further away from the tourist area, it was heartbreaking to see how much rubbish had washed further up the beach. Clearly only the main tourist section gets cleaned regularly. Seeing plastic scattered across such a stunning place was honestly really sad.
Next up was manta round two.
The Mantas
Because we had missed out on manta rays the previous day, our guide promised we would try another spot on the way to Rinca Island. And wow… this time we got lucky.
Just like the day before, our guide jumped into the water first to check conditions. Except this time he had barely been in for a few seconds before popping back up and yelling, “Manta! Everyone jump in!”
Careful ankle management instantly disappeared at that point. The second I heard the word “manta,” I was in that water as quickly as possible.
And there they were.
The first manta ray was already circling gracefully beneath our boat. Then another appeared. Then another. Before long, three manta rays were gliding around us as though they were just as curious about us as we were about them. One of them was absolutely enormous and swam directly underneath me. It was such an incredible experience.
We had seen manta rays before at Lady Elliot Island in Australia, but never like this. These ones stayed around us for ages, looping and circling through the water so effortlessly. It honestly felt magical.
After spending some time with the mantas, our guide had us drift along with the current to continue snorkelling through the reef and two more manta rays appeared beside us!
The coral was beautiful, the fish life incredible, and I came back onboard completely buzzing with excitement and adrenaline. I honestly could not stop smiling. At that moment I kept thinking how close I had come to cancelling this trip altogether. Thank goodness I hadn’t.
The Komodo Dragons
After lunch, we arrived at Rinca Island, finally time to see the Komodo dragons.
After our luck with the mantas, I was hoping we might also get lucky with the dragons, especially since my ankle meant I could only manage the shorter walk near the information centre. I was worried I might miss out while everyone else went further into the island.
I should not have worried at all.
Not only did I see Komodo dragons… I saw eight of them!
The first one was resting further away in the bushland, then we spotted another close to the boardwalk. A little further along, there were three dragons lounging right beside the path looking completely unbothered by everyone staring at them. Then there was another one near the information centre itself. Finally, as our guide walked me back towards the boat, he spotted another two dragons, including a massive male with his lady!
I was absolutely thrilled.
Meanwhile, Simon had done the longer walk, and I had major FOMO thinking he would return having seen even more dragons than me. Secretly, I was very happy to discover he had not! He did see some other wildlife though, including monkeys, buffalo, even a baby buffalo. He also saw a Komodo dragon nest.
To finish off what had already been an incredible day, we headed to Kalong Island for sunset.
Kalong Island
Kalong Island is famous for the thousands of flying foxes that leave the mangroves every evening at sunset, and there were boats gathered everywhere waiting for the show to begin. As the sun started dropping lower in the sky, the bats suddenly began pouring out across the horizon in huge waves.
It was such an amazing sight.
And unlike the previous evening, when the storm rolled in, this time we were treated to a truly spectacular sunset as well. Watching the sky turn orange and pink while thousands of bats flew overhead was the perfect ending to an unforgettable day in Komodo National Park.
Day Three
Our final morning onboard the Lita arrived far too quickly and honestly, neither of us was ready for the trip to end.
Kelor Island
Our first stop that morning was Kelor Island, known for its viewpoint hike and crystal-clear water filled with baby sharks.
Unfortunately, I had to sit out the hike once again. Compared to Padar Island, this one was much shorter, but Simon returned saying the steep incline and uneven ground still would have been far too difficult with my ankle. Slightly disappointing, yes but thankfully there was still plenty for me to enjoy.
Even before we reached the island properly, we could already spot baby sharks swimming through the shallow water around the beach. The water was so unbelievably clear they were impossible to miss.
Naturally, it did not take me long to grab my snorkelling gear and jump straight in.
The baby blacktip reef sharks were everywhere, calmly gliding around us through the warm shallow water. Despite all the people swimming nearby, they seemed completely relaxed and unbothered. They were honestly adorable, if sharks can even be described as adorable!
We spent around an hour enjoying the island before heading off for one final snorkelling stop not far from Kelor Island.
Last snorkelling spot
By this point it almost felt normal seeing stunning coral gardens and huge schools of colourful fish everywhere we looked. One last time we floated through crystal-clear water, soaking up every final moment of Komodo National Park before heading back towards Labuan Bajo.
Lunch was served onboard as we cruised back towards the marina, and I think both of us spent most of the journey quietly reflecting on what an incredible few days it had been.
Despite the ankle injury, despite nearly cancelling the trip altogether, Komodo National Park ended up being the absolute highlights of our Indonesia adventure. From the turtles and manta rays to the dragons, pink beach and spectacular sunsets, it truly felt like one unforgettable moment after another.
And honestly, I was also incredibly relieved that I had somehow managed to survive the entire trip without making my ankle any worse!
Although, once the adrenaline and excitement finally wore off, I could feel that I had pushed it a little too far. By the time we arrived back in Labuan Bajo, my ankle was feeling much sorer again. Apparently, excitement and stubbornness are very effective painkillers.
So, for the next couple of days, we slowed things right down, spending most of our time relaxing by the pool and only doing a very small amount of exploring around town.
Which Company Did We Use?
We booked our Komodo trip with Longlasting Trip and honestly could not recommend them highly enough.
Our boat, the Lita, was lovely, with only ten guests onboard and six crew members, which made the whole experience feel far more personal and relaxed. The crew were absolutely incredible throughout the trip and helped us with everything, especially when it came to my ankle injury. They were constantly kind, patient and genuinely caring.
The food onboard was also excellent and surprisingly plentiful considering the tiny kitchen they were working from. The rooms were comfortable, with private bathrooms and showers. It was not luxury travel, but that was never what we were looking for anyway. The experience itself was what made the trip so special.
We will absolutely book with them again if we ever return to Komodo National Park someday.
Where to Stay in Labuan Bajo Before and After Your Komodo Trip?
There are so many accommodation options in Labuan Bajo now, ranging from budget backpacker hostels to full luxury resorts. We split our stay between two hotels before and after our Komodo trip, and both were great for different reasons.
Sudamala Resort, Komodo
This was definitely our favourite stay in Labuan Bajo. The grounds are absolutely beautiful, with tropical gardens, a lovely beachfront setting and an amazing infinity pool overlooking the bay. Sunset here was incredible and the pool bar was the perfect place to relax with a drink after a day exploring.
What really made the stay stand out though was the staff. Everyone was so warm, helpful and attentive, especially with my ankle injury. Nothing ever felt like too much trouble.
The rooms were spacious and comfortable, and although the resort feels peaceful and secluded, it is still only a short drive into town. Perfect if you want somewhere relaxing before or after your boat trip.
Bintang Flores Hotel
We also stayed at Bintang Flores Hotel after our trip, which was another really good option in Labuan Bajo, especially for something more mid-range.
The highlight here is definitely the huge beachfront pool overlooking the bay. It was such a nice place to spend a couple of quiet recovery days after our Komodo trip, especially once my ankle started reminding me I probably had overdone things a little! The views across the water are beautiful, particularly in the late afternoon.
The hotel has direct beach access and a more laid-back, casual feel compared to some of the newer luxury resorts. The rooms are a little older but still comfortable, and overall it offered really good value for the location and facilities.
AYANA Komodo Waecicu Beach
If you are looking for full luxury in Labuan Bajo, AYANA is probably the most famous option.
Located on Waecicu Beach, this resort is stunning, with beautiful modern rooms, private beach access, multiple restaurants, huge pools and incredible ocean views everywhere you look. It feels much more like a high-end Bali-style resort experience.
AYANA also has its own private jetty and luxury boats for Komodo tours, making it a very popular choice for honeymooners or anyone wanting a more premium experience. If your budget allows and you want a proper luxury escape before or after your boat trip, this would be hard to beat.
Seaesta Komodo Hostel & Hotel
For budget travellers or backpackers, Seaesta Komodo is one of the most popular places to stay in Labuan Bajo.
It has more of a social vibe, with a rooftop pool, bar and restaurant overlooking the ocean. The rooms and dorms are modern and very clean, and it is located close to town, restaurants and the marina, making it super convenient for Komodo tours. It is a hostel-hotel hybrid, so you can stay cheaply in dorms or book private rooms if you want a bit more comfort while still keeping costs down
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