The Komodo island in Indonesia is well-known for being the habitat of the terrifying Komodo dragons, the largest lizards in the world, as well as for being an exceptionally gorgeous location with many other “bucket list” travel experiences.

Numerous islands with white and pink sand beaches, diverse mountains for hiking, and coral reefs for diving make up the UNESCO-designated Komodo National Park, which is also the only area in the world where you can view Komodo dragons up close in the wild and take pictures with them.

We’ve taken the Komodo island tour several times throughout the years, and it’s always incredible since Indonesia is our second home.One of the best things about Labuan Bajo, the town that serves as the entry point to Komodo, is how close it is to Bali and how simple it is to get there through a quick flight from there.

In 2023, Komodo Island will be accessible to tourists. The Indonesian government had considered significantly hiking the admission price for international visitors, but that concept has already been formally dropped, making now the ideal moment to organize a trip.

The information in this Komodo island travel guide and map will cover all you need to know before you go, including how to get there, where to stay, what to do, and the best tour options.

Komodo Island: Where Is It?

The Komodo National Park, a collection of tropical islands off the coast of Flores in east Indonesia, includes Komodo Island.

Komodo, Rinca, and Padar are the three main islands in the park, but there are also a ton of smaller ones, making it the ideal location for island hopping!

The closest settlement is the Flores fishing village of Labuan Bajo, which offers a number of lodging options and dining establishments to enjoy between trips to the park.

How to Travel to Indonesia’s Komodo Island

From Labuan Bajo, where the airport is located, the only way to see Komodo Island and the remainder of the national park is on a boat excursion. Komodo Island is inaccessible by direct flight.

There are several daily flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo airport (LBJ), which take one hour and have ticket costs as low as $40 USD on some carriers.

Komodo island is now more accessible from Bali than ever before thanks to AirAsia’s frequent flights between the two cities. From Jakarta, Surabaya, or Ende, you may also take a flight to the Labuan Bajo airport. On Skyscanner, you can look for flights to Labuan Bajo.

At the dock in Labuan Bajo, you may reserve a boat cruise to Komodo Island, or you can reserve a day tour online (more on that later).

As seen from Labuan Bajo, the Komodo islands are roughly 40 kilometers (25 miles) away, and traveling there often takes 3 hours with a slow boat or less than an hour and a half with a speedboat.

You may take a full-day trip to view all the highlights of Komodo National Park, including the dragons, or you can rent a liveaboard boat and explore the area for several days.

Top Activities In Komodo National Park

Island of Padar

On the little island of Padar stands Komodo Indonesia’s most picturesque viewpoint. You can reach the summit in about 30 minutes, and when you do, you’ll likely be rewarded with one of Southeast Asia’s greatest vistas.

Purple Beach

Several beaches with pink sand may be found in the Komodo islands. Foraminifera, which are little creatures found in coral, give the coral its color.

There are just a few pink beaches in the world, and they are quite uncommon. On the north side of Padar Island, the one with the brightest color is concealed in a bay.

You must see these unusual beaches if you’re in Komodo National Park.

Trek Komodo Dragon

Being able to observe dragons in the wild is, of course, Komodo Indonesia’s major draw. The only location in the world where you can accomplish this is the Komodo National Park.

In this section of the journey, you’ll set foot on one of Indonesia’s two major dragon-inhabited islands (Komodo Island or Rinca Island) and embark on a brief hike in search of them with a park ranger. The trekking route is level and suited for all levels of fitness.

Komodo Island and Rinca Island are frequently interchanged during excursions because there isn’t much of a difference between them when it comes to sightseeing. Both islands are home to several Komodo dragons..