Bali to Komodo Island: Flight to Labuan Bajo
We were already leaving Bali, the Island of the Gods, for Komodo Island! A new adventure awaited on Flores Island - tracking legendary Komodo dragons in their natural habitat.
Departing Bali
Our shuttle bus picked us up early in the morning for the journey to Ngurah Rai International Airport (Denpasar). Our flight to Labuan Bajo wasn't until the afternoon, leaving us with several hours to kill at the airport - not exactly the most exciting way to spend time.
We passed the hours indulging in French pastries and a few drinks. Sometimes airport lounging is all you need before the real adventure begins!
Arriving in Labuan Bajo
As we landed at Komodo Airport (LBJ), our guesthouse driver was running late. Within seconds, a dozen eager taxi drivers rushed toward us, each pushing aggressively to secure our business. It became exhausting repeatedly saying: "No, don't need a taxi. Our ride is coming."
The persistent taxi hustling was our first taste of Labuan Bajo's tourist-driven economy - this sleepy port town has transformed into the busy gateway to one of Indonesia's most famous attractions.
Organizing the Komodo Expedition
After checking into our simple guesthouse, World Bnb ↗, we had an important task: organizing our trip to the Komodo Islands. We met up with three Spanish guys to form a group for the expedition.
Having a larger group would significantly reduce per-person costs. After shopping around and negotiating, we settled on IDR 1,200,000 each (approximately $85 USD) - excluding the Komodo National Park entrance fees and mandatory ranger/guide costs.
The price was reasonable for a non-luxury boat trip. We'd be sleeping on the deck under the stars rather than in cabins. How bad could it be? (Spoiler: It would become one of our favorite travel experiences!)
Exploring Labuan Bajo Port
We set off for the port area where most of Labuan Bajo's life happens - the night market, restaurants, and waterfront bars all concentrated near the harbor. The port bustled with activity as boats prepared for the next day's Komodo expeditions and fishermen returned with their catches.
Tomorrow, we'd join them - setting sail for Komodo National Park to encounter the world's largest living lizards in the wild!
Have you visited Komodo National Park? How did you organize your boat trip? Did you go budget or luxury? Any tips for negotiating tours in Labuan Bajo? Share your Komodo planning experiences below!
Traveling to Labuan Bajo
- Flight Bali to Labuan Bajo: ~1.5 hours direct flight from Ngurah Rai Airport (Denpasar) to Komodo Airport (LBJ). Multiple daily flights on Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, and Wings Air.
- Labuan Bajo: Small port town on western tip of Flores Island. The only gateway to Komodo National Park. Basic infrastructure but rapidly developing for tourism.
- Airport taxi hustlers: Be prepared! Drivers will aggressively compete for your business. If your accommodation arranged pickup, stand firm and wait for them.
- Organizing Komodo tours: Many options from budget shared boats to luxury liveaboards. Shop around at harbor-front agencies and compare prices before committing.
- Group tours save money: Team up with other travelers to split boat costs. Hostels and guesthouses are great places to find travel buddies. Budget boats typically need 4-8 people.
- 2-day boat tour cost (2018): IDR 1,200,000 (~$85 USD) per person for basic boat, excluding park fees (IDR 150,000-250,000) and ranger fees (IDR 80,000-100,000).
- Sleeping on deck: Budget tours sleep under stars on boat deck. Bring sleeping bag or rent one. It's uncomfortable but adventurous! Luxury tours offer cabins with beds.
- Tour inclusions: Check what's included - meals, snorkeling gear, park entrance fees, ranger fees. Budget tours often exclude fees, luxury tours include everything.
- Best time to visit: April-December (dry season). Avoid January-March (monsoon) when seas can be rough. Peak season is July-August, book ahead!
- Arrive a day early: Gives time to organize tours without rushing, explore Labuan Bajo town, and rest before the boat trip. Don't book same-day arrival and departure!
Note:
Leaving Bali behind for Labuan Bajo felt bittersweet - we'd fallen in love with the Island of the Gods. But excitement for our Komodo adventure overshadowed any sadness. Tomorrow we'd set sail to encounter living dinosaurs in one of the world's most remarkable national parks!