Having recently returned from Indonesia, I'm still sporting a tan. I'd like to share my experience, as I've noticed a surge in Bali tourism, while reviews of other Indonesian islands remain scarce. It's worth remembering that Indonesia boasts over 15,000 islands, making it the world's largest archipelagic nation!


This trip, we had the opportunity to visit Komodo Island and Gili Meno Island. However, I will focus on reviewing Komodo Island because it is more difficult to access and there is still relatively little information available. Hopefully, this will be helpful for those who are looking for new places to visit in Indonesia.



Indonesia, a nation comprised of over 15,000 islands, holds the title of the world's largest archipelagic state. Among its countless islands lies Komodo Island, the formidable home of the Komodo dragon. This remarkable reptile, resembling a giant lizard, is exclusive to four Indonesian islands within the Lesser Sunda Islands. Unlike its smaller relatives found in parks or other countries, the Komodo dragon remains an elusive creature, only encountered within Indonesia's boundaries.



The Lesser Sunda Islands, also known as Nusa Tenggara, are home to not only Komodo Island, where the Komodo dragon resides, but also other fascinating islands and tourist destinations. These include Padar Island, with its breathtaking three-bay view, and Pink Beach, a snorkeling spot with stunning pastel-colored sand.



Most tourists prefer to visit the islands by boat tour, sailing out to sea for overnight stays and island hopping according to the tour program, which may be 3 days and 2 nights or 4 days and 3 nights, depending on the tour company. However, for those with limited time or who are not comfortable sleeping on a boat, it is possible to visit all of these islands on a one-day trip, as we did. In this post, we will review our trip to Komodo Island, Padar Island, and Pink Beach, with a morning departure and evening return, to provide information for those who want to follow in our footsteps. While there are relatively few reviews in Thai, we encourage you to explore other islands in Indonesia besides Bali. Personally, I fell in love with the Indonesian sea even more than the Maldives. Seriously. : )




Traveling to Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo is a small town located on Flores Island, which is in the eastern part of Indonesia. It is the starting point for people who want to visit the islands of the Lesser Sunda Sea, including Komodo Island. Of course, there are no direct flights from Thailand, so you will need to fly to Bali first. From Bali, there are about 3 airlines that have flights to Labuan Bajo (if you sort by price, it will be like this: Garuda Indonesia > Wings Air > Nam Air).



This eight-day trip to Indonesia began with a flight on AirAsia to Lombok Island, with a stopover in Kuala Lumpur to visit Gili Meno Island. From there, we took a boat to Bali and then a Nam Air flight to Labuan Bajo.




For flights to Labuan Bajo, in addition to Nam Air, there is also Wings Air, a subsidiary of Lion Air. Garuda Indonesia is the most expensive option. Nam Air is part of Sriwijaya Air, so you need to book on the Sriwijaya Air website (sriwijayaair.co.id). We chose Nam Air because it was the cheapest option, even though it uses a larger aircraft than Wings Air. The seats are arranged in a 3-3 configuration and may be old, but it was acceptable for a flight of only 50 minutes. They even provided snacks and bottled water. Although it was the cheapest of the three airlines, it was still expensive for a 50-minute flight. We booked a round-trip ticket for 5,710 baht per person. We booked on short notice (less than a month in advance), so if you book further in advance, you may be able to get a cheaper price.


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For the outbound flight, it is recommended to choose a seat on the left side of the aircraft, as the flight path will offer stunning views of Mount Agung and Mount Rinjani volcanoes. This flight provides a unique opportunity to admire these majestic mountains from above, making it an unforgettable experience.




Accommodation in Labuan Bajo

Labuan Bajo offers limited accommodation options. It's advisable to avoid last-minute bookings due to the popularity of Komodo Island among both international and domestic tourists. For this trip, we opted for La Cecile Hotel & Cafe, a recently constructed hotel with ongoing expansion plans.




We were able to book a room on the lower floor with a view of the garden. Unfortunately, we were unable to book a room on the upper floor with a sea view. This hotel is known for its stunning views, as it is built on higher ground than other hotels and is located very close to the airport (approximately 10 minutes by car). We believe that the cafe and restaurant are popular spots for people in Labuan Bajo to watch the sunset, as it was very crowded in the evening.


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The hotel was booked through Agoda for 2 nights at 3,900 baht. The booking specified that the arrival time at the airport would be 15.05 pm. If there was a pick-up and drop-off service, please send a car to pick me up. I read on Booking that there was a free pick-up and drop-off service, but Agoda did not specify that it was free (but the room price on Agoda was cheaper). Plus, after I finished booking, the hotel did not send an email back to inform me about the pick-up and drop-off service, so I thought there probably wasn't any. I'll check again at the hotel later. It turned out that the flight was delayed a lot. When I walked out, I tried to look around for people holding signs waiting to pick me up, but I couldn't find the hotel's name on any of the signs. So I had to take a taxi. The taxis that were parked in front of the airport were just ordinary people. It felt like they were dropping off relatives and waiting to pick someone up so they wouldn't have to come back empty-handed. 555 Because I saw that most of them were standing together in pairs. When they got a customer, one of them ran to get the car, and the other one stood there to keep the victim (like me) waiting. As soon as the driver parked the car, they both got in the car. Wow, is that okay? 555




We agreed on a price of 50,000 IDR (approximately 115 baht), which I had read should not exceed this amount. 50,000 rupiah is already very expensive. However, when I arrived at the hotel and gave my name to the check-in counter staff, they were confused. They had sent someone to pick me up at the airport as I had requested through Agoda. Oh! So, I ended up paying 50,000 rupiah for a taxi for nothing. T^T Therefore, if anyone plans to stay at this hotel like me, the hotel offers free airport pick-up and drop-off. Don't be a fool like me. Before you go, send an email to confirm the time with them before you arrive.




Another highlight of this hotel is the swimming pool. While not a large pool, it is an infinity pool with stunning views. The hotel reserves this pool for guests only, so it is relatively private, even though it is located near the hotel's restaurant.


Komodo Island Tour

Labuan Bajo Island Hopping Adventure

Our three-day, two-night stay in Labuan Bajo was filled with breathtaking sunsets, island hopping adventures, and a touch of luxury. Upon arrival, we settled into our hotel and marveled at the stunning sunset before retiring early for an exciting day of island exploration.

Choosing the right tour proved to be a daunting task, with countless options vying for our attention. While booking a tour upon arrival was a possibility, we were determined to visit the iconic Pink Beach. Some tours only offered snorkeling excursions far from the shore, leaving us yearning for a closer encounter with the pink sands.

Seeking a more personalized experience, we opted for a private tour, allowing us to tailor the itinerary to our desires. While the cost was significantly higher than joining a group tour, the exclusivity and flexibility were well worth the investment. Some private tour operators quoted prices exceeding ten thousand, highlighting the premium associated with this level of customization.




After searching for several days and almost giving up, we stumbled upon a review of Komodo Island on Tripadvisor for Tours to Komodo (https://tourstokomodo.com/). The reviews on Tripadvisor were overwhelmingly positive, despite the limited number of reviews. We decided to visit the website and found a tour program that matched our desires. We sent an email inquiring about the prices for both Join Tour and Private Tour options. The response was remarkably prompt (unlike some other tours that never responded to our inquiries). The price for a Private Tour was 3,500,000 IDR, approximately 8,000 Baht. The price included transportation to and from our accommodation, lunch, a private boat, and an English-speaking guide. After careful consideration, we decided to book with this company. We felt that the private boat and the flexibility to manage our own schedule without Rücksicht auf andere Personen were worth the price. We believe that the cost becomes even more reasonable when shared among a larger group. Personally, we believe it was an excellent value and we have no regrets about the money spent. This trip was truly a heartwarming experience.




This boat, which took us on an adventure in the Indonesian sea, has two floors. The rooftop is accessible for taking pictures. It has a bathroom and spacious seating.



One Day Adventure in Flores Sea

Waking up early, I didn't need to spend much time getting ready, as I had already showered the night before. Around 5:30 AM, Ryan (owner of the website Tours to Komodo) picked me up at the hotel and took me to the port. He didn't join the boat trip but introduced me to a friend who would take care of me in his place. I don't remember his name, but he was short and looked a bit like Chanathip Songkrasin. He spoke English well and took good care of me, even taking great photos.




It takes about 2-3 hours to reach Padar Island. At first, I thought it would be boring because I had been on trips where I had to sit on a boat for a long time and it was super boring. But the view of the Indonesian sea is really beautiful. On the way to the boat, we passed many islands. It's like there's hardly any time when there's no island. It's no wonder it's the largest archipelago in the world. The highlight is the sunrise in the morning. It's so beautiful that it makes your eyes light up.




The waves were extremely strong before reaching Padar Island. They were like huge walls of water, splashing water on our faces as if we had already jumped into the sea three times. All I could do was chant "Namo" in my heart, praying for survival. When we finally got past the strong waves, I wanted to stand up and raise my hands, shouting, "We made it!" 555 So, if you get seasick, don't forget to bring medicine with you.




The highlight of Padar Island is the breathtaking view of the three bays, which requires a bit of effort to hike up to capture. We're not sure if it was just a coincidence, but there were a lot of Indonesian tourists visiting on the day we went. However, it's no surprise given the stunning views.





There is another bay with a pink sand beach, but it is not the Pink Beach we are going to. The Pink Beach we are visiting is about a half-hour boat ride from Padar Island. (It does look pink, though!)


Upon reaching Pink Beach, we double-checked with our friend Ryan to ensure we could walk on the beach. She confirmed, but warned that the boat couldn't dock due to the risk of damaging the coral reefs. Therefore, we had to swim to shore. It didn't seem far when we looked, but the waves were quite strong that day, making the swim a bit challenging. However, the coral reefs in the area were stunning and abundant. Unfortunately, we could only take a few photos as we couldn't bring any cameras except for a GoPro. Consequently, all the Pink Beach photos are from the GoPro.



The pink sand beach is formed by red coral fragments mixed with incredibly soft white sand! It's seriously soft, like walking on freshly kneaded bread dough. When sunlight reflects on it, the beach appears as a pastel pink, incredibly dreamy. The seawater is also crystal clear, making the journey here truly worthwhile.



The coral reefs near Pink Beach are quite beautiful, although there may not be as many small fish to see. However, it is still a great place to go snorkeling.



After leaving Pink Beach, the boat continued to Rinca Island to see the Komodo dragons. According to Ryan, there are four islands in Indonesia inhabited by Komodo dragons, two of which are inhabited by humans: Rinca Island and Komodo Island. The other two islands are exclusively home to Komodo dragons and are considered too dangerous for humans to visit. On the two islands open to tourists, visitors must be accompanied by a guide who will not only explain the history and behavior of the Komodo dragons but also protect them from potential attacks. Komodo dragons are carnivores that will eat anything they can catch. Their saliva contains over 50 types of bacteria, and a bite can lead to blood poisoning and death within three days.


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We once read a news report about a Singaporean who was bitten by a Komodo dragon because he violated the rules by visiting Komodo National Park on his own. He stayed at a local's house to avoid paying the park entrance fee, which is quite expensive at 250,000 rupiah (approximately 570 baht). However, we believe the fee is reasonable considering the opportunity to see creatures that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Besides observing Komodo dragons, the guide will also take you on a trek. You can choose between a short or long trek, but we recommend the short one because most of the Komodo dragons are located near the park entrance. We didn't see any during our trek, but the guide told us that it wasn't the season for them. So, we were lucky to see any at all.



Tourists visiting Rinca Island must be accompanied by a guide at all times. This is a rule implemented for their safety.



The buffalo here are huge! I wonder how the Komodo dragon eats them, as I've read that they usually swallow their prey whole!

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We encountered approximately four Komodo dragons, all of which were juveniles. The largest individual observed was estimated to be around 10 years old, whereas Komodo dragons reach full maturity at 15 years and can live for over 50 years. Therefore, the dragons we encountered were very young.





Before returning to Labuan Bajo, Ryan's friend took us to visit another island near Flores Island, where Labuan Bajo is located. However, we can't remember the name of the island. The water was clear, and we could snorkel there, but it wasn't as clear as the water near Pink Beach.

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This trip completely changed our perspective on Indonesia. We fell in love with the Indonesian sea. The water is as clear as the Maldives, but there are more activities to do. Some islands have active volcanoes, and we saw dolphins in the middle of the ocean without having to buy a tour, unlike in the Maldives. We felt that Indonesia's nature is still very fresh, and the cost of living is not expensive. It's not far from Thailand, and the Indonesian people are lovely and friendlier than we thought. Although they may look intimidating, they are polite and gentle when you talk to them. It was a memorable trip, and we want to go back many times. There are still many islands we want to visit. We'll save up and see you again, Indonesia!




Komodo Island Trip Expenses Summary

1. Flight Costs:

  • Bangkok - Bali: Approximately 6,000 - 10,000 THB
  • (Personal note: Flew from Bangkok to Lombok for a stopover at Gili Islands, costing 4,650 THB for Bkk > Lombok and 4,100 THB for Bali > Bkk)

2. Flight Costs: Bali - Labuan Bajo: Approximately 5,000 - 8,000 THB

  • (Personal note: Flew Nam Air for a roundtrip cost of 5,710 THB)

3. Accommodation: Labuan Bajo, 3 days 2 nights: 3,900 THB

4. Komodo Island One Day Trip: Private tour, including full-day boat rental, breakfast/lunch (onboard), and hotel-port transfers: 8,000 THB

  • (Note: Joining a group tour is cheaper, ranging from 1,500 - 2,500 THB/person depending on negotiation)


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