- Shared cabin from$295 / person
- Private charter from$2,795 / boat
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Tour Overview
The Lombok to Komodo boat trip is a one-way crossing rather than a loop. You board in East Lombok, sail east through the Alas Strait, and step off four days later in Labuan Bajo on Flores, having covered roughly 250 nautical miles of water that most travellers fly over in an hour. The route is also sold in reverse, and as a Lombok to Flores boat trip when the operator wants to emphasise the destination harbour rather than the national park.
What separates it from a Komodo trip that starts and ends in Labuan Bajo is the middle two days. Saleh Bay on the north coast of Sumbawa holds a resident population of whale sharks that gather around the bagan fishing platforms, and Moyo and Satonda add a crater lake and a set of quiet volcanic bays that no Labuan Bajo itinerary can reach in the time available. Komodo National Park itself — the dragons, Padar and Pink Beach — arrives on Day 3 as the finish rather than the whole point.
The corridor spans simple shared crossings and a smaller premium phinisi tier. The 4 boats listed here are the matched premium vessels, with cabin prices from $295 on Lady Grace to $435 on Sukha Sail 1. Whole-boat charters currently run from $2,795 to $7,440. Confirm the final quotation, sailing date and cabin before paying.
Capacity varies across the matched fleet, so compare each boat's cabin count, maximum guests and layout rather than assuming every crossing has the same group size. The cheapest berth on the page belongs to Lady Grace; cabin counts, layouts and season windows are on each vessel page, and the full comparison sits in How These Boats Compare below.
Sailing the other way instead? The Komodo to Lombok boat trip runs the same corridor westbound out of Labuan Bajo, with the park on Days 1 and 2 and Padar at sunset rather than sunrise.
Four days is the working minimum. The Alas Strait and the Sape Strait are both open water, and a compressed three-day version of this route means sailing through the night twice and seeing the middle of it in the dark. If the park itself is the whole objective, flying into Labuan Bajo and taking a 4 day 3 night Komodo tour from there is the faster and cheaper instrument.
Quick Facts
- Tour typeOpen Trip, Private Trip, Custom Charter
- Duration4D3N
- Start pointKayangan Harbour, East Lombok. Boarding is early afternoon on Day 1 so the crossing of the Alas Strait happens in daylight.
- End pointLabuan Bajo Harbour, Flores. Alongside late morning on Day 4, with hotel or Komodo Airport drop-off to follow. Book an afternoon flight rather than a midday one.
- Meeting / pick-up pointHotel or airport pickup in Senggigi, Mataram, Kuta Mandalika or Bangsal, then a road transfer of two to three hours to Kayangan Harbour in East Lombok. Guests staying on the Gili Islands take the morning fast boat to Bangsal and join there.
- AccommodationOnboard - Cabin
- TransportationWooden Phinisi Boat, Luxury Phinisi, AC Car
- Guide languagesEnglish, Indonesian
- DifficultyEasy
- Departure scheduleOn Request
- Minimum guests to depart2
- Maximum guests35
- Suitable forFamily, Couples, Luxury Travelers
- From$295 per person
- Whole-boat charter$2795 total
Boats On This Route
4 boats in our directory run this route. 4 sell cabins on a shared departure, $295 to $435 per person. On a cabin booking you pay per berth and share the vessel. On a whole-boat charter you pay for the boat, so a couple sailing alone pays the full rate. Prices are the published entry-level rate and move with season and cabin grade. Komodo National Park entrance and ranger fees are excluded from every figure.
Showing 4 of 4 eligible boats.
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Shared from$295/ personCharter from$5,250/ whole boat -
Shared from$325/ person -
Shared from$355/ personCharter from$7,440/ whole boat 
Shared from$435/ personCharter from$2,795/ whole boat
How These Boats Compare
Booking modelBoatsPer personWhole boatCabinsMax guests
Cabin bookingBuy one cabin on a fixed departure and share the boat with other travellers. Quoted per person.4$295 to $435$2,795 to $7,4407 to 1220 to 35
Ranges are the spread across the boats listed on this page and update automatically as the fleet changes. Komodo National Park entrance and ranger fees are excluded from every figure.
Gallery
Day-by-Day at a Glance
- Day 1
- Day 2
- Day 3
- Day 4
Itinerary
Lombok pickup, Kayangan Harbour and Kenawa Island
Pickup from your hotel in Senggigi, Mataram, Kuta Mandalika or Bangsal in the late morning, then a road transfer of two to three hours across Lombok to Kayangan Harbour on the east coast. If you are staying on the Gili Islands, take the early fast boat to Bangsal and join the transfer there.
Boarding is early afternoon, deliberately, so the crossing of the Alas Strait is done in daylight. Luggage goes below, the crew runs the safety brief, and lunch is usually served once the boat is underway. The first stop is Kenawa Island, an uninhabited grass hill off the Sumbawa coast with a short climb to a viewpoint and clear water off the sandbar. Sunset here is the standard first photograph of the trip. Dinner is aboard at anchor, then the boat sails overnight along the north coast of Sumbawa towards Saleh Bay.
Lunch, DinnerWhale sharks at Saleh Bay, then Moyo and Satonda
An early start, because the whale sharks at Saleh Bay feed around the fishing platforms at first light and disperse as the day warms. The tender takes you across to the bagan and you enter the water in small groups with a guide. Encounters are not guaranteed and no honest operator will promise one, but Saleh Bay has the most reliable resident population in the Lesser Sundas and the hit rate through the middle of the year is high.
From there the boat runs to Moyo Island, where a short walk inland reaches the Mata Jitu waterfall and its terraced pools, and then on to Satonda, a volcanic island with a saltwater crater lake sitting inside the cone. The snorkelling on the outer wall at Satonda is better than the lake itself. This is the quietest day of the crossing and the one people are most surprised by, because none of it is what they booked the trip for.
Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerInto Komodo National Park: dragons, Pink Beach and Padar at sunset
The boat crosses the Sape Strait and enters Komodo National Park. Visitor access should already be registered in SiOra against the approved visit plan before arrival. A ranger-led dragon walk, Pink Beach and Padar are scheduled according to conditions and the operator’s confirmed route. The captain may reorder stops for weather, currents, closures or the registered park plan.
Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerManta channel, a last reef, and into Labuan Bajo
North to Karang Makassar, the shallow channel where reef mantas feed on the current. This is a drift snorkel with a guide and the tender following, and it is the stop most people remember. Whether it works depends on the tide rather than the season, which is why crews will move it earlier or later in the morning without warning.
A final reef stop at Kelor or Manjarite on the way in, then the run into Labuan Bajo, alongside late morning. Transfer to your hotel or to Komodo Airport follows. An afternoon flight is safer than a midday one: harbour traffic on arrival is unpredictable and the drive to the airport is short but not instant.
Breakfast, LunchWhat's Included
- IncludedHotel Pickup / Drop-off, Accommodation Onboard, 3 Meals Daily, Snacks, Coffee & Tea, Drinking Water, Snorkeling Equipment, Kayak / SUP Use, Local Guide / Ranger, Towels & Toiletries
- Not includedKomodo National Park Entrance Fee, Ranger & Trekking Fee, Crew Gratuity, Dive Equipment Rental, Nitrox Surcharge, Travel / Dive Insurance, Flights, Alcoholic Beverages, Spa & Massage, Laundry, Personal Expenses
- Komodo National Park feeNot included
- What to bring
Bring the passport or Indonesian ID used for SiOra, reef-safe sun protection, a rash guard, closed shoes with grip, dry bag, motion-sickness medicine if suitable for you, personal medication, power bank and light layers for overnight passages. Complete park registration before the trip; government guidance is to arrange access by H-1. Signal and charging can be limited between Sumbawa and Flores.
- CancellationModerate
- Policy detail
Terms are set by each operator, not by KomodoInsider, and they differ depending on how you book. Depending on the vessel, this crossing may be sold as a shared cabin, a private charter, or both; each booking model can carry different cancellation terms. Read the wording that applies to your booking before you transfer anything.
Cabin bookings follow the pattern common to scheduled sailings: a deposit of 25 to 50 percent to hold the berth, a balance due 30 to 60 days out, and a sliding scale of forfeit as the sailing date approaches. Cancelling well outside the window often costs the deposit only.
Full-boat charter is consistently the strictest terms in the market. Expect 30 to 50 percent non-refundable once the dates are held, the balance due 60 to 30 days out and also non-refundable from that point, and full forfeit inside the final window. Some operators will move a charter to another date within the same season instead of refunding it, which is worth asking about in writing before you sign rather than after.
Weather is handled by reordering rather than cancelling. If the Alas or Sape crossing is unsafe the crew shifts the schedule and the itinerary changes shape, but the trip runs. Operator-initiated cancellation for mechanical or safety reasons normally triggers a full refund or a replacement vessel — confirm which, in writing, because the two are not the same thing.
Travel insurance covering trip cancellation is worth more on this route than on a Labuan Bajo round trip, because the sums committed up front are larger and the itinerary depends on two open-water crossings.
- Notes
Park entrance and activity fees are separate unless the operator’s written quotation says otherwise. Visitor identities and the registered visit plan should be arranged through SiOra before the park day, with cashless payment completed in advance. See “What the Park Costs” for the current official schedule. The Lombok-side road transfer to Kayangan Harbour and the Labuan Bajo hotel or airport drop-off are generally included in the compared packages; Gili fast boats and flights are not. Diving, equipment and nitrox are only included when explicitly quoted.
Operator-declared. Specifications and rates on this page are as published by the operator and their booking agents, not independently inspected by KomodoInsider. Last checked .
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Lombok to Komodo boat trip cost?
Use the live fleet comparison: matched cabin prices currently run from $295 on Lady Grace to $435 on Sukha Sail 1, while whole-boat charters run from $2,795 to $7,440. Final price depends on departure, cabin, vessel and inclusions. Park access is separate unless stated; see “What the Park Costs” and complete SiOra before departure.
How long is the boat trip from Lombok to Komodo?
Four days and three nights is the working standard, and the distance is the reason. It is roughly 250 nautical miles from Kayangan Harbour to Labuan Bajo, and the schedule builds in two overnight passages: the Alas Strait on the first night and the Sape Strait on the third.
Three-day versions of the same route exist and they save the day by sailing through more of it in the dark, usually cutting Moyo and Satonda. Five-day versions add Rinca, Kalong at dusk or a second manta attempt. If the middle section is why you chose the route over flying, four days is the floor.
Is the boat trip better than flying from Lombok to Labuan Bajo?
Only if you want the two days in between. A flight covers the same ground in about ninety minutes with a connection, and if Komodo National Park is the sole objective, flying in and taking a round trip out of Labuan Bajo is faster and cheaper — our 4 day 3 night Komodo tour covers the same park stops without the crossing.
What the boat buys is Saleh Bay and the Sumbawa coast, which are not reachable on any Labuan Bajo itinerary and are not served by scheduled flights either. Treat this as a destination in its own right rather than as transport, and the maths works. Treat it as a way to get to Komodo and it will feel slow.
Can you swim with whale sharks on this trip?
Saleh Bay on the north coast of Sumbawa is the stop, and it is the single strongest reason to run this route rather than fly. Whale sharks gather around the bagan fishing platforms to feed, the encounter is in calm shallow water, and it happens at first light on Day 2.
Sightings are not guaranteed and any operator promising otherwise is overselling. Saleh Bay holds the most reliable resident population in the Lesser Sundas, so the odds are good through most of the year, but a blank morning does happen and there is no refund attached to it.
Where does the Lombok to Komodo boat trip depart from?
Kayangan Harbour on the east coast of Lombok, not from Senggigi or from the Gili Islands directly. Hotel pickup is included from Senggigi, Mataram, Kuta Mandalika and Bangsal, followed by a road transfer of two to three hours across the island.
If you are staying on Gili Trawangan, Meno or Air, take the early fast boat to Bangsal harbour and join the transfer there. Build in more margin than the schedule suggests: a missed fast boat means a missed departure, and the boat will not wait.
What is the best time of year to sail from Lombok to Komodo?
April to June and September to November are the settled windows. Both the Alas and Sape straits are open water and both get uncomfortable in the wrong month, so the crossing quality matters more here than on a sheltered Labuan Bajo loop.
July and August are reliable weather but the busiest months at Padar and in the park generally. Late December through February is the monsoon: many operators pull the route entirely for annual maintenance, and the ones still selling it are sailing into weather that regularly rearranges the itinerary.
Is the Lombok to Flores boat trip the same thing?
Usually yes, with one thing worth checking. Both names describe the same corridor from Kayangan Harbour to Labuan Bajo, and operators use them interchangeably depending on whether they want to emphasise the park or the destination harbour.
The exception is that some Lombok to Flores itineraries route along the Flores north coast and skip Komodo National Park itself, arriving in Labuan Bajo without the dragons, Padar or Pink Beach. If the park days are why you are booking, confirm that Komodo Island and Padar are named in the itinerary rather than assumed.
Can the trip be done in reverse, Komodo to Lombok?
Yes, and on the charter side it is often the more available direction. These crossings exist because a vessel is repositioning between its Komodo season and its western grounds, so which way it sails depends on the calendar rather than on demand.
The itinerary runs the same stops in reverse: park days first, then Sangeang, Satonda and Moyo, then Saleh Bay, finishing at Kayangan Harbour with a transfer to Senggigi or the Gilis. Sunrise at Padar is easier to schedule westbound; the whale sharks land on the last morning instead of the second. If your dates are firm, ask about both directions before assuming the route is unavailable.
What the Park Costs
| What you pay | Amount | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Park entrance, foreign visitor | Rp 250,000 ≈ $14 | per person, per day The statutory Class I entrance rate. The 150% holiday rule applies to Indonesian visitor and student rates, not this foreign visitor rate. |
| Park entrance, Indonesian visitor, normal day | Rp 50,000 ≈ $3 | per person, per day The normal-day Class I entrance rate. |
| Park entrance, Indonesian visitor, holiday or collective leave | Rp 75,000 ≈ $4 | per person, per day 150% of the normal Indonesian visitor rate on the dates covered by the statutory holiday rule. |
| Indonesian student group, normal day | Rp 25,000 ≈ $1 | per person, per day For Indonesian student groups of at least five people. |
| Indonesian student group, holiday or collective leave | Rp 37,500 ≈ $2 | per person, per day 150% of the normal student-group rate; the minimum group size remains five. |
| Scuba diving activity | Rp 25,000 ≈ $1 | per diver, per day A separate activity charge in addition to the applicable entrance fee. |
| Motorised vessel entry | Rp 100,000–200,000 per boat, per day | Rp 100,000 for 40–100 HP, Rp 150,000 for 101–500 HP, and Rp 200,000 above 500 HP. |
| Drone use | Rp 2,000,000 ≈ $112 | per unit, per day A separate special-use charge. Complete the required SiOra/SIMAKSI process before travel. |
- SiOra is the park’s e-ticketing and SIMAKSI system. Reserve before travel; Ministry guidance recommends completing the reservation by H-1. An operator can assist, and self-service is available at the Komodo Visitor Center and KP3 terminal.
- Payment is cashless through the methods available in SiOra, including BRIVA or bank transfer and supported e-wallets. Keep the e-ticket and ensure the traveller details are correct.
- A 1,000-visitor daily quota has applied since 1 April 2026 to the main visitor islands and 23 dive sites. Availability therefore depends on the travel date and registered itinerary.
- The final SiOra total can include entrance, activity, vessel and special-use charges. Ask the handling operator for an itemised total before issuance.
- Official public guidance does not state one universal refund or rescheduling rule for every reservation. Confirm the current SiOra terms in writing before the ticket is issued, including treatment of weather disruption.
Statutory fees under Peraturan Pemerintah No. 36 Tahun 2024, in force since 30 October 2024. Verified 31 August 2026 against the official PP 36/2024 schedule, the Ministry of Forestry SiOra notice and the Ministry’s 2026 quota notice. Amounts are payable in rupiah; dollar figures are courtesy estimates converted at Rp 17,900 and rounded.
Verification & Booking Notes
- Verification status: Operator-declared.
- Last verified: 31 August 2026.
- Fleet basis: read from the current Tour to Liveaboard relationship and eligible published or scheduled vessel records.
- Operator-declared safety detail: 2 of 4 listed boats publish both safety-equipment and navigation data; 2 list a life raft. Check the selected boat page before booking.
- Cancellation: Moderate policy; see What’s Included for the full terms.
- Guest reviews: No guest reviews yet. Be the first to add a review after your trip.
Verification notes use Komodo Insider records, official operator disclosures and government sources. Verify vessel-level safety, inclusions and operator terms before paying.
Traveller Reviews
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Who This Suits
Right for you if the sailing is part of the appeal rather than a cost of getting there. Two of the four days are spent in water no Labuan Bajo itinerary reaches, and the pace is slower than a Komodo-only trip because the boat is genuinely covering distance between stops.
Couples and small groups get the most out of it. Shared cabins are available on this route, so you are not forced into a private charter to join it. A private charter can add flexibility, but any timing or route change still depends on sea conditions and operator approval. Families work well from roughly age eight upward, when a child can manage a snorkel mask in open water and forty minutes uphill at Padar. Younger than that and the two overnight passages become the limiting factor rather than the activities.
Guest numbers matter more here than on a park loop because the route includes two overnight passages. Capacity varies by vessel, so compare the cabin count and maximum guests shown on each current boat card before choosing.
Less right if you are short on time or fixed on diving. Four days one-way plus a flight out of Labuan Bajo is a five-day commitment minimum, and a Labuan Bajo round trip delivers the park highlights in three. Divers should note that Saleh Bay and Moyo are snorkelling grounds, and the park diving on Day 4 is a single window rather than a schedule — a dedicated Komodo liveaboard is the better instrument for that.
One thing to plan around: this is a one-way trip. You finish in Labuan Bajo, not where you started, so the onward flight and the Lombok-side accommodation both need to be booked around a fixed end point.
Cruise Areas
- Komodo
- Lombok
- Sumbawa
Activities
- Snorkeling
- Trekking
- Island Hopping
- Wildlife Watching
- Sunset Viewing
Location
East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia