Indonesia Destination
Komodo National Park: dry-season island-hopping and ranger-led dragon walks
At a glance
- Best time
- Dry season, about April to November, has calmer seas
- Where
- West of Flores, with Labuan Bajo as the gateway
- Getting there
- Fly to Labuan Bajo, then take a boat from the harbour
- Cost
- Foreigners Rp250,000 under PP 36/2024 (checked Oct 2026)
- Limits
- Island hikes need a ranger; 1,000 visitors a day maximum
Last checked: 13 October 2026
The place
Ranger-led dragon walks and a cap of 1,000 visitors a day
Komodo National Park is a stretch of sea off western Flores whose main islands are Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and most tour boats leave from the harbour at Labuan Bajo. Since 1 April 2026 the park has admitted at most 1,000 visitors a day, after a trial from January to March.
The park was created to protect the Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard. The dragons are not confined to it. An Indonesian government estimate from February 2026 counts about 700 more in western and northern Flores, scattered outside protected areas.
On Komodo and Rinca every trek is led by a park ranger. Boats to Rinca dock at Loh Buaya pier, and from there the group follows the ranger along set trails. When a dragon is near, the group stops and keeps its distance, and nobody approaches on their own.
Booking
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Prices and ratings checked 13 Oct 2026
Tickets and tours
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
Komodo full-day speedboat tour from Labuan Bajo
Hotel pick-up, about 9–11 hours, six stops in the national park by speedboat: the Padar hike, snorkeling with manta rays, and Komodo dragons. Lunch and snorkel gear included; don't book a flight the same day.
from NT$2,849
See pricesLabuan Bajo, Indonesia
Red Whale speedboat Komodo full day from Labuan Bajo
Another operator on the same speedboat route (about 9.5 hours, lunch and snorkel gear included); compare departure times and prices.
from NT$2,821
See prices
Mobile data
Indonesia 5G eSIM (Telkomsel, unlimited data)
Runs on Telkomsel with unlimited data. Your phone must support eSIM; full refund if cancelled before it connects.
See plans
Details
Every walk among the dragons follows a park ranger, and from December to March high waves can keep tour boats in harbour, so leave a spare day either side.
When to go: dry and rainy seasons
For island-hopping and snorkelling, go in the dry season, roughly April to November (some sources end it in October). Seas are calmer and visibility is good.
December to March is the rainy season. When the Indonesian weather agency (BMKG) forecasts high waves, the Labuan Bajo harbour authority suspends tourist boats. If you go then, keep a spare day on each side and reconfirm with your operator the night before.
Getting there: fly to Labuan Bajo, then boat
Most people fly to Labuan Bajo on the western tip of Flores and set out by boat from the harbour.
There are no roads between Komodo, Rinca and Padar. Day speedboats leave early and return to Labuan Bajo the same day. On multi-day trips the boat is where you sleep.
Day trip or multi-day boat
A one-day speedboat tour covers several islands with short stops, and the Padar climb usually falls in daylight.
On a multi-day boat you sleep on board, can climb Padar at dawn or late afternoon, and can leave the main route for extra snorkelling stops.
Entry fee and tickets
Foreign visitors pay Rp250,000 per person, the same on weekdays and holidays, covering trekking, wildlife watching and snorkelling. Indonesian citizens pay Rp50,000 on weekdays and Rp75,000 on holidays.
Since 1 February 2025 tickets can only be booked through the park office (BTNK) system SiOra, with cashless payment. If you join a tour or charter a boat, ask whether the price already includes the entry fee (checked 13 Oct 2026).
Charges follow Government Regulation 36 of 2024 (PP 36/2024), in force since 30 October 2024. Flying a drone costs extra, Rp2,000,000 per drone per day, and diving needs a separate ticket at Rp25,000 per person per dive.
Rangers and safety
Treks on Komodo and Rinca must be led by a park ranger. Stay with the group, keep your distance and never step closer to a dragon for a photo.
Do not feed or disturb the animals. If you charter a boat, check that the operator arranges the landing and the ranger.
Padar Island
The ridge on Padar looks over three bays. Indonesia's official tourism site lists it among Labuan Bajo's sunset spots and suggests reaching the viewpoint by 17:15.
Stamina and sun
The real constraint here is stamina. A day involves several boardings and landings, there is little escape from the sun on deck or on the trails, and the Padar ridge means a long flight of steps. If you have limited mobility or get seasick, a multi-day boat with shorter legs each day is easier than doing it all in one day.
Where to stay
Use Labuan Bajo as your base. The harbour area has everything from hostels to resorts. Day trips return in the evening, and multi-day trips sleep on the boat.
Good to know
- Dry season
- The dry season runs roughly from April to November (some sources end it in October), with calmer seas and good visibility. December to March is the rainy season.
- Location and gateway
- The park is made up of three main islands, Komodo, Rinca and Padar, plus smaller ones. The gateway is Labuan Bajo on the western tip of Flores, and the islands are reachable only by boat.
- Signature species
- The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard. Indonesian government estimates published in February 2026 put about 3,200 inside the park and about 700 more in the wild in western and northern Flores.
- Sunset
- Sunset around Labuan Bajo is about 17:45 to 18:15 local time (WITA, the same time zone as Taiwan), depending on the month.
- Entry fee and tickets
- Foreign visitors pay Rp250,000 per person, the same on weekdays and holidays. Since 1 February 2025 tickets can only be booked through SiOra, the park office (BTNK) reservation system, and payment is cashless (checked 13 Oct 2026).
FAQ
7
What kind of place is Komodo National Park?
A stretch of sea made up of islands such as Komodo, Rinca and Padar, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. About 3,200 Komodo dragons live in the park, the largest wild population, and you see them on ranger-led walks.
How do you get to Komodo National Park?
Fly to Labuan Bajo on Flores, then take a boat from the harbour. There are no roads between the islands, so everything is done by boat.
What season is good to go?
The dry season runs roughly from April to November (some sources end it in October), with calmer seas and good visibility. December to March is the rainy season. When forecasts warn of high waves the harbour authority suspends tourist boats, and in January 2020 all tourism activities in the park were cancelled.
How much is the entry fee, and where do I buy it?
Foreign visitors pay Rp250,000 per person, the same on weekdays and holidays, covering trekking, wildlife watching and snorkelling. Indonesian citizens pay Rp50,000 on weekdays and Rp75,000 on holidays. The rates come from Government Regulation 36 of 2024 (PP 36/2024) and apply from 30 October 2024. Since 1 February 2025 tickets can only be booked through the park office's SiOra system, with cashless payment (checked 13 Oct 2026).
Is a guide needed to see the Komodo dragons?
Yes. Treks on Komodo and Rinca are led by park rangers. Stay with the group, keep your distance and never approach a dragon on your own.
Do Komodo dragons live only inside the national park?
No. About 3,200 live inside the park and about 700 more live in the wild in western and northern Flores (Indonesian government estimate, February 2026). The Flores population is scattered outside protected areas with no set viewing trails, so visitors still see them inside the park.
Is there a daily visitor limit?
Yes. The park office capped visitors at 1,000 a day, trialled from January to March 2026 and in force since 1 April 2026. A park spokesperson told detik the figure follows a 2018 carrying-capacity study, while Antara's report cites a 2022 study that put the park's capacity at 378,870 visitors a year.
Sources
11
- whc.unesco.org
- en.antaranews.com · Indonesia Enhances Komodo Protection With Conservation Action Plan
- komodoisland.net · Best Time to Visit Komodo
- thejakartapost.com · Tourism Activities at Komodo National Park Canceled Due to Bad Weather
- indonesia.travel · 6 Best Sunset Spot's You Can Enjoy in Labuan Bajo
- indonesia.travel
- megapolitan.antaranews.com · Upaya Balai Taman Nasional Omodo Selamatkan Kerugian PNBP
- kupang.antaranews.com · BTN Komodo Sosialisasi Penyesuaian Tarif Baru Masuk Kawasan
- antaranews.com · BTNK Tetapkan Kuota 1000 Wisatawan Per Hari di TN Komodo
- detik.com
- en.wikipedia.org · Komodo National Park
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