{"schema_version":"v1","type":"trip_article","slug":"komodo-national-park","locale":"en","canonical_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/trips/komodo-national-park","updated_at":"2026-10-13T15:00:00+00:00","headline":"Komodo National Park: dry-season island-hopping and ranger-led dragon walks","one_sentence_summary":"Komodo National Park lies off western Flores and became a World Heritage Site in 1991. It protects the Komodo dragon, the largest living lizard. Most visitors sail from Labuan Bajo.","facts":[{"label":"Dry season","value":"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.","source":"https://www.komodoisland.net/best-time-to-visit-komodo/","sourceLabel":"komodoisland.net"},{"label":"Location and gateway","value":"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.","source":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_National_Park","sourceLabel":"en.wikipedia.org"},{"label":"Signature species","value":"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.","source":"https://en.antaranews.com/news/406346/indonesia-enhances-komodo-protection-with-conservation-action-plan","sourceLabel":"en.antaranews.com"},{"label":"Sunset","value":"Sunset around Labuan Bajo is about 17:45 to 18:15 local time (WITA, the same time zone as Taiwan), depending on the month.","source":"https://www.indonesia.travel/au-en/travel-ideas/adventure/6-best-sunset-spot-s-you-can-enjoy-in-labuan-bajo","sourceLabel":"indonesia.travel"},{"label":"Entry fee and tickets","value":"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).","source":"https://megapolitan.antaranews.com/berita/457425/upaya-balai-taman-nasional-omodo-selamatkan-kerugian-pnbp","sourceLabel":"antaranews.com"}],"city_tabs":{"labuan_bajo":{"title":"Labuan Bajo","bullets":["Tour boats leave from Labuan Bajo harbour: same-day speedboats or multi-day boats you sleep on","Boats to Rinca dock at Loh Buaya pier on the island"],"source":"https://www.indonesia.travel/de/en/destination/bali-nusa-tenggara/east-nusa-tenggara/labuan-bajo---explore-rinca-island-unesco-world-heritage-site-in-indonesia","sourceLabel":"indonesia.travel"}},"faq":[{"q":"What kind of place is Komodo National Park?","a":"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.","sources":["https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/609","https://en.antaranews.com/news/406346/indonesia-enhances-komodo-protection-with-conservation-action-plan"]},{"q":"How do you get to Komodo National Park?","a":"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.","sources":["https://www.indonesia.travel/de/en/destination/bali-nusa-tenggara/east-nusa-tenggara/labuan-bajo---explore-rinca-island-unesco-world-heritage-site-in-indonesia"]},{"q":"What season is good to go?","a":"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.","sources":["https://www.komodoisland.net/best-time-to-visit-komodo/","https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2020/01/07/tourism-activities-at-komodo-national-park-canceled-due-to-bad-weather"]},{"q":"How much is the entry fee, and where do I buy it?","a":"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).","sources":["https://kupang.antaranews.com/berita/140801/btn-komodo-sosialisasi-penyesuaian-tarif-baru-masuk-kawasan","https://megapolitan.antaranews.com/berita/457425/upaya-balai-taman-nasional-omodo-selamatkan-kerugian-pnbp"]},{"q":"Is a guide needed to see the Komodo dragons?","a":"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.","sources":["https://www.indonesia.travel/de/en/destination/bali-nusa-tenggara/east-nusa-tenggara/labuan-bajo---explore-rinca-island-unesco-world-heritage-site-in-indonesia"]},{"q":"Do Komodo dragons live only inside the national park?","a":"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.","sources":["https://en.antaranews.com/news/406346/indonesia-enhances-komodo-protection-with-conservation-action-plan"]},{"q":"Is there a daily visitor limit?","a":"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":["https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5525623/btnk-tetapkan-kuota-1000-wisatawan-per-hari-di-tn-komodo","https://www.detik.com/bali/wisata/d-8148406/tn-komodo-batasi-1-000-turis-pelaku-wisata-dukung-tapi-minta-hapus-mafia-tiket"]}],"sources":["https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/609","https://en.antaranews.com/news/406346/indonesia-enhances-komodo-protection-with-conservation-action-plan","https://www.komodoisland.net/best-time-to-visit-komodo/","https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2020/01/07/tourism-activities-at-komodo-national-park-canceled-due-to-bad-weather","https://www.indonesia.travel/au-en/travel-ideas/adventure/6-best-sunset-spot-s-you-can-enjoy-in-labuan-bajo","https://www.indonesia.travel/de/en/destination/bali-nusa-tenggara/east-nusa-tenggara/labuan-bajo---explore-rinca-island-unesco-world-heritage-site-in-indonesia","https://megapolitan.antaranews.com/berita/457425/upaya-balai-taman-nasional-omodo-selamatkan-kerugian-pnbp","https://kupang.antaranews.com/berita/140801/btn-komodo-sosialisasi-penyesuaian-tarif-baru-masuk-kawasan","https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5525623/btnk-tetapkan-kuota-1000-wisatawan-per-hari-di-tn-komodo","https://www.detik.com/bali/wisata/d-8148406/tn-komodo-batasi-1-000-turis-pelaku-wisata-dukung-tapi-minta-hapus-mafia-tiket","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komodo_National_Park"],"key_takeaways":[{"text":"A UNESCO site since 1991, Komodo National Park holds about 3,200 Komodo dragons, the largest wild population.","date":"2026-10-13","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://en.antaranews.com/news/406346/indonesia-enhances-komodo-protection-with-conservation-action-plan","source_label":"en.antaranews.com"},{"text":"In the December–March rainy season the harbour authority suspends tourist boats when waves are high. In January 2020 all tourism activities in the park were cancelled.","date":"2026-10-13","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.thejakartapost.com/travel/2020/01/07/tourism-activities-at-komodo-national-park-canceled-due-to-bad-weather","source_label":"thejakartapost.com"},{"text":"Since 1 April 2026 Komodo National Park admits at most 1,000 visitors a day.","date":"2026-10-13","scope":"festival","source_url":"https://www.antaranews.com/berita/5525623/btnk-tetapkan-kuota-1000-wisatawan-per-hari-di-tn-komodo","source_label":"antaranews.com"}],"reading_outline":[{"id":"executive-summary","label":"Summary"},{"id":"city-routes","label":"Places and routes"},{"id":"rules","label":"Before you go"},{"id":"faq","label":"FAQ"},{"id":"sources","label":"Sources"}],"topic":{"chain":["trips","indonesia-festivals","komodo-national-park"]},"status":"published","hero_image":{"src":"/hero/komodo-national-park.webp","alt":"Komodo National Park: dry-season island-hopping and ranger-led dragon walks"},"editorial":{"tagline":"Ranger-led dragon walks and a cap of 1,000 visitors a day","paragraphs":["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.","Sunset around Labuan Bajo falls between about 17:45 and 18:15 local time (WITA, the same time zone as Taiwan). Day trips usually reach Padar in daylight, so waiting for sunset on the ridge means choosing a boat you sleep on. On Padar a stepped trail climbs the ridge to a viewpoint over three bays."]},"guide":{"lede":"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.","sections":[{"heading":"When to go: dry and rainy seasons","body":"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.\n\nDecember 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."},{"heading":"Getting there: fly to Labuan Bajo, then boat","body":"Most people fly to **Labuan Bajo** on the western tip of Flores and set out by boat from the harbour.\n\nThere 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."},{"heading":"Day trip or multi-day boat","body":"A **one-day speedboat tour** covers several islands with short stops, and the Padar climb usually falls in daylight.\n\nOn 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."},{"heading":"Entry fee and tickets","body":"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.\n\nSince 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).\n\nCharges 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."},{"heading":"Rangers and safety","body":"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.\n\nDo not feed or disturb the animals. If you charter a boat, check that the operator arranges the landing and the ranger."},{"heading":"Padar Island","body":"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."},{"heading":"Stamina and sun","body":"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."},{"heading":"Where to stay","body":"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."}]},"kind":"destination","available_locales":["zh-TW","en","th","id"],"event_start_date":null,"event_end_date":null,"dates_estimated":false,"next_edition":null,"offers":[{"id":"komodo-speedboat","title":{"zh-TW":"科莫多快艇跳島一日遊（拉布安巴焦出發）","en":"Komodo full-day speedboat tour from Labuan Bajo","th":"ทัวร์เรือเร็วเกาะโคโมโดเต็มวัน จากลาบวนบาโจ","id":"Tur speedboat sehari Komodo dari Labuan Bajo"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"experience","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/komodo-national-park?o=komodo-speedboat&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"komodo-red-whale","title":{"zh-TW":"紅鯨快艇科莫多全日遊（拉布安巴焦出發）","en":"Red Whale speedboat Komodo full day from Labuan Bajo","th":"ทัวร์เรือเร็ว Red Whale เกาะโคโมโดเต็มวัน จากลาบวนบาโจ","id":"Speedboat Red Whale Komodo sehari dari Labuan Bajo"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"experience","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/komodo-national-park?o=komodo-red-whale&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"},{"id":"komodo-esim","title":{"zh-TW":"印尼 5G eSIM（Telkomsel，不限流量）","en":"Indonesia 5G eSIM (Telkomsel, unlimited data)","th":"eSIM 5G อินโดนีเซีย (Telkomsel เน็ตไม่จำกัด)","id":"eSIM 5G Indonesia (Telkomsel, data tanpa batas)"},"merchant":"klook","utility":"esim","landing_url":"https://www.voucherdata.asia/go/komodo-national-park?o=komodo-esim&locale=en&src=data","checked_at":"2026-10-13"}]}