On this page
Three days and two nights is the format the Komodo route was built around. It is long enough to reach Padar at sunrise and the manta channel with the right tide, and short enough to fit either side of a weekend. This page covers the two things people ask us at the harbour office: what time do we actually leave, and what is genuinely in the price.
Departure and return times
| Stage | Time | Where | What happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pick-up from hotel or airport | 08:00 – 09:30 | Labuan Bajo town / LBJ airport | 10–15 minute transfer to the pier; included on charters |
| Check-in at the pier | 09:00 – 10:00 | Labuan Bajo harbour | Passenger manifest, park-fee settlement, luggage aboard |
| Departure | 09:30 – 10:30 | Harbour | Safety briefing under way; first stop about an hour out |
| Night 1 anchorage | from ~18:00 | Near Kalong | Fruit bats lift off the mangroves at dusk; dinner at anchor |
| Day 2 wake-up call | 04:30 – 05:00 | Near Padar | Early tender ashore for the sunrise ridge hike |
| Night 2 anchorage | from ~17:30 | Sheltered bay, often Siaba | Calmest anchorage of the trip |
| Return to harbour | 11:00 – 13:00, day 3 | Labuan Bajo | Disembark; transfer to airport or hotel |
Komodo Airport is 10 to 15 minutes from the pier, but the return time moves with wind and with how long the last snorkel stop runs. A 14:00 flight is tight. A 16:00 flight is comfortable.
The route in those 52 hours
Day 1 — out of the harbour
Labuan Bajo to Kelor, about an hour out, for a first hike and swim; then Manjarite for snorkelling over healthy coral; then the anchorage near Kalong for the bat exodus at dusk.
Day 2 — the big one
Pre-dawn ascent of Padar for the three-bay panorama, Pink Beach for snorkelling, a ranger-guided trek on Komodo or Rinca, then Taka Makassar's white sandbar and the Manta Point drift over Karang Makassar.
Day 3 — the run home
A relaxed morning snorkel at Siaba or Kanawa before the run back to harbour.
The order of Manta Point and Taka Makassar swaps depending on current and wind. Mantas feed on tidal flow, so a good captain reads the day rather than the brochure. If your crew reshuffles the afternoon, that is competence, not disorganisation.
What is included — and what is not
| Item | Included? | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Cabin accommodation, 2 nights | Yes | Air-conditioned; en-suite on Lamborajo II and III, shared bathrooms on Lamborajo I |
| All meals | Yes | Three cooked meals per day plus snacks, drinking water, tea and coffee |
| Crew and English-speaking guide | Yes | Captain, engineer, chef, deckhands, guide |
| Snorkelling equipment | Yes | Mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy vest, beach towels |
| Tender transfers to every landing | Yes | Small-boat shuttle to each island and beach |
| Airport or hotel transfer in Labuan Bajo | Yes | On charter bookings |
| Water toys | Varies | Kayak and banana boat on Lamborajo II; paddle board on Lamborajo III |
| Komodo National Park entrance | No | IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per visit; IDR 50,000 weekday / IDR 75,000 weekend and holiday for Indonesian visitors (PP No. 36/2024) |
| Ranger and local trail charges | No | Collected at the park; operators commonly bundle these into a single park payment |
| Scuba diving | No | Tanks, weights and divemaster quoted per dive; arrange in advance, not on board |
| Flights, alcohol, insurance, gratuities | No | Tipping is discretionary and given to the crew as a group |
A note on park fees, because the internet is a mess on this. You will see IDR 600,000, IDR 650,000 and IDR 900,000 quoted by different operators. Those are bundled figures — the regulated entrance charge plus regional retribution plus ranger and trail services — not the entrance tariff itself. The regulated entrance component under PP No. 36/2024 is IDR 250,000 for foreign visitors. Ask any operator to itemise, and be wary of anyone who cannot.
Best for — and what to book instead
3D2N hits every signature site once, which is exactly what a first trip should do.
Fly in Friday, sail Saturday to Monday, fly out Monday evening.
You dive, or you want an unhurried day at Siaba and Sebayur rather than a Padar-to-Manta sprint.
You have one spare night and accept skipping either Padar or the manta channel.
Costs by boat and duration are on the prices and booking page, and the month-by-month sea table is at best time to visit Labuan Bajo. Lamborajo is operated and marketed by the charter desk, a Labuan Bajo-based operator running since 2015 and. Travelling at the top end instead? The same three-day frame is also sold as a Labuan Bajo 3D2N luxury tour, with private cabins and a far smaller guest count.
Frequently asked questions
What time does a 3D2N Komodo boat trip leave Labuan Bajo?
Departure is typically between 09:30 and 10:30, with pier check-in from around 09:00 and hotel pick-up from 08:00. The first stop, usually Kelor Island, is about one hour from the harbour.
What time does the boat return on day three?
Between 11:00 and 13:00 at Labuan Bajo harbour. Book flights out no earlier than mid-afternoon; return timing moves with wind and with how long the final snorkel stop runs.
Is the Komodo National Park fee included in the boat price?
No. It is charged separately. Under PP No. 36/2024 the entrance component is IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor per visit, and IDR 50,000 on weekdays or IDR 75,000 on weekends and public holidays for Indonesian visitors.
Are meals included on a 3D2N trip?
Yes — three cooked meals a day plus snacks, drinking water, tea and coffee, prepared on board. Vegetarian, halal and allergy requirements are straightforward with 48 hours' notice. Alcohol is not included.
Do I need to bring snorkelling gear?
No. Mask, snorkel, fins, buoyancy vest and beach towels are provided on every vessel. Bring your own if you are particular about mask fit, and bring reef-safe sunscreen and a rash guard.
Will I definitely see Komodo dragons?
Sightings on the ranger-guided treks at Komodo and Rinca are very reliable but never guaranteed — these are wild animals in a 1,817 km² park. Rangers know the water points and shaded ridges where dragons rest.
Can I dive rather than snorkel?
Yes, but arrange it before departure. Tanks, weights and a divemaster are quoted per dive and are not part of the standard rate. Certification and recent-dive requirements apply at strong-current sites such as Castle Rock.
How rough is the water on a 3D2N?
Mostly sheltered, with one exposed stretch between Kalong and Padar usually run overnight. April to June and September to November are calmest. Take motion-sickness tablets before boarding rather than after symptoms appear.
Send your dates, group size and which Lamborajo you have in mind.
Departure and return windows are the standard operating pattern and shift with weather, tide and group size. Inclusions reflect the Lamborajo charter rate card current 1 August 2026. Park fees follow PP No. 36/2024 and are collected separately.
