Komodo & Flores
Indonesia · Southeast Asia
The islands of the Komodo dragon and their reefs, reached from Labuan Bajo, with the volcanoes and villages of Flores beyond.
Why visit
Why visit Komodo & Flores
Go for an animal found nowhere else. The Komodo dragon, the largest lizard alive, lives on Komodo, Rinca and a few neighbouring shores, and is seen on foot with a ranger. Our account of the walk explains how it works.
Go also for the sea. The currents that pour through the strait feed reefs of great richness, with manta rays at their cleaning stations. And go for the landscape, which is unlike the rest of Indonesia: brown grass hills, lontar palms and deep bays. Our guide to Komodo sets out the choices of boat and season.
Explore
What to see
Komodo and Rinca. The two dragon islands, each with a ranger station and marked trails. Seeing a dragon is likely but never guaranteed.
Padar. A stair of about half an hour leads to a ridge above three bays with beaches of different colours.
The reefs. Manta sites for snorkellers, and for experienced divers the pinnacles of Batu Bolong, Castle Rock and Crystal Rock.
Kelimutu. A volcano of 1,639 metres in central Flores, near the village of Moni, with three crater lakes of different colours.
Wae Rebo. A mountain village of the Manggarai people, known for its tall conical houses.
The lingko fields. Near Cancar, outside Ruteng, rice fields are divided like a spider's web from a central point.
Liang Bua. The limestone cave where the remains of Homo floresiensis were found.
Hotels
Where to stay in Komodo & Flores
TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort, opened in Labuan Bajo in 2024. The alternative is to sleep at sea, on a liveaboard that anchors in empty bays and reaches Padar before the day boats.
Experiences
Experiences in Komodo & Flores
Before you go
Practical information
Best time to visit
The dry season runs from April to November. The islands are green in April and May and brown by August, and July and August are the busiest months. The sea is rougher in the wet season. Manta rays and other wildlife are possibilities, not promises, and sightings vary with season, currents and luck.
Getting around
Labuan Bajo has an airport with flights from Bali and Jakarta. The park is reached only by boat: a fast day boat, a hotel's own vessel or a liveaboard, of which the wooden phinisi is the classic form. Expedition ships such as Aqua Blu continue east towards the Spice Islands and Raja Ampat. The interior of Flores is crossed by a single winding road, and distances take longer than the map suggests.
Practical notes
Since April 2026 the park has operated a daily limit of about 1,000 visitors across the whole park, with entry by timed session and registration in advance through the park's online SiOra system, which licensed boat operators normally handle for their guests. Boats should be reserved early for the dry season, since the daily limit can be reached. The currents are strong, and diving here suits those with experience. Allow three days for the park and a week or more to cross Flores.
Continue exploring
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