Luxury Komodo Explorer
9 Days 4700 ex Bali
Accommodation
8 Nights Luxury Hotel
Optional
1 Night Safari Camp
Transportation
Multi Activity
Mostly by Private Boat
Included Meals
8 Breakfasts
4 Lunches
4 Dinners
Trip Grade
Category 2
Balanced Break
Group Size
6 – 8 Maximum
I’m sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Watching the tide roll away
Ooh, I’m just sittin’ on the dock of the bay
Wastin’ time
Life moves slowly in the Komodo Islands. It is like a time capsule, harking back to prehistoric days.
Waves lap the nearby shore. A pod of spinner dolphins plays just at the mouth of the bay.
Kingfishers, plovers and egrets keep a watchful eye out for the menacing white-bellied sea eagle.
Fishermen slowly come and go and a fresh breeze cools your brow as you dangle your feet in the warm clear waters of Menjaga Bay.
The scene beckons. What is beyond that island? What is below the surface of the water? Rumour has it, Dragons call this, their domain.
You look up, and gliding up to the pier is your private boat, your very own exploration vehicle.
This was one of the most amazing tours that I have ever been on! It was so much more than just kayaking…. a truly memorable mix of snorkeling, diving, Komodo dragons, manta rays, monkeys, goats, turtles, dolphins, camping, trekking, amazing food, music, drinks, so many laughs … and a little bit of kayaking… I Highly recommend this trip to anyone with a sense of adventure!
Diane (Australia)
This is no, sit by the pool drinking mojitos holiday (though there is time for that). This is an active journey and for us to appreciate everything the incredible World Heritage Komodo National Park has to offer, we have to move.
Needless to say, there will be copious amounts of snorkelling. And for those who want to go further, there is access to SCUBA diving as well.
Activities include hiking on Rinca and Padar, sea kayaking the blue waters of the Komodo Islands, snorkelling Pink Beach and other secret reefs and swimming with manta ray.
All of this will be done via your own private boat, which will give us access to every part of the park.
For those willing to really immerse themselves in nature we will even do an overnight beach campsite utilising our Safari Style tents.
Our goal is to get you back to nature, so that you return home refreshed and reinvigorated.
The Journey
Upon your arrival in Bali, you will be met at the airport by your driver and transferred to your hotel for your overnight accommodation. Depending on the time of your arrival you will have free time to relax before an evening meeting with a No Roads Representative who will provide you with your domestic e-tickets and information required for the following day. Overnight at Hotel.
Today you will fly from Bali to Labuan Bajo, the gateway to the Komodo National Park. We will transfer you down to the harbour, where you will board your Private Boat for lunch and the 1.5-hour journey to Menjaga Bay, home for the next 5 days. This slow cruise will give you a chance to unwind and take in just a taste of what this special place has to offer.
Upon arrival at Menjaga, you will receive a welcome drink and be shown to your room. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to explore the resort, slow down and maybe take a sunset drink at the pier from 5 pm onwards. Overnight Menjaga Bay. (B,L)
We will start slowly this morning, easing into our week of adventure. After breakfast we will meet with our team, who will outline the days activities.
Today we see Dragons! Why not get straight into business?
We will hop aboard our private boat and head toward Rinca Island. Along the way, we can do a spot of snorkelling and possibly visit Warloka, a small village with a collection of unusually large stone artifacts dating back thousands of years, further back than what we thought was possible.
From there we will explore Rinca Island, taking a 1-2 hour walk, observing the Komodo Dragon in its natural habitat.
From Rinca Island we will visit the small village of Rinca itself, seeing how these people live with the dragon.
The sun will soon be setting, so we will head off to Kaaba Island to watch the daily migration of thousands of Fruit Bats from the island. Dinner will be served on board our boat before heading back to Menjaga for the evening. (B,L,D)
Today we will explore deep into the Komodo National Park. First on the list is Padar Island, with its superb views of three idyllic bays.
From Padar, we will set off around the rarely-visited southern part of the island, before heading north toward Komodo Island itself.
It is not the dragons we have come to visit today, but Pink Beach. This beautiful stretch of pink sand is formed by the plethora of red coral found off the coast.
The snorkelling here is superb.
We’ll return to Menjaga in the late afternoon, just in time for sundowners and dinner. (B,L)
What an incredible day we have planned today, one of our favourites.
First it’s off to Manta Alley where we will have the chance to swim with 4m-5m manta rays. They appear here each day to be cleaned. Some days there is a lone ray, sometimes there’s a dozen or more!
This is a wow place for sure.
After lunch, we will head to Pungu Island. First, we will visit Atlas Pearls, who harvest pearls in these waters. They will show us how the pearl is harvested, fascinating work.
From Atlas, for those wishing to do so, we can take the sea kayaks for a paddle to our evening accommodation, a secluded alcove beach on the west side of the island.
We will have our safari-style tents set up and our dinner area prepared. This is an amazing place to sit back and relax.
And guess what? There is a small reef only metres from the beach.
For those wishing not to stay overnight, we will transport you back to Menjaga Bay after dinner. (B,L,D)
Today is a day of rest.
For those who would like to stay active, there are small sit-on-top kayaks available as well as a couple of walks in the area.
For those wishing to do SCUBA, this is the perfect day to do so. (B)
Today we will head back toward Labuan Bajo. On the way we will stop off at Kelor Island for a short hike to the top of the hill providing us with superb views of the islands we have explored for the last few days.
From there, we will continue to Labuan Bajo jetty, where we will be picked up and taken to the Sudamala Resort.
For those wishing for a massage this can be done at the resort.
For sundowners, we will head to the Aliya Resort for drinks before heading to dinner in the home of our local manager Ibu Fitri. This will give you an insight into how people live in the area and a taste of authentic home cooking. (B,D)
We bid Labuan Bajo and the Komodo Islands farewell and fly back to Bali for our last night on the “Island of the Gods”. Tonight we will dine for the last time as a group at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Your amazing adventure comes to an end and you are free to continue your travel plans or return home. (B)
Journey Extensions
Check out our Journey Extensions for those that want to stay a little longer or try something different along the way.
Do you love coffee as much as we do? Forget wine tasting tours, it’s all about coffee appreciation and Indonesia is home to some of the best coffee in the world. Take a guided tour of a local coffee plantation, see how the coffee is harvested, dried, ground and roasted. Return to Labuan Bajo to Cafe Inn Hit for a “Flores” coffee and morning tea.
Duration: 3 hours (9am-12.00pm)
Price: AUD $75 per person (minimum of 2 guests)
Tour Includes
Collection and return to Hotel by air conditioned car
Guided Tour of coffee plantation & surrounding area
A free packet of ground coffee (packaged)
Coffee and morning tea at Cafe Inn Hit
*Please ensure that runners or light hiking boots are worn on this extension.
Do you want to learn how to cook Indonesian food like a local? This half-day tour begins with a visit to the local market with the chef and you can help purchase the ingredients for the food you are about to make (and eat)!
Cook and eat three delicious traditional Indonesian meals, and take the recipes home.
Duration: 3.5-4 hours (9am-12.30pm)
Price: AUD $75 per person (minimum of 2 guests)
Tour Includes
Collection and return to Hotel in a air conditioned car.
Visit to local market with Chef to purchase food for the cooking class
Water/mineral water
Cooking instructions & participation in cooking of 3 main meals
Copies of recipes
Duration: 5 Days / 4 Nights
Price: AUD $1050 per person (twin share). Single Traveler $1450 ex Labuan Bajo
For those that have just completed the Komodo Dragon trip, our 5-day 4 night Flores Road Trip is a perfect trip extension. Please note that this itinerary can also be done in reverse to work with your kayaking itinerary.
Flores is one of the most diverse landscapes on earth with an amazing array of cultures mixed in. Dramatic mountain landscapes, lush fertile valleys, rivers, lakes, waterfalls, and more await those that wish to explore the island. To top the trip off we will take you to a volcano (Kelimutu) that has three different colored lakes.
Please note that Flores is a rugged and mountainous island and as such the road trip can be long. The hotels used are the best available. They are usually very basic with hot water. The Eco Lodge in Moni has excellent facilities throughout.
Day 1 Labuan Bajo to Ruteng
After breakfast, we will start our road trip to Ruteng. The road will wind its way eastward for a couple of hours before we reach Cancar (pronounced Chanchar). There we will head out to Cara village and climb a small hill that looks over a wide valley. Cara is famous for its spider web rice fields. More technically the agriculture they persist with is known as Lingko in which a field is divided up among the various families of a village from one central location. A wooden pole known as the lodok is placed in the centre of the land. A string is run out to the field’s extremities and then divided into moso (meaning hand) forming the wedge-like fields. As the contours of the land are taken into account across this moso, the field starts to resemble a spiderweb. There are great views of these fields from this hill.
We continue on after lunch to Liang Bua about 1 hour from Ruteng. Liang Bua is the resting place of the Homo Floresiensis, a 106 cm high humanoid that lived in these parts. Discovered in 2003, scientists now speculate why the Hobbit as they are being dubbed, died out. Was it because of Homo Erectus or was it something else? This large grotto cum cave is just off a side road that winds its way through beautiful rice fields and mountain terrain. A local guide will come and show you through the place including a small side cave and the opening to a deep 27-meter hole that leads to another cavern (this is not accessible by non-scientists).
From Liang Bua we will head back to Ruteng and the Susteran Maria Berduka Cita convent run by some very nice Sisters. The rooms are very clean and there is even BBC available on the TV.
Day 2 Ruteng to Bajawa
We continue eastwards into more rugged mountain roads. Along the way, we will stop at a small lake called Ranamese with sweeping views of the coastline. From there we continue to the seaside village of Lega Lapu where we will sample some Arak or Palm spirits. While you may have tasted Arak before, this brew is quite good and actually drinkable.
From Lega Lapu we continue back into the mountains for Bajawa. This is a great yet strange town with bareback cowboys and a beautiful landscape to boot. In the afternoon we will head to Soa which is a natural hot spring just out of town. This is a great place to relax and soothe aching muscles. Tonight we will dine in a timber restaurant (Lucas) that makes great fried potatoes.
Overnight Bajawa Roo Hotel. (B)
Day 3 Bajawa to Moni via Ende.
This is our last day of driving and possibly the most spectacular of them all. After an early breakfast, we will head by car toward an amazingly beautiful valley near the Ngada village of Bena. However, Bena is where we will end our 1.5-hour trek from Gurusina down in the valley. Our trek will take us along small paths back up the mountain, through several Ngada villages.
Ngada culture is based on the balance of the male and female. Houses and smaller structures are either characterized by a male or female spirit. Ngada culture is matrilineal, meaning that property ownership and clan names are passed down through the woman’s side. The men however have great influence in day to day functions of the village. Ngada villages are welcoming and are fascinating and beautiful places to trek through.
We finish our hike in Bena, a large Ngada village overlooking the valley. Keep an eye out for small wooden houses and people sitting atop the homes in these villages.
From Bena, we continue on to Ende and then onto Moni. The road from Ende to Moni would have to be some of the most beautiful on the planet, with sweeping valley views and dozens of waterfalls cascading in the distance. We will arrive in Moni quite late so dinner at the Eco Lodge is suggested.
Overnight Kelimutu Eco Lodge (B)
Day 4 Moni to Kelimutu
We will rise early, around 430am, to walk to the summit of Kelimutu. We can get a small breakfast hamper put together of banana pancakes, water, and a boiled egg to have on Kelimutu. The park’s car park is a 30-minute drive from Moni and then from there a fairly easy 30-minute walk to the top. If we are lucky, the cloud will part at sunrise and the beautiful turquoise lakes of Kelimutu will reveal themselves.
Kelimutu is 3 dormant volcanoes that have been filled with water. Due to minerals being dispersed into the water, the lakes exhibit varying colours. The strange thing is that the lakes are so close to each other but the lakes can have different colours such as red, blue, and black.
If the summit is shrouded in clouds (which is common) and you don’t see the lakes, don’t worry. We will head back down to Moni with a possibility of a 2-hour walk through the fields to the Eco Lodge. We can shower and get another bite to eat there watching the Kelimutu summit from your room waiting for the cloud to clear. We can return to the summit in the afternoon or if all else fails, we can go up again the next day.
We suggest dinner at the Eco Lodge and our personal favorite, Mori’s Moni chicken. (B)
Day 5: Moni to Ende to Bali
This morning, assuming you have already seen Kelimutu, we will go for another walk through the valley. We can even arrange for a horse ride through the villages at your own expense. We will also visit the 10000 Rp market where every bunch of vegetables is 10000 Rp. The stall next door will sell for the same price so the price is not negotiable. The fruit and vegetables are displayed beautifully and it is a nice place to wander.
From there, we will head down to Ende for your flight back to Bali. (B)
Included:
– Accommodation between Labuan Bajo and Moni
– Expert No Roads Guide throughout
– Vehicle use throughout trip
– All meals as outlined in Itinerary
Note: If you are adding this extension to a Komodo kayaking trip then your flight to or from Ende before or after your road trip is included in the Komodo Kayaking trip. Please contact us directly to confirm dates if you wish to add this extension on to a Great Creatures Expedition.
Not included:
– Accommodation in Labuan Bajo
– Flight to and from Flores
– All other incidentals including lunches and dinners
Do you want to go beyond the tourist hot spots and experience what life is like in rural Indonesia? Then this half day tour is the perfect experience for you. Come along and join Matias, one of our Kayaking Guides, in his village to see their simple way of life. Accessible from the main road by motorbike only, this only adds to the feeling of remoteness and adventure, where you are unlikely to come across any other tourists in this off-the-beaten-track village.
Duration: 4-6 hours (May-Oct)
Price: AUD $85 per person (2 guests or more)
Price: AUD $115 single guest
Tour Includes
Collection at your Hotel by air-conditioned car
Transfer on the back of a motorbike from the main road along a dirt road into the village
Guided tour of vegetable crops and banana plantations
Guided tour of the village
Lunch in the village
5-20 minute trek through the rice fields to the “pregnant lady rock” and will be told the local story of how the rock formed. Guests will then head back into the village, where once again they will get on the back of a motorbike for a trip to see the fossilized trees and local hot springs.
Mbeiling Eco Lodge is a haven for wildlife and the lodge contributes significantly to the conservation and sustainability of the local communities and species of the area.
Stay overnight at this stunning Eco Lodge, which is 45 minutes from the centre of Labuan Bajo.
We can arrange activities such as the Mbeliling Trek, Bird Watching, Flores Coffee & Nature Appreciation Tour, Cunca Wulang Waterfalls or Cecer Village Visit all from Mbeliling Eco Lodge.
Price: AUD $130 per room per night twin share
Check in – 2.00pm – check out 12.00pm
Inclusions:
Return transfer to and from Labuan Bajo by air-conditioned car.
Standard Double/Twin Room accommodation
Breakfast
The highlight of this three day tour is the fully guided climb up Mt Inerie to see the sunrise. Mt Inerie is 2,245 meters above sea level and is also one of the highest volcanoes in Flores, the trek takes six hours and starts at the very early time of 2:30 am. Tour also includes a visit to the local hot springs and a visit to the traditional village of Bena. This trip is a wonderful example of the incredible sights that you can discover when you go off the beaten track and take the road less traveled.
Duration: 3 days
Price: AUD $490 per person (minimum of 2 guests)
Price: AUD $750 – single guest
Tour Includes
All transfers to and from airport.
Return domestic flights – Labuan Bajo to Bajawa
2 Nights accommodation at Bajawa Roo Hotel including breakfast
Town tour of Bajawa
Visit local hot springs
Sunrise volcano trek up Mt Inerie (start time is 2.30am)
Local Guide for Mt Inerie trek
Driver in Bajawa
Meals – 2 x breakfasts (lunches and dinners at guests own expense)
* Guests must have a good level of fitness to complete the Mt Inerie Volcano Trek. Hiking boots are essential.
Flores is a relatively unexplored part of Indonesia. This mountainous island hides beautiful villages from the normal tourist, but with this 2 day trek, you will venture into this wonderland and experience the great hospitality of its’ people.
Itinerary
Day 1: We will leave Labuan Bajo at around 8am and head up into the mountains to Dintor Village (approx 4 hours drive). Along the way we will have lunch and witness the ruggedness of the Flores landscape. Once we have arrived at Dintor Village we will start our trek for Wae Rebo village. After a short motorbike ride we will start hiking, which will take us through the amazing open mountain terrain where we will see the fantastic cone shaped houses (approximately 2 hours). In Wae Rebo we will stay in a traditional home and be the guest of the village. They will show us their way of life high in the mountains. This is a great experience for those who want to witness traditional lives in Flores. Dinner and Breakfast will be provided in the village. (L,D)
Day 2: After breakfast you will have some time to immerse yourself in the local village before we start our trek down to Denge Village and then drive to Dintor Village where we will have lunch. From there we will return back to Labuan Bajo in the early evening for you to continue your travels. (B,L)
Included
Car and driver
Local Guide
Overnight accommodation in Wae Rebo Village
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (as per itinerary)
Exclusion
Accommodation on the night of Day 2 (your return to Labuan Bajo). We can offer accommodation in Labuan Bajo for AUD$95 Twin Share subject to change and availability.
Price
We can run this trip for 1 – 5 Pax
1 Person $650
2 Person $375 per person
3 Person $345 per person
4 Person $315 per person
5 Person $300 per person
Includes
- 2 nights luxury accommodation in Bali twin share
- 5 nights luxury accommodation in Menjaga Bay twin share
- 1-night luxury accommodation Labuan Bajo
- 1 night Safari style camping (optional)
- All domestic flights
- Kayak use with all safety gear including vest, paddle etc
- Snorkel and mask use
- National park fees
- Professional guide throughout the journey
- Labuan Bajo Town Tour
- Ranger and local guide fees
- All meals on expedition (8 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches and 3 Dinners)
- Airport transfers to and from accommodation in Bali and Labuan Bajo
- Basically a great time!
Excludes
- International Airfares
- Airport Tax
- Travel Insurance for your trip
- Tips
- Alcoholic beverages
If you are travelling alone and do not want to share accommodation, a Single Supplement of $1200 will apply. Single Supplement is subject to availability.
This is a fully supported and guided journey
Throughout this journey, you will be supported and guided by our local team. They are on hand to ensure your needs are met and the journey runs smoothly.
Accommodation throughout the trip
This is a luxury journey and as such we have chosen some superb places to rest our heads in Bali and Labuan Bajo.
In Bali we have chosen the beautiful Balquisse. This is a superb place, so different from what you may have ever stayed at in Bali. We are sure you will love it.
In Menjaga Bay we stay at the Menjaga Bay Resort in over water huts. These are beautiful rooms with outdoor showers and a small private landing where you can relax and watch life pass you by.
In Labuan Bajo, we are staying at the Sudamala Resort. This beautiful and quaint resort has a small village feel with all the necessary luxury you require to be comfortable.
We also have the option of staying in one of our Safari-style tents on a deserted beach. These are tall tents in which you can stand up. In each tent we have 2 stretcher beds, each with an inflatable mattress. They are mosquito-proof tents, although mosquitos out on the islands are not usually an issue. We provide a small pillow and a light blanket for each bed.
This is your adventure so you can do as much or as little as you like
One of the great things about our Luxury Komodo Explorer is that it caters to so many different types of adventurers. For those who want to be active all day, from sunrise to even after dark, there is plenty of opportunity to hike, snorkel, and paddle. Our guides are there to accompany you, no matter what you wish to do, so they are ready for anything.
For those that wish to dabble in paddling, do a short hike, and maybe not even snorkel, that is fine too. You can do as much or as little as you like. Many of our guests love spending an afternoon sunbathing on the upper deck of our support boat, lounging into one of our bean bags, and either catching a quick cat nap or reading a book. The beautiful water of the Komodos is just overboard, so a quick dip, a rinse off, and back on the upper deck for another read is a common activity.
You also have the option just to stay back in Menjaga Bay and relax by the pool.
It’s your time, you do with it as you wish.
We get asked a lot of questions about our Komodo trips. The following are certainly the most common however if you have another question please let us know or the answer may be found in our Trip Notes section.
What's sea kayaking like? Is it easy to learn?
Sea-kayaking is a most wonderful way to explore the world. It’s environmentally-friendly, does not require months of training and superior strength, and is good for the body and soul. Sea-kayaking can take you beyond the reach of civilization into the natural world, into the space between earth, sea and sky.
No prior experience is necessary. As long as you are in good health and have a good general fitness along with a sense of adventure, you will quickly master the skills needed to paddle and steer your kayak. Our experienced guides will give an introductory lesson at the beginning of the journey, and will be there to help and keep everyone happy and safe throughout.
Is this a good family trip?
This journey is perfect for families wanting to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life and spend time together exploring the amazing Komodo Islands. We have a minimum age of 10 years on our journeys and we offer a 10% discount off the journey price for all children 14 years of age and under.
How does the SCUBA Diving option work?
For those who would like to incorporate a SCUBA Dive into the trip, this can be done and is highly recommended. The Menjaga Bay Resort has a Dive Master and diving facilities. These can be organised at the resort on the Rest Day.
What is the food like at Menjaga?
There are several meals not included in the trip which will need to be taken at the Menjaga Bay Resort. The food there is excellent and can cater for all dietary needs.
This journey is so unique because you can unpack your bags in one place and explore the Komodo islands from your very own boat, swimming, snorkelling, hiking and even sea kayaking. We get to see all the main sites PLUS another side of the Komodo islands few visit. This is such a beautiful way to experience my backyard. And who knows, maybe you will come and have dinner in my home together. I look forward to seeing you there.
Ibu Fitri
Komodo Islands Ops Manager
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