I had been wanting to visit Komodo National Park for a while, mainly because I wanted to see the famous Komodo dragons in their natural habitat.
When I finally had the chance to visit, I decided to experience the area through a 3D2N Komodo boat trip on Blackbeard.
I booked my trip through Indonesia Komodo Tour, and instead of simply visiting one or two attractions around Labuan Bajo, I wanted to spend several days travelling between the islands and experiencing different sides of Komodo National Park.
Over three days, the trip took me from small islands and dramatic viewpoints to pink beaches, tiny sandbanks, and some of the underwater areas around the national park.
But the destinations were what really made the journey memorable for me.
Starting the Trip in Labuan Bajo
My trip started in Labuan Bajo, the main gateway to Komodo National Park.
I was picked up from my hotel before heading to the boat.
Once I arrived at Blackbeard, I settled in and got ready for three days of travelling around the islands.
One of the things I liked about taking a boat trip was that the boat itself became part of the experience.
Instead of travelling back to Labuan Bajo after every destination, we could continue sailing towards the next island.
There was something relaxing about sitting on the boat between stops, watching the sea and the islands around us.
I knew there were several famous places on the itinerary, but I was especially looking forward to Komodo Island.
Kelor Island
Our first destination was Kelor Island.
We stopped here for a short scenic hike.
Kelor is a relatively small island, but the views from higher up gave me my first real look at the landscape around Komodo.
The surrounding water was clear, and small islands could be seen across the horizon.
The hike itself was fairly short, but it was enough to get a different perspective of the area.
After spending some time on the island, we returned to Blackbeard and continued towards our next destination.
At this point, I was still getting used to the rhythm of the trip.
We would sail for a while, arrive at an island, get off the boat, explore or swim, and then return to the boat again.
It was a very different way of travelling compared with a normal holiday.
Meeting the Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island
Our next stop was Komodo Island.
This was the destination I had been waiting for the most.
The main reason I wanted to visit Komodo National Park was to see the Komodo dragon in its natural habitat.
We joined a guided trekking experience on the island and followed the local guide through the area.
Seeing a Komodo dragon in person was very different from seeing one in photographs.
They are much more impressive when you see them in their natural environment.
Even when they are simply resting or moving slowly, there is something intimidating about being near such a large wild reptile.
The experience also reminded me that Komodo dragons are wild animals.
We were visiting their habitat, so it was important to stay with the guide and follow the proper instructions during the trek.
For me, this was the main reason I wanted to take the trip, and seeing the Komodo dragon was definitely one of the highlights.
Sunset at Kalong Island
After Komodo Island, we continued towards Kalong Island.
The atmosphere became quieter as the day started coming to an end.
We waited for sunset and watched the sky around the island.
Kalong is known for its large population of flying foxes.
As the sun began to set, thousands of flying foxes started leaving the island and flying across the sky.
It was one of those experiences I had not really expected before the trip.
I had come to Komodo mainly thinking about the dragons, but the flying foxes gave me a completely different wildlife experience.
Watching them fly across the evening sky while we were sitting on the boat was a memorable way to finish the first day.
After sunset, we returned to Blackbeard and settled in for the night.
Sunrise at Padar Island
The next morning started early.
We headed towards Padar Island for a hike and panoramic sunrise views.
Padar was probably the destination I had seen most often in photographs before visiting Komodo.
Its distinctive hills and curved bays have become one of the most recognisable landscapes in Indonesia.
But photographs do not really prepare you for seeing the landscape in person.
After climbing towards the viewpoint, the landscape gradually opened up.
From the top, I could see the surrounding islands, bays, and sea.
The early morning light made the view even more impressive.
Standing there, I could understand why Padar is one of the most popular destinations in Komodo National Park.
I had seen the landscape many times online, but being there myself gave me a completely different feeling.
For me, Padar was one of the most memorable destinations of the entire Komodo boat trip.
It was not just the view itself.
It was the experience of getting up early, hiking to the viewpoint, and seeing the landscape from above.
Relaxing at Pink Beach
After Padar Island, we continued towards Pink Beach.
After the early morning hike, it was nice to have some time to relax.
Pink Beach is famous for its pinkish sand and clear surrounding water.
I had seen pictures of the beach before coming to Komodo, but seeing it in person was different.
The colour of the sand can change depending on the light and conditions, so it did not necessarily look exactly like every photograph I had seen online.
But the combination of the beach, surrounding hills, and clear sea still made it a beautiful place to stop.
We had time to relax and swim before continuing our journey.
After the early morning hike at Padar, Pink Beach felt like a good place to slow down.
Taka Makassar
From Pink Beach, we continued to Taka Makassar.
This was one of the most unusual destinations on the itinerary.
Taka Makassar is a small white sandbank surrounded by clear blue water.
When we approached by boat, the sandbank looked tiny compared with the huge expanse of sea around it.
There were no large hills or forests like on Komodo Island or Padar.
It was simply a small piece of white sand surrounded by blue water.
We had the opportunity to get into the water and enjoy the area.
I liked how different Taka Makassar felt compared with the other destinations.
The trip was constantly changing.
One destination had mountains and viewpoints.
Another had a famous beach.
Then suddenly we were standing on a tiny sandbank in the middle of the sea.
Snorkeling at Manta Point
After Taka Makassar, we continued towards Manta Point.
This was one of the underwater highlights of the itinerary.
There was a chance of seeing manta rays, so we got into the water for a snorkeling session.
The underwater scenery gave me another perspective of Komodo National Park.
Until this point, most of the places I had visited were experienced from land or from the boat.
At Manta Point, I could explore what was beneath the surface.
If you saw manta rays, describe the encounter here. If you did not see them, we should simply say that you snorkeled at Manta Point without claiming a sighting.
Either way, getting into the water and exploring the marine environment was another memorable part of the journey.
Siaba or Sebayur Island
The final morning brought another snorkeling experience around Siaba Island or Sebayur Island.
The exact location can depend on conditions, but the idea was the same: spending some time in the water and exploring the marine life around the islands.
By the third day, I had already experienced many different sides of Komodo.
I had walked through the habitat of Komodo dragons, watched flying foxes at sunset, climbed Padar Island, relaxed at Pink Beach, visited a tiny sandbank, and snorkeled in the surrounding waters.
The final snorkeling session felt like a relaxing way to finish the trip.
Three Days Around Komodo by Boat
One of the things I enjoyed most about this 3D2N Komodo boat trip was the variety of destinations.
The boat allowed us to move from one place to another without having to return to Labuan Bajo after every activity.
There were also quiet moments between destinations that became part of the experience.
Sometimes I simply sat on the boat and watched the islands pass by.
After spending time hiking or swimming, it was nice to have somewhere to sit and relax while Blackbeard continued sailing.
The boat was not just transportation.
It became our place to rest between destinations and a place where I could simply enjoy being at sea.
That is something I think is easy to overlook when looking at a Komodo boat trip through an itinerary.
The destinations are obviously the main attraction, but the journey between them is also part of the experience.
Returning to Labuan Bajo
After the final snorkeling session, we sailed back towards Labuan Bajo.
The trip ended with a transfer back to the hotel or airport.
It was strange to think that three days had passed so quickly.
When I started the journey, I was mainly excited about seeing the Komodo dragons.
But by the time I returned to Labuan Bajo, I had experienced much more than I expected.
I had explored several islands, seen one of Indonesia’s most famous landscapes, relaxed on a pink beach, stood on a tiny sandbank, watched thousands of flying foxes, and explored the waters around Komodo National Park.
