Komodo National Park: Adventure on the Island of Dragons

Komodo National Park: Adventure on the Island of Dragons

Clara Lindsay
Komodo is such a unique destination in Indonesia. Follow this guide for an epic 3 day island hopping, wildlife filled adventure.
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Access to Komodo National Park is through the Indonesian town of Labuan Bajo. It holds an exciting energy being the gates to this spectacular group of islands and some of the most incredible and well looked after nature and marine wildlife.

Must do's:

- See the famous Komodo dragons.

- Explore the beautiful landscape, pink sand beaches, viewpoints and sand bars.

- Scuba dive or snorkel in the tropical waters spotting turtles, manta rays and sharks. Komodo is located within the coral triangle, this marina area holds some of the most incredible underwater life.

Where to Stay

Seaesta Komodo Hostel & Hotel
@claralindsay
A great hostel in the heart of Labuan Bajo, walking distance from the Komodo Dock. The staff are so friendly and helpful, providing a safe environment for solo travellers. The rooftop restaurant serves delicious and affordable options and is very sociable.
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Komodo Airport is under 10 minutes from the town, grab and gojek are easy taxi options to get from the airport to Seaesta hostel. Make sure to ask for a helmet if travelling by motorbike, it is the law so they will be carrying one but don't often offer it to you straight away! The driver will pick you up just outside the airport entrance. If arriving by boat the docks are also very close by.

What to do

There a a few options on how to see the national park. If you have a longer time available and are there during the dry season you can go on a live-aboard boat for 3d2n.

If you are on a tighter schedule or you are there during off peak season you can see the islands on a day tour. I would absolutely recommend doing this, there is still plenty of time to see the key locations as you go by speed boat.

Whilst the dragons live on the 3 largest islands in the park you can only see them on Komodo Island itself. These incredible lizards can grow up to 10 feet long, you are taken on a short guided walk to spot them. They are truly magnificent and if you get the chance to go I would grab it! While it is a heavily walked trail as there are a lot of tourists trying to spot these wild animals it is still a beautiful location. Remember to leave no trace on these islands as they are vulnerable to tourism! 

Ocean Queen Komodo
@claralindsay
Spend the day on board Ocean Queen to tour the islands of Komodo National Park. See the sights of Padar Island, Pink beach, Komodo dragon walking tour, Taka Makassar, Manta point and Kanawa Island. This is a great budget tour option if you want to see the National Park in a day, it hits all the best spots! The walking tour is short but I saw 4 Komodo dragons during it. A highlight of my day was the guided snorkel from Taka Makassar over the coral reef so make sure to ask to go along when you arrive there. Transport, lunch, snorkelling gear and life jacket provided. I really enjoyed this experience as a solo female backpacker. It is a very busy, touristy day but an incredible location. Check out the link below for prices and availability.
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Another great activity in the national park is Scuba diving. The diverse marine life is beautiful and its likely you will see some incredible things!

Uber Scuba Komodo
@claralindsay
Great company and scuba guides. Offer a range of scuba options and the day out on the boat is great fun with good food. They are busy so I would recommend pre booking. If you stay at seaesta hostel they offer a discount here.
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The National Park has an entrance fee each day and for any activities that you are doing within the protected area. Be sure to check the costs before you go as you will need to pay in cash and this is not included in the tour company's price.

Food and Drinks

Lots of yummy spots for food in Labuan Bajo, if you would like cheaper options there are several warungs in town that serve great local Indonesian dishes, walk along the Main Street and ask any guides for recommendations. 

Café Melinjo - French Flavor
@claralindsay
Such a good spot for breakfast, lots of options and tasty!!
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Escape Bajo (Brew, Bite, Bed)
@claralindsay
Lots of options and a beautiful spot overlooking the sea
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Paradise BAR
@claralindsay
Fun evening spot over looking the port.
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Save this guide to reference when planning a trip through Indonesia or reach out to me for any further information!

If you found this guide interesting and helpful please feel free to save, share, write a review or leave a tip. All are greatly appreciated and a huge help to my shop!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Clara Lindsay
Hi, I'm Clara. I am from the UK, currently living in Sydney, Australia. Having explored over 30 countries around the world as both a solo female backpacker and through work. So I have a wide range of knowledge on exciting locations and how to make the most of your trip. I love spending time outdoors; hiking to find waterfalls and great viewpoints. Another important part to my travels is good food, I love all cuisines and places with lots of vegetarian options. Recently I travelled to Central America and Europe. I have always loved making travel itineraries for friends and family, sharing my passion for exploring the world sustainably. I moved to Australia at the beginning of this year I am looking forward to new adventures and sharing what I find. Plan your next trip with me!
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