A Budget-Friendly Komodo National Park Overnight Boat Trip

Can you visit Komodo Island on a budget? Here’s what we thought of the most budget-friendly overnight tour to Komodo National Park…

Seeing Komodo Dragons in the wild had been a bucket list experience for us both for…well, as long as I can remember. Endemic to a very specific region of Indonesian islands, we expected the trip to be one for an expensive excursion at another time, until we realised how straightforward it is to do from Bali.

With two weeks in Bali booked on our way back from Australia, we decided to dedicate a long weekend to visiting Komodo National Park. After over a year of travelling, budget was low so we booked the cheapest overnight Komodo National Park tour we could find online that had a decent review score. Prices are often lower if you book directly in Labuan Bajo itself (there are plenty of tour desks), but we wanted to secure our spot ahead of arriving and read the reviews before we committed.

The experience was a bit of a mixed bag, but the activities and experience were absolutely worth the couple of downsides to the budget voyage. If you’re planning a trip to Komodo National Park on a budget, here’s what we thought of the trip we booked. Find out if it’s right for you – and if not, check out my further suggestions at the bottom of the post!

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Getting to Komodo National Park

To get to Komodo National Park from Bali, you’ll need to fly to Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo. Our return flights in low season cost £58pp, just a few weeks in advance – at peak times, you’ll probably pay between £80-100pp return.

We’d booked a night before and a night after the tour in Labuan Bajo, to allow breathing room for any flight disruptions. I’d definitely recommend doing this and spending some time in Labuan Bajo, as we really enjoyed exploring the town and visiting some local bars. The guesthouse we stayed in came out at just £15 per night – the room was basic but comfortable (with a great view), although bear in mind access is via quite a steep pedestrian footpath.

Our booking included a shared hotel pickup on the morning of the tour, which took us to the port where we boarded our boat.

The Boat

Our first impressions of the boat were great – the upper deck areas have ample space for the amount of guests on board, with a partly covered sun deck area at the front and a seating area used for dining at the back. The boat felt safe and solid, with simple bean bags on the sun deck for relaxing. The only minor issue was the lack of protection from rain.

However, when it came to accommodation, it was VERY basic. The listing on GetYourGuide didn’t make it clear exactly what the accommodation situation would be. Our mixed-gender shared cabin was actually with three other people and it was TINY, with three single beds and a double in a bunk bed layout, and one very basic shared bathroom. Luckily we’ve both been seasoned hostellers in the past, so it didn’t bother us too much as it was only for a night.

The biggest issue we faced was having no space for our bags. As we were backpacking, we brought all our belongings with us, and I ended up having to cram our bags in around where I planned to sleep. So big tip if you’re doing this tour – travel light! Most hostels on the mainland will offer luggage storage, so I’d recommend learning from our mistakes and just taking a small backpack.

If we weren’t on a budget, I’d probably have booked directly to secure a private room – however, these are often booked up further in advance so bear that in mind in your planning.

Although the mattress wasn’t the most uncomfortable I’ve laid my head on, a bigger issue kept me awake. During our night time voyage, our cabin was right next to the engine – which was incredibly LOUD. After an hour of tossing and turning to the dulcet tones of the cistern lid clanking, I’d had enough, and made my way up to the deck for some respite. I actually fell asleep under the stars on a beanbag, waking up remarkably well rested ahead of the morning hike!

Food & Drink

The tour includes two lunches, one dinner and one breakfast, plus fruit and snacks. Food was served buffet style, with a mix of meat, seafood and vegetable dishes, as well as plenty of rice.

As a vegetarian, I felt well catered for, with tofu and tempeh dishes alongside the rice and vegetables. Everything was well cooked and fresh, and portion sizes were decent. If you have specific dietary requirements, you’ll need to let them know beforehand. There was a bit of confusion with one passenger with some more complex requirements (dairy free plus allergies) so I’d say pack some extra snacks just in case if that’s you!

Another thing we learnt quickly was that unlike our Ha Long Bay cruise, there was no bar on the boat – so if you want to drink (alcohol or soft drinks), pick up your own in Labuan Bajo before you head out! I’d also recommend picking up some snacks, as although some are provided (mostly fruit), you’ll be doing a lot of physical activity so protein/nut bars, crisps or biscuits are handy to have if you get peckish.

Activities

Overall, it was the activities that really shone on this trip. Our guide and skipper had impeccable timing, getting us to spots ahead of the crowds – especially Komodo Island.

The boat had a smaller transport boat attached, which was a bit of a squeeze fitting all 12 of us in for land and snorkelling excursions.

Kelor Island

The first stop of the day was at Kelor Island, a small uninhabited spot in Komodo National Park. Here, pristine sand and clear blue water offer opportunities for shallow water snorkelling or just hanging out in the beach bars.

We had our first epic wildlife moment early on, when a group of juvenile reef sharks began swimming past us in the shallows! We followed them around for a while, before heading to the beach bar to grab a lunchtime beer from the vendors and enjoy some shade from the Indonesian heat.

Snorkelling

Basically, WE SAW A BIG TURTLE! After our experience at Kelor Island seeing reef sharks, I didn’t think snorkelling could get any better. But the next stop was at a stunning, colourful reef, where we simply let the current carry us past vibrant shoals of fish and a beautiful giant turttle.

Kalong Island Bats

One of the surprising highlights of the tour was sunset at Kalong Island. The island is home to thousands of Flying Foxes, and every evening at sunsets, the bats emerge en masse from the mangrove forests. The result is a truly spectacular natural show against a backdrop of burnt orange sky.

Padar Island Hike

I’m not cheerful at the best of times at 4am, but when I’m hauling myself up a giant hill, I’m probably going to grumble quite a bit. Racing the sun to the top of Padar Hill was an early morning workout, but more than worthwhile for the spectacular sunset views!

Pink Beach

Is it pink? Not as much as you’d think, but stopping here was a GLORIOUS rest after the early morning exertion. Sitting in an empty beach bar sipping a crisp Diet Coke. The water was beautiful, and just what I needed after working up a sweat on the hike.

Komodo Island

Aka the main reason we booked this tour! We arrived at Komodo Island ahead of the other tour groups in the area, which means we got the pathways around the island all to ourselves. We were quickly greeted by a lively dragon making its way down the beach, and it was amazing to see these fascinating animals in action.

The tour makes its way through well-marked paths through the national park visitor area, and we saw three adult Komodo dragons on the route – mostly at the start and end. However, we were also super lucky to see a juvenile dragon in the bushes! After hearing a noise, our guide went to check it out and carefully led a group of us to see the tiny dragon.

Although the visit is very planned and tourist-y, it was amazing to see the dragons on their home island. Safety is paramount, and the guides did a great job keeping us secure while sharing more about these magnificent creatures.

Manta Ray Point snorkelling

Absolutely one of the most magical moments of my travelling life was jumping into the water and tilting my snorkel mask down just in time to see an enormous manta ray sliding through the water underneath me. The water was pretty busy and it was quite stressful trying to navigate the other snorkellers, but our snorkel guide did a LEGENDARY job in picking us up in the boat and rushing us to where the rays were.

Conclusion & Alternative Options

Overall, I really enjoyed our overnight boat trip. Yes, it had some downsides (mainly the noise of the sleeping situation and lack of space in the cabin), but the activities were incredible and it’s a trip I won’t forget in a very long time.

The upper deck experience was great, be it lazing on bean bags or tucking into the delicious meals. We made the best of the sleeping situation, but it’s definitely very basic, and the shared cabin might not suit all travellers. If I was going back with more budget, I’d definitely look at paying more for a private cabin for just the two of us.

I’d recommend this tour if you’re a budget-conscious or solo traveller who can handle basic living quarters, as it was still a really fun experience. However, if you’re travelling as a couple or willing to spend a bit more, I’d recommend either splashing out on a more expensive cruise, or at least booking a private cabin!

Here are some more options to check out:

1 Day Tour: Short on time or budget? This one day Komodo National Park boat trip includes Komodo Island, Padar Island hike, Pink Beach, Manta Point and snorkelling. It actually covers most of the activities on the two night trip, the only major element missing is seeing the bats at Kalong Island.

2 Day Tour: If you’re booking a two day/one night tour as a couple/group, I’d recommend booking directly to secure a private room.

3 Day Tour: Booking a 3 day Komodo National Park tour allows for a slower pace and more time enjoying life at sea. Most of these longer tours also use slightly nicer phinsa style boats with private cabins for a more comfortable travel experience.

If you’re travelling as a group, you can also book a 2D1N tour including flights with a shared cabin (for 4), or a private tour for larger groups.

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