The Lombok to Komodo 4D3N is a one-way crossing: Kayangan Harbour to Kenawa and Saleh Bay on day one, Saleh Bay whale sharks and Satonda on day two, Komodo National Park on day three, and Kelor and Manjarite before arriving in Labuan Bajo around 13:00 on day four. Published fares run about IDR 6,000,000 to 8,350,000 per person.
A crossing is not a round trip
This is the distinction most travellers miss. A Labuan Bajo round trip spends every hour inside Komodo National Park. The Lombok crossing spends roughly half the trip getting there — through Sumbawa waters, past Kenawa, into Saleh Bay, around Satonda — and about a day and a half in the park itself. Whether that is a better holiday depends entirely on what you want from the water.
What you gain is a stretch of Indonesia almost nobody photographs: a volcanic crater lake on Satonda, a bay where whale sharks gather around fishing platforms, and a sunrise over Rinjani from a sandbar island. What you give up is Padar at dawn and the density of park stops.
The crossing, day by day
| Day | Time | Where and what |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | 07:30 – 08:00 | Meeting point in Kuta or Senggigi, shuttle to Kayangan Harbour |
| Day 1 | ~11:00 | Boat departs Kayangan; sailing begins |
| Day 1 | Afternoon | Kenawa Island — snorkelling, sandbar walk, sunset over Mount Rinjani |
| Day 1 | Evening | Sail to Saleh Bay, anchor for the night |
| Day 2 | 05:00 – 06:00 | Wake-up call; early-light visit to the Saleh Bay whale-shark point |
| Day 2 | Morning | Breakfast under way, sailing to Satonda Island and its crater lake |
| Day 2 | Afternoon – night | Long crossing from Satonda to Komodo National Park |
| Day 3 | 06:00 onwards | Manta Point and Taka Makassar, then Pink Beach |
| Day 3 | Midday – afternoon | Komodo Island dragon trek, then Padar |
| Day 3 | Sunset | Padar Island sunset hike |
| Day 4 | 07:00 | Breakfast, then snorkelling at Kelor and Manjarite |
| Day 4 | ~13:00 | Arrival in Labuan Bajo harbour; shuttle to hotel or airport |
Note the two long night sails. Kenawa to Saleh Bay on night one and Satonda to Komodo on night two are both overnight legs. If you are prone to seasickness, this route asks more of you than a Labuan Bajo round trip, where the only real night passage is the three to four-hour run from Kalong to Padar.
Crossing versus round trip, side by side
| Lombok → Komodo 4D3N | Labuan Bajo round trip 4D3N | |
|---|---|---|
| Direction | One way, ending in Labuan Bajo | Round trip from and to Labuan Bajo |
| Hours inside the national park | Roughly a day and a half | Effectively the whole trip |
| Overnight passages | Two long ones | One short one |
| Padar | Sunset hike | Sunrise trek |
| Unique stops | Kenawa, Saleh Bay whale sharks, Satonda crater lake | Siaba, Sebayur, Rangko Cave, Seraya |
| Seasickness exposure | Higher | Lower |
| Typical per-person fare | approx. IDR 6,000,000 – 8,350,000 | From IDR 4,750,000 for 3D2N; 4D3N usually charter |
| Best for | Travellers already in Lombok wanting a slow, varied route | Travellers whose target is Komodo National Park itself |
What the crossing costs
| Item | Basis | Figure | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mid-range phinisi berth, 4D3N crossing | per person | approx. IDR 6,000,000 – 8,350,000 | Published fares across crossing operators |
| Budget or backpacker boat | per person | approx. IDR 2,500,000 – 3,500,000 | Simple cabins, shared facilities |
| Private luxury charter | per trip | IDR 15,000,000+ per person equivalent, quoted per boat | Depends on hull and guest count |
| Park entrance, foreign visitor | per person per visit | Rp 250,000 | PP No. 36/2024 |
| Park entrance, Indonesian visitor | per person per visit | Rp 50,000 – 75,000 | Weekday / weekend |
| Shuttle Kuta or Senggigi to Kayangan | per person | Usually included | Confirm at booking; drop-off in Labuan Bajo usually included too |
One warning about crossing fares. Several operators advertise the entrance fee as “IDR 1,000,000 for foreigners”. That is a bundled figure covering the PP 36/2024 ticket plus regional levies and ranger charges — not the regulation rate, which is Rp 250,000 per foreign visitor per visit. Ask what the number is made of before you accept it.
Rate and specification data on this page was read directly from the operator’s own Aura Suci charter listing on komodoluxury.com and checked on 1 August 2026. Rates move with season and fuel; always confirm the live figure with the reservations desk before you transfer a deposit.
Who the crossing is best for
- Travellers already in Lombok or the Gilis who want to reach Flores without flying.
- Slow travellers who value Sumbawa’s empty coastline more than a dense park itinerary.
- Whale-shark hopefuls — Saleh Bay is the only reliable point on any Komodo-bound route where they are a realistic morning encounter.
- Poor fit for anyone prone to seasickness, travellers on a tight schedule, and photographers who specifically want Padar at dawn.
If the park itself is your target, the Labuan Bajo based products are the better buy: start with rates by duration and season and the Aura Suci specification and cabin page. Travellers who want more sea time in the park than four days allows should look at longer Komodo island liveaboard itineraries. Route questions are answered in the FAQ hub.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the boat trip from Lombok to Komodo take?
Four days and three nights is the standard format. The boat crosses Sumbawa waters overnight, stops at Saleh Bay and Satonda, then works Komodo National Park on day three before finishing in Labuan Bajo around 13:00 on day four.
What is the Lombok to Komodo route?
Day one Kayangan Harbour to Kenawa Island and Saleh Bay; day two Saleh Bay whale-shark point and Satonda Island, then the crossing to Komodo; day three Manta Point, Taka Makassar, Pink Beach, Komodo Island and Padar sunset; day four Kelor and Manjarite, then Labuan Bajo.
Are whale sharks guaranteed at Saleh Bay?
No. Saleh Bay on Sumbawa’s north coast has resident whale sharks associated with local fishing platforms and sightings are frequent in the early morning, which is why the stop runs at around 06:00 — but no wildlife encounter is guaranteed.
How much does a Lombok to Komodo 4D3N cost?
Published per-person open-trip fares on the crossing route run roughly IDR 6,000,000 to IDR 8,350,000 depending on the boat and cabin. Budget and backpacker boats sit lower at around IDR 2,500,000 to 3,500,000, with much simpler cabins.
Is it better to start from Lombok or Labuan Bajo?
Lombok if you want a longer, more varied route with Sumbawa stops that almost nobody sees. Labuan Bajo if Komodo National Park itself is the point — a round trip spends all four days inside the park instead of two.
Does the crossing include Padar sunrise?
Usually not. On the westbound crossing Padar falls in the late afternoon and is sold as a sunset hike rather than a sunrise one. If sunrise on Padar matters to you, take a Labuan Bajo round trip instead.
Where does the trip end, and can I continue to Flores?
It ends in Labuan Bajo harbour, typically around 13:00 on day four, with a shuttle to your hotel or the airport. Labuan Bajo is the gateway to Flores, so continuing overland to Ruteng, Bajawa or Kelimutu is straightforward.
Does Aura Suci run the Lombok crossing?
Aura Suci’s published schedule is Labuan Bajo based — 3D2N open trips and private routes to four days inside Komodo National Park. The Lombok crossing is a separate product run by other hulls in the fleet; the reservations desk handles both.
Book Aura Suci through Komodo Luxury
Crossings run on fixed one-way dates, so the calendar decides more than the budget does. Aura Suci is sold and managed by Komodo Luxury, a Labuan Bajo charter operator running Komodo National Park departures since 2015 and part of Juara Holding Group. Reservations, live cabin availability and the current rate card go through one desk: WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected]. A 50% deposit secures the date; the balance is due no later than 30 days before departure (full payment if you book inside 30 days).