A Komodo 3D2N liveaboard covers eight to nine stops across three days and two nights from Labuan Bajo: Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong on day one; Padar sunrise, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Manta Point and Taka Makassar on day two; Sebayur on day three. Open-trip berths start from IDR 4,750,000 per person.
The 3D2N is a two-and-a-half-day trip, not three
Read any Komodo brochure and you get a list of island names. What you rarely get is the clock. The 3D2N format gives you one short afternoon, one very long full day, and one short morning. Day two carries roughly seventy per cent of the trip. Understanding that before you book is the difference between a well-paced holiday and a scramble.
Below is the actual hour-by-hour schedule Aura Suci runs on her Friday open-trip departures, taken from the operator’s published itinerary rather than a generic template.
Day 1 — Labuan Bajo, Kelor, Manjarite, Kalong
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 09:00 | Pick-up from your Labuan Bajo hotel or Komodo Airport |
| 10:00 | Boat departs the harbour, sailing to Kelor Island |
| 11:00 | Arrive Kelor Island |
| 12:00 | Kelor hill trek and photo session |
| 13:00 | Back on board, lunch under way |
| 13:30 | Short hop to Manjarite |
| 13:40 | Snorkelling at Manjarite |
| 15:00 | Sail to Kalong Island |
| 16:30 | Sunset, thousands of flying foxes lifting off the mangroves, dinner, overnight anchor |
Day one is deliberately gentle. Kelor is a twenty-minute climb on loose ground with a view worth the effort, Manjarite is a sheltered snorkelling bay, and Kalong is a sunset event rather than an activity: the bats leave the mangroves in a stream that takes fifteen minutes to pass overhead. After dinner the boat sails through the night.
Day 2 — Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Manta Point, Taka Makassar
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 06:00 | Padar Island sunrise trek and photo session |
| 08:15 | Breakfast on board, sailing to Pink Beach |
| 09:00 | Pink Beach — swimming, shallow snorkelling, photographs |
| 10:00 | Sail to Komodo Island |
| 11:30 | Ranger-led trek to see Komodo dragons |
| 12:30 | Lunch on board, sailing to Manta Point |
| 14:30 | Snorkelling with manta rays at Karang Makassar |
| 15:30 | Sail to Taka Makassar |
| 16:30 | Taka Makassar sandbar — snorkelling and photography |
| 17:30 | Sunset from the deck |
| 18:00 | Dinner on board, overnight anchor |
This is the day the trip is built around. The Padar climb takes forty-five minutes to an hour up stone steps to the three-bay viewpoint; go at 06:00 and you get the light and avoid the heat. Komodo Island trekking is always ranger-led — that is a park rule, not an upsell. Manta Point is a drift snorkel over a cleaning station in 8–18 metres of water with gentle to moderate current, which is why it is open to all swimming abilities.
Day 3 — Sebayur and the run home
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 06:00 | Sunrise on deck, breakfast |
| 08:00 | Snorkelling at Sebayur Island |
| 09:30 | Lunch on board and sailing back to Labuan Bajo |
| ~12:00 | Alongside in Labuan Bajo, transfer to hotel or airport |
Sailing times between stops
Nobody publishes these numbers, which is odd, because they are the numbers that determine whether an itinerary is honest. At a 10–12 knot cruise the legs run roughly as follows.
| Leg | Approximate sailing time | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Labuan Bajo → Kelor | ~1 hour | Verified on operator schedules |
| Kelor → Manjarite | ~30–60 min | Operational norm |
| Manjarite → Kalong | ~1 hour | Operational norm |
| Kalong → Padar (overnight) | ~3–4 hours | Operational norm, sailed in darkness |
| Padar → Pink Beach | ~1–1.5 hours | Operational norm |
| Pink Beach → Komodo Island | ~30–60 min | Operational norm |
| Komodo → Manta Point | ~30–60 min | Operational norm |
| Manta Point → Taka Makassar | ~20–30 min | Operational norm |
| Taka Makassar → Siaba / Sebayur | ~1–1.5 hours | Operational norm |
| Sebayur → Labuan Bajo | ~1–1.5 hours | Operational norm |
Only the Labuan Bajo to Kelor leg is published explicitly across operators at about one hour. The rest are operational norms derived from departure and arrival windows — treat them as planning estimates, not timetables. Current and wind move them by twenty to thirty per cent.
What does NOT fit into a 3D2N
An honest itinerary page has to include this section.
- South Komodo — Manta Alley, Nusa Kode and the cooler upwelling sites are a five-night-plus proposition. They are not reachable on a three-day loop.
- Rinca and Komodo Island both — you get one dragon trek, not two.
- Multi-tank diving — the 3D2N is a snorkelling and trekking route. Serious diving needs a dedicated schedule and dive-guide ratio.
- A slow day — there isn’t one. If you want a rest day at anchor, you need the fourth day.
- Kanawa, Siaba and Rangko Cave — these appear on the longer routes, not the standard three-day loop.
3D2N price table
| Product | Basis | Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open trip, shared cabin | per person | from IDR 4,750,000 | Operator rate card; Friday departures |
| Open trip, Deluxe / Superior cabin | per person | approx. IDR 6,500,000 – 7,000,000 | Reseller-published cabin tier |
| Open trip, Master cabin | per person | approx. IDR 7,500,000 – 8,000,000 | Reseller-published cabin tier |
| Private charter, whole boat | per night | from IDR 85,000,000 | Up to 24 guests; quote depends on dates |
| 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 rate |
| Drone permit | per drone | Rp 1,000,000 | Apply at least 7 days ahead |
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 3D2N format is best for
- First-time visitors with a fixed week in Indonesia — it is the shortest format that still delivers Padar, dragons and mantas.
- Travellers combining Komodo with Bali — two nights on the water fits neatly between two Bali blocks.
- Photographers — the 06:00 Padar slot and the 16:30 Taka Makassar slot are the two best light windows in the park, and both are in this itinerary.
- Poor fit for divers, anyone prone to seasickness in December–March, and travellers who want unhurried days.
If the compressed day two worries you, read what the extra night actually buys on the 4D3N comparison page, or work through the duration decision table. Travellers who want more sea time than three days allows can look at longer Komodo island liveaboard itineraries across the wider fleet. Everything else is answered in the FAQ hub.
Frequently asked questions
How many stops fit into a Komodo 3D2N trip?
Eight to nine. Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong on day one; Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Manta Point and Taka Makassar on day two; Sebayur on day three. Day two is the long day — roughly twelve hours from the 06:00 Padar climb to dinner at anchor.
What time does the 3D2N trip start and finish?
Pick-up from your Labuan Bajo hotel or the airport is at 09:00 on day one and the boat sails at 10:00. On day three the boat leaves the last snorkelling stop at about 09:30 and is back alongside in Labuan Bajo around midday.
Can I fly out on the afternoon of day three?
Usually yes, but leave margin. The boat targets a midday return; an afternoon flight from Labuan Bajo after roughly 15:00 is comfortable. Do not book a morning departure on day three, and do not book the last flight of the day as your only connection.
What does the 3D2N open trip cost?
From IDR 4,750,000 per person for a shared-cabin berth on the operator rate card. Cabin-tier berths listed by resellers run roughly IDR 6,500,000 to IDR 8,000,000 per person. National-park fees are excluded and paid on entry.
Which day is the Komodo dragon trekking?
Day two, at about 11:30, on Komodo Island with a licensed park ranger. On some departures the operator substitutes Rinca Island depending on ranger availability and sea state. Both are inside the same national park and both have resident dragons.
Is Padar sunrise included in the 3D2N?
Yes — the boat anchors overnight near Padar and the trek starts at 06:00 on day two, before breakfast. That early start is the whole reason the boat sails from Kalong during the night rather than in daylight.
What if the weather cancels a stop?
The crew re-orders the route rather than cancelling the trip. Manta Point and Taka Makassar in particular swap positions depending on current and wind. If south-facing stops are unsafe, the itinerary stays in the sheltered central channel.
Are national park fees included in the 3D2N price?
No. Under PP No. 36/2024 entrance is Rp 250,000 per foreign visitor per visit, and Rp 50,000 on weekdays or Rp 75,000 at weekends and public holidays for Indonesian visitors. Budget it separately from the boat fare.
Is snorkelling gear provided?
Yes — mask, snorkel, fins and life vests are included, along with the guide who runs each water entry. Dive tanks are not part of the open-trip package. Bring your own mask if you need a prescription lens or a specific fit.
How rough is the overnight sail to Padar?
Between April and June and again from September to November it is usually calm. July and August are windier in the open channels. December to March is monsoon season with the roughest seas of the year — and, awkwardly, the best manta density.
Book Aura Suci through Komodo Luxury
Friday 3D2N departures run year-round on the published 2026–2027 schedule. 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).