14-Day / 13-Night Itinerary: Komodo National Park (Diving)

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14-DAY / 13-NIGHT ITINERARY: KOMODO NATIONAL PARK (DIVING)

Embark on a 14-day adventure in the fabled Komodo National Park. This exciting journey begins and ends in Labuan Bajo, the gateway to Komodo.

The Komodo National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site consisting of 3 larger islands (Komodo, Padar and Rinca) and 26 smaller ones, many of which are uninhabited. Komodo and Rinca are home to the native Komodo dragons, respected by locals who believe they descend from one born to a dragon princess centuries ago. The islands turn from lush green to arid throughout summer, contrasting against the vivid blue of the sea.

At first sight the mysterious islands of the Komodo archipelago might remind you of Jurassic Park, rising out of the Indonesian sea in great humpbacked ridges covered with windblown savannah grasses and the tousled heads of lontar palms. This is the land of dragons, where you can walk among the giant reptiles of Rinca Island (more spectacularly aggressive than those of Komodo itself), cruise through the mangroves and trek to grassy summits.

The tropical waters of Komodo National Park has long been famous as one of the most species- rich tropical underwater environments on earth, with an official count of more than 1,000 types of fish and 260 corals.

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ITINERARY

DAY 1: LABUAN BAJO – RINCA

Guests will be met by the yacht’s crew at Labuan Bajo airport and transferred to the harbour, a 15-minute drive. After guests have settled in and been briefed by the crew, the boat will set out from Labuan Bajo and sail to the outskirts of the National Park. If time allows, guests may enjoy a check dive or a snorkel at Saboyer, an ideal place to relax on the beach or watch the sunset.

DAY 2: RINCA ISLAND

Although lesser known than neighboring Komodo Island, Rinca is an excellent place to observe the dragons, as well as the local monkey population and a vast array of birdlife. Here, guests can stroll through the park with a ranger early in the morning and catch sight of the famed Komodo dragons. This afternoon, guests may explore famous dive sites in the northern Rinca area, relax on a sandy beach, or explore nearby coves.

DAY 3: KOMODO STRAIGHT

Nestled in the channel between Komodo Island and Flores, the dive sites of Tarawa Besar and Kecil offer bustling coral reefs and pelagic encounters. Here, currents bring nutrient-rich water through a maze of islets and seamounts, resulting in a remarkable abundance of colorful marine life.

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DAY 4: SOUTH KOMODO

The famous dive and snorkel sites along the southern edge of Rinca Island offer some of the best diving on the planet, with the opportunity to encounter Komodo dragons near the water’s edge in the picturesque Horseshoe Bay of South Rinca. The bay is also home to some great night diving sites that support a wealth of macro and critter life.

DAY 5: LANGKOI

Renowned as one of the best places to observe Manta rays in the Komodo area, Langkoi is a spectacular dive site, and one to which almost all divers choose to return for multiple dives. Here, both black and white mantas soar effortlessly in the current and hover over the coral heads to be cleaned.

DAY 6: PULAU PADAR

Between Rinca and Komodo island lays the island of Padar. A large sheltered bay on the southeast side of the island makes for a beautiful anchorage within reach of several excellent diving sites. The bay is also the perfect site for beach picnics, with an exceptional view of the sunset.

DAY 7: CENTRAL KOMODO

The centre of Komodo boasts enormous shoals of schooling fish and unparalleled encounters with large pelagic life. The deep pinnacles and current swept walls here are great for advanced level diving, and widely renowned as some of the best in Indonesia.

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DAY 8: SANGEANG

Sangeang volcano offers guests the chance to experience a unique natural phenomenon. Guests may dive or snorkel the bubbling black sand slopes of the volcano ridge, surrounded by incongruous, brightly coloured coral bommies. Watch the sunset over the smoldering peak as the boat sets sail into the heart of Komodo.

DAY 9: BIMA BAY

South of the Sangeang volcano, the Bay of Bima has some of the best muck diving in Indonesia. The muddy and sand ridges of the bay offer the chance to observe rare and bizarre underwater critters, including frogfish, ghost pipefish, and a vast array of unusual cephalopods and crustaceans.

DAY 10: GILI BANTA

Gili Banta is renowned for its beautiful beaches and stunning marine life. Here, guests can spend the day exploring the island and checking out some of the spectacular dive sites in the local area. These islands are surrounded by some of Komodo's most famous dive sites including Castle and Crystal Rock, Shotgun, The Passage and Lighthouse, home to a myriad of schooling fish and critters alike. In the evening, guests can enjoy a gourmet beach BBQ overlooking the magnificent Komodo sunset.

DAY 11: GILI LAWA LAUT

On the northern tip of Komodo lie the Gili Lawa islands. Here, currents flow through islets, reefs and pinnacles, resulting in an extraordinarily rich concentration of fish and pelagic marine life. After a days diving, guests can recline on the spacious deck of the boat in a beautiful sheltered bay surrounded by green hills.

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DAY 12: GILI LAWA DARAT

Like Gili Lawa Laut, Gili Darat is home to stunning stretches of coral, colossal shoals of fish, and a wide variety of pelagics. The islands also offer hundreds of tiny stretches of private beaches for rest and relaxation between dives. Here, there are several walking trails through the hills and one 45-minute trek to the top of Gili Lawa Darat rewards guests with one of the most stunning views of Komodo National Park

DAY 13: KOMODO ISLAND

This morning affords the chance to explore the unique community of Komodo village, and an opportunity to learn more about this remarkable communities co-habitation with one of the largest and most elusive reptiles in the world. Guests may spend the afternoon at the iconic Pink Beach, so named for its red coral-tinted sand. The beach overlooks the serene bay of Komodo island, and a short walk up the nearby hill behind the shore offers breathtaking views of the island.

DAY 14: LABUAN BAJO

This morning, the boat will return to the port of Labuan Bajo. After a farewell breakfast, guests will be transferred to the airport for their flight home.

Please note that all itineraries are subject to change, depending on weather conditions, progressing harbor clearances, changes to domestic flights and other deciding factors. Please contact Ultimate Indonesian Yachts to discuss your requirements. [email protected]