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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Labuan Bajo
Base here 2–3 nights for a Komodo boat trip; add a liveaboard only if you dive. The town itself is one street — no more than a half-day on foot.
Labuan Bajo is the port town on Flores' west tip and the launch point for Komodo National Park — dragons on Rinca and Komodo, manta and reef diving, and the Padar viewpoint. The town is small: one main road along the harbour, walkable end to end in 10–15 minutes. Most travellers come for a 1-day or 2–3 day boat trip and leave; the town is a base, not the destination. Fly into Komodo Airport (LBJ), 2 km from the centre.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- Apr–Nov (dry season); diving best Apr–Nov
- Avoid
- Jan–Feb (rain, rough seas, some boats stop)
- Stay
- 2–3 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp400,000–700,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp700,000–1,500,000 excl. bed · High Rp1,500,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- General emergency 112 · Police 110 · Fire 113
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Local meal (mie goreng, nasi campur) | Rp25,000–70,000 |
| Western main course | Rp80,000–150,000 |
| Beer (large bottle) | Rp30,000–50,000 |
| Ojek ride in town | Rp3,000–5,000 |
| Taxi airport to town | Rp60,000 and up |
| Scooter rental per day | Rp100,000–160,000 |
| Sape–Labuan Bajo ferry | Rp91,000 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LBJ · Komodo Airport
- 2 km from town; taxis charge set rates of Rp60,000 and up one way. A 25-minute downhill walk reaches the centre.1.2 mi from town; taxis charge set rates of Rp60,000 and up one way. A 25-minute downhill walk reaches the centre.
Typical fares
- Airport → town taxi
- Rp60,000 and up, set rate
- Ojek in town
- Rp3,000–5,000
- Sape → Labuan Bajo ferry
- Rp91,000, arrives around 17:00 (check)Rp91,000, arrives around 5:00 PM (check)
Get around
The town is small and walkable in 10–15 minutes. Ojeks (motorcycles) cost Rp3,000–5,000 and bemos pass every few minutes. Scooters rent for Rp100,000–160,000 per day from shops on the main street or via your hotel. For the airport, taxis charge set rates of Rp60,000 and up.
See and do
Known for
- Komodo National Park and Komodo dragons
- Padar Island viewpoint
- Pink Beach and Manta Point
- Diving and snorkelling in the park
- Kalong Island flying foxes at dusk
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Komodo National Park (1-day shared boat) | Shared boat from Labuan Bajo harbour; covers Padar viewpoint, Pink Beach, Komodo Island and Manta Point | Full day |
| Rinca Island (dragons) | Boat from Labuan Bajo; a 1- or 2-hour guided hike from the pier | Half to full day |
| Kalong Island (flying foxes) | Chartered boat from Labuan Bajo, about 1 hour each way, often with a snorkel stop | About 3 hours |
| Kanawa Island | Local boat about 1 hour, or speedboat about 10 minutes | Half day |
| Batu Cermin Cave and Rangko Cave | Scooter or taxi from town | Half day |
| Seraya Island | Boat from Labuan Bajo | Half to full day |
Sleep
- Main road / harbourfront (Jl. Soekarno Hatta)
- Guesthouses, restaurants and dive shops on one street; walk to the port and fish market. Best for a short stay with a boat trip.
- North of the centre (toward Paradise Bar)
- Quieter, sunset views, a 10-minute walk north of the centre.
- South / Pantai Pede
- Resorts and upscale restaurants; needs a scooter or taxi to reach the centre.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Thank you | Terima kasihterima kasih |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?berapa harganya |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana toilet?di mana toilet |
| I don't want it | Saya tidak mausaya tidak mau |
| Help | Tolongtolong |
| Goodbye | Selamat tinggalselamat tinggal |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Boat safety: many tour boats operate with unclear safety records — check that your operator has life jackets and safety equipment onboard, and prefer a dive-association member.
- Entrance fees: some tour boats collect park fees upfront and pocket them. Insist on tickets or pay the fees yourself at each stop.
- Strong currents around Komodo: some dive sites are unsuitable for beginners — dive with a reputable operator in a small group.
- Some restaurants add a 10% service tax and refuse small change — ask for exact change.
- Local arak (moonshine) can be contaminated with methyl alcohol — avoid it.
- Fresh water is scarce in town; some hotels only have running water for a few hours a day — ask before booking.
The town is small and generally safe to walk; the real risks are at sea — boat safety, strong currents and unlicensed operators. Check life jackets and dive credentials before you pay.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Labuan Bajo yet. Suggested stay: 2–3 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Komodo National Park and Komodo dragons
- Padar Island viewpoint
- Pink Beach and Manta Point
- Diving and snorkelling in the park
- Kalong Island flying foxes at dusk
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Komodo National Park (official): www.komodonationalpark.org/
- Indonesia.travel — Komodo and Flores: www.indonesia.travel/
- Wikivoyage: Labuan Bajo, revision 5316700 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5316700
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Labuan Bajo
Ke alamat ini, tolong
To this address, please
My hotel (write the name and address in the local script)
No embassies in Labuan Bajo; most countries have embassies in Jakarta and consulates in Bali (Denpasar) — check before you travel.
Park fees and boat prices change; confirm at the park office or with your operator.
Voykit · checked 2026-09
Printed from Voykit (/labuan-bajo). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.