Komodo Island has so much to explore, and even more so when you count the island’s smaller islands surrounding it. From the beautiful waters and coral reefs to iconic dragons and sweeping views, the area offers something for every kind of traveller. Here’s a look at the best things to do in and around Komodo Island, plus a few extra activities you can enjoy near Labuan Bajo.
Table of Content
- Activities to do in Komodo
- Seeing the Komodo Dragons
- Island Hopping: Padar, Rinca & More
- Diving and Snorkeling
- Visiting Pink Beach:
- Visiting Rangko Cave
- Visiting Cunca Wulang Waterfall
- Culinary Adventure in Bajo Night Market
- Cultural Experience in Kampung Ujung Beach
- Visiting Batu Cermin
- Sunsets and Fruit Bats Watching in Kanawa Island
- More Interesting Activities
- Consider these tips for your trip
- Why a Liveaboard is the Best Way to Experience Komodo
Activities to do in Komodo
Seeing the Komodo Dragons
No trip to Komodo is complete without seeing its most famous resident: the Komodo dragon. These massive lizards roam freely on Komodo Island and nearby Rinca, which are both part of Komodo National Park. The only way to see them is with a park ranger, who will guide you on foot through designated paths.
Komodo and Rinca are home to most of the world’s remaining wild Komodo dragons. Estimates put the total population around 3,000 to 5,000, with around 2,450 living on these two islands. Spotting one in the wild is an unforgettable experience, and a highlight of any trip to the region.
Island Hopping: Padar, Rinca & More
Hop from one island to another aboard a boat. Padar Island will break your Instagram with that surreal trident-shaped hillscape. Komodo and Rinca give you dragons and savannah. Kelor gives you coral gardens. Each stop feels like a postcard dipped in gasoline: bright, bold, explosive. Bring a hat. Bring your curiosity.
Diving and Snorkeling
This is where Labuan Bajo hits different. The waters of Komodo National Park are alive. Not in the poetic sense, we’re talking schools of jackfish in tight silver spirals, manta rays swooping in like UFOs, reef sharks sliding past coral walls, and colors that border on psychedelic. Sites like Batu Bolong, Castle Rock, and Manta Point are legendary. We will talk about the best way of exploring this activity down in the article.
Visiting Pink Beach
Pink Beach is a natural wonder; its sand is colored by tiny fragments of red coral that wash up from the nearby reef. There are two pink beaches you can visit: one on Komodo Island, and the other on Padar. Both are quiet, scenic, and perfect for a swim or a nap under the sun.
Visiting Rangko Cave
Rangko cave, or Goa Rangko as it’s known to the locals, is a stunning cave north of Labuan Bajo. The main attraction of this cave is the amazing turquoise water lake that is located at the base of the cave below massive stringy thin stalactites. You want to visit this cave at noon for the best effect of the light shining in on the turquoise water lake.
This stunning turquoise water is actually due to the salt content of the water in the lake, owing to an invisible underground connection to the ocean. You can’t get directly to the cave by car, so you will need to take a 45 minute drive to Rangko village, and from there get onto a boat for another 20 minutes to visit the cave.
Visiting Cunca Wulang Waterfall
Another great activity near Labuan Bajo is a trip to one of the waterfalls, our favourite is Cunca Wulang. A bit further to go at 2 hours from Labuan Bajo, this impressive waterfall gets it’s name from the nearby village. It’s a great place to swim and cool off in the area.
Culinary Adventure in Bajo Night Market
Head to the night market near the harbor. Whole fish charred over charcoal, satay skewers, corn on the cob, sambal that bites back, this is real-deal street food. It’s loud, chaotic, delicious. You’ll wish you had a second stomach.
Cultural Experience in Kampung Ujung Beach
More a vibe than a swimming spot, Kampung Ujung Beach is where locals and travelers alike go to soak in the last light of day. Fishing boats bob in the golden water. Kids kick around makeshift soccer balls. Vendors sell ice-cold Bintang. It’s not manicured, and that’s the charm.
Visiting Batu Cermin
“Mirror Rock,” they call it. A cave that catches the morning sun and throws it around like a disco ball. Inside, you’ll find fossils embedded in limestone and beams of light that dance across damp stone. It’s eerie, ancient, and oddly spiritual.
Sunsets and Fruit Bats Watching in Kanawa Island
Kanawa Island is a small, relaxed spot just a short boat ride from Labuan Bajo. It’s a great place to unwind with a cold drink and swim off the shore. The coral is shallow and easy to reach, and a wooden jetty lets you spot reef fish without even getting wet.
More Interesting Activities
Cruise Around the Komodo Islands
The best way to explore Komodo is by boat. This is more than just island hopping or diving. The coral reefs and marine life in the park are some of the most diverse on the planet. If you’d like to dive, snorkel, or just enjoy the view from the deck, the island has it all for you.
On a Liveaboard
If you’re serious about diving, a liveaboard is the way to go. These multi-day trips take you across the park, often including up to four dives a day along with stops at famous land spots. Operators like La Galigo offer fully equipped dive boats that let you wake up each morning to a new sunrise, ready to explore both the sea and land. It’s the most complete way to experience the region.
On a Day Dive Boat
For those short on time or only planning a few dives, day boats leave from Labuan Bajo and head out to key sites in the park. These boats usually offer one to three dives in a single day. They’re not as comfortable or flexible as liveaboards, but they’re a good option if you’re on a tighter schedule.
Snorkelling is also available on both liveaboards and day boats. Just note that day dive boats often skip land tours entirely, so if you want to see more than the reef, plan accordingly.
On a Tour Boat (Snorkelling + Land Tours)
If you want to mix water and land activities, day tour boats are the way to go. These trips usually include three to six stops combining snorkelling and short hikes. You won’t be diving, but you’ll still get to explore the coastline, see coral reefs, and visit scenic spots like Padar Island and Pink Beach. Almost every boat tries to include at least one stop to spot manta rays; a Komodo must.
ALSO READ : From Labuan Bajo to Komodo Island, How Do You Get to Komodo Diving?
Consider These Tips for Your Trip
Best Time to Visit
June to July is your sweet spot. Dry season means clear skies, calm seas, and prime diving. July and August bring more crowds, but also more action. Avoid January and February: monsoon rains turn everything into a wet mess.
Transportation
Labuan Bajo has an airport (Komodo Airport), and flights from Bali or Jakarta are short and scenic. Once you’re there, scooters are the go-to for zipping around town. Boats handle the rest. Some bumpy roads and a healthy sense of humor required.
Accommodation
Options range from basic hostels with bamboo bunk beds to boutique stays perched on hillsides. Seaesta is a backpacker favorite. Ayana and Sudamala offer upscale digs. Liveaboards, though, give you the ocean as your backyard; and that’s hard to beat.
Why a Liveaboard is the Best Way to Experience Komodo
Komodo isn’t the kind of place you can check off in a day or two. It’s a sprawling, surreal archipelago where every turn hides something wild: a reef that hums with life, a beach that blushes pink, a dragon that watches you with ancient eyes. There’s just so much to see, so much to feel, and it’s scattered across dozens of islands and dive sites that demand time and intention.
That’s where a liveaboard comes in, not just as transportation, but as your floating basecamp of adventure. Eat, sleep, dive, and explore without the hassle of ever repacking your bag. Wake up with the sun rising over Padar’s jagged silhouette, dive into crystalline waters at Manta Point, hike to panoramic viewpoints, and stretch out on deserted beaches where your footprints are the only ones around.
At La Galigo Liveaboard, we offer more than just epic diving. We take you ashore to hike the iconic Padar Island ridges, lounge at Pink Beach, and walk the same dusty trails as the Komodo dragons. It’s a complete, curated experience designed to immerse you in the raw beauty of Komodo National Park: both above and below the surface.
Because in Komodo, it’s not about seeing a few sights. It’s about surrendering to the wild, leaning into the unknown, and letting the islands show you why they’re unlike anywhere else on Earth.
And trust us—you don’t want to rush that.
