Getting here

Labuan Bajo: The Transit Hub of Flores

Labuan Bajo is the transit hub for the region and can be accessed by land and sea. Look no further for how to reach us! Please be aware that this information is subject to change due to weather conditions, so make sure to check outside sources for current schedules and conditions. We are also happy to help arrange all domestic flights for all of our guests. Please note that a 10% service fee applies for this service.

How Do I Get There?

Keep it Easy

The easiest and fastest way to reach Labuan Bajo is by air. The majority of visitors arrive via Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali although as of November 2016, Garuda now offers a direct route from Jakarta to Labuan Bajo. Multiple daily flights from Denpasar to Labuan Bajo (about an hour flight) are operated by Garuda, Nam Air, Lion Air, Wings Air and Kal Star Aviation. Prices from Bali range from about IDR 850.000 – 2.200.000 round trip, depending on the season. Prices from Jakarta are about IDR 2.000.000- 4.000.000 round trip, depending on the season.

Many guests have found that domestic flights can be hard to book. If you need help, Blue Marlin Komodo is happy to organise domestic flights for you. Please note that all flight bookings do incur a 10% service charge.

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Tours From Lombok

Several small, local companies offer 3 to 5-day tours between Labuan Bajo and the Gili Islands off the coast of Lombok. These tours usually stop on Komodo Island to see the dragons as well as offer snorkelling at manta locations. Please be very aware that these boats rarely offer even the most basic of safety features. There have been several boat accidents that have highlighted the dangers of booking such trips. While these trips may seem like a great bargain – please consider how much you risk. There are rarely life jackets, life rafts, navigational equipment or even radios. Even if you choose one of the “safer” companies, please realise that “safer” in this context does not mean “safe,” nor anything even remotely close to “safe.” If you are still quite intent on taking such a trip, please be especially cautious and heed weather reports in the wet season which runs roughly from November to March.

Travel Like a Local

If you are up for a different, more time intensive travel experience you can choose to take a PELNI (national ferry service) from Benoa Harbour in Bali, Lembar in Lombok, Bima in Sumbawa, Surabaya in Java or Makassar in Sulawesi. The Tilongkbila departs for Bima, Lembar and Benoa every other Thursday and returns the following Sunday to go to Makassar and other destinations in Sulawesi. The Willis departs for Bima, Benoa, and Surabaya every other Saturday and returns Saturday one week later to go east to Marapokot and Maumere. The cost depends on the class of cabin purchased but ranges from USD 16 to 50. For updated information and ticket reservations, visit PELNI’s website or contact any PELNI office.

 

There is also a ferry from Sape (East Sumbawa) that runs daily and usually arrives around 15-16.00 in Labuan Bajo. The return ferry departs around 08:00. Like many Indonesian ferries, this is a mix of trucks, buses, cars and passengers. The cost is about USD 5.

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