What’s the best time to go?

The best time to visit Komodo National Park is April to May and September to November when the weather is good, crowds are smaller, and marine life is active.To avoid boat cancellations, avoid the rainy season (Jan–March): Most boat trips don’t run during this time, except for 1-day speedboats. Even those can be cancelled last-minute due to bad weather. If you visit during this period, plan extra buffer days in case your trip gets postponed.To avoid crowds, avoid high season (June–August) and local holidays (eg Raya): This is the busiest time, with large crowds at popular spots like Padar Island and Manta Point. Boats get booked up fast, and you’ll need to queue for hikes and snorkelling spots.To see dragons, avoid mating season (July–August) if you want to see dragons: Large Komodo dragons disappear into the forest to mate, so sightings are rare. You’ll likely only see smaller ones.

Can I go on my period?

Yes you can. Some people are concerned that Komodo dragons may be aggressive towards people on their periods as they can smell blood, but that is not a risk at all.As with any wildlife, whether or not you're on your period, just keep a sensible distance away from the wildlife and you'll be ok.

Why don't you offer the Saleh Bay whale shark experience?

We used to offer Lombok–Komodo boat trips (which includes Saleh Bay), but after looking into the Saleh Bay whale shark experience more closely, it didn’t meet our standards. So we stopped selling it.The whale sharks there are not being seen in the wild. They are being fed by fishermen to keep them in one place for tourism.This isn’t harmless. It changes how they behave - they stop migrating, rely on humans for food, and start approaching boats. Over time, this puts them at higher risk of injury, boat strikes, and even poaching.On top of that, interactions are often not well controlled. It’s common for multiple boats and swimmers to crowd around the sharks, which is stressful for them and not a respectful way to experience wildlife.For us, this crosses a line. Wildlife should be wild, not conditioned or manipulated by people for guaranteed sightings.Once we understood what was really happening, we made the decision to stop offering it. If you want to go deeper, we’ve shared more here.We’re really careful with wildlife experiences at Seek Sophie, so we only support ones where animals remain wild and interactions are respectful. That's why we don't offer the Saleh Bay experience here.

How long is a day trip to Komodo National Park from Labuan Bajo?

It’s a full day. Most tours pick you up from your Labuan Bajo hotel around 5–6am and return around 4–6pm, depending on the weather and sea conditions.If you charter a private speedboat and add Kalong Island to see the bats at sunset, you’ll usually return at around 8pm. We recommend arriving in Labuan Bajo the day before your trip and flying out the following day, as boat timings can change.

What’s the difference between a Komodo day trip and a liveaboard?

On a liveaboard, you sleep on the boat inside Komodo National Park—there are no hotels in the park. You’ll travel at a slower pace, wake up surrounded by the islands and can visit places such as Padar at sunrise and Kalong Island at sunset.A one-day speedboat is faster and more packed, but it still covers around six stops—the same number as a typical 2D1N liveaboard. If you do a traditional 1 day slow boat, it usually covers only around three stops in a day.So a liveaboard isn’t necessarily about seeing more places. It’s about having more time at each stop and experiencing Komodo’s quieter mornings and evenings.

Can you see Komodo dragons on a day tour, or do you need an overnight trip?

Yes, you can see Komodo dragons on a day trip. Standard sightseeing tours visit either Komodo Island or Rinca Island for a ranger-guided walk.Rinca offers more reliable sightings and has boardwalks, while Komodo Island feels wilder and sightings can be less predictable. As the dragons are completely wild, sightings are never guaranteed. They can also be harder to spot during mating season in July and August.

What is typically included in a Komodo National Park boat tour?

Most tours include transfers from your hotel in Labuan Bajo town, the boat, fuel, crew and guide, meals and drinking water, as well as snorkelling equipment. Liveaboards also include your cabin or sleeping space onboard.Komodo National Park fees are usually not included and must normally be paid in cash. Inclusions vary between boats, so check the individual trip page carefully—especially for park fees, towels and snorkelling gear. However note that many Seek Sophie Komodo boats now include Komodo National Park fees - please check in the inclusions when you book!

Is Komodo National Park worth visiting without staying overnight?

Definitely. A one-day speedboat covers around six stops—the same number as a typical 2D1N liveaboard. You’ll usually still see the dragons, hike Padar Island, visit a Pink Beach and go snorkelling.An overnight trip gives you a slower pace, quieter mornings and evenings, and the chance to see the bats flying from Kalong Island at sunset. If you only have one day and don’t want to miss Kalong, book a private speedboat that can stay for sunset. You’ll usually return to Labuan Bajo at around 8pm.

Komodo’s New Visitor Limit: What Travellers Need to Know in 2026

Komodo has capped visitors to 1000 persons a day. Here's what it means for your trip.

by Jacinta

Last updated: 13 Aug 2026 - 4 min read

Komodo National Park has introduced a daily visitor limit of a 1000 travellers a day, to reduce overcrowding and protect the park. If you're planning a Komodo trip, here's what has changed and what you need to know.

At a glance

What the daily limit means: The new Komodo visitor limit shouldn't make your trip much more complicated, but it does make last-minute trips harder.
How this impacts you: Book your Komodo boat in advance, make sure your operator has secured your permit, expect to pay your park fees in advance, and expect Padar to still be crowded (unless you choose a boat that avoids the crowds!)

What is the new Komodo visitor limit?

Sailing in Komodo National Park on a 3D2N Phinisi

From April 2026, a new visitor limit came into place at Komodo National Park:

A maximum of 1,000 people can visit Komodo National Park each day.
Visits to Padar Island are split into three time slots: 5:00–8:00 a.m, 8:00–11:00 a.m and 3:00–6:00 p.m
Each Padar slot allows around 300–330 people.
Your boat operator will generally arrange your permit and Padar island visiting timeslots. Bookings must be made at least one day before your trip so that your boat operator has enough time to arrange your permit.

What does this mean for your Komodo trip?

Visitors to Padar Island will be capped as part of the new regulations

1. Book your boat in advance

Previously, it was fairly common to arrive in Labuan Bajo and find a boat at the last minute. You may not get the best boat at the last minute, but you can at least get into Komodo National Park. That's riskier now.

A boat may still have space, but Komodo National Park's visitor quota could already be full. Be especially careful with last-minute operators who take your money without confirming that they can actually secure your park permit. There are plenty of scams so just be careful!

Before booking, make sure your operator will arrange your permit as part of the trip. The operator will also need to arrange your permit at least a day ahead of time, so if you're booking a new day Komodo boat trip, it may be a risk that the operator is not able to get your permit in time.

All the Seek Sophie boats have been vetted for reliability and safety. So long as you have a confirmed Komodo boat trip with Seek Sophie, your operator will secure a permit for you and you will definitely be able to visit Komodo National Park.

2. You'll need to pay your park fees in advance

Previously, Komodo boat prices usually excluded park fees, which travellers paid separately in cash when they entered the national park.

Now your permit needs to be registered before your trip, and the park fees need to be paid as part of that process.

So don't be surprised if your boat operator asks for your park fees in advance. They need them to secure your visitor permit.

Most Seek Sophie Komodo boats will include park fees as part of the price (you'll need to check the inclusions in order to make sure the specific boat you're looking at does include park fees). But even where the park fees are not included in the price, the Seek Sophie boat operator will secure your permits for you so you don't need to worry! You'll just need to pay the park fees to the boat operator after your booking.

3. Padar Island can still be crowded

The new system should stop visitor numbers at Padar from getting completely out of hand, but 300+ people in a single time slot is still a lot.

Most boats also follow similar itineraries, which means everyone can end up at Padar at roughly the same time.

If you want to avoid the worst of the crowds, don't just look at the boat itself. Look at the itinerary and choose an operator that deliberately times Padar differently from the other boats.

How does Seek Sophie pick its Komodo boats?

We regularly visit boats to check their safety standards

We’ve been to Komodo over 25 times, and safety here isn’t something we take for granted. Boat accidents happen every year, and standards vary widely between operators.

That’s why we handpick every boat on Seek Sophie for safety and quality. We inspect boats regularly, check that they’re well maintained, and mystery shop trips to see what the experience is really like. If a boat no longer meets our standards, we remove it. We only list boats we’d be comfortable putting our own friends and family on.

Ready to book your Komodo boat trip?

Here are our favourite Komodo National Park boats!

About the author

Jacinta

Hi! I'm the co-founder of Seek Sophie. I love dusty places with soul. When I'm not travelling, I'm teaching my cats tricks.

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Komodo National Park Experiences FAQs

How much are the Komodo park fees?

Park fees are separate from your boat tour and change frequently, so always check before your trip.

As of January 2026, Komodo park fees for Foreigners/Kitas holders are IDR 250,000 per person for the 1 day trip and IDR 650,000 per person for the 3D2N trip.
The park fees for locals are IDR 150,000 for the 1 day trip and IDR 350,000 per person for the 3D2N trip.
Please note this can change at any time without notice. Best to check with your boat company host a day or two before if there have been any recent changes.

💡 Important to know:

Fees vary depending on the island and activities (e.g., diving costs more).
Weekends are more expensive than weekdays.
Cash only – No credit cards accepted. Bring enough IDR before heading out!
Many of our boats now include park fees in the price - please check in the inclusions to see if park fees are now included.

Do I need to pay extra park fees based on my itinerary?

Yes, but you don’t need to pay separately for each island or activity. Your boat crew will collect the full Komodo Park fee in advance, which is why the price is given as a range. The total amount depends on the specific islands and activities included in your itinerary.

If you plan to bring a drone, there is an additional fee, and you’ll need to apply for a permit at least 3 days in advance (see details below).

What is this mysterious Komodo park fee?

This is the mandatory entrance fee for Komodo National Park, and it’s usually not included in your boat price. As of 2026, foreigners typically pay about IDR 250,000 for a 1-day trip and around IDR 650,000 for a 3D2N trip. The exact amount can vary depending on the islands visited and whether you're there on a weekend or weekday. Your boat operator will confirm the final amount before your trip.

Do I need to pay park fees in cash?

Park fees will be paid in cash only. Note that there are no ATMs on Komodo Islands so you need to bring enough IDR before heading to the islands (i.e. before your boat trip starts). Note that many of our boats now include park fees in the price - please check in the inclusions to see if park fees are now included.

How do I get from Labuan Bajo to Komodo National Park?

By boat! It takes 1–2 hours depending on whether you are taking a slow boat or a speedboat. You can choose between:

Speedboat (1-day trip) – Fast, covers more places in a day. You can cover 6 islands in Komodo National Park in 1 day on a speedboat trip.
Slow boat / Phinisi (overnight trip) – Slower traditional boats - you can cover 3 islands in Komodo National Park in 1 day on a traditional boat.