Why you shouldn't do the Komodo Island tour from Lombok

Most Komodo boat trips depart from Labuan Bajo, but a few companies offer boat trips from Lombok to Komodo (and vice versa).

These trips are especially popular with travellers looking to continue their Indonesia journey in Lombok, where the Gili Islands (Gili Air, Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno) are, or those coming from East Lombok and heading to Komodo National Park.

And, of course, you get to see whale sharks — which is a huge bucket-list draw.

One of the main reasons people book Komodo-Lombok boat trips is to see whale sharks up close in Saleh Bay, Sumbawa. It wasn’t until one of our customers pointed it out that we realised what was actually happening:

Local fishermen were feeding whale sharks to guarantee sightings. It might sound harmless at first. But in reality, this has serious consequences.

Research shows that feeding whale sharks disrupts their natural behaviours. These migratory creatures travel thousands of kilometers annually, but artificial feeding alters their routes, causing them to stay in areas they would naturally leave. This can affect their natural feeding and breeding cycles, making them dependent on human-provided food.

Another troubling aspect of these boat tours was how close people are allowed to get to the whale sharks. People could swim right up to them and even touch them, which is harmful for several reasons:

1. Human Safety: While whale sharks are gentle, they are massive creatures. Repeated exposure to human interaction can cause stress to whale sharks. A sudden movement from one of these giants could accidentally injure a swimmer.

2. Physical Harm: Human touch can remove the protective mucus layer on a whale shark’s skin, making them more vulnerable to infections and injuries.

This is a tough question. On one hand, before tourism, some fishermen in Sumbawa hunted whale sharks. Now, instead of poaching them, they make money by feeding them for tourism.

Some travel agencies and local operators market this as "responsible tourism," but we’re skeptical. Feeding any kind of wildlife is not responsible tourism.

So far, we have not come across a truly ethical whale shark encounter in Indonesia or even in Southeast Asia.

As much as we loved this trip, we realised that responsible travel sometimes means saying no — even to popular experiences. As travellers, we have the power to choose experiences that protect wildlife rather than harm it.

That’s why we made the decision to stop offering this tour on Seek Sophie.

Whale shark feeding (Lombok-Komodo trips) – Some tour packages feed whale sharks to attract them for tourists. This disrupts their natural behaviour and makes them dependent on humans. We do not recommend the Lombok-Komodo boat trip for this reason.

Manta ray overcrowding – Some guides allow snorkellers to chase and crowd manta rays, which stresses them out. If you see this happening, speak up—guides will usually listen if tourists raise concerns.

Komodo dragon chasing – Some rangers on Komodo and Rinca Islands chase or provoke dragons to get them to move for better tourist photos. This stresses the dragons and is not good practice. If you see this, say something to the guide and fellow travellers.

It's important to understand that Komodo National Park is still quite undeveloped, and many rangers and guides are not well-trained in wildlife conservation. A lot of poor practices continue because travellers expect and demand them and guides want to please their guest.

So the best way to help is to avoid booking unethical tours, and sound out to your guides and rangers when you see something wrong.

The more we push for responsible tourism, the better it will be for wildlife — and for future travelers.

The best way to protect Komodo National Park is by supporting local Indonesian, community-led conservation efforts. That’s why we’ve chosen to work with organisations that hire and train local guides, teaching them how to interact with wildlife responsibly.

When you choose these businesses to explore Komodo National Park, you're helping build a more sustainable future for Komodo:

Seek Sophie Komodo Boat Trips range from a day tour on a speedboat to 3D2N phinisi liveaboards with private cabins. All of them depart from Labuan Bajo, and cover the highlights like trekking with Komodo Dragons on Komodo Island or Rinca Island to see them in their natural habitat, hiking to the sunrise viewpoint at Padar island, and seeing Pink Beach, snorkelling at Manta Point.

If you’re short on time, do a day trip. If you have more time, we highly recommend doing a 3D2N Seek Sophie Komodo boat trip. This will allow you to enjoy more hiking to Kelor Island, and more snorkelling at Kanawa Island / Kenawa Island, and see the magical exodus of bats from Kalong Island at sunset (one of our favourites!).

Our team has been to Komodo over-15 times. Check out our tips here 👇

Getting there: How to get to the Komodo Islands & Insider Tips

Best Tours: 10 Best Komodo Island Tours

Itinerary breakdown: What to Expect on a 3 Day Komodo Boat Trip

Planning your trip? Check out our Komodo Islands Cheat Sheet for expert tips for an unforgettable experience!