The Flores to Lombok boat trip sails west from Labuan Bajo over 4 days and 3 nights, crossing Komodo National Park on day one before Saleh Bay’s whale sharks, Moyo Island and a sunrise landfall in Lombok. Cabins on the scheduled boat run USD 425–755 per person; private phinisi charters sail the same waters on your dates.
The Westbound Route at a Glance
This is the return leg of Indonesia’s most famous island crossing: roughly 473 km of sea between Labuan Bajo, on the western tip of Flores, and Kayangan Harbour in East Lombok. You board after breakfast, spend your first day among the headline sights of Komodo National Park, and step ashore in Lombok before lunch on day four.
| Route | Labuan Bajo (Flores) → Komodo National Park → Saleh Bay & Moyo Island (Sumbawa) → Kayangan Harbour (East Lombok) |
|---|---|
| Duration | 4 days / 3 nights on the scheduled boat; 3D2N possible by private charter |
| Sailing distance | Approximately 473 km (about 255 nautical miles) |
| Departure | Hotel or airport pick-up in Labuan Bajo, 07:00–07:30, then boarding at the port |
| Arrival | Kayangan Harbour, day 4; included shuttle to Kuta or Senggigi by early afternoon |
| Komodo stops | Manta Point, Pink Beach, Padar Island and Komodo Village — all in the first 24 hours |
| Cabin prices 2026 | USD 425–755 per person, per crossing (cabin type decides the tier) |
| Private charter | Any date, your own boat and pace — tailored quote within 24 hours |
| Best season | April–October, when the Flores Sea is at its calmest |
Why Sail Westbound
Westbound puts Komodo National Park at the start of the voyage, not the end — you trek Padar and snorkel Manta Point while you are freshest, then let the trip decompress across the open water toward Lombok. It is also the direction that makes flight logistics easy: you finish a short drive from Lombok’s beaches and airport instead of backtracking east.
- Komodo on day one. The park’s big three — Manta Point, Pink Beach and the Padar viewpoint — come first, with prime morning and golden-hour slots rather than end-of-trip fatigue.
- The homeward logic. Landing in Lombok connects you onward in hours: the Gili Islands via Bangsal, or Bali by a short domestic flight from Lombok International Airport. Ending in Labuan Bajo would mean flying back west anyway.
- Sunsets over the bow. Sailing west, every evening light show happens dead ahead of the boat — a small thing the eastbound crowd never sees.
- A quieter boat day to recover. Day two’s long crossing toward Sumbawa is the built-in rest day; by the time the whale sharks of Saleh Bay appear on day three, you have found your sea legs.
Who is it for? Couples closing a honeymoon loop that began in Bali, families who want the dragons early and the beach at the end, and travelers who have already spent days diving out of Labuan Bajo and want the sea itself — not another transfer — to carry them home. If your international flight leaves from Bali or Jakarta, westbound is almost always the direction that saves you a day.
Deluxe Cabins & the Weekly Schedule
The scheduled westbound boat is a 34-metre phinisi with 10 cabins for 18–23 guests — a deliberately smaller ship than the 28–38-berth bunk boats that dominate this route. Departures run on a weekly rotation: the vessel sails east on one leg, turns around in Labuan Bajo, and heads west again, so a westbound date is available most weeks year-round.
Every cabin is air-conditioned with a proper bed and bathroom; what changes between tiers is the view, the space and the extras. These are live 2026 per-person rates for the Flores–Lombok direction:
| Cabin | Cabins on board | Sleeps | Configuration | Price per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ikan Cabin | 2 | 2–3 | Queen bed, private bathroom, jacuzzi, sea view | USD 755 |
| Kerang Cabin | 1 | 2–3 | Queen bed, private bathroom, private balcony, sea view | USD 710 |
| Paus Cabin | 2 | 2–3 | Queen bed, private bathroom, sea view | USD 710 |
| Penyu Cabin | 4 | 2 | Queen bed, bathroom, porthole view | USD 465 |
| Captain Cabin | 1 | 2 | Bunk bed, bathroom, porthole view | USD 425 |
For context: across the operators competing on this crossing, open-trip cabins typically run USD 350–750 per person — that figure comes from our 2026 survey of thirteen competing operators, and most of it buys shared bunks on much larger boats. Here the top of the range buys a sea-view suite with a jacuzzi on a 10-cabin ship, with every excursion, all meals, snorkeling gear, a guide and a personal photographer included. The logic is the same as a Flores liveaboard: the boat is your hotel, and the cabin you choose sets the tone of the voyage.
Life on board is built around the ship’s shared spaces as much as the cabins: indoor and outdoor dining areas, a sundeck sized for sunbathing by day and stargazing on the overnight legs, an outdoor lounge at the stern, and a fully equipped galley turning out three fresh meals a day plus snacks. There is even a karaoke corner for the evenings — easy to join, just as easy to ignore from a balcony cabin. It is worth being precise about the word deluxe here: this is a well-run shared boat with genuinely comfortable suites at the top end, not a private yacht. Travelers who want the private-yacht version of this crossing should read the next section — that is exactly what it exists for.
Private Charter Westbound
The other way to sail west is to take the whole boat. A private charter follows the same waters on any date you choose, at your own pace — linger a second day in Komodo, skip the karaoke, anchor off an empty sandbar because lunch ran long. Nothing about the crossing is fixed except the direction.
Voyages are operated with our sister company Komodo Luxury — a fleet of 9 owned vessels and a network of 200+ partner boats, rated 4.9/5 by more than 1,500 guests and named Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice 2025 & 2026. That depth of fleet means a two-cabin honeymoon phinisi and a ten-cabin family ship are both realistic westbound charters, and a compressed 3D2N crossing is possible when the schedule demands it. Browse the vessels on our Flores phinisi charter page, tell us your dates and party size, and you will have a tailored quote within 24 hours.
- Any departure date — no waiting for the weekly rotation.
- Your itinerary — add a Satonda crater-lake call, a second Komodo day or a dawn Padar climb.
- Your privacy — the deck, the dining table and the schedule belong to your party alone.
Day by Day: Labuan Bajo → Komodo → Satonda → Lombok
The scheduled crossing compresses the best of three regencies into four days: Komodo’s icons, Sumbawa’s wild north coast, and an East Lombok landfall. Day three’s stops sit around Saleh Bay and Moyo Island; on some departures and most charters, Satonda’s crater lake joins the route as conditions allow.
Day 1 — Labuan Bajo & Komodo National Park
Pick-up from your Labuan Bajo hotel or the airport at 07:00–07:30, transfer to the port, safety briefing, and the lines come off. The day belongs to the national park: snorkeling at Manta Point among reef mantas, an unhurried stop at Pink Beach, and the late-afternoon trek to Padar Island’s ridgeline viewpoint over its three crescent bays. Dinner on board at a sheltered anchorage. Meals: lunch and dinner.
Day 2 — Komodo Village, then West Across Open Water
A 06:30 visit to Komodo Village, the stilted community that has lived beside the dragons for generations. From late morning the boat points west for the long crossing toward Sumbawa — sundeck hours, the galley working, and an overnight sail with dinner served underway. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 3 — Saleh Bay Whale Sharks & Moyo Island
At 07:00–08:00 the boat idles in Teluk Saleh, Sumbawa’s vast inner bay, for a snorkel session in waters known for seasonal whale-shark encounters. The afternoon brings Moyo Island and the short forest walk to Mata Jitu, the tiered freshwater waterfall that has drawn a century of discreet visitors. Overnight, the boat sails on toward Lombok. Meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Day 4 — Kenawa Sunrise & Landfall in Lombok
A 05:00 sunrise stop at tiny Kenawa Island — a ten-minute hill for a panorama back across the strait — then the final leg to Kayangan Harbour. Check-out from the boat, and by 12:30 the included shuttle is rolling toward your drop-off in Kuta or Senggigi. Meals: breakfast and lunch.
Two nights of the three are spent sailing — that is what lets a four-day trip cover 473 km without ever feeling rushed. The cabins are air-conditioned and the engines settle into a steady rhythm most guests sleep through; light sleepers should pack earplugs and claim a midship cabin when booking. As on any small-ship route, the sequence can flex with sea conditions and park regulations — the crew re-orders stops rather than cancels them wherever possible, and the whale sharks of Saleh Bay, while reliable by tropical-wildlife standards, remain wild animals rather than a scheduled appearance.
Prices & Park Fees 2026
The cabin rate covers nearly everything on board; the entrance fees below are payable separately, as they are on every honest operator’s manifest. Budget for them in cash or by arrangement with the crew.
| Fee | 2026 rate (international visitors) |
|---|---|
| Komodo National Park entrance | IDR 650.000 per person (dated ticket) |
| Saleh Bay whale-shark experience | IDR 200.000 per person |
| Moyo Island / Satonda Island | IDR 200.000–275.000 per person (weekend rate applies) |
What’s included:
- Full accommodation on board — air-conditioned cabin with bathroom
- All excursions on the itinerary, with snorkeling equipment
- All meals and snacks, plus free-flow mineral water, coffee and tea
- One travel guide and one personal photographer for the voyage
- Day-1 pick-up in Labuan Bajo and day-4 shuttle from Kayangan Harbour to Kuta or Senggigi
Not included: flights, hotels ashore, travel insurance, alcohol, personal expenses, park and entrance fees, and crew gratuities. The balance is due 14 days before departure, so westbound dates in July and August are worth securing early. Fees may change with government regulation; we confirm the current figures when you book.
A note on the Komodo ticket, because it causes more confusion than anything else on this route: the national park entrance is a dated ticket — issued for the specific day you enter, not an open pass — which is why it sits outside the cabin price and why your guide handles the paperwork against your confirmed itinerary. Operators who quote one round number “including all fees” are usually quoting yesterday’s regulation.
Questions on a specific date or cabin? Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 or write to [email protected] — a route specialist replies with availability and a firm quote within 24 hours.
Eastbound vs Westbound: Which Direction?
Both directions sail the same sea and cost the same order of money; the difference is where the crescendo falls and where you want to wake up on the final morning. Choose by your onward travel, not by the brochure.
| Westbound (this page) | Eastbound | |
|---|---|---|
| Komodo National Park | Day one — the trip opens on its highlight | Final day — the trip builds to it |
| Ends in | Lombok: beaches, the Gilis, quick hop to Bali | Labuan Bajo: gateway to Flores overland and more sailing |
| Best for | Travelers closing the loop toward Bali or flying home | Travelers beginning their Flores chapter |
| Evening light | Sunsets ahead of the bow | Sunsets astern |
If Flores is still ahead of you rather than behind, sail the other way: our guide to the Lombok to Flores boat trip covers the eastbound crossing, its weekly schedule and the luxury options in full. Whichever direction you choose, the season logic is identical — see our month-by-month guide to the best time to visit Flores before you fix dates.
Arriving in Lombok: Bangsal, Senggigi & Onward
The boat lands at Kayangan Harbour on Lombok’s east coast, and the included shuttle carries you across the island — about 2 to 2.5 hours to Senggigi or the Mataram side, closer to 3 hours to Kuta in the south. From either base, the rest of the archipelago is a short move away.
- Kuta, Lombok — drop-off in the surf-and-cliffs south, ten minutes from the island’s best beaches and about 30 minutes from Lombok International Airport.
- Senggigi — the classic west-coast resort strip, positioned for sunset dinners and the road north.
- The Gili Islands — continue by road to Bangsal harbour, the jumping-off point for public and fast boats to Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air.
- Bali and beyond — Lombok International Airport connects to Bali in around half an hour and to Jakarta nonstop, which is exactly why finishing westbound is the tidy way to end an Indonesian itinerary.
One practical honesty: Kayangan sits on the island’s far east coast, so whichever base you choose, the arrival afternoon is mostly a road transfer — plan your first Lombok night as a slow one. Guests staying on for a few days usually split them between the south coast’s beaches and a Gili interlude; guests flying out simply overnight near the airport and are airborne by mid-morning.
If the crossing is the middle of a longer journey rather than the end, we design it that way — our tailor-made Flores luxury tours fold the westbound sail into itineraries that begin days earlier among the islands and villages of Flores itself.
Plan Your Westbound Crossing
Tell us your dates, your party and how much of the boat you want to yourself. A route specialist will confirm the next westbound departures, cabin availability and a private-charter alternative — with a tailored quote within 24 hours.
WhatsApp: +62 811 3823 875 · Email: [email protected]
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the boat trip from Flores to Lombok?
The scheduled crossing takes 4 days and 3 nights, departing Labuan Bajo in the morning and arriving at Kayangan Harbour, East Lombok, before midday on day four. A private charter can compress the same route into 3 days and 2 nights or stretch it with extra Komodo time.
How much does the Flores to Lombok boat trip cost in 2026?
Cabins on the scheduled boat run USD 425 to USD 755 per person depending on cabin type, from a two-berth porthole cabin to a sea-view suite with a jacuzzi. All meals, excursions, snorkeling gear, a guide and a photographer are included; park fees are extra. Private charters are quoted individually within 24 hours.
Where does the boat leave from and arrive?
Departure is from the port of Labuan Bajo, with hotel or airport pick-up at 07:00-07:30 included. Arrival is at Kayangan Harbour on Lombok's east coast, followed by an included shuttle to Kuta or Senggigi, arriving early afternoon.
Do I still see Komodo National Park sailing westbound?
Yes – westbound puts the park first. Day one covers Manta Point, Pink Beach and the Padar Island viewpoint trek, and day two opens with a visit to Komodo Village before the boat crosses toward Sumbawa. A ranger-guided dragon walk can be arranged on charters when the schedule allows.
Is the crossing rough?
The route includes two open-water legs – Komodo to Sumbawa and Moyo to Lombok – both sailed partly overnight. From April to October the Flores Sea is at its calmest and most guests find the passage comfortable; in the wet season the crew adjusts anchorages and timing around the weather.
What is included in the price?
Full board on an air-conditioned cabin boat: all meals and snacks, mineral water, coffee and tea, every excursion on the itinerary, snorkeling equipment, one travel guide, one personal photographer, plus the day-1 Labuan Bajo pick-up and day-4 shuttle to Kuta or Senggigi. Flights, hotels ashore, insurance, alcohol and park fees are not included – Komodo National Park is IDR 650.000 per person (dated ticket).
Can I do the Flores to Lombok route as a private trip?
Yes. Private phinisi charters sail the westbound route on any date, drawing on 9 owned vessels and a network of 200+ partner boats operated with Komodo Luxury. You set the pace and stops – including Satonda's crater lake or a second Komodo day – and receive a tailored quote within 24 hours.
When should I book the westbound boat?
The scheduled boat carries only 18-23 guests across 10 cabins, and sea-view cabins sell out first – in the July-August high season, several weeks ahead. Full payment is due 14 days before departure, so confirming your date a month or more in advance is the comfortable path.