Dry savanna islands home to dragons, three-coloured beaches seen from a ridge top, manta rays and snorkelling are on offer at Komodo National Park and Labuan Bajo, followed by a sunset over the harbour.
Home of the Komodo dragon, the world's largest living lizard. From the Loh Liang station, rangers lead short walks through dry savanna and monsoon forest to look for dragons in the wild.
Best time: Morning
Tip: Dragons are wild and can be dangerous: always walk with a ranger and follow his distance instructions. Park rules can change, so check the current rules for your dates.
Closer to Labuan Bajo than Komodo Island, Rinca also has wild dragons. Ranger-led walks start at Loh Buaya and cross dry hills and savanna, with a hilltop viewpoint over the bay.
Best time: Morning
Tip: Rinca is a good choice if you have limited time. Stay with the ranger, never turn your back to a dragon and do not carry food on the trail.
A climb of about 30-45 minutes up a dry hillside leads to the best-known view in Komodo: a ridge looking over a bay with several curved beaches, each with its own sand colour.
Best time: Sunrise or late afternoon
Tip: Start early or go late to avoid the heat. Wear shoes with good grip, bring water and a hat. Visitor permits are managed by the park, so check current rules for your dates.
A beach whose sand has a pink tint from tiny pieces of red coral mixed with white sand. The water is clear, with coral just offshore that is good for snorkelling.
Best time: Morning, calm seas
Tip: Wear a life jacket and stay close to the boat when snorkelling, as currents can change. Never take sand or coral, and use reef-friendly sun cream.
A shallow reef where manta rays often glide in to feed, so you can snorkel above them. Sightings are never guaranteed, but the reef itself is rich in fish and coral.
Best time: Ask your skipper (depends on tides)
Tip: Currents here can be strong. Wear a life jacket, stay with your guide, keep your distance and never touch the rays. Good swimmers get the most from this stop.
Small islands close to Labuan Bajo. Kanawa has white sand and coral reef for snorkelling, while Kelor is a little rocky island with a short hill walk and a lovely view over the bay.
Best time: Morning
Tip: A good short trip if you do not have a full day. The Kelor path is dry and rocky, so wear sturdy sandals or shoes and bring water.
A limestone cave a short drive from town. Narrow passages lead past rock formations, and sunlight entering through a gap in the roof reflects off the walls like a mirror.
Best time: Late morning (sunlight inside)
Tip: Some passages are low and narrow, so mind your head, wear closed shoes and go with the local guide. It stays accessible in wet weather, which makes it a good rainy-day stop.
A forest canyon with turquoise pools and small waterfalls, reached by a 45-60 minute walk through village rice fields and trees. A cool escape from the heat of the coast.
Best time: Morning, dry season
Tip: Go with a local guide. Do not jump from the rocks - it has caused serious accidents - and skip the canyon after heavy rain, when the water rises quickly.
A remote mountain village of tall, cone-shaped Mbaru Niang houses, where visitors are welcomed with a short ceremony and can sleep in a traditional house surrounded by forest and cloud.
Best time: Dry season
Tip: Nights are cold, so pack warm layers and a rain jacket. Follow the villagers' rules, ask before taking photos of people and arrange the visit in advance - it is a long trip.
Watch the sun set over the islands from Bukit Cinta, a small hill above the town, or from Kampung Ujung, a quieter spot by the harbour where fishing boats and ferries move across the water.
Best time: Late afternoon (arrive an hour early)
Tip: Arrive about an hour before sunset for the best colours. A light jacket helps when the sea breeze comes in, and the dry season gives the clearest skies.
It is about 2 km in a straight line from Labuan Bajo & Komodo.
It is about 66 km in a straight line from Labuan Bajo & Komodo.
It is about 132 km in a straight line from Labuan Bajo & Komodo.
Taxi and scam advice for this country is on the Indonesia page
Each month shows its average temperature in °C and its mm of rain per month.
Driest months: Jun, Jul, Aug. Wettest months: Jan, Mar, Dec.
Prices here are about 29% of US prices (World Bank, 2025). This compares a country's overall prices, not the cost of a trip.
Komodo Airport (LBJ) is only a few kilometres from Labuan Bajo - about 10 minutes by road - with flights from Bali, Jakarta and other cities. Boat trips leave from the harbour in town.
The dry season (roughly April to October) is best for boat trips, with July and August the busiest. Seas can be rough from about January to March; caves and villages still work in wet weather.
Dress modestly in villages such as Waerebo and ask before photographing people. Do not feed or touch wildlife, take coral or leave rubbish. Mosques are in town and halal food is easy to find - ask at your hotel.
The town is small: use ride-hailing, taxis or motorbike taxis. For Cunca Wulang and Waerebo hire a car with driver; the roads are long and winding. Choose boats that carry life jackets and safety gear, and listen to the crew.
112 - general emergency (free, works from any phone where the service is live). 110 - police. 118 / 119 - ambulance and medical emergency. 113 - fire. 115 - search and rescue (BASARNAS). English is understood in the main tourist areas; elsewhere ask your hotel to call for you.
Report a lost passport to the nearest police station (get the police report), then contact your embassy or consulate for an emergency travel document. Keep a photo of your passport in your e-mail or phone - it speeds everything up. The official embassy list linked here shows where to find your country's embassy or consulate.
Big cities and Bali have international-standard private hospitals (e.g. Siloam, BIMC in Bali, Mayapada, RS Pondok Indah in Jakarta). Public referral hospitals are cheaper but busier. Ask your hotel or travel insurer for the nearest suitable hospital.
local government
Helps with: Indonesia's national tourism ministry. Its contact page lists a call centre, a WhatsApp contact centre, an email address and its office in Jakarta for tourism enquiries.
Who qualifies: Anyone travelling in Indonesia or planning a trip there.
Phone: 021-3838000
Email: info@kemenpar.go.id
Address: Gedung Sapta Pesona, Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat No.17, Gambir, Jakarta Pusat, Jakarta 10110
un agency
Helps with: The UN migration agency, operating in Indonesia since 1979. It works with governments and partners on migration management and crisis response.
Who qualifies: Migrants, governments and partners working on migration. It is not a help service for ordinary tourists.
Phone: +62 21 57951275
Email: iomjakarta@iom.int
Address: Sampoerna Strategic Square North Tower 10th Floor, Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav 45-46, Jakarta 12930
ngo
Helps with: The ICRC says it works with the society on training first responders in pre-hospital care, reuniting separated families and emergency preparedness. No contact details are given, so use the society's website.
Who qualifies: The page does not say who can use it. It names the society as the ICRC's partner in Indonesia.