01
Ayana
A beautiful base in Labuan Bajo. The huge pier stretching into the sea was particularly memorable and made our transfer onto Samara wonderfully easy.
OUR KOMODO
One of our best trips.
Komodo was one of the best trips we've done. We used Ayana in Labuan Bajo as our base, a hugely picturesque hotel with a beautiful pier stretching out into the sea. It was from that pier that Samara came to collect us, making the start of our adventure incredibly easy.
We then spent three days sailing around the region, waking up in a different bay each morning and watching the landscape change around us. The islands, clear water and dry hills were stunning, but it was the feeling of being out on the water that really made the trip.
Samara was fantastic. The staff were brilliant, the food was excellent and everything was taken care of. Days were spent exploring the islands, swimming and taking in the scenery, before returning to the boat and waking somewhere completely different the next morning.
We saw Komodo dragons, walked down Pink Beach and climbed Padar Island, but some of our favourite memories are simply waking up surrounded by another beautiful bay. Back in Labuan Bajo, Le Bajo was a great place to head out to away from the hotel.
We also visited the Marriott, but found it a little too quiet for us. In the end we were very pleased that we'd chosen Ayana. The combination of the hotel, the pier and three days on Samara made this a trip we'll remember for a long time.
FROM OUR CAMERA
Komodo, as we saw it.
BEST TIME
April – October
The dry season is generally the best time to explore the islands, particularly if you're planning to spend several days on the water.
WEATHER
Hot & dry
Warm, sunny conditions and dry island landscapes make Komodo feel completely different from much of tropical Indonesia.
GETTING AROUND
By boat
The real Komodo experience happens on the water. A liveaboard gives you the freedom to move between islands and wake somewhere new each morning.
OUR RECOMMENDATIONS
Places & experiences we loved.
02
Samara
The real highlight of the trip. Three days sailing between the islands, with excellent food, fantastic staff and a different bay waiting for us each morning.
03
Komodo dragons
Seeing the dragons in their natural environment was one of the experiences that made the trip feel truly special.
04
Pink Beach
Walking down onto Pink Beach was another highlight. The colour of the sand against the clear water makes for an extraordinary setting.
05
Padar Island
The climb is worth the effort. Looking out across the distinctive bays and surrounding islands gives you one of the great views of the whole trip.
06
Le Bajo
A great place to head out to when you're back in Labuan Bajo. It gave us a reason to leave the hotel and enjoy a different side of the town.
OUR EDIT
Stay on the water.
If you're coming to Komodo, we'd make the time to get properly out onto the water. For us, three days on Samara turned a beautiful destination into a genuinely unforgettable trip.
Waking up in a different bay each morning, heading ashore to explore and then returning to the boat made the journey itself the experience. It is hard to imagine a better way to see these islands.
MORE FROM OUR CAMERA
More from Komodo.
OUR MAP
Komodo.
The islands, bays, beaches and places that made this one of our favourite trips will eventually live here on our wider travel map.