Best Things To Do in Labuan Bajo
We first heard of Labuan Bajo for the same reason most travellers do. We wanted to see Komodo dragons.
Flying over from Bali seemed like the easiest way to make it happen, so we spent four days here, with two of those exploring Komodo National Park by boat and the rest getting to know the town.
Many of the best things to do in Labuan Bajo aren’t actually in Labuan Bajo. Padar Island, Pink Beach, Manta Point and the Komodo dragons are all reached by boat, with tours usually combining several stops into one day.
We still enjoyed having time in Labuan Bajo itself. The fish market became our favourite place to eat, we headed out to the surrounding viewpoints for sunset and had time to explore the waterfront rather than simply using the town as somewhere to sleep between boat trips.
Best Things to Do From Labuan Bajo
Most of the highlights around Komodo National Park can be combined into a boat tour from Labuan Bajo, so you don’t need to arrange a separate trip for every island or snorkelling spot.
We took two different trips. Our first was a private slow boat towards Rinca Island, while the second was a faster group tour that included Komodo Island. Both stopped at several places along the way, but the faster boat covered considerably more ground in a day.
Exactly where you stop will depend on the tour and conditions, but these were the highlights from our two days on the water.
See Komodo Dragons on Rinca and Komodo Island
Seeing Komodo dragons was the reason we came to Labuan Bajo in the first place, and we ended up visiting both Rinca and Komodo Island on separate boat trips.
The two experiences were noticeably different. Rinca felt much simpler, while Komodo Island was busier and more geared towards visitors. We saw dragons on both, although most weren’t particularly active and were quite happy sitting around in the shade.
Our best encounter actually came on Rinca. One dragon appeared on the path ahead and started walking towards us before eventually disappearing into the trees. Seeing one walking towards us was a much better reminder that these are genuinely wild animals than the others we saw lying around in the shade.
If you’re choosing between Rinca and Komodo Island, I wouldn’t base the decision purely on which gives you the best chance of seeing dragons. We saw them on both, but preferred the less commercial experience on Rinca. Your boat itinerary and the other stops included that day are probably just as important.
Hike to the Padar Island Viewpoint
Padar Island was one of the busiest stops on our boat trip, and it seemed like every tour in Komodo National Park was heading to the same viewpoint. It was busy whenever we were there, although never so crowded that we struggled to enjoy it or get photos without other people in them.
The climb itself wasn’t particularly difficult, but the heat made it much harder work. There’s very little shade on the way up, and by the time we reached the top we were absolutely dripping with sweat.
Thankfully, the view was worth it. We’d seen plenty of photos before visiting, but looking down over the curved bays and surrounding islands was even better in person.
I wouldn’t worry too much about avoiding Padar because of the crowds. It’s popular for good reason, and despite the heat and number of other tours, it was one of the highlights of our time in Komodo National Park.
Snorkel With Manta Rays at Manta Point
Manta Point was one of the stops I was most looking forward to, although our experience wasn’t quite what I’d imagined.
The current was strong when we visited, so rather than swimming around freely, we held onto a rope from the boat and watched the manta rays pass below. We saw three, but the water wasn’t particularly clear and it was difficult to get a good look at them.
I’d previously swum with manta rays at Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia, where we’d been able to swim alongside them in much clearer water, so that probably raised my expectations.
The conditions at Manta Point can obviously vary, and our experience was just one visit. I’d still include it on a Komodo boat trip, but for us it wasn’t one of the standout stops of the day.
Visit Pink Beach
Pink Beach is one of the better known stops in Komodo National Park, although don’t expect the sand to look bright pink when you arrive.
When we visited, the colour was much more subtle than we’d expected. Up close, you could see small flecks of pink mixed through the sand, but from a distance it looked less dramatic than many of the photos we’d seen beforehand.
Our Komodo Island tour happened to fall on Christmas Day, so there was something quite fun about spending part of Christmas on a beach in Indonesia. We went for a swim, walked along the beach and even built our own little pink Christmas sandman before getting back on the boat.
Watch the Flying Foxes at Kalong Island
Kalong Island gave us one of the more unusual endings to a day in Komodo National Park. Boats stop here around sunset to watch thousands of flying foxes leave the mangroves and head across the water.
Our timing didn’t quite go to plan. While we were waiting for the bats to appear, heavy rain rolled in along with plenty of lightning. We ended up sheltering under the cover of the boat with tea and biscuits while we waited for it to pass.
By the time the rain stopped it was already getting dark, but we still saw the flying foxes streaming overhead. They weren’t as easy to see as they would have been against a brighter sky, but sitting out on the water watching them after the storm was a pretty memorable way to finish the day.
Hike Kelor Island
Kelor Island was another stop on our slower boat trip, with a short climb up to a viewpoint overlooking the beach and surrounding islands.
The walk up didn’t take long, and the view from the top was well worth the effort. Looking back down, you get the small strip of beach below with clear water on either side and the hills of Flores stretching into the distance.
Most photos of Kelor seem to focus on the viewpoint, but I remember looking down at the pristine beach and clear water and wanting to spend more time there. After coming back down, I would happily have spent another hour lying on the beach and going for a swim.
Unfortunately, travelling by slower boat meant we couldn’t hang around for too long. If we’d had more time, this is one stop I wouldn’t have rushed.
Snorkel at Menjerite Bay
Menjerite Bay was one of the quieter stops on our private boat trip. We seemed to arrive at just the right time, with hardly anyone else around.
One of the things I remember most is the incredibly long wooden pier stretching out across the water. We walked along it before getting into the sea for a snorkel, and the water looked beautiful from above.
The snorkelling itself didn’t quite match the setting. There weren’t as many fish as I’d expected, although we still enjoyed getting into the water and having the place almost to ourselves.
Our experience may have been helped by the timing. With our own slow boat, we seemed to arrive after other boats had left or before the next groups appeared, which made Menjerite Bay particularly peaceful when we visited.
Best Things to Do in Labuan Bajo Town
We originally treated Labuan Bajo mainly as a base for visiting Komodo National Park, but I’m glad we left ourselves some time to explore the town as well.
You don’t need days to see it. For us, the fish market, waterfront and surrounding sunset viewpoints were enough to make the time we spent in Labuan Bajo worthwhile.
Eat Fresh Seafood at Labuan Bajo Fish Market
The fish market ended up being our favourite place to eat in Labuan Bajo. It didn’t look particularly appetising at first, with fish laid out on the counters and a very basic cooking area, but somehow we had a feeling it was going to be good. Thankfully, we were right.
There was plenty of fish and seafood to choose from, which was then cooked for us there. Everything we ate was fresh, simple and, at least when we visited, incredibly cheap compared with what we’d expect to pay back home.
We went to Labuan Bajo for the Komodo dragons, so I hadn’t expected a local fish market to become one of my favourite memories from the town. We ended up coming back more than once, and if I went back to Labuan Bajo, this would be one of the first places I’d return to.
Watch Sunset From Amelia Sea View
Amelia Sea View was our favourite place to watch the sunset around Labuan Bajo. From the top, you get wide views across the surrounding hills, islands and water as the sun drops towards the horizon.
We rented a scooter for half a day, which was really cheap when we visited, and used it to get out to the viewpoint. It also gave us an easy way to explore a little further beyond the centre of Labuan Bajo.
Once there, we found a spot to sit and watch the sunset. The only thing I wish we’d brought was more mosquito spray. I got absolutely bitten while sitting up there, so it’s worth putting some on before settling down.
Explore the Labuan Bajo Waterfront
We spent some of our spare time simply walking around Labuan Bajo and along the waterfront. When we visited, the town still felt fairly undeveloped, especially after coming from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bali, and we actually liked that about it.
It wasn’t particularly polished. There was construction going on in places and we noticed quite a lot of plastic around the streets and harbour, but it was interesting seeing the town beyond the restaurants and boat tours.
Getting around also turned out to be quite entertaining. When we couldn’t find a Gojek, local guys on motorbikes offered us a lift back to our hotel for around the same price. It was an unofficial taxi service of sorts, but it did the job and became one of those little things I still remember about Labuan Bajo.
More Things to Do Around Labuan Bajo
There are a few other places around Labuan Bajo that we didn’t have time to visit during our four days. Rather than pretend otherwise, these are the ones I’d consider if you have an extra day.
Rangko Cave is known for its clear saltwater pool inside the cave, while Batu Cermin is much closer to town and gets its name from sunlight reflecting off the rock inside. Both are established attractions around Labuan Bajo.
Cunca Rami Waterfall is another option further into Flores if you’d rather spend the day away from the coast. We didn’t make it there, so I can’t say how it compares with the places we did visit.
How Many Days Do You Need in Labuan Bajo?
We spent four days in Labuan Bajo, with two of those exploring Komodo National Park by boat. That gave us enough time to see the main islands and still have some time for the town itself.
Our flight from Bali was delayed on the first day, although we still arrived in time for dinner. We then spent one day on our private boat trip to Rinca, followed by a faster group tour to Komodo Island the next day. After that, we had time to explore Labuan Bajo, rent a scooter and head out for sunset before flying back to Bali the following morning.
For us, four days worked well. I wouldn’t arrive, do one boat trip and immediately leave again. Having two days on the water meant we could experience both Rinca and Komodo Island, while the extra time in town gave us a chance to see a different side of Labuan Bajo beyond the national park.