Travel to Labuan Bajo – Visit and Exploring Komodo
Maybe you are curious why travelers, explorers, and tourists give a must-visit rank to Komodo Island. Why the Komodo tour destination always becomes the top destination in the world every year? In this article, you will find the answer. You will notice why Komodo ranks as one of the best world travel destinations.
So what do you imagine about the island of Komodo? Do you imagine that you will meet a greedy ferocious animal? It’s possible if you have never visited and having fun on this island
What is Komodo?
Komodo dragons are recorded as the same species as lizards. It is a type of monitor lizard, an ancient group of reptiles with more than 100 million years ancestor. The Komodo dragon is the largest living lizard in the world! Imagine how unique this animal is.
Another unique thing about the Komodo dragon is they only live on five islands in southeastern Indonesia: the islands of Komodo, Rinca, Gili Montana, Gili Dasami, and Flores Island. The islands are volcanic origin, steep and hilly, and covered by forests and savanna grasslands. They like heat, with daytime temperatures during the dry season reaching 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 degrees Celsius) with 70 percent humidity. This is one of the reasons why you should visit Komodo Island which is commonly known as the Komodo National Park in Indonesia, in the East Nusa Tenggara region.
What makes Komodo islands so special?
Komodo tours are not only about seeing the rare Komodo dragon. What you should know, Komodo National Park is located in the heart of the Asia Pacific Coral Triangle and is home to one of the richest marine environments in the world. Divers, scientists, and photographers from around the world come to this national park to see the amazing biodiversity found at one of the many dive sites: the large islands of Rinca, Komodo, and Padar, together with the smaller islands that surround them, and there are at least 100 world-class dive sites.
Adventurers can have fun in the challenging blue water with the chance to see manta rays, sharks, and dugongs, and divers can find rare invertebrates near the shore. Diving in Komodo National Park will take you to the heart of the world’s most dynamic marine environment.
The visitors will have the opportunity to go hiking on the fantastic island of Padar. This island is the perfect place for scenic hikes and spectacular photos. As you climb one of the many grassy hills, you will be swept away by the surrounding beautiful hues of green, white, and blue. There are many more destinations around the island of Komodo. Pink Beach with beautiful green hills, pristine turquoise waters, glowing pink sand, and peaceful blue skies; is one of seven pink sand beaches across the world. What makes the sand appear pink under the sun are microscopic residents, organisms called Foraminifera. Pink Beach also offers some spectacular snorkeling and diving spots.
The next journey is to the uninhabited island of Rinca which is only inhabited by Komodo dragons. You will undertake a journey across the island with dense forest, giving way to grasslands and several scattered waterholes where the Komodo dragons hunt for prey. If you are lucky, you will be able to see other land fauna such as wild buffalo, Timor deer, wild horses, and various types of tropical birds.
How many days do you need in Komodo exploring?
It is highly recommended that you do an overnight Komodo Island tour for at least 3 days / 2 nights because there is so much to see in the national park and it is also a great adventure to sleep on the boat. Three days is the perfect time to visit Komodo National Park. Hit all the best things to do in Komodo!
What is the best time to go to Komodo Island?
Certainly, the best time to visit Komodo National Park is during the dry season from April to early December. April to June is a beautiful time as this is the start of the dry season and all the islands are fertile. July and August are the dragons’ mating seasons, so they are more difficult to spot and aggressive. September to November is nesting season which will cause you to see fewer dragons, but October will see lots of dragons. The most is you can also see the Manta Rays in October.
Can you visit Komodo Island from Bali?
There are many flights to Labuan Bajo Airport (LBJ) daily from Bali, with a flight time of 1 hour. Visiting Komodo from Bali is now easier than ever because many flights can take you several times a week. You can also fly to Labuan Bajo airport from Jakarta, Surabaya, or Ende.
Is Komodo Island far from the city center?
The closest town is the fishing town of Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, which has its airport and many hotels and restaurants to enjoy in between visits to the park. Komodo Island is located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Labuan Bajo and the journey usually takes 3 hours by slow boat or about an hour by speedboat.