Komodo Cruise 3D2N from Labuan Bajo: The Full Catnazse Itinerary, Cabins and Costs

Three days and two nights is the sweet spot for Komodo National Park. Shorter, and you spend most of your time in transit; longer, and you start repeating anchorages. A komodo cruise 3D2N from Labuan Bajo gives you the four headline sites — Padar at sunrise, the dragons on Komodo Island, Pink Beach and Manta Point — with enough slack for the snorkel stops that end up being everyone’s favourite memory. This guide covers exactly how that route runs aboard Catnazse, our handcrafted 34.4-metre phinisi with 8 cabins, plus the numbers you need before you commit: park fees, cabin categories, deposit terms and the honest truth about seasons.

Why a 3D2N komodo boat trip beats day tours

Speedboat day trips from Labuan Bajo exist, and they are exhausting. You leave at dawn, race between five sites with hundreds of other day-trippers, and arrive back after dark having seen everything and absorbed nothing. A komodo liveaboard 3 days 2 nights flips that equation. Because you sleep inside the park, you are at Padar before the speedboats leave the harbour and at Manta Point after they have gone home. The crowds you see in photos simply are not there at 6 a.m.

Catnazse runs this route two ways. Private charters take the whole boat — all 8 cabins, your own schedule, your own pace. Shared departures work like a komodo open trip 3D2N: you book a cabin, not the boat, and share the itinerary with other travellers. Our shared schedules run alongside sister vessels Santalum, Grandis and Cafasa, so if a Catnazse date is full there is usually an equivalent departure the same week. Both formats follow the itinerary below.

Day 1 — Labuan Bajo to Kelor, Rinca and Kalong

Boarding is late morning at Labuan Bajo harbour, a short ride from Komodo Airport (LBJ). Most guests fly in from Bali that morning — the flight is about 75 minutes — though if your connection is tight we recommend arriving the evening before. Once bags are stowed and the safety briefing is done, Catnazse motors out past the harbour islands while lunch is served on deck.

First stop is usually Kelor Island for a short, steep hike and the trip’s first snorkel — a good shakedown for gear and confidence. From there we cross to Rinca Island, the quieter of the two dragon habitats, for a guided ranger walk. By late afternoon the boat anchors off Kalong Island, where tens of thousands of flying foxes pour out of the mangroves at dusk. Dinner is served as they stream overhead. It is a strong first day for a 3 days 2 nights komodo tour from labuan bajo, and you have not yet touched the famous sites.

Day 2 — Padar sunrise, Komodo dragons, Pink Beach, Manta Point

This is the day the whole trip is built around, and it starts early. The crew wakes you around 4:45 a.m. with coffee, and the tender runs you ashore at Padar Island for the 30–40 minute climb to the viewpoint. Watching the light hit Padar’s three bays — one white sand, one black, one pink — is the image that sells every komodo sailing trip 3 days 2 nights, and it genuinely is better in person. Breakfast waits back on board.

Mid-morning, Catnazse anchors at Loh Liang on Komodo Island for the ranger-guided dragon trek. Komodo dragons are wild animals, not zoo exhibits; sightings are near-certain but never staged, and the rangers’ rules exist for good reasons. After the trek it is a short hop to Pink Beach for lunch, swimming and one of the park’s best easy snorkels — the coral garden starts a few fin-kicks from the sand.

The afternoon belongs to Manta Point. This channel is one of the most reliable places on earth to swim with reef manta rays, especially between December and March, though we see them year-round. The crew reads the current, drops you up-drift, and you float over the cleaning stations as mantas glide below. Sunset is spent at anchor near Siaba or Taka Makassar, a crescent sandbar that barely breaks the surface at high tide.

Day 3 — Taka Makassar or Kanawa, then home

The final morning is deliberately gentle: a last snorkel at Taka Makassar or Kanawa Island, a slow breakfast, and the cruise back to Labuan Bajo. Disembarkation is around midday, which comfortably makes afternoon flights out of LBJ. If you are continuing your trip in Flores, the crew can arrange harbour transfers.

Cabins and price guidance aboard Catnazse

Catnazse carries up to 16 guests in 8 en-suite, air-conditioned cabins across four categories:

• Suite — the largest cabins with panoramic windows; the pick for couples marking an occasion.
• Deluxe — generous doubles with sea views, the most-booked category on shared departures.
• Superior — comfortable doubles or twins at the friendliest price point for a komodo shared cabin boat trip.
• Family — configured for 3–4 guests, ideal for parents travelling with children.

On open-trip departures you pay per person per cabin; on private charters you pay for the whole vessel. Shared cabins are the budget-smart route — travellers searching for a budget komodo boat trip 3D2N are usually comparing exactly this format — while private charter pricing depends on date and season. For current rates, check availability on our booking page, or compare all boats and dates on the official Komodo Luxury open trip page, which lists every vessel in the fleet with live departure calendars.

Practical facts to lock in before you book

• Park fees: Komodo National Park entry is IDR 650,000 per person, paid on top of your cruise fare. Ranger, trekking and snorkel fees are handled by the crew.
• Season: the dry season runs April to November — calm seas, dependable sunshine, the classic conditions. December to March brings rain and swell but also peak manta activity and empty viewpoints.
• Payment: a 50% deposit confirms your cabin or charter; the balance is due 14 days before departure (H-14).
• Getting there: fly to Labuan Bajo (LBJ). Direct flights operate from Bali and Jakarta daily.
• What to pack: reef-safe sunscreen, walking shoes for Padar, a dry bag, and cash for park fees and crew gratuities.

Catnazse sails as part of the Komodo Luxury fleet, the Bali-headquartered operator with a decade of experience in these waters and a TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Award to show for it — you can read about the wider operation at komodoluxury.com. That backing matters in practice: fleet-level safety standards, professional crew rotation, and a real office in Labuan Bajo if plans change.

FAQ

Is a 3D2N komodo boat trip from Labuan Bajo enough time?

Yes — for first-time visitors it is the ideal duration. Three days covers Padar, Komodo Island, Pink Beach, Manta Point and two or three bonus snorkel sites without feeling rushed. Divers and photographers who want repeat manta sessions sometimes extend to 4D3N, but the 3D2N route is the format the park’s geography was made for.

How much does the Komodo National Park entrance fee cost?

The park entry fee is IDR 650,000 per person, set by the national park authority and paid in addition to your cruise price. Our crew collects and handles all permits, so you never queue at a ranger station yourself.

Can I join Catnazse solo, or do I need a group?

Solo travellers are welcome on shared departures — this is exactly what a komodo join trip from labuan bajo is for. You book one cabin (or a shared twin, subject to availability) and sail with a small group of other guests. Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 for the next open dates.

Ready to see Padar at sunrise from your own deck? View the full Catnazse 3D2N itinerary and reserve your cabin here.