If you have ever heard of Flores, you would have totally heard of Liveaboard Labuan Bajo. How wouldn’t you? Liveaboard is the only vessel in Komodo that allows you to explore numerous destinations in the far-flung frontier for multiple days of trip. Labuan Bajo itself is the name of the port town as well as the launching point to Komodo National Park, your dreamed paradise. A wild one, to be exact.
Given its raw and isolated state, navigating through Komodo National Park would be quite challenging—especially if you just rely on your previous “modern and independent” travel sorta way. What I meant here is that you cannot just Air BnB-ed your room, pack your back, and flew directly to Labuan Bajo. You need to reserve a boat. With the boat, come the tour agent, and everything would be organised by the tour agency. That means you have to temporarily lose your freedom and have your tour schedule arranged, your trip duration chosen, and just follow the guide. For travelers who are used to tailor their own trip, travelling to Komodo would feel like a little restriction. Despite the lack of freedom, however, organised liveaboard trip is actually one of the easiest, hassle free trip to do in Komodo. This is why.
Travelling Komodo the Hard Way
Of course, Liveaboard Labuan Bajo is not your only option to sail around the national park. You can always find alternatives—both on cheaper or pricier sides—which offers more independence and privacy. The obvious one would be private cruises; you rent a whole phinisi cruise and arrange your own itineraries, determine your own length of trip, and basically run your own expedition with the helps of ship’s crews. On the (very tight) budget side, you have fisherman boats. You would have all the independence privilege of a private cruise albeit having to give up facilities—even the most basic one. It would be just a boat. No cabins, no kitchen to cook your meals, no electricity, and you would sleep on thin mattress spread on the tiny boat’s floor at night. Not to mention that Komodo’s water and weather are kinda tricky to navigate without sailing experience.
On the middle one, you have liveaboard tour. Its organised and require your submittance, but it’s actually efficient. Also, these liveaboard usually falls on medium-range budget, which are still largely affordable even for backpackers.
More Komodo Travelling Stories:
Every Steps to Take to Have Komodo Island Trip
Taking Kiddos to Komodo Liveaboard Trip? Here’s the Considerations
Tapping on Outside Forces—The Liveaboard Labuan Bajo Agency Trip
You might be one of the first person to raise your brow when you heard of organised tour, and that would be meant the Liveaboard Labuan Bajo tour. But believe me, you might want to rely on outsider hands when you come to remote destination. These tour organisers know Komodo’s raw landscape just like the back of their hands and they would bring the best of Komodo even in challenging situation. And have I mentioned that the sea are hard to navigate? Yup, you definitely don’t want to do that. So, put away any wild thought of sailing the Komodo by yourself especially if you are not experienced. Just book an organised trip and enjoy your holiday.