First time in Indonesia: Komodo trip tips

Entry rules are the part of this page most likely to change. What follows is what we have on file, dated in the table, and you should verify it on the official immigration site before you travel.

Most nationalities enter on a 30-day visa on arrival or apply online in advance; the table shows eligibility, the fee on file and the extension rule. Your passport needs validity beyond your arrival date and blank pages, and you need proof of onward travel. A digital arrival card is filled in online before you land. Check the fee in force on the day you travel, not the one in last year's blog post.

Your passport name matters twice. It must match the boat's passenger list, because the harbour issues the electronic boarding pass in that name.

Komodo Airport (LBJ) takes domestic flights, and most visitors connect through Bali (DPS), Jakarta (CGK) or Surabaya (SUB). Direct international flights are limited. A first-time visitor lands in Bali, then takes the hop to Flores.

The Bali leg takes about 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Check the current timetable of the airline you book with.

Land on Thursday for a Friday sailing. The shared trip picks you up around 09:00, and the boat is back around 12:00 on day 3, so book the flight home for after 14:00. We advise on the day and the route; we do not sell air tickets.

Cash comes first. The currency is the Indonesian rupiah, and ATMs stand in Labuan Bajo town and at the airport, not on the islands. Hotels, boat companies and larger restaurants take cards, and small shops, warungs and taxis expect cash. Tips for the crew and guide are not in any fare and are appreciated, not compulsory.

Phone signal comes and goes between islands; do not plan on video calls from the water. A local SIM from Telkomsel, registered with your passport, gives the best coverage in town and offshore, and an eSIM installed before you fly works too.

Sockets take two round pins at 230 V. A small adapter and a power bank cover a three-day trip.

Buy travel insurance with medical cover and emergency evacuation before you fly. It is strongly advised and it is not included in any Kanha fare.

Tap water is not safe to drink. Mineral drinking water is served on board, and bottled water is the rule in town. Pharmacies in Labuan Bajo carry the basics with a limited choice, so bring prescription medicine and sunscreen from home. Dengue is present, so protect against mosquito bites on land.

The boats carry life jackets, snorkelling gear and a first-aid kit. Tell the crew about any medical condition when you board. The sea is calmer in the dry season, from April to November, with windier spells in July and August, and rougher from December to March.

Sailing permission at Labuan Bajo comes from the harbour authority, and park access is controlled by the national park office. Neither is something a boat company can override.

Carry your passport on Friday morning. Passengers on tourist boats to the park need an electronic boarding pass, and the name on it must match the passenger list. Life jackets must be on board for every passenger, and we book Kanha Citta and Kanha Loka for up to 22 guests and Kanha Natha for up to 12.

The harbour authority can close sailings at a day's notice, most often in the wet season and in strong south-east wind spells. Our replacement-boat guarantee covers a boat that cannot sail; it cannot change the weather.