Kanha Phinisi
Kanha Phinisi fleet (Kanha Citta, Kanha Loka, Kanha Natha)
Komodo Island hiking from the boat: Kelor, Padar and the Komodo walk
Updated 23 October 2026
Komodo Island hiking on this route means three walks in 3 days: Kelor on day 1, Padar at sunrise on day 2 and the ranger-led Komodo walk. Six friends on Kanha Natha pay IDR 57,840,000 (≈ USD 3,548) for the boat, and 12 on Kanha Loka pay IDR 104,160,000 (≈ USD 6,390). Rinca is not on the route.
Choose your Kanha for walkers
Walkers need a boat that lets them recover. Kanha Natha suits 4 to 8 friends who hike hard and want the sun deck to themselves afterwards. It has 4 cabins, 5 crew and room for 12, with no bar area. Six walkers pay IDR 9,640,000 (≈ USD 591) each for the whole boat on a private charter.
Kanha Loka suits a bigger hiking party, up to 20 on a private charter. Twelve walkers pay IDR 8,680,000 (≈ USD 533) each. It has 7 cabins, a restaurant and bar area and a sun deck, and the cabins are air-conditioned, which matters after a morning on Padar.
Citta carries the same party with 8 cabins and the Gayatri room, and costs more. On the shared trip, any of the three works for a pair of walkers who happily share the boat.
The route is identical on all three, so the choice is about who you walk with. Rinca, the other island people mention when they say hiking, is not on the route. If you want it, ask us and we confirm in writing whether the captain can fit it in.
Three walks on the route: Kelor, Padar, Komodo
Each walk sits on a different day, and the boat is base camp for all of them.
Day 1. Manjarite is a snorkel to warm up. Kelor is the first walk: a short, steep climb of 15 to 30 minutes to a bay viewpoint, on a dry path where sturdy shoes help. Kalong at sunset is the rest.
Day 2. This is the walking day. Padar comes first, at sunrise, with a climb of about 25 to 45 minutes. Pink Beach follows for a swim. The Komodo walk comes next, led by a ranger. Manta Point closes the day in the water.
Day 3. Sebayur and Taka Makassar are snorkelling stops with no climbs. The legs get a rest.
Padar is the first stop of day 2, so the hardest climb comes while you are fresh and the heat has not arrived. The captain decides on the day whether weather or tide moves a stop.
Day 1
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:00 | Pickup from your Labuan Bajo hotel or the airport, around 09:00 | — | passport or ID |
| · | Boarding and safety briefing | — | |
| · | Snorkeling at Manjarite | — | mask and snorkel |
| · | Trekking at Kelor Island | — | shoes with grip, water |
| · | Kalong Island at sunset, flying foxes | — | a light layer |
| · | Dinner on board | — | |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. Where the boat anchors for the night depends on the weather and the captain's decision on the day. | ||
Day 2
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Padar Island, trek to the top for the view over the island | — | shoes with grip |
| · | Pink Beach, snorkeling and time on the beach | — | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Komodo Island trek to see Komodo dragons | — | closed shoes, park ticket |
| · | Manta Point, snorkeling to see manta rays. Sightings are not guaranteed Tide | — | mask and snorkel |
| · | Dinner on board | — | |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. Where the boat anchors for the night depends on the weather and the captain's decision on the day. | ||
Day 3
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Sebayur Island, snorkeling | — | mask and snorkel |
| · | Taka Makassar, snorkeling and time on the beach Tide | — | hat, water |
| · | Drop-off in Labuan Bajo around 12:00, to your hotel or the airport | — | flight after 14:00 |
Times are operating patterns, not a timetable. Pickup is the only promise we make by the clock.
Padar: difficulty, heat and timing
Padar is rated moderate. It is not a technical climb, and it is not a stroll. The path is loose and steep in places, and the climb to the main viewpoint takes about 25 to 45 minutes. The upper ridge takes longer. Padar has no dragons and no beach stop: the point is the ridge viewpoint over three bays with differently coloured sand.
Guests leave the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise, so a headtorch helps and so does a small bag. Sunrise falls at different times through the year, as the table shows, and the start time moves with it.
Nobody has to go to the top. A guest who sits out the climb can stay with the crew on the boat, and the walkers lose nothing but company. The ridge is busiest in July, August and December.
| Month | Sunrise | Leave the boat by | On the ridge by |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:54 | 04:49 | 05:34 |
| February | 06:05 | 05:00 | 05:45 |
| March | 06:06 | 05:01 | 05:46 |
| April | 06:04 | 04:59 | 05:44 |
| May | 06:07 | 05:02 | 05:47 |
| June | 06:14 | 05:09 | 05:54 |
| July | 06:18 | 05:13 | 05:58 |
| August | 06:12 | 05:07 | 05:52 |
| September | 05:56 | 04:51 | 05:36 |
| October | 05:39 | 04:34 | 05:19 |
| November | 05:31 | 04:26 | 05:11 |
| December | 05:38 | 04:33 | 05:18 |
Computed for the location; accurate to a few minutes. The crew shifts wake-up with the actual swell.
The Komodo walk with a ranger
Komodo Island is the walk with the animals. The dragons are wild. It is not a zoo, sightings are likely and never guaranteed, and no one walks without a park ranger. Ranger-guided walks start at the Loh Liang station. Short, medium and long trails exist, and the itinerary does not name which one your group takes. The ranger and the guide set it on the day, and most itineraries take the shorter trail, which lasts 45 minutes to 2 hours.
The walk is easy underfoot but exposed. There is little shade, so long sleeves or sunscreen and closed shoes matter more than fitness.
Park entry is paid per person and is never part of a fare: IDR 250,000 for international guests and IDR 50,000 for Indonesian guests on a weekday. Ranger fees are paid separately and can change, so none is quoted here.
What to wear and bring
The bring list names sunblock, sunglasses or a beach hat, snacks, a dry bag and swimsuit, trekking sandals, wet wipes, personal medicine and a Telkomsel SIM card. We add one thing: closed shoes for Komodo and Padar. Sandals are fine for Kelor's dry path and for the beach, but the trails on the other two reward a closed shoe with grip.
Carry water in a light bag. Mineral drink, coffee and tea are included on board, and a refilled bottle goes in the bag for the climb. Phone signal comes and goes between islands.
The cabins have air conditioning, and every boat has a sun deck and a dining area. Use them as the recovery space that makes the second morning possible.
Hiking plus snorkelling: the pace of three days
Three days put walking and swimming in a good rhythm. Day 1 is the lightest, day 2 the hardest and day 3 the gentlest. A hiker who wants more climbing will find the route short on it, with Padar the one real effort. A snorkeller will find five water stops among the nine.
Hikers land on the Thursday: the boats leave from Labuan Bajo only, and a flight from Bali takes about 1 hour 10 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes. Check the current timetable. The shared trip leaves every Friday and ends around 12:00 on day 3, so book flights home after 14:00 on the Sunday. On a private charter, pickup and drop-off are agreed in writing.
The private charter price covers the boat, crew, meals and snorkelling gear. Guide and documentation are not included; both are available on request and quoted separately.
For six friends who walk hard: Kanha Natha. For a hiking club of twelve: Kanha Loka.
FAQ
How hard is the Padar hike?
Padar is rated moderate. The climb to the main viewpoint takes about 25 to 45 minutes on a path that is loose and steep in places, and the upper ridge takes longer. Sturdy shoes matter. Nobody has to climb; the boat is the base for anyone who stays.
How long is the Komodo Island walk?
The ranger-led walk takes 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the trail. Short, medium and long trails exist, and the ranger sets the one your group takes on the day. No one walks without a park ranger, and sightings of the dragons are likely but never guaranteed.
Is Rinca Island on the route?
No. The 3D2N route runs Manjarite, Kelor, Kalong, Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo, Manta Point, Sebayur and Taka Makassar. If you want Rinca, ask us and we confirm in writing whether the captain can add it, since the itinerary is flexible on request.
Do I pay the park fee and the ranger fee on top?
Yes. Park tickets and ranger fees are never part of a fare. Park entry is IDR 250,000 for international guests and IDR 50,000 for Indonesian guests on a weekday. Ranger fees are paid separately and can change, so none is quoted here.
What shoes should I wear for the hikes?
Closed shoes with grip for Padar and Komodo, where the path is loose and shade is scarce. Sandals are enough for Kelor's dry path and for the beaches. The bring list names trekking sandals, sunblock, a hat or sunglasses, and a dry bag.
Check availability — Kanha Phinisi
Kanha Phinisi is one of the three Kanha boats we book as the booking partner of their owner; PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia sells, answers and stands behind your booking.