Patungan Pinisi
Patungan Pinisi
Getting to Labuan Bajo for a group boat trip
Updated 27 October 2026
To get to Labuan Bajo for a boat trip from Jakarta, Bali or Surabaya, fly to Komodo airport (LBJ) and arrive the day before. Pickup from the airport or a hotel is free for your group of up to 14. The pickup time is agreed on WhatsApp with the deposit.
Flights to Komodo airport, LBJ
Labuan Bajo's airport is Komodo International Airport, code LBJ, and it is about 10 minutes by car from the harbor area. Most travelers connect through Bali (DPS), Jakarta (CGK) or Surabaya (SUB). Smaller feeders come from Lombok and Kupang.
The table below lists the routes, the airlines and the flight times. Check the airline for the day you fly.
For a group of 14, pick one arrival day and keep everyone on it. One day means one pickup plan, one hotel night and no one waiting at the harbor for a late flight. People coming from different cities can still land at different hours on that day.
Book your own flight. We do not sell tickets, and flights are never in a boat fare. We help you choose them and set the timing: tell us the flight numbers and we agree the pickup around them.
| Airport | Komodo International Airport, code LBJ |
|---|---|
| Usual connections | Bali (DPS), Jakarta (CGK) or Surabaya (SUB); Lombok and Kupang are smaller feeders |
| Flight time to Labuan Bajo | From Bali about 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 min; from Surabaya about 1 h 30 min; from Jakarta 2 h 30 min to 3 h; from Lombok about 1 h |
| Airlines | Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Citilink and Indonesia AirAsia from Bali and Jakarta; Super Air Jet from Surabaya; Wings Air on the shorter island routes. Schedules change, so check before you book. |
| Airport to the harbour | 2 to 3 km, about 10 minutes by car |
Rates checked 11 October 2026
Money, SIM cards and connectivity
Bring cash for the first day. ATMs line the main road near the harbor and sit at the airport arrivals, and there are none inside the park or on the islands. Cards work at hotels and larger restaurants, while small shops and warungs take cash or QRIS only.
The table below frames the money facts. Withdrawal limits and fees depend on your bank, so ask your bank before you fly.
For a phone, Telkomsel has the best coverage in town and out at sea. Register a SIM with a passport, or install an eSIM before you land. Signal at the anchorages comes and goes with where the boat stops.
On the boats, Nusantara Karya has Starlink Wi-Fi, and Arham Jaya 2 has local Wi-Fi, not satellite.
| Currency | Indonesian rupiah (IDR); about IDR 16,000 to 16,500 to the US dollar and IDR 17,500 to 18,000 to the euro in mid-2026 |
|---|---|
| ATMs | BCA, Mandiri, BNI and BRI on Jl. Soekarno-Hatta near the harbour and at airport arrivals; none in the national park or on the islands. Take cash before you board. |
| ATM limits | IDR 1,250,000 to 3,000,000 per withdrawal; a local fee of about IDR 25,000 to 50,000, plus your own bank's charges |
| Cards or cash | Cards work at hotels, dive centres, boat companies and larger restaurants, often with a surcharge of 2 to 4 per cent. Small eateries, markets, taxis and small shops take cash. |
| Tipping | Appreciated, never compulsory. In restaurants 5 to 10 per cent when no service charge is added; for a boat crew, IDR 50,000 to 100,000 per guest per day is a common range. |
Rates checked 11 October 2026
Visa and health
This is the part of the page to verify at the official source before you fly. Entry rules and fees change, so check each line of the fact table below against the official source.
Many nationalities can get a 30-day visa on arrival, or apply for it online as an e-VoA before the trip. Other nationalities must get a visa before flying. Use the official immigration site only, because third-party sellers add their own fees.
A fee increase for the visa on arrival was announced in August 2026. When we checked, no start date had been confirmed. Read the current fee on the immigration site before you pay.
Health is simpler. Take travel insurance with medical cover and evacuation, bring your own medicines, and use sealed or filtered water for drinking. Mosquito bites are the common risk, so pack repellent.
| Visa on Arrival (VoA) | Open to nationals of 97 listed countries, including most of Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, South Korea, China, India and the Gulf states. Other nationalities apply in advance at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. |
|---|---|
| e-VoA | The same 30-day visa, applied for online before you travel at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Once approved, you must enter within 90 days. |
| VoA / e-VoA price | IDR 500,000 per person; children pay the same. Fees can change, so check the official site before you fly. |
| Length of stay | 30 days from the day you arrive, single entry |
| Extension | Once, by 30 days (60 days in total), for IDR 500,000. Apply at an immigration office about a week before the first 30 days end. |
| Visa-free entry | 30 days, not extendable, for citizens of ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date, with at least 2 blank pages |
| Onward ticket | Proof of a return or onward ticket is required for a VoA |
| All Indonesia arrival card | Free and compulsory. Fill it in within 72 hours before arrival at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id or in the app; it covers immigration, customs and the health declaration. |
| Arriving in Labuan Bajo | Most visitors clear immigration in Bali, Jakarta or Surabaya and reach Labuan Bajo on a domestic flight |
| Bali tourist levy | IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor if you enter through Bali, paid at lovebali.baliprov.go.id. It is separate from the visa fee. |
Rates checked 11 October 2026 · Entry rules and fees change: confirm them on the official immigration site before you travel.
Arrive the day before
Flights into Labuan Bajo run late and early, and the first morning on the boat is the most valuable one. A group that lands the day before keeps the first stop and the first swim.
The Nusantara Karya private charter picks you up at 10:00, and the other two boats agree the time on WhatsApp with the deposit. Pickup in Labuan Bajo is free, in both directions, from a hotel, the airport or the harbor.
Fly home after 14:00 on the last day, so the drop-off and the drive to the airport fit.
Fly in the day before and put the group in triples or fours. One extra hotel night keeps the first morning for all 14 of you, and triples or fours keep that night affordable.
A larger vehicle for the whole group is quoted as its own line. The hotels page lists areas and drive times, and the park fees page prices the ticket.
FAQ
Do I need a visa?
Many nationalities get a 30-day visa on arrival or apply online as an e-VoA, and others must get a visa before flying. Check the official immigration site for your passport. A fee increase was announced in August 2026 with no confirmed start date, so read the fee before you pay.
Which airport do I fly into?
Komodo International Airport, code LBJ, in Labuan Bajo. It is about 10 minutes by car from the harbor area. Most groups connect through Bali, Jakarta or Surabaya. Pickup from the airport to your hotel or the harbor is free.
Can I fly in the same morning?
You can, but it risks the first stop. A late flight eats the morning, and a delay can cost the day. Fly in the day before. Pickup is at 10:00 on the Nusantara Karya private charter; for the other two boats the time is agreed on WhatsApp with the deposit.
Is there ATM cash?
Yes, in Labuan Bajo: ATMs sit near the harbor and at the airport arrivals. There are none in the park or on the islands, so take cash before you board. Cards work at hotels and larger restaurants, and small shops take cash or QRIS.
Is tap water safe?
No. Drink sealed or filtered water only. Mineral water is included on Nusantara Karya and Segara Liveaboard. Bring a refillable bottle for the days in town and on land.
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