Elbark Cruises
Elbark Cruises
The evening flight over Kalong
Updated 27 October 2026
Some 15 minutes once sunset has passed, the flying foxes of Kalong Island stream out of the mangroves, and Elbark Cruises waits on the water to watch. In July the sun sets at 17:57, so the flight starts soon after. On the five-day sample Kalong closes day three.
Kalong on the third day of a five-day sample
Kalong is a mangrove islet, and the evening stop of its day, which makes it the one moment of the trip when everybody is on deck together with nothing left to do. On the standard three-day route it closes day two, after Pink Beach, Komodo Island and Pengah. On the five-day sample it closes day three, after the morning walk on Komodo.
Nobody lands. The bats are watched from the boat, from the water, in the last light. Kalong is an evening, not a landing.
That is why the stop is easy on a mixed party. Nobody climbs, nobody swims and nobody needs a ticket for the evening itself.
Dusk over Kalong, as the bats take off
The colony takes off from the mangroves some 15 minutes once the sun has set. They go over about 30 minutes, in streams, not in one wave. They are large, and they are quiet.
In July the sun sets at 17:57, in November at 18:01 and in December at 18:14. The table gives every month. The flight follows the sun, so the hour moves with the year.
Watch from the upper deck, with the engine off and the lights low, because the bats pass overhead in long loose lines and the quiet is half of what you came for. A camera that works in dim light helps. We promise no number of bats and no clean sky.
| Month | Sunset | Bats fly from about |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18:27 | 18:42 |
| February | 18:26 | 18:41 |
| March | 18:15 | 18:30 |
| April | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| May | 17:49 | 18:04 |
| June | 17:50 | 18:05 |
| July | 17:57 | 18:12 |
| August | 18:00 | 18:15 |
| September | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| October | 17:55 | 18:10 |
| November | 18:01 | 18:16 |
| December | 18:14 | 18:29 |
Computed for the location and accurate to a few minutes.
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 5 photos
An anchorage that the captain chooses
The captain chooses where the boat lies for the evening, by the wind, the swell and the tide. Some nights the boat sits close to the mangroves. Others, it keeps a distance and lets the dusk come to it.
The night's anchorage is a safety decision before it is a scenic one. A calm bay beats a view. If the sea says to move, the boat moves.
We confirm nothing about the anchorage in advance, because the captain cannot. What we confirm is the rule: the safest bay for that night wins.
Dinner on board after the flight
Dinner is served on board once the bats have gone. The crew has the table ready, the lamps lit and the day behind the party.
For a family with young children, that timing helps. A child who has watched the flight can eat, wash and go to bed in the same hour, without a drive in between. For a group of friends it is the best part of the day.
Tell us about allergies and diets when you write. The cook plans around them, and we confirm what can be done in writing.
FAQ
When do the bats fly?
Around 15 minutes past sunset, with the flight itself running for about 30 minutes. In July the sun sets at 17:57. The hour moves through the year, and the sunset table lists each month. We promise no number of bats.
Where does the boat spend the night?
The anchorage is picked on the day, by the wind, the swell and the tide. It is a safety decision before a scenic one. We do not name the bay in advance, and the written confirmation states that rule, not a bay.
Can we see them from the deck?
Yes. The bats are watched from the boat, and nobody lands. The upper deck gives the widest view, with the engine off and the lights low. Bring a camera that works in dim light, and no sighting is promised.
Is Kalong inside the park?
Kalong is one of the stops of the standard route, which runs inside Komodo National Park. The evening itself is a watch from the water. Park tickets are paid per guest, at IDR 250,000 for a foreign guest, and a ranger levy is separate.
Check availability for Elbark Cruises
Elbark Cruises is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We confirm your cabins, take the payment and arrange the pickup. The boat sails with its own crew.