Elbark Cruises
Elbark Cruises
Five days: three treks, five snorkel stops, nothing to cut short
Updated 27 October 2026
Komodo trekking and snorkelling on a 5 day boat trip: Elbark Cruises is yours whole from IDR 200,000,000 (≈ USD 12,270) for ten, with up to 18 aboard. In July the sun rises over Padar at 06:18. The days are a sample route, and the captain and the ranger decide each one.
Five days of walking and swimming, day by day
These are sample days, built from the stops of the standard 3-day route plus Rinca. Final order: the captain's, set with you and confirmed in writing before payment. Three walks and five swims fit into five days without anyone running between them.
Day 1 gives three swims: Sebayur or Siaba, Taka Makassar and Manta Point. Day 2 is the climb of Padar and then Pink Beach for another reef. Day 3 is the walk on Komodo Island, a swim at Pengah and the bats at Kalong. Day 4 is the walk on Rinca and then Manjarite. Day 5 is the short hill at Kelor, and the harbour.
Add up the effort and it spreads well. The longest climb sits on day 2, the second walk on day 3, the third on day 4, and the days before and after are water. The party sleeps aboard each night, and weather plus the captain's call that day settle the anchorage.
Day 1
| What happens | Sailing time | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 08:30 | Pickup from your hotel or any place in the Labuan Bajo city area | — | passport or ID |
| · | Sebayur or Siaba Island | — | mask and snorkel |
| · | Taka Makassar | — | mask and snorkel |
| · | Manta Point | — | mask and snorkel |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. Where the boat spends the night depends on the weather and the captain's decision that day. | ||
Day 2
| What happens | Sailing time | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Padar Island | — | shoes with grip, hat and water |
| · | Pink Beach | — | reef-safe sunscreen |
| 🌙 | Night aboard | ||
Day 3
| What happens | Sailing time | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Komodo Island | — | closed shoes, park ticket |
| · | Pengah Island | — | mask and snorkel |
| · | Kalong Island | — | a light layer |
| 🌙 | Night aboard | ||
Day 4
| What happens | Sailing time | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Rinca Island | — | closed shoes, hat and water |
| · | Manjarite | — | mask and snorkel |
| 🌙 | Night aboard | ||
Day 5
| What happens | Sailing time | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Kelor Island | — | shoes with grip, water |
| · | Back in Labuan Bajo around midday, then to your hotel, the airport or any place in the city area | — |
Stops that can swap places on the day: Manta Point ⇄ Taka Makassar.
Pickup at 08:30 on day 1 is the one fixed hour of an open trip; a private charter's pickup time is set with your date. Every other time on this page is a planning guide, and the captain sets the stop order on the day.
Padar and Rinca: the two climbs a long charter can pace
Padar asks for 25 to 45 minutes of climbing to reach the main viewpoint, and a longer walk continues to the upper ridge. Loose, steep sections make sturdy shoes a necessity. July sunrise at Padar is 06:18 and November sunrise is 05:31, which is why the start time slides through the year. Padar has no dragons.
Rinca and Komodo are ranger-led walks on dry ground, with little shade. The trails come in short, medium and long versions, and the ranger decides which the group takes. No sighting of a dragon is promised on either island.
A long charter can pace these walks. The climb of Padar waits for a cool hour, because day 2 holds nothing else heavy. Rinca comes on day 4, when legs are used to the ground. On a 3-day trip both would have to squeeze into the same short window.
Taka Makassar, Manta Point and the reef at Pengah
Taka Makassar is a crescent sandbank in shallow reef, visible only at low tide, and most snorkellers can swim there. Manta Point is different. The current sweeps snorkellers along the reef, so the swim is supervised and a life jacket, or a strong swimmer within the group, is advised. Tide sets the sequence of the two stops.
Pengah is only a swim stop without a page here, while Pink Beach has its reef right by the sand. Sebayur or Siaba gives the first reef of the trip, with mild current. None of the five stops guarantees a manta ray, a turtle or a shark, and the captain tells the party what the water allows.
The gear on board is snorkelling equipment, a paddleboard and a canoe. Diving is not part of the trip.
Packing for twelve who plan to swim every day
Pack for a week of salt and sun. Sturdy shoes for Padar and Rinca. Bring a hat, long sleeves or a rash vest, and reef-safe sunscreen, as the trails give little shade. A headtorch for an early Padar start. A dry bag for the tender rides, and a second swimsuit so one is always dry.
Water, coffee and tea are free-flow on board, and a personal tumbler is yours to take home. Snorkelling gear is on the boat; a guest with a favourite set can bring their own. Bring any medicine you need, and ask us about anything specific.
Twelve swimmers need little else. The cabin is for sleeping and for hanging wet towels, and the sundeck is for the rest.
Twelve adventurers, the sum for five days
Twelve guests make six pairs, so six of the nine cabins are in use. The boat costs IDR 200,000,000 (≈ USD 12,270) for the first ten, and each of the other two adds IDR 6,000,000 (≈ USD 368). Twelve guests pay IDR 212,000,000 (≈ USD 13,006) for five days, or IDR 17,670,000 (≈ USD 1,084) each.
Per day, per head, the five-day plan wins. The same twelve pay IDR 12,420,000 (≈ USD 762) each for three days. Twelve people who swim every day get more water for each rupiah on the longer plan.
Park tickets are separate. A guide and documentation, if you want them, are quoted separately. A week in 2027 is priced from the current list until a new list is released, and the written price comes before payment.
| Group size | 2D1N | 3D2N | 4D3N | 5D4N | 6D5N |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | IDR 60,000,000 | IDR 70,000,000 | IDR 85,000,000 | IDR 100,000,000 | IDR 115,000,000 |
| 4 | IDR 30,000,000 | IDR 35,000,000 | IDR 42,500,000 | IDR 50,000,000 | IDR 57,500,000 |
| 6 | IDR 20,000,000 | IDR 23,330,000 | IDR 28,330,000 | IDR 33,330,000 | IDR 38,330,000 |
| 8 | IDR 15,000,000 | IDR 17,500,000 | IDR 21,250,000 | IDR 25,000,000 | IDR 28,750,000 |
| 10 | IDR 12,000,000 | IDR 14,000,000 | IDR 17,000,000 | IDR 20,000,000 | IDR 23,000,000 |
| 12 | IDR 10,670,000 | IDR 12,420,000 | IDR 15,080,000 | IDR 17,670,000 | IDR 20,170,000 |
| 14 | IDR 9,710,000 | IDR 11,290,000 | IDR 13,710,000 | IDR 16,000,000 | IDR 18,140,000 |
| 16 | IDR 9,000,000 | IDR 10,440,000 | IDR 12,690,000 | IDR 14,750,000 | IDR 16,620,000 |
| 18 | IDR 8,440,000 | IDR 9,780,000 | IDR 11,890,000 | IDR 13,780,000 | IDR 15,440,000 |
Swipe for more
per person · Whole boat ÷ group size
Where the captain decides, and where the ranger does
The captain decides where the boat goes and when: the sequence of the stops, the anchorage for the night, whether a current is safe, whether the tide allows the sandbar. If the sea says no, the stop moves and the day stays.
The ranger decides on land. Trail, pace, distance from the animals and whether the group turns back are the ranger's calls, made at the trailhead and on the path. Their word ends the discussion, and the party walks on that understanding.
No sighting of dragons, manta rays, turtles or bats is promised. Plan the five days for the walks and the water, and treat every animal as a bonus. If the group includes walkers or swimmers of every level, tell the captain before the first trail, and the plan adjusts.
FAQ
How hard is the Padar climb?
On the loose, steep path to the main viewpoint expect about 25 to 45 minutes, with the upper ridge taking longer. It is moderate for most adults. Sturdy shoes matter. On a 5-day charter it has a day to itself, and the captain picks the hour.
Is Manta Point seasonal?
Sightings follow the tide and the current more than the calendar. Manta sightings are reported most often between July and September and again from December to February, with no promise on any day. The current runs strong here, so the swim is supervised, and wearing a life jacket is the advice.
Can beginners snorkel here?
Yes, at most stops. Taka Makassar, Pink Beach and Sebayur or Siaba have shallow reef and mild current. Manta Point has a strong current, so beginners use a life jacket or stay on board. Gear is on the boat, and nobody is pushed into the water.
What is the secret to not getting seasick?
Sit in the open air with your eyes on the horizon, eat lightly before sailing and stay hydrated. Ask your pharmacist about a remedy before you leave. The boat cruises at 7 to 10 knots. Tell us if someone is prone, and we discuss the cabin plan in writing.
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.