Labuan Bajo Travel Guide
Labuan Bajo is a small town located in the Flores Island chain and the launching point for visitors looking for the famous Komodo dragons. The marine life in the surrounding area also contributes to it being a popular tourist destination.
Mosques and Churches dot the town, marking it as equally Christian and Muslim. The warring bells and prayer announcements can be viewed as charming or a menace to your sleep, depending on your attitude.
It’s the type of town where a goat might lazily cross the street or a cow might meander its way into your yard. Chickens and their cute little chicks do as they please, and if the Mosque doesn’t start your da,y then the Roosters certainly will. Packing earbuds will help immensely.
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Labuan Bajo Things To Do
Despite its small size and laid-back vibe, the town of Labuan Bajo boasts some of Indonesia’s top things to do and bucket list animals. Tours often combine the different options below. A private boat can be booked to visit the nearby islands in whatever order you choose.
Go On A Komodo Island Tour
Komodo National Park is the only place in the world where you can still find Komodo Dragons in their natural habitat, and it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
You can get within a few feet of them, and your only protection is a local man with a stick.
The park consists of Komodo Island, Rinca Island, and Padar Island, and can easily be seen on a day trip. A boat trip to the island of Komodo can be booked once you land in Labuan Bajo or through your accommodation. I recommend booking your tour after you land in Labuan Bajo so you can be sure of the weather conditions for your date.
Your accommodation might get you a slight discount based on being friends or related to the tour operators, but otherwise, the price for packages is pretty standard throughout Labuan Bajo.
If you cannot stomach waiting until you get to Labuan Bajo, then I recommend you book this tour through Get Your Guide.
Visit a Pink Beach
A beautiful phenomenon of the area is the pink beaches. Red Coral turns to dust as it decomposes and mixes with the sand to make pink sand!
Go Snorkelling at Kanawa Island
Kanawa Island dive site has crystal clear water that is teeming with fish. I was shocked at how many fish I couldn’t see until I dipped my head underwater with a snorkelling mask on. Suddenly, there were dozens of fish all around me.
Take a Trip To Manta Point
Manta Point is a gathering and breeding location for Manta Rays and one of the best places to sight them. I saw 3 Manta Rays just on a snorkelling excursion, but scuba diving would have been better. This was actually my first snorkelling experience ever!
Take Diving Lessons
Labuan Bajo has a thriving scuba diving scene and amazing coral reefs, sharks, and manta rays to explore. The dive operators also have liveaboard options that can take you out to less crowded shores.
Go To The Night Market
Labuan Bajo’s night market reflects the town’s beginnings as a fish market. Pick your fresh fish from the display and have it grilled while you sit at long picnic tables with friendly locals.
Where To Eat In Labuan Bajo
3 Putra
A local recommended this fish stall to me and they did not disappoint. The picnic tables were so busy with locals that we had to wait 15 minutes for a seat. The reward for my patience was perfectly charred grilled fish and delicious morning glory. The owners were so excited to have tourists that they asked to take photos with us after our meal.
Bubur Ayam Labuan 88
Bubur Ayam is an Indonesian rice pudding with shredded chicken and savoury toppings. The version we ate at Bubur Ayam Labuan 88 made my list of the top foods I ate in Indonesia! I came home and started making it myself. It’s so good that I am now a Bubur addict.
Tree Kitchen
Tree Kitchen sells cheap local food and drinks. I enjoyed the Mie Goreng, Bakso, and Bintangs. The server is awesome, there’s a run-down pool table that you can play for free, and they provide free water. The street seemed to be a common animal crossing spot. I watched families of goats and chickens meander across the road while drinking Bintang at Tree Kitchen.
How to Get to Labuan Bajo
The easiest way to arrive is at Labuan Bajo Airport, Komodo International. There are regular flights daily from Soekarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta and Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali.
There is also an overland to the ferry option if you have time. Rome to Rio quoted me 33 hours for the ferry route, so I did not explore that option.
Where To Stay in Labuan Bajo
Manta-Manta Guest House
Manta Manta Guesthouse was a fantastic, clean, affordable option. Located halfway up the hill, they stored our luggage when we arrived early, had mosquito-netted beds, and provided a tea kettle, a safe, and a mini fridge.
I upgraded to Manta Manta Guesthouse after a sweet homestay that unfortunately didn’t have mosquito nets, and I was so relieved to have done so. I highly recommend Manta Manta Guesthouse for your stay in Labuan Bajo.
Why I loved Labuan Bajo
The people in Labuan Bajo were so sincere and happy to have visitors. Locals go about their day with smiles, and except for on Komodo Island, nobody tries to sell you anything! Instead of yelling taxi at me as I walked, a lovely gentleman stopped and asked if we would “prefer to ride instead of walking”. Interacting with the local culture of Labuan Bajo is refreshingly nice and genuine after spending some time in Bali.
I wish I’d had more time to spend in Labuan Bajo. I treated the town like a pit stop for my Komodo dragon adventures and never expected to adore it. I could have spent another week easily just playing terrible pool at Tree Kitchen and drinking Arak with locals
Labuan Bajo is so much more than just the gateway to Komodo Island and is worth visiting. I hope this helps prepare you for a trip to Labuan Bajo and inspires you to stay for at least a few days to explore Labuan Bajo.
Visiting Komodo Island is an awesome experience too. Check out my Komodo Island guide to help you plan that portion of your trip.
Check out what to eat in Indonesia for your next trip.
Thanks so much for reading my Labuan Bajo travel guide. Have a fantastic day and Live Self Happy!
Indonesia Trip Planning Resources
- Booking.com for the largest selection of hotels, condos, and guest houses with reviews and points earned on stays.
- Hostelworld for hostels and rooms. I love renting a private room at a hostel, it’s the best of both worlds.
- Vrbo has whole vacation homes for rent.
- Airbnb has bookings with locals and unique themes.
- Agoda has crazy discounts, but I have booked two listings with them that were not as advertised. I have over a dozen good bookings with them and their selection in Southeast Asia is massive. I recommend using Agoda combined with Google searches of the property.
Flights
- Hopper and Skyscanner scan multiple airlines to compare Mexico flight deals.
- Traveloka is an Indonesian travel company that has sales on airfare and accepts international credit cards.
Tours and Excursions
- Viator has unique experiences, user reviews, and the lowest price guarantee.
- GetYourGuide has exclusive excursions and city activities.
- Klook for hiring drivers for the day and popular activities
