For wider arrangements, our partner komodoboatcharter can coordinate end to end.
What Does the Full Lombok to Komodo Route Look Like, Stop by Stop?
The complete Lombok to Komodo route covers roughly 200 nautical miles of eastbound sailing, normally spread over 4 days and 3 nights: Kayangan Harbor → Kenawa Island → Saleh Bay → Komodo Island → Padar Island → Pink Beach → Kelor Island → Labuan Bajo. The two long legs — along the north coast of Sumbawa and across the Sape Strait — are sailed overnight while guests sleep, so daylight hours are kept free for islands, treks, and snorkeling. Here is every stop in order, with a link to our dedicated guide for each one:
- Kayangan Harbor, East Lombok — the real departure point for most Komodo boats. Full guide: Kayangan Harbor: where Komodo boats really depart.
- Kenawa Island — a small sandbank island off West Sumbawa; first swim stop about 3–4 hours in. See Kenawa Island, your first stop out of Lombok.
- Saleh Bay, Sumbawa — calm anchorage known for seasonal whale shark encounters. Details in Saleh Bay whale shark snorkeling.
- Komodo Island — ranger-guided dragon trekking inside Komodo National Park (guides are mandatory, as of 2026).
- Padar Island — the famous three-bay viewpoint hike, usually at sunrise. See the Padar viewpoint guide.
- Pink Beach — rose-tinted sand and easy reef snorkeling; explained in why Pink Beach sand is pink.
- Kelor Island — a short hill climb and final swim before port. See Kelor and Kanawa, the last stops before Labuan Bajo.
- Labuan Bajo, Flores — disembarkation, with same-day flight connections to Bali.
How Many Sailing Hours Are There Between Each Stop?
The figures below assume a motor-sailer or phinisi cruising at 7–9 knots. They are approximate: currents in the Alas Strait and especially the Sape Strait can add or remove an hour or more on the long legs.
| Leg | Approx. distance | Typical sailing time |
|---|---|---|
| Kayangan Harbor → Kenawa Island | 20–25 nm | 3–4 hours |
| Kenawa Island → Saleh Bay | 55–65 nm | 8–10 hours, partly overnight |
| Saleh Bay → Komodo Island | 90–100 nm | 12–14 hours, overnight |
| Komodo Island → Padar Island | 8–10 nm | 1–1.5 hours |
| Padar Island → Pink Beach | 5–7 nm | about 1 hour |
| Pink Beach → Kelor Island | 15–18 nm | 2–2.5 hours |
| Kelor Island → Labuan Bajo | 5–6 nm | 45–60 minutes |
Where Do You Sleep Each Night at Anchor?
On a typical 4D3N boat trip from Lombok to Komodo Island, night one is spent underway or anchored off Kenawa after the afternoon crossing; night two at anchor in Saleh Bay after the whale shark session; and night three inside Komodo National Park, usually in a sheltered bay near Padar or Pink Beach so the sunrise hike starts before the heat. Schedules vary slightly by operator and season — westerly swells from roughly January to March can shift anchorages — so treat this pattern as the standard template rather than a fixed timetable.
Which Itinerary Matches This Route?
This stop-by-stop route is exactly what our 4D3N Lombok to Komodo tour packages follow, while the 5-day version adds Manta Point and Rinca. If you prefer a private cabin or full charter for the crossing, compare the Lombok to Komodo liveaboard cruise packages.
Planning your own Lombok to Komodo sailing trip for 2027? Message the Komodo Luxury team on WhatsApp +62 811-3823-875 or email bd@juaraholding.com for current departure dates and cabin availability — part of Juara Holding Group, operating from Bali across Indonesia since 2015.