Vinca
Vinca Deluxe Phinisi
Komodo day trip on Vinca: Padar, Pink Beach and the dragons in one long day
Updated 10 October 2026
The day trip on Vinca leaves Labuan Bajo at 09:30 and gets back at 20:00, taking in Padar, Pink Beach and Komodo. It's sold only as a whole-boat charter, from IDR 50,000,000 (≈ USD 3,067) for the smallest band to IDR 60,000,000 (≈ USD 3,681) for the largest. Park fees are extra. A longer route makes better use of the boat.
The day in order
We pick you up at 09:30 from your hotel or the airport. Bring a soft bag if you can, as it stows far more easily on a boat than a hard suitcase. Breakfast is served on board as the boat gets under way.
First stop is Padar and the climb up the ridge. Then, in that order, come lunch, snorkelling at Pink Beach and the trek on Komodo with a park ranger. Dinner is served on the way back, and the boat docks in Labuan Bajo at 20:00.
The captain sets the pace according to tide, wind and the park's own rules, so we don't promise a time at any stop. What we do promise is the 09:30 pickup and dinner on the way home. Bring a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and a dry shirt for the evening: dinner is served at the long table, and nobody rushes it.
Day 1
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 09:30 | Labuan Bajo — Hotel / airport pickup to harbour | — | soft bag, not a hard suitcase |
| · | Breakfast aboard | — | |
| · | Padar — Padar Island trek | — | headtorch, sturdy shoes |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Pink Beach — Snorkelling at Pink Beach | 60–90 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Snack | — | |
| · | Komodo — Komodo Island trek | 30–60 min | |
| · | Dinner | — | |
| 20:00 | Labuan Bajo — Back in Labuan Bajo, drop-off | — |
These stops swap order with tide and wind: Manta Point ⇄ Taka Makassar.
Times are operating patterns, not a timetable. Pickup is the only promise we make by the clock.
What a single day can't fit in
A day trip means no sunrise on Padar. You climb in full daylight, with little shade and some loose, steep stretches, so wear sturdy shoes and carry water. It's a different, hotter climb from the dawn one the overnight routes get.
Kalong isn't on the route, so there are no bats, and there's no Manta Point either. The day trip sticks to its three listed stops with no tide swap, which also makes it the route with the least room to adapt if the weather turns.
The Komodo dragons are wild animals. You'll probably see one, but nobody can guarantee it, and no one walks the trails without a park ranger. The ranger fee is charged on top of the park ticket.
All of that comes with the route, so book it knowing what's missing, and ask us now if any of it matters to you.
How much of the day is spent moving
Vinca cruises at 8 to 12 knots, which is comfortable for a 31 m hull but slow for a day that takes in three islands. A good chunk of the 10 and a half hours between pickup and drop-off is spent under way.
The legs table below lists the crossings we can vouch for. Padar to Pink Beach takes 60 to 90 minutes, and Pink Beach to Komodo 30 to 60. The first crossing, from the harbour out to Padar, isn't in our table, so we don't quote a time for it. Every row has a confidence label, so you can tell a verified time from a rule of thumb.
If time at each stop matters more to you than the boat itself, a speedboat covers this route with less sailing and more time ashore. We don't run one from this site, so that kind of day is better booked elsewhere.
| From | To | Minutes | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labuan Bajo | Kelor | 50–70 | Verified |
| Labuan Bajo | Kanawa | 60–90 | Operating range |
| Labuan Bajo | Sebayur | 90–120 | Operating range |
| Kelor | Manjarite | 30–60 | Operating range |
| Manjarite | Kalong | 50–70 | Operating range |
| Kalong | Padar | 180–240 · Overnight run | Operating range |
| Padar | Pink Beach | 60–90 | Operating range |
| Pink Beach | Komodo | 30–60 | Operating range |
| Komodo | Manta Point | 30–60 | Operating range |
| Manta Point | Taka Makassar | 20–30 | Operating range |
| Taka Makassar | Siaba | 60–90 | Operating range |
| Siaba | Kanawa | 60–90 | Operating range |
| Rinca | Kalong | 30–60 | Operating range |
| Taka Makassar | Padar | 120–180 · Overnight run | Estimate |
| Sebayur | Manta Point | 60–90 | Estimate |
| Kelor | Labuan Bajo | 50–70 | Operating range |
What the day costs
Chartering the whole boat for the day costs IDR 50,000,000 (≈ USD 3,067) for the smallest guest band, IDR 55,000,000 (≈ USD 3,374) for the middle band and IDR 60,000,000 (≈ USD 3,681) for the largest. Each guest beyond that, up to 18, pays IDR 3,000,000 (≈ USD 184). Split ten ways, that's IDR 5,500,000 (≈ USD 337) each.
The fare covers pickup, breakfast, lunch, a snack, dinner, soft drinks, life jackets, snorkelling gear and two paddleboards. It doesn't cover flights, hotels, alcohol, crew tips, personal spending or Komodo National Park fees. Park entry is IDR 250,000 per person for foreign visitors and IDR 50,000 for Indonesians, with the ranger fee and other levies on top.
A tour guide and photo documentation are not in the private day-trip fare. The crew handles the landings and the snorkel stops; if you want a guide or a photographer on board, ask the desk when you book and they are quoted separately.
| Guests | per boat | per person |
|---|---|---|
| 1–5 | IDR 50,000,000 (≈ USD 3,067) | IDR 10,000,000 |
| 6–10 | IDR 55,000,000 (≈ USD 3,374) | IDR 5,500,000 |
| 11–14 | IDR 60,000,000 (≈ USD 3,681) | IDR 4,290,000 |
| Extra guest · max guests 18 | IDR 3,000,000 (≈ USD 184) |
Included
- Airport / hotel transfer in Labuan Bajo
- Sail with VIP boat
- Fully air-conditioned private rooms with en-suite hot shower bathrooms
- Daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner)
- Lounge area with karaoke set
- Afternoon coffee/tea including snack on board
- Soft drinks during trip
- Life jackets
- Snorkelling gear
- 2 stand up paddleboards
- Tour guide (open trip: included; private charter: on request, quoted separately)
- Documentation by GoPro, mirrorless & drone (open trip: included; private charter: on request, quoted separately)
- Dinner on the beach (private: minimum 4D3N)
Not included
- Airfare
- Personal expenses
- Alcoholic beverages (you can bring your own)
- Hotel stays in Labuan Bajo
- Crew gratuities / tipping
- Komodo National Park entrance fees
- Private charter: tour guide and photo/video documentation (available on request)
Who it suits, and who it doesn't
The day trip is for people with a single day to spare between a flight in and a flight out, who want to say they've walked on Padar and seen a dragon. It's also a fair way to find out whether your group enjoys boats before you book something longer.
If you can spare a night, it's not for you. Two days and one night add the bats at Kalong, sunrise on Padar and a proper breather between stops. Nor is it for anyone who wants to wake up on the water, since the day ends with a 20:00 drop-off and a hotel bed.
If you get seasick, bear in mind the day trip keeps you on the water for the whole day with no chance to settle. With no stabilisers on board, think twice about this route.
FAQ
Is one day enough to see Padar and a Komodo dragon?
It's enough to do both, once. You climb Padar in daylight, snorkel at Pink Beach and walk the Komodo trail with a ranger, all between 09:30 and 20:00. There's no slack in the day, though, and a wind that picks up late can cost you a stop.
Can I book one cabin on a day trip, like the open trip?
No. The day trip is a whole-boat charter, from IDR 50,000,000 (≈ USD 3,067). Only the 3D2N open trip is sold by the cabin, departing on Monday & Friday from IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) per person. A day trip doesn't use the cabins at all.
What should I wear for the Padar climb at midday?
Sturdy shoes with good grip, a hat, reef-safe sunscreen and at least a litre of water. There's little shade on Padar and the path is loose in places. Wear lightweight trousers or long shorts, as the grass can scratch, and bring a soft bag rather than a rigid case. It's 25 to 45 minutes up to the main viewpoint.
Is dinner included on the day trip?
Yes. Breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner are all served on board, and soft drinks are included. Alcohol isn't, but you're welcome to bring your own. The boat gets back to Labuan Bajo at 20:00, so you'll have eaten before we drop you at your hotel.
What does a family of five pay in total for the day?
Five people fall in the smallest band, so the whole boat is IDR 50,000,000 (≈ USD 3,067). On top of that comes park entry at IDR 250,000 per foreign visitor or IDR 50,000 per Indonesian, a ranger fee at Komodo and any other levies. Meals are included.
Check availability — Vinca
Vinca is owner-held and run by its own dedicated charter desk.