First time in Indonesia: Komodo travel basics

Start with the passport. It decides the visa, the park ticket line and the boarding pass.

Indonesia lets nationals of 97 listed countries buy a visa on arrival. Other nationalities apply in advance online. The table below carries the date checked on every line.

Rules and fees change. Check your own government's travel advice and the Indonesian immigration site before you book flights.

Passport validity and an onward ticket are the usual checks at the immigration desk. Read the current rule for your nationality, not a list from a blog.

For the trip itself we need each guest's passport details a week before sailing. The boarding pass names must match the manifest, and the park ticket needs the same details.

The airport is Komodo International Airport, code LBJ, close to town and about 10 minutes by car from the harbor area.

Most travelers connect through Bali, Jakarta or Surabaya. Bali to Labuan Bajo takes about 1 hour 10 minutes. Surabaya is about 1 hour 30 minutes, Jakarta about 2 hours 30 minutes or more, and Lombok about 1 hour. Direct international flights are limited, so plan one connection inside Indonesia.

Land the day before sailing. A private charter boards at 10:00, and a flight that is late on boarding day is the plain way a trip loses its first morning. The hotels page lists where to sleep.

Flight times are approximate, and airlines change schedules. We sell no flights and quote none. Book the plane after we confirm the date in writing.

Cash first. The currency is the rupiah. ATMs are in Labuan Bajo town and at the airport, and none are on the islands. Take cash before boarding.

Cards work at hotels and larger restaurants, and some places add a surcharge. Small shops, markets and taxis want cash or QRIS. Tips for the crew and the guide are outside the fare, and a tip is appreciated, not compulsory. Ranger and pier levies are paid on the day, so keep small rupiah notes in a dry bag.

Connectivity is the second limit. On Akassa Cruise, Derya and Giona it is local Wi-Fi, not satellite. Semesta Voyages has satellite internet. We promise no speed on any boat.

A SIM card must be registered with a passport. Set up an eSIM before you fly if your phone takes one.

Power is 230 volts with two-round-pin plugs, types C and F. No boat promises a charging point in the cabin, so bring a power bank for every phone.

Do not drink tap water in Indonesia. The boats carry free-flow mineral water, and the bottle in your hand at Padar should be sealed.

Travel insurance with medical cover and emergency evacuation is strongly recommended for every guest. The fare does not include it.

Mosquito-borne illness is present in Indonesia, so cover up at dusk and use repellent. The best-equipped hospital on Flores is in Labuan Bajo, and serious cases are flown out. That is a reason to buy the insurance, not a reason to worry.

Pharmacies in town have a limited choice. Bring prescription medicines and sunscreen from home, and pack a head torch and shoes with grip for Padar and Kelor.

Sun is the daily risk. Wear reef-safe sunscreen and a hat, carry water on every hike, and expect the deck to be bright. Heat is stronger at midday than at the two light hours that this site is built around.

The dry season runs from April to November and the wet season from December to March. Seas are calmer in the dry months and rougher from December to February. The weather moves the plan more than the calendar does, and the captain decides on the day.

Labuan Bajo is a mixed port town on a mostly Catholic island. Dress modestly away from the beach and the boat: shoulders and knees covered in town, in churches and in villages. Swimwear belongs to the boat and the beaches.

Use the right hand to give and to receive. A light handshake or a nod is a greeting.

In the park the rules are the park's. Dragon treks at Komodo Island and Rinca are ranger-led, and the ranger sets the distance. Never feed an animal. A drone needs a SIMAKSI permit and a daily ticket, and a drone is never allowed at Kalong. The drone rules guide has the sources.

Sailing permission in Labuan Bajo belongs to the harbor authority, and park access to the park authority. Both can close a route at short notice for weather. If the boat cannot sail, we put you on a phinisi of equal or higher standard on the same date, or refund in full within 14 days.

Passengers need a boarding pass with a name that matches the manifest, so carry your passport on the day.