Visiting Komodo Dragons in Indonesia: How To Plan The Perfect Trip

Seeing the dragons on Komodo Island in Flores, Indonesia, was a bucket-list experience and a memory that will stay with me forever.

I have a fascination with lizards, both small ones like geckos and larger ones like monitor lizards, and, of course, the largest lizard in the world, the Komodo dragon.

I was travelling to Indonesia for six weeks, and seeing these huge dinosaur-like creatures would be a highlight, but first, I had to obtain critical information.

How was I to get to Komodo Island? Would a Komodo dragon tour be ethical? And most importantly, how likely was I to see the fabled dragons that call Komodo Island their home, after all, wild animals don't make appearances on demand, do they?

In this travel post, I share key information I gathered for my trip to help you plan your perfect Komodo itinerary.

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As of April 2026, the government has limited daily visitor capacity on Komodo, Rinca, and Padar to 1000, on a first-come, first-served basis. If you don't book your boat trips well in advance, there's a good chance you'll miss the dates you want to visit. This action has been taken to reduce tourism pressure on Komodo National Park's fragile ecosystem and to support ongoing conservation efforts.

Is Flores worth visiting?

To avoid confusion, please note that Flores is an island in Eastern Indonesia, part of the East Nusa Tenggara province. Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is in Flores. Within the national park are two islands where you can see Komodo dragons: Komodo and Rinca. Labuan Bajo is the central town and harbour, from where the Komodo boat trips leave.

Flores is a travel destination that ticks all the boxes for an amazing adventure. Activities in Komodo National Park include seeing the dragons. Snorkelling and scuba diving in the clear Indian Ocean to see manta rays and a wealth of colourful fish varieties. Hiking Padar Island for the most insane viewpoint and lounging on pink beaches.

Getting To Flores from Bali or Java

First things first, you'll want to know how to get to Flores - no worries, I have you covered!

All trips to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Komodo National Park start in Labuan Bajo, Flores. Flores is the neighbouring island to Bali, so many people organise their trip to Indonesia to include both destinations, which is exactly what I did; I also added Lombok and Java.

My Flores Travel Itinerary Flight from Denpasar, Bali to Labuan Bajo, Flores. First night at Seaesta Hotel. Three days on board a Komodo cruise. Two nights back in Labuan Bajo at Sudamala Resort, Komodo. Flight back from Labuan Bajo, Flores, to Denpasar, Bali.

Flying to Flores independently rather than part of an organised tour

Flights from Bali (Denpasar) to Labuan Bajo (Flores) take one hour. Be aware that they are not available every day, so plan ahead, especially for peak-season flights (July-August).

You can also book a flight from Jakarta (Java) to Labuan Bajo (Flores), which takes 2 hours and 25 minutes.

Angie's Top Tip: If you can book a seat on the left-hand side of the plane when flying into Labuan Bajo, you will get a great view of the archipelago.

If your flight arrives mid-morning, you'll miss that day's trips because the tour boats depart for Komodo National Park early in the morning. You'll need to book a tour for the following day.

Make sure to book an overnight stay on the day your flight arrives.

We stayed at SEAESTA HOTEL & HOSTEL for our first night, which was a fantastic choice and very reasonably priced. Guests at the hotel were all in Labuan Bajo for the same reasons - to see the dragons, go snorkelling, see pink beach and explore Flores' hidden gems like Kalimutu Volcano.

Flying to Flores as part of an organised tour to Komodo from Bali

It is possible to book an all-inclusive package tour from Bali to Komodo.

Fly into Labuan Bajo early in the morning and fly out in the evening. If you enjoy slow travel, you'll hate this option; however, if this is the only chance you'll have to visit Komodo, grab it with both hands because you won't want to miss visiting one of the world's most beautiful islands.

Your tour operator will arrange return flights and a day cruise around the islands. All operators have their own schedules, so ensure their offerings align with your plans.

Close encounters with the Komodo Dragons

The top reason travellers visit Flores is to see the dragons found on two islands. Komodo is the best-known island, home to the most dragons and the one from which they take their name; Rinca Island is less well-known, with fewer dragons and fewer tourists. Komodo dragons (Varanus Komodoensis) are listed as endangered on the Red List, with an estimated 3,458 remaining in Indonesia.

Check out this video of my tour group meeting the Komodo dragons

I visited Komodo Island with the other guests on a liveaboard cruise. We had a photographer/videographer travelling with us, and so we were lucky to have him capture all the magical moments we experienced.

This video shows us arriving at the jetty in Komodo National Park, walking with the island guide (you can't walk around without one), and meeting the mighty dragons.

Is it ethical to visit the Komodo dragons?

This is a bone of contention amongst the wildlife/environmental community. Should so many visitors be descending upon an island homing the world's only remaining endangered Komodo dragons?

I can only comment from my own experience, but I felt that visiting the Komodo dragons was an ethical animal experience. When we arrived first thing in the morning, we were the only boat at Komodo Island. I believe this rare privilege was due to our cruise being anchored nearby.

As we were leaving, I noticed many more tourists streaming along the jetty and onto Komodo Island, so I am pleased I was able to see these rare, endemic reptiles at a leisurely pace. I am also pleased to learn of the new 2026 rule limiting daily visitor entry to Komodo National Park to 1,000.

Meeting our Komodo Island ranger

Once off the jetty, an island ranger appeared and provided instructions for our visit. No loud noises, no touching plants, no trying to go near a dragon and no venturing off the path. Seems sensible, but he told us many visitors don't follow his instructions, which makes things dangerous for everyone, including the dragons.

Facts about Komodo dragons

Before we started our walk, our ranger provided us with information about Komodo dragons.

• Dragons once lived on five islands in Southeast Indonesia: Komodo, Rinca, Flores, Gili Motang, and Padar. They are now only on the Komodo and Rinca Islands. Komodo is the island where you will see the most dragons.

• They have complex venom glands (not just bacteria on their teeth) that prevent blood from clotting, causing a victim to go into shock and subsequently die.

• A female Komodo dragon can reproduce without a male partner and lays around 30 eggs, which take up to 8 months to hatch. This addresses the challenge of finding a mate on these isolated islands. This strange phenomenon of a virgin birth is called parthenogenesis and is common in hundreds of other species!

• Komodo dragons taste the air with a forked tongue and don’t smell with their noses. They can detect a carcass from nearly 6 miles (9 km) away.

• These are the largest lizards on Earth, and can grow up to 10 feet (3 meters) in length and weigh in at over 300 pounds (136 kg).

• Baby Komodo dragons are at risk of being eaten by their hungry parents, so they spend the first few years of their lives living in trees.

• They have approximately 60 serrated teeth, much like those of the Great White Shark, which are frequently replaced throughout their lives.

• A dragon can eat up to 80% of its own body weight in one sitting. Because their metabolism is slow, a large dragon can survive on just one big meal a month. Komodo dragons eat baby dragons, monkeys, deer, rabbits, and wild boar.

• Dragons can sprint at speeds of 12-13 mph (20 kph), despite appearing so cumbersome. They are also excellent swimmers and can travel between islands.

• Komodo dragons can swim, which is how they get from island to island to find food, a mate or a new home.

• At the top of the predator chain, nothing on the islands can kill a dragon. Sadly, humans are their biggest threat through poaching (yes, locals still hunt them for meat) and overtourism, which destroys their habitat.

• Fossil evidence found in Australia indicates that Komodo dragons have been around for at least 4 million years.

Is a sighting of a Komodo dragon guaranteed?

Our island ranger had said he couldn't guarantee a sighting of a dragon, which is when my heart sank, but he knew exactly where to find them. It's much like being on safari, where rangers know which locations certain animals favour.

We didn't have to go far to spot our first Komodo dragon; he was sunning himself by the pier as we disembarked. It really was one of those WOW moments for me, and the gasps and pointing from my fellow cruise passengers meant it was a magical moment for them, too.

If that one huge dragon was the only one I had seen, I would have been happy. But as we followed our ranger through the bush, we spotted another one slinking towards us with its sideward swagger before disappearing into the undergrowth. We then came across four more lounging by a small puddle of water.

How close can you get to a Komodo dragon?

Our ranger told us to be quiet and just observe, which we did. A 6ft gap between them and us was maintained, and our ranger had a fierce-looking stick (more a chiselled branch) held tightly in his hand, ready to fend off any Komodo dragon which took a liking to his tour group. He reminded us that Komodo dragons can move very quickly if they want to!

After watching the dragons lie there motionless, one moved, and we all backed up quickly. But it all seemed too much for him, or it could have been a her, and the dragon sank back down on its belly, legs spread out and returned to slumberland.

The largest and most fierce-looking dragon was awake, and as it slowly turned its head to survey its prey (us), a butterfly landed on its nose. The most delicate insect meets one of the world's most ferocious predators. A moment in nature which made me smile.

At this point, our ranger told us, in turn, to squat down, and he would take a photo of us that would appear as if we were right by the dragon. His photo skills were great (he does this a lot), and he positioned us 6ft away to make it look like we were next to Goliath the dragon, as I named him.

The photos speak for themselves, don't you think? It looks like we are right beside him, but we are not. The skills of a good photographer are priceless.

Are Komodo Dragons drugged?

There are questions surrounding why the Komodo dragons are so sleepy. Tourists report hearing from rangers firsthand that this method is used to sedate them within visitor groups. To my knowledge, this has not been confirmed by an official investigation, and was not disclosed to my group.

Much like humans who doze off in the heat of a sunny day, these cold-blooded creatures do the same. In the Indonesian heat, they will like nothing better than to snooze all day, which is why they look so inactive. Believe me, when they need to hunt, they can move like Usain Bolt!

The best time to visit Komodo National Park

My visit to Komodo was in the summer month of July, and it was perfect. From May to August, the weather is favourable, making it a good time to visit Indonesia's islands.

July and August are the driest months, and although you might get a splattering of rainfall, it comes and goes quite quickly, so it won't interfere with any plans.

Daily temperatures range from 30 to 32 degrees. The evenings are cooler, 22-25 degrees. Out at sea, there is a nice breeze.

If you are adding a snorkelling trip to your Komodo itinerary, you'll be able to tick a fantastic underwater experience off your bucket list as you swim alongside manta rays, vibrant fish and healthy coral.

The dragons will be around whatever month you visit, but it's best to avoid the rainy season, January, February, and March. No one wants to be trudging ankle deep in muddy rainwater looking for dragons, do they!

What to wear on Komodo Island

I wasn't prepared for the humidity that hit me once we were in the bush on Komodo Island. It was hot and sticky at times quite unbearable. Looking around at my tour party, I noticed we were all very red-faced from the heat, with hair sticking to our heads and sweat running down our backs. It doesn't sound great, but it was worth seeing the dragons, whatever the weather!

Angie's Top Tip: Make sure you wear thin cotton clothes. No thick material t-shirts or long trousers. Wear shorts or a day dress for the ladies and shorts and a thin t-shirt for the men. Closed-toe footwear is recommended, as there are many prickly leaves and sticks on the pathways that can scratch your feet if you wear flip-flops or sandals (I'm speaking from experience).

And last but most importantly, bring plenty of water. And bring cash, so if you need more at the end of your dragon tour around the island, you will be able to pick some up from the souvenir stalls by the jetty. They also sell food and coconut water (freshly prepared), which is great for hydrating.

My final thoughts on seeing the Komodo dragons

I always had this down as a bucketlist experience, and believe me, it was just that. Seeing the closest living relatives of the dinosaurs is remarkable, as is knowing these massive lizards are found only in one small corner of our vast planet. That alone is pretty humbling.

Flores is one of the best places in Asia to encounter wildlife. From the sealife and the reptiles, to the birds and the bats (I saw thousands crossing overhead as I sipped a G&T aboard my cruise boat one evening) and I, for one, am grateful to have experienced it all.