Plan a trip to see the beauty of Komodo Island can be economical and cheap. You can find tips and tricks for a vacation to Komodo Island that don’t burn your pockets.
Cheap Travel Tips to Komodo Island
What are some cheap travel tips to Komodo Island that you can follow to keep your holiday funds healthy? Here’s the review!
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Tip 1: Research
Before you buy a plane ticket, book accommodation or choose a travel agent, you should do some pre-trip research to understand what you have to do on Komodo Island and the estimated cost for each activity. With research, you can compare the cost of a vacation for each.
Tip 2: Buy a Promo
Unless you can fly directly to the nearest spot, it is common to take domestic flight in Indonesia (where Komodo Island is located). You can buy plane tickets to Bali or Lombok. This is where you get started: by buying promo tickets.
Airline often do air ticket promos, especially at the beginning of the year where you can buy plane tickets in advance at very cheap prices for vacation.
You must be fast and always update with the promo. Subscribe to a newsletter or magazine, where the airline will immediately send you an email about discounts and promos directly.
Tip 3: Choose Cheap Transportation to Labuan Bajo
There are many transportation options to Labuan Bajo, some by land, air and sea. By land, you can choose a night bus at a cost of $40, where this fee includes the cost of crossing Bali to Lombok, then to Sumbawa and Sape to Labuan Bajo with a travel time of 36 hours.
If you are having trouble traveling by bus, you can use the sea route with the PELNI ship with the route Benoa – Ampenan – Bima – Labuan Bajo. The boat ticket for economy class is $20 and departs from Benoa port at 09.00 am and arrives in Labuan Bajo the next day at 05.00pm.
The last option is the air route, although this is the fastest route option, the price tends to be more expensive than other transportation options.
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Tip 4: Cheap Lodging
There are many lodging options on Komodo Island, for example, a simple bed, you only need to pay $2 per night. This price is for a fisherman’s inn, which is usually used by fishermen who don’t have time to return home after sailing.
The second cheapest lodging is an inn like a hotel, only with a shared bathroom. The price is only $5 – $7 per room. If you want something more private, you can choose a hotel with a private bathroom and equipped with air conditioning at a price of $10 – $20 per night.
Budget Simulation for Komodo Island Trip
Next is a simulation of the estimated cost of a trip to Komodo Island.
Day 1: Travel to Bali, followed by the PELNI Ship
For example, you depart from Jakarta using domestic airline, then you have to pay approximately $50. Then, for the PELNI ship to Labuan Bajo you have to pay $25.
This ticket price includes the price of a simple meal. To save costs, you can find the time to land in Bali around 6 am, then take the boat at 9 am and arrive the next day at 5 pm.
Total cost for day 1: $75.
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Day 2: Arrive in Labuan Bajo, Overnight and Rest
When you arrive in Labuan Bajo, you can look for cheap accommodation at a price of $5 per person and eat at food stalls around the inn for approximately $2.
Total cost for day 2: $7.
Day 3: Tour to Komodo National Park
After you have breakfast (estimated cost $1 per person), you can go directly to Komodo National Park with an entrance ticket price of $20. Inside Komodo National Park, you can visit Loh Liang or Komodo Island and Loh Buaya or Rinca Island. The ticket includes a ticket to Rinca Island.
However, the entrance ticket does not include the price of the ferry to the two islands. The price for one boat rental is $150 to $200 and if you want it cheap, you can go in groups. During the trip, you can enjoy the beauty of the sea, then upon arrival on Komodo Island, you can see the habitat and witness the cold-blooded Komodo in person.
After from Komodo Island, you will go to Rinca Island, which is still filled with dry grass, large trees. In here, you will not find the same natural scenery on other islands. On the way home, while resting, you can enjoy the beautiful sunset.
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Total cost for day 3: $40 (Group = 10 people)
Day 4: Heading to Mirror Cave, return to Jakarta through Bali
You can use public transportation to go to Mirror Cave, one of the tourist attractions in Labuan Bajo. Then, return to the port, and use the PELNI Ship back to Bali and continue with the last flight to Jakarta.
Total cost for day 4: $85.
The total cost for the entire trip is $250 with an additional $50 for meals, photos or other emergency needs. Quite affordable, right?
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Bookmark Cheap Travel Tips to Komodo Island
In addition to the methods above, going in groups can also reduce expenses, for example, from lodging costs that can be shared with friends or family to food costs. Besides being more fun, going with a group will also save your travel costs.
