In 2023, it’s not difficult how to get to Labuan Bajo from Overseas. Located in the western part of Flores Island, East Nusa Tenggara, Labuan Bajo is known for its Komodo National Park, home to the famous Komodo Dragons. Did not stop there, Labuan Bajo is a place that offers so much more than that.
Gifted from the Creator himself, Labuan Bajo was blessed with various natural charms, from a wide spread of beautiful hills, to an eyegasm underwater destinations completed with its marine life. To name a few like Kanawa and Seraya island as a good diving and snorkeling point. Place where you can fulfill your love towards marine life, also a place for you to meet the famous Manta Rays.
Moving to Padar island, a spot to catch the beautiful sunrise that will be worth all of your time for trekking. Or just enjoy your time at the boat around Kalong Island while watching the horizon turn its bright color to purple sky while thousands of flying fox bats dance above you.
To say Labuan Bajo is a full package destination is not an exaggeration, proven by the current rising numbers of tourists who come and visit Labuan Bajo. However, it may still confuse some foreign-tourists who want to visit Labuan Bajo, since the information about Labuan Bajo is not as much compared to other big and famous cities in Indonesia. However, through this article, Waturanda Trip will break down the first thing that you need to know before coming to Labuan Bajo, which is How to get to Labuan Bajo from Overseas.
Visa
To start everything off, we will discuss visas for foreigners who want to visit Indonesia. To travel around Indonesia, you can get a Visa on Arrival if your nationality is eligible for Indonesian VOA. Visa on Arrival (VOA) is a visa that allows foreigners to visit Indonesia for 30 days without the need to proceed with a visa from an Indonesian Embassy in your home country.
As of now, there are 169 nationalities that may enter Indonesia using a Visa on Arrival, and 67 of them can extend their Visa on Arrival for an additional 30 days. You may check the Indonesian Embassy website to find out whether your nationality is eligible for Indonesian VoA or not.
However, if your nationality is not on the list, you can still proceed with a visa to the Indonesian Embassy in your home country. Thus, what do you need to fulfill to get an Indonesian Visa on Arrival? No matter which country you are from, you will be required to provide:
- Your passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months from the day you enter Indonesia
- One blank page in your passport
- Proof of return or onwards flights out of Indonesia
How to get to Labuan Bajo from overseas? We will explain it below!
How to Get to Labuan Bajo
So, now how do I get into Labuan Bajo? Here is some information and tips from us! There are several ways for you to reach Labuan Bajo, you can choose by plane, ferry, or even bus depending on your budget. We will elaborate them one by one including the pros and cons of each transportation.
1. By Plane
First way how to get to Labuan Bajo is by plane. International Flights to Labuan Bajo are available via Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Malaysia, thus with the current condition of Komodo International Airport that has not operated for all international flights yet, you can take a flight from some airport in Indonesia that provides direct flight to Labuan Bajo.
If you are in Jakarta, you can take a direct flight from Soekarno Hatta International Airport to Komodo International Airport using Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, or Batik Air. Through Juanda Airport, Surabaya, there are Lion Air and SuperJet who have direct flights to Labuan Bajo. Other than that, there is also a direct flight from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar by Wings Air.
Last but not least, of course, the direct flight from Ngurah Rai International Airport. There are at least 4 airlines that provide direct flight from Bali which are available every single day. Those airlines are Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, Air Asia and Batik Air. The fare of those flights really varies depending on which airline you choose and when you are going.
However, we can say that flight from Ngurah Rai International Airport is slightly cheaper than the other airports. Thus we really recommend you to take a flight from Bali. Other tips that we have for you is to book your flight weeks or months in advance before your departure! It may save you some money than booking it last minute.
2. By Ferry
Second way how to get to Labuan Bajo is by ferry There are plenty of PELNI (National Ferry Service) heading to Labuan Bajo from Benoa Harbor in Bali, Lembar in Lombok, Bima in Sumbawa, Surabaya and Makassar. If you are staying in those cities, and you want to explore Indonesia more, you could definitely take a PELNI to get to Labuan Bajo. The Willis ferry departs for Bima, Benoa, and Surabaya every other Saturday and returns Saturday one week later to go east to Marapokot and Maumere. The Tilongkbila ferry heads to Labuan Bajo from Bima, Lembar and Benoa every other Thursday and returns the following Sunday to go to Makassar and other destinations in Sulawesi.
There is also a ferry from Sape (East Sumbawa) which operates every day and usually arrives around 15.00-16.00 in Labuan Bajo. The return ferry departs around 08:00. Like many Indonesian ferries, this is a mix of trucks, buses, cars and passengers. The cost depends on the class of cabin that you purchased but ranges are about USD 16 to 50. You can visit PELNI’s website or contact any PELNI office for the updated information and ticket reservations. However, since taking the ferry means you have to spend more time on your trip, we don’t really recommend this option if you are not in a long and chill kind of trip.
Transport in Labuan Bajo
It’s so easy yeah how to get to Labuan Bajo. After you have reached Labuan Bajo and you want to explore the town before or after your sailing trips? Don’t worry we gotchu with some information that you need to know before you explore the town. Labuan Bajo is a small town that you can definitely explore in just a few days. Although it may not be as big as Bali or other big and well known areas of Indonesia, there’s still various places that you can explore during your stay there. Therefore we will discuss transportation to get you around Labuan Bajo, since there will be some options that you can choose.
1. Ojek
Ojek is basically a motorcycle taxi that carries one passenger, who “rides pillion” behind the motorcycle driver. We really recommend ojek for travelers because it will be a safer option to get you around Labuan Bajo without being afraid of getting lost, especially if you are a solo traveler. Although the fare depends on how far the trip is, conventional ojek mostly start their fare at idr 10.000 which is pretty much cheap. Thus you can also try to bargain the fare. Another option is an online ojek like Gojek and Grab, though the existence of online ojek is still limited here, you can also try this for a more convenient trip.
2. Motorbike rent
If you can drive a motorbike and prefer to explore the town by yourself, you can find motorbike rental places easily in the center of Labuan Bajo, especially along Soekarno-Hatta street. You can also ask your hotel or guesthouse keeper to help you arrange the rent. With a rented motorbike, you can explore Labuan Bajo as you please and it will be more flexible depending on your schedule. Rented motorbikes mostly cost IDR 90,000 – IDR 150,000 per day. Our tips if you want to rent a motorbike is to always have your phone battery filled, or bring a power bank so you can keep connected to your maps!
3. Car Rent
If you prefer a car over a motorbike, you don’t have to worry because there are also plenty of cars rented here. You can book a car and even with its driver through a travel service company like Traveloka based on your needs. The rate for car rent is around IDR 750,000 a day. With a car you can visit places that are quite far from the town like Cunca Wulang Waterfall or Compang To’e Melo Cultural Village.
Since it is pricier than the other options, we recommend you to rent a car if you are in a group or family trip, it will save you more money than renting several motorbikes, and it is definitely more comfortable!
Come to the end of this article, we do hope that this article is helpful for any of you how to get to Labuan Bajo for those who are planning to visit soon. Labuan Bajo has so much to offer, and we can assure you that it won’t disappoint you. Visit our other article Want to Explore The Other Side of Labuan Bajo in 2023? Be Sure to Visit These Amazing Destinations! for some guide to explore Labuan Bajo! See you at Labuan Bajo!
