3 days, 2 nights
The standard
Everything a first visit needs.
- Day 1: board, sail to Kalong for the sunset bats
- Day 2: Padar sunrise, Pink Beach, Komodo dragon trek
- Day 3: Manta Point or Kanawa, back by evening
- Two nights at anchor
Traditional rig · Silo 2
Komodo Phinisi Charter: Wooden Sailing Boats
The vessel the Labuan Bajo fleet is built from — a Bugis wooden sailing hull, now fitted with cabins, bathrooms and a dining deck. Priced per boat per night, not per person.
Rates span a wide range by vessel class. Say your budget tier and the desk will narrow it.
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USD 1,800 from
Boutique phinisi, per night
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USD 5,300 from
Entry-luxury, per night
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3–4 days
Common charter lengths
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Per boat priced
Not per person
What a phinisi is
A working hull, adapted
The phinisi is a Bugis two-masted wooden sailing vessel, built in South Sulawesi for centuries as a cargo hull and adapted over the last few decades for tourism.
What that means aboard: a broad wooden deck usually on several levels, a shaded lounge, and cabins below with bathrooms. The rig is real, though most vessels motor between sites and sail when the wind allows.
Charters are priced per boat per night. That is the single most useful thing to know when comparing quotes — a headline number only makes sense once you divide it by your group.
Itineraries
Three days, or four
The extra night buys a second manta attempt and a slower morning, not a longer route.
4 days, 3 nights
The unhurried
One more attempt at everything.
- Day 1: Rinca dragon trek, overnight near Kalong
- Day 2: Padar sunrise, Pink Beach, Manta Point
- Day 3: Kelor or Siaba Besar, second snorkel or dive
- Day 4: final stop, back by early afternoon
Sequences vary by vessel and by tide. Treat these as the shape of the trip rather than a fixed timetable.
Classes
What the price tiers actually mean
Published rates, per boat per night. The span is wide because the fleet is.
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Entry
Boutique private phinisi
from USD 1,800 per boat, per night
Full exclusivity at the lowest charter price point.
- Rate
- from USD 1,800
- What you get
- Fan or basic AC, shared or en-suite
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Full AC & en-suite
Entry-luxury phinisi
from USD 5,300 per boat, per night
Full air conditioning, en-suites, upgraded common areas.
- Rate
- from USD 5,300
- What you get
- Better finishes and crew ratio
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Flagship
Above entry-luxury
Quoted per vessel
Dedicated chef, sun deck, premium interiors — quoted vessel by vessel.
- Rate
- Quoted per vessel
- What you get
- Flagship comfort and service
Above the entry-luxury tier, vessels are quoted individually within a published fleet span reaching USD 30,000 per night. Ask for photographs of the specific boat, not the class.
Inclusions
What a phinisi charter usually covers
Consistent across the fleet, whatever the class.
Usually separate:
Park entrance and conservation fees, alcohol, dive tanks and dive guide, airport transfers, and crew gratuities.
- The vessel and full crew — captain, deckhands, chef and guide.
- Every cabin aboard, whether or not you fill them.
- Three meals a day plus drinking water, cooked on board.
- Snorkelling equipment and tender transfers.
- Ranger-guided trekking permits arranged for you.
- Fuel and anchorage for the agreed route.
Booking
Four steps to a wooden boat
Budget tier first — it narrows a wide fleet fast.
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Send dates and party size
Both move the quote more than the route does.
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Name a budget tier
Boutique, entry-luxury or above. It saves a round of options nobody wanted.
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Review real photographs
Of the actual vessel and cabin, not a class illustration.
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Confirm
A deposit holds the boat and the park slots.
Faster, or slower
Phinisi or speedboat
A speedboat halves the crossing and suits a single day. A phinisi is slower, steadier and the only sensible choice once you are sleeping aboard — you pass the distances while eating or asleep.
Phinisi questions
Asked before every charter
Rates, cabins, and what "phinisi" actually covers.
For the full set, see our FAQ — 135 questions answered.
How much is a phinisi charter?
Per boat per night: from around USD 1,800 for a boutique vessel, from around USD 5,300 for entry-luxury, and quoted individually above that within a fleet span reaching USD 30,000.
Is it priced per person?
No. Per boat, per night. Divide by your group to compare it against a shared cabin.
Do phinisi actually sail?
The rig is real and used when the wind allows, but most vessels motor between sites to hold a schedule. Treat sailing as a bonus rather than the mode of transport.
How many cabins does a phinisi have?
Typically four to eight, below deck, with bathrooms. Capacity and layout vary widely — ask for the deck plan.
Who books a phinisi charter?
Groups of six or more, families who want their own pace, honeymooners, and divers who need the boat at the site early.
Phinisi or speedboat?
Speedboat for a single day. Phinisi once you are sleeping aboard — the crossings happen while you are eating or asleep.
What is included in the price?
Vessel, crew, all cabins, meals, water, snorkel gear, tenders and fuel. Park fees, alcohol, dive tanks and transfers usually are not.
How far ahead should I book?
Four to eight weeks in peak season, longer for a specific flagship vessel. Boutique boats can sometimes be had at shorter notice.
Talk to Komodo Luxury
Name a date and a budget tier
This guide publishes the class comparison. Komodo Luxury holds the fleet and quotes per vessel.
No obligation, and no price here changes because you asked.