Elrora Liveaboard
Photos of Elrora Liveaboard on request
Elrora Liveaboard
From Hong Kong, Taiwan or the mainland to the pier at ten
Updated 2 November 2026
To get to Komodo from China, Hong Kong or Taiwan, fly to Bali or Jakarta and connect to Labuan Bajo, then board Elrora Liveaboard at 10:00. Land the day before, since a delayed flight on boarding day would cost a night. Entry rules change, so verify the visa terms before you travel.
Three starting points, one pier at 10:00
Every route ends at the same place: the pier in Labuan Bajo, with check-in on board between 10:00 and 10:30 on an open-trip day. A private charter sets its check-in time with your date. There are three ways to arrive: from the mainland, from Hong Kong or Taiwan, and from Singapore or Kuala Lumpur.
Bali and Jakarta are where most overseas visitors change planes. Surabaya and a few smaller airports also feed Labuan Bajo. The table above lists the airports, the approximate flight times and the distance from the airport to town. Schedules move, so check them when you book.
Land the day before you sail. A boat on a fixed check-in cannot wait for a late plane.
| Airport | Komodo International Airport, code LBJ |
|---|---|
| Usual connections | Bali (DPS), Jakarta (CGK) or Surabaya (SUB); Lombok and Kupang are smaller feeders |
| Flight time to Labuan Bajo | From Bali about 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 min; from Surabaya about 1 h 30 min; from Jakarta 2 h 30 min to 3 h; from Lombok about 1 h |
| Airlines | Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Citilink and Indonesia AirAsia from Bali and Jakarta; Super Air Jet from Surabaya; Wings Air on the shorter island routes. Schedules change, so check before you book. |
| Airport to the harbour | 2 to 3 km, about 10 minutes by car |
Checked 11 October 2026
Mainland China: the usual connections
From the mainland, the common route is a flight to Bali, then a short flight to Labuan Bajo. The second leg takes a little over an hour. The Jakarta route is longer, with a second flight of two and a half to three hours, but it suits those who start from a city with a direct Jakarta flight.
Visa on arrival is open to Chinese passport holders, for tourism, with a stay of up to 30 days. The table above gives the fee and the conditions, and also notes that a fee rise has been announced but is not confirmed in force. Verify the current fee and rules before you fly.
Avoid third-party visa agents that charge extra. The official e-visa site is the only one to use.
| Visa on Arrival (VoA) | Open to nationals of 97 listed countries, including most of Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, South Korea, China, India and the Gulf states. Other nationalities apply in advance at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. |
|---|---|
| e-VoA | The same 30-day visa, applied for online before you travel at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Once approved, you must enter within 90 days. |
| VoA / e-VoA price | IDR 500,000 per person; children pay the same. Fees can change, so check the official site before you fly. |
| Length of stay | 30 days from the day you arrive, single entry |
| Extension | Once, by 30 days (60 days in total), for IDR 500,000. Apply at an immigration office about a week before the first 30 days end. |
| Visa-free entry | 30 days, not extendable, for citizens of ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date, with at least 2 blank pages |
| Onward ticket | Proof of a return or onward ticket is required for a VoA |
| All Indonesia arrival card | Free and compulsory. Fill it in within 72 hours before arrival at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id or in the app; it covers immigration, customs and the health declaration. |
| Arriving in Labuan Bajo | Most visitors clear immigration in Bali, Jakarta or Surabaya and reach Labuan Bajo on a domestic flight |
| Bali tourist levy | IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor if you enter through Bali, paid at lovebali.baliprov.go.id. It is separate from the visa fee. |
Checked 11 October 2026 · Entry rules and fees change: confirm them on the official immigration site before you travel.
Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur
Direct international flights to Labuan Bajo are limited. Kuala Lumpur has a direct link. A Singapore link has been reported by one source only, so do not plan on it without checking. Hong Kong and Taiwan have no direct flights that we can confirm.
For Hong Kong and Taiwan passport holders, entry terms differ from the mainland. We have low confidence in the published rules for these passports, so check the immigration site before you buy flights, and tell us if the answer affects your dates.
In every case the pattern is the same. Fly to a hub, connect to Labuan Bajo, sleep in town, board the next morning. Tell us your departure city and the dates you are considering, and we draw up a sample itinerary in writing, with the connections in the order you would take them.
Through Bali or Jakarta to Labuan Bajo
Bali is the shortest connection, at about an hour and ten to twenty minutes in the air. From Jakarta, allow two and a half to three hours. Both are served by several Indonesian airlines, and flight times vary by carrier and season.
The airport, Komodo International, lies 2 to 3 km from the town centre and about ten minutes by car from the harbour. Our team can arrange pickup from the airport or your hotel and confirms it in writing. Tell us your flight number when you book.
If you enter Indonesia through Bali, a separate Bali visitor levy applies and is paid online. Check the levy rules before you fly.
Documents in the hand luggage
Carry a passport with at least six months of validity after your arrival date and two blank pages, together with proof of onward travel. Complete the free digital arrival card within 72 hours before landing. Keep a printed copy of our written confirmation and of your flights.
Carry some rupiah in cash. Hotels and larger restaurants take cards, some with a surcharge; small shops, taxis and markets want cash. The park and its islands have no cash machine, so withdraw before you board. The table above gives the details.
Advisor's note. Keep your passport on you on the day you board, not in the suitcase that goes to the hotel. The boarding pass at the pier carries your name, and it must match the passport.
| Currency | Indonesian rupiah (IDR); about IDR 16,000 to 16,500 to the US dollar and IDR 17,500 to 18,000 to the euro in mid-2026 |
|---|---|
| ATMs | BCA, Mandiri, BNI and BRI on Jl. Soekarno-Hatta near the harbour and at airport arrivals; none in the national park or on the islands. Take cash before you board. |
| ATM limits | IDR 1,250,000 to 3,000,000 per withdrawal; a local fee of about IDR 25,000 to 50,000, plus your own bank's charges |
| Cards or cash | Cards work at hotels, dive centres, boat companies and larger restaurants, often with a surcharge of 2 to 4 per cent. Small eateries, markets, taxis and small shops take cash. |
| Tipping | Appreciated, never compulsory. In restaurants 5 to 10 per cent when no service charge is added; for a boat crew, IDR 50,000 to 100,000 per guest per day is a common range. |
Checked 11 October 2026
The night before: why you do not fly in on the day
We give every guest the same advice: be in Labuan Bajo a day before sailing. Domestic flights in Indonesia do run late and are sometimes cancelled, and a missed flight on boarding morning cannot be made up. One hotel night in town is cheap insurance against losing a night at sea.
Choose a hotel near the harbour so that the pickup is short. Our team can book one for you, and rates are confirmed with the hotel for your dates. Tell us when you land and which hotel you choose. A night or two in Bali first works well; the short flight to Labuan Bajo the next day completes the journey. Whatever you choose, never fly in on boarding morning.
On the last day, book flights after 14:00, since check-out is between 11:00 and 11:30.
FAQ
How do I travel from Labuan Bajo into Komodo National Park?
You go by boat from the harbour at Labuan Bajo. On Elrora, check-in is between 10:00 and 10:30 for an open trip, and the boat sails to Kelor first, then on through the park. There is no road to the park islands, so a boat trip is the only way to reach them.
Where does the boat trip start?
In Labuan Bajo, at the harbour. Guests make their way to the pier for check-in between 10:00 and 10:30 on an open-trip day. A private charter sets the time with your date. We send the exact pier and time in the written confirmation.
How do I get to Komodo from abroad?
Fly to Bali or Jakarta, then connect to Komodo International Airport at Labuan Bajo. The second flight takes just over an hour from Bali. Arrive the day before sailing, carry your passport and proof of onward travel, and verify visa and arrival-card rules shortly before you travel.
What is the route from Hong Kong or Taiwan to Komodo?
There is no direct flight we can confirm, so the route goes through Bali or Jakarta. Check the entry terms for your passport on the Indonesian immigration site before you buy flights. We help with the connection once you tell us your departure city and dates.
How do I get to Komodo from Bali?
Take a flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo, about an hour and ten to twenty minutes. Book it for the day before sailing. We arrange pickup from the airport to your hotel and confirm the time in writing.
Which transport and itinerary suit a first trip to Indonesia?
Fly into Bali, spend a night or two there if you wish, then take the short flight to Labuan Bajo and sleep in town before boarding. Keep the boat days free of other plans. A 3D2N sailing is the length that suits a first visit best.
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