Elrora Liveaboard
Photos of Elrora Liveaboard on request
Elrora Liveaboard
Two kinds of light, and a timetable that meets both
Updated 2 November 2026
Komodo photography trips by private phinisi hang on two moments of light: Padar at sunrise, 06:18 in July, and Kalong at dusk, 17:57. Elrora Liveaboard puts both inside the three-day route. Documentation and drone work are not included in a charter; they are on request.
The photographer's timetable across three days
The three-day route holds the two best moments of light for a photographer, and it spaces them well. On day one the boat checks in between 10:00 and 10:30, calls at Kelor and a snorkel stop, and reaches Kalong for the dusk. At Kalong the sun goes down at 17:57 in July; in November, at 18:01.
Day two begins before dawn. About 65 minutes before sunrise, walkers leave the boat and climb Padar for first light: 06:18 in July, 05:31 in November. The morning goes on to Pink Beach, Komodo Island and the sandbar at Taka Makassar, and ends at Manta Point. Day three has a last snorkel stop and the pier by 11:00.
The table above lists the Padar sunrise for each month. Choose the month for the light and the sea together, and check the calm months first.
| Month | Sunrise | Leave the boat by | On the ridge by |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:54 | 04:49 | 05:34 |
| February | 06:05 | 05:00 | 05:45 |
| March | 06:06 | 05:01 | 05:46 |
| April | 06:04 | 04:59 | 05:44 |
| May | 06:07 | 05:02 | 05:47 |
| June | 06:14 | 05:09 | 05:54 |
| July | 06:18 | 05:13 | 05:58 |
| August | 06:12 | 05:07 | 05:52 |
| September | 05:56 | 04:51 | 05:36 |
| October | 05:39 | 04:34 | 05:19 |
| November | 05:31 | 04:26 | 05:11 |
| December | 05:38 | 04:33 | 05:18 |
Computed for the location; accurate to a few minutes. The crew shifts wake-up with the actual swell.
Padar's first light and Kalong's last
Padar's lookout, a 25 to 45 minute walk up, gives you three bays in one frame, each beach a different shade of sand. The light changes fast in the half hour after sunrise, so be at the top before the sun is, and stay after the first colour has faded. The second look has the longer shadows.
Fifteen minutes after sunset at Kalong, the flying foxes rise out of the trees; for about 30 minutes the sky is full of them. Shoot into the pale afterglow, where the bats stand out dark, and take a long lens. A steady rest on the rail does more for the picture than any setting.
Neither moment can be promised. Cloud, haze and tide change the picture. The captain decides where the boat is. A photographer who accepts that, and shoots what the sky gives, gets the best of both and none of the disappointment. Shoot early. Light at both ends of the day is gentle, and the hours in between are for rest, swimming and sorting what you have taken.
A photographer's cabin and deck
Cameras live in the cabin, and the cabin is air-conditioned. Every cabin has an ensuite bathroom, so a photographer who wakes at four to climb a ridge does not wake the party. The Master cabin on the main deck has its own balcony, and the Deluxe cabins are on the upper deck.
The sundeck on the upper deck is the open space on the boat, and it is where sunsets are watched. The indoor dining room is the place for a laptop and a card reader, if you carry them. The outdoor dining area on the deck is where long meals are taken.
Charge batteries in your hotel before you board, and carry spares. We do not promise charging at your berth. A dry bag for the camera and a cloth for salt on the lens cost little and save a trip.
| Cabin | Rooms | Beds | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Cabin | 1 | 1 king bed | 2 |
| Deluxe Cabin | 2 | 1 queen bed | 4 |
| Superior Cabin | 2 | 1 queen bed | 4 |
| Family Cabin | 1 | 1 double bed and 2 single beds | 4 |
| Berths in total | 6 | 14 |
Drone permit, and what we confirm for you
A drone flight is not part of any fare, and it needs a park permit. The permit is optional, it is requested 7 days before sailing and it is paid for separately. We request it on your behalf if you ask, and we confirm in writing whether it was granted.
No private charter price includes a guide or photo and video work. Both are on request and quoted separately. If you want a photographer on board, tell us the dates and the kind of work, and the quote arrives in writing.
The table lists what a seat or a charter covers and what sits outside it. The lines that read On request are the ones we price for your date.
Whole-boat private charter · On request
What the trip costs for a small photo party
A small photo party of four fits two Deluxe cabins: four seats at IDR 9,750,000 each for the three days and two nights, on a shared date. An open trip sails when three cabins are booked, so your date is confirmed when another party fills the third. A party that books three cabins itself meets the minimum.
Park tickets and other drinks are extra. Tell us about heavy baggage in advance, because cases of lenses take room in a cabin.
The shared date means other guests on deck, and your sunrise climb is a walk with strangers. For a photo party that wants the boat to itself, the whole-boat price is quoted in writing for your date, and we confirm it before you pay.
FAQ
What is the best month for photographs at Padar and Kalong?
For clean light, aim for April to June or September to November: dry air, a flat sea and clear water. Cloud and rain mark January and February, and wind and crowded stops mark July and August. Padar sunrise falls at 05:31 in November.
Can I photograph Padar at sunrise and the Kalong bats on one trip?
Yes. Kalong is the dusk stop on day one and Padar the first walk of day two, both inside the three-day route. The weather and the captain decide the order and the anchorage, so neither moment is promised. Sunset at Kalong is 17:57 in July.
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