What to see in Komodo

Small uninhabited island north of Labuan Bajo with a turquoise lagoon, white sand beach and vibrant house reef for snorkeling. One of the most accessible day-trip destinations from Labuan Bajo (45 minutes by speedboat). A small eco-resort provides basic facilities. The reef has excellent coral coverage and diverse fish. Popular for a half-day trip combined with Kalong Island.

Advanced dive site north of Gili Lawa Darat with strong currents and exceptional pelagic action. The top of the rock sits at 5 m depth while walls drop to 40 m+. Schooling hammerhead sharks (seasonal, July-October), giant trevally, dogtooth tuna and Napoleon wrasse are regularly encountered. The current can be powerful -- experienced divers only for this site.

One of only seven pink beaches in the world, located on the eastern shore of Komodo Island. The distinctive pink colour comes from fragments of red coral (Foraminifera) mixed with white sand. The water is exceptionally clear with excellent snorkeling along the reef directly offshore. Manta rays are occasionally seen from the shore here. Accessible by boat from Labuan Bajo.

Small island in north Komodo with a steep 20-minute hike to a viewpoint offering panoramic views of the Flores Sea and surrounding islands at sunset. Liveaboard boats anchor here overnight, and the hill climb is a classic evening activity. The bay below is a reliable anchorage with good snorkeling on the reef around the island's edges.

The most iconic panoramic view in Indonesia -- a steep 20-minute climb to the summit reveals three distinct bays with sand in three different colours (white, black and pink) enclosed by dramatic volcanic ridgelines. The image is emblematic of Komodo National Park and appears on the 50,000 rupiah banknote. Best visited at sunrise or sunset. No dragons here -- the island is uninhabited.

World-famous dive and snorkel site off the southwest coast of Komodo Island where reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) congregate year-round at a cleaning station. Mantas with wingspans of 3-4 m glide past at arm's length. Best from October to April when the mantas are most numerous and the current is manageable. One of the top five manta diving sites in the world.

Seamount and pinnacle considered the best single dive site in Komodo National Park by many divers. A submerged rock rising from 30 m to the surface is completely encrusted in hard and soft corals, with exceptional fish diversity including Napoleon wrasse, trevally, barracuda and frequent shark sightings. Strong currents bring nutrients that sustain the extraordinary marine life.

Small island 15 minutes by boat from Labuan Bajo with good snorkeling and a quiet beach, popular as an easy half-day excursion. Less visited than other islands because it lacks the big-ticket wildlife or dramatic scenery of the national park islands. Best for snorkelers who do not want to travel far from town. A basic resort operates on the island.

Uninhabited mangrove island near Labuan Bajo famous for a vast colony of Malayan flying foxes (fruit bats with 1.5 m wingspan). At sunset, thousands of bats emerge from the mangroves in a spectacular 20-minute aerial display to feed overnight on mainland Flores. An easy 30-minute boat trip from Labuan Bajo makes this a popular evening excursion.

Submerged pinnacle in the channel between Gili Lawa islands with outstanding coral coverage and visibility. Named for the crystal-clear water. Strong currents bring schooling fish and pelagics -- grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks and green turtles are common sightings. One of the most reliable dive sites in the park for big animal encounters.

Hidden natural swimming canyon in the hills 30 km east of Labuan Bajo on Flores island. Turquoise freshwater pools connected by short waterfalls in a narrow limestone canyon. The 3 km trek through rice fields to reach the canyon is part of the experience. Local guides are required and available in nearby Cunca Rami village. A popular excursion for adventurous travellers based in Labuan Bajo.

Traditional fishing community on the western shore of Komodo Island, one of only a few permanent human settlements inside the national park. Villagers are descendants of exiled convicts who coexisted with the dragons for generations. The village sells carved wooden dragon souvenirs. A short walk from the village leads to a good snorkeling beach with less tourist traffic than the main park sites.

The rapidly developing main street of Labuan Bajo along the waterfront has become one of Southeast Asia's most exciting small-town restaurant and bar scenes. Sunset views over the islands from the hilltop bars are spectacular. Dozens of dive shops, tour operators and seafood restaurants line the main drag. The town transforms after dark -- fresh catch grilled on the street is the local speciality.

Photogenic white sand bank in the middle of the ocean between Padar and Rinca, visible only above water at low tide. Liveaboard and day boats stop here for a walk on the sandbar surrounded by turquoise water. The snorkeling around the sandbar has excellent coral and fish. One of the most Instagram-photographed spots in Komodo, combining the sea, sandbar and surrounding island ridges.

Komodo Airport on Flores island, main gateway to Komodo National Park. Direct flights from Bali (30 min), Jakarta, Surabaya and Singapore. The airport is 5 minutes from Labuan Bajo town and the marina where all liveaboard and day-trip boats depart.

Main departure point for all boat trips into Komodo National Park. Dozens of day-trip and liveaboard operators are based here. The ASDP public ferry connects to Sape (Sumbawa). The harbour waterfront is also the social centre of Labuan Bajo with restaurants and dive shops along the main road.

Komodo Island is the primary habitat of the Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), the world's largest living lizard reaching up to 3 m and 70 kg. Guided walks depart from Loh Liang ranger station along marked trails. Three trail options (short 1 km, medium 2 km, long 5 km) pass through savanna and forest. Dragon sightings at the feeding area near the kitchen are almost guaranteed.

UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991 and IUCN Category II national park covering 1,733 km2 of land and sea across three main islands and 26 smaller ones. The park protects the Komodo dragon and its ecosystem including tropical dry forests, savannas, mangroves and one of the most biodiverse marine environments in the Coral Triangle. Entrance fees are charged per person per day.

Rinca Island's Loh Buaya ranger station is the quieter alternative to Komodo for Komodo dragon sightings. Rinca has a higher density of dragons than Komodo and is closer to Labuan Bajo (1.5-hour boat ride versus 2.5 hours). The coastal approach through mangroves is scenic. Long-tailed macaques, water buffalo and deer are also frequently seen.