Komodo solo traveller boat trip: joining a fixed-date open trip

The open trip is a single product: 3D2N on Vinca Deluxe Phinisi, at a fixed price per person, on fixed start dates. The list we hold has 122 dates. Most fall on Monday & Friday, but not all of them, so never assume a Monday or a Friday runs. The next start is Monday, 12 October 2026.

The route is the classic 3D2N: Sebayur, Manta Point and Taka Makassar on day one, Padar at sunrise, Pink Beach, Komodo, Pimpe and Kalong sunset on day two, and Kelor and Labuan Bajo on day three. Pickup is 09:30 from your hotel or the airport, and drop-off is late morning on day three.

The dates we hold run through 2026. Nothing beyond the end of the year is on the list yet, so if you want a trip in a month we cannot show, ask.

Prices are per person in a cabin: IDR 8,500,000 (≈ USD 521) in a Western Room, IDR 8,500,000 (≈ USD 521) in a Japanese Room and IDR 6,950,000 (≈ USD 426) in a Balinese Room. Western and Japanese rooms carry the same price; the Balinese is the cheapest and sits on the lower deck, with portholes.

Here is the gap. The brochure prints no single-occupancy supplement, and it does not say whether a solo guest is paired with another guest in a cabin. We do not want to guess on a figure that changes your total. Ask the desk for the rule on your date, and get the answer in writing before you send the deposit of 50 percent, and keep the message.

Budget beyond the fare: national park fees at IDR 250,000 per international guest per day, flights, a hotel night in Labuan Bajo the day before sailing, tips and any alcohol.

Expect the first dinner to be the awkward one and the second to be easy; that is how a shared table tends to work. Everyone eats at one long table, with the chef cooking in the open galley. There are no private tables and no separate seating by cabin.

The crew of 7 and the guide handle the logistics, so a solo guest does not organise anything. Snorkelling gear and life jackets are provided. Two stand-up paddleboards are shared, and you will need to ask for a turn.

Practical points for travelling alone. Tell someone your dates and your boat, since you will be mostly unreachable at sea: the boat's local Wi-Fi runs off mobile signal, which holds near Labuan Bajo and in patches between islands, and there's no satellite link. Arrive in Labuan Bajo the day before, because a delayed flight is the commonest way to miss a morning pickup. Bring a power bank.

If you need a guaranteed private room, ask first, because we cannot confirm one from the printed brochure. If you want to choose your own stops, the open trip is the wrong product; the route is fixed and the captain can change stops for weather and currents. If you are not comfortable sharing a table with strangers for three days, take a charter or another style of trip.

If you get seasick, read the cabin guide first. The Balinese Room moves least, and the Japanese Room moves most. A solo traveller with a weak stomach and a top-deck booking has made a mistake that is easy to avoid.

Message us with your preferred date and cabin, and we will tell you what is free.