A Riung 17 Islands boat trip is a private, per-day boat charter, not a scheduled open trip. You hire a whole local boat — captain, crew and all — for the day, agree a route with the skipper at the harbour or through your guesthouse, and share the cost between everyone on board. In 2026 a full day on the water sits in the IDR 1,500,000–3,500,000 per boat band (not per person), so the more people you split it with, the better the value.
This page explains how boat hire actually works in Riung’s marine park on the north coast of Flores, what each type of boat costs, the classic island-hopping route, the snorkel stops, and how the flying foxes of Ontoloe fit into a sunset return. If you want us to line up a boat and a driver for a specific date, message us on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected] and we will check live availability for you.
How Boat Hire Works in Riung
Riung is a small fishing town, and its 17 Islands Marine Park (Taman Wisata Alam Laut Tujuh Belas Pulau) runs on a simple system: you charter a boat by the day. There is no fixed morning departure with a passenger manifest the way the Lombok–Komodo open trips work. Instead, you turn up at the harbour, or arrange ahead through a homestay, and negotiate one boat for your group.
Almost every boat is a local wooden vessel owned and driven by a Riung family — a shaded open deck, a small engine, a ladder over the side for snorkelling, and cushions or mats rather than seats. A typical day starts between 08:00 and 09:00 and returns mid-to-late afternoon, or later if you stay for the sunset bat flight. The captain doubles as your guide to the reefs and knows which islands are calm on the day.
Because you are hiring the whole boat, the headline price is the same whether two people or eight climb aboard. Groups of four to eight travellers get the strongest value; solo travellers and couples usually ask their homestay to pair them with others heading out the same morning. Lunch, snorkel gear, and drinking water are sometimes included and sometimes charged on top, so always confirm what the quoted number covers before you agree.
Booking is informal and person-to-person. To avoid arriving to a fully-booked harbour in peak months, message us first and we will secure a boat, a start time, and a fair all-in rate. Send your date and group size to WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875.
Charter Price Bands per Boat Type
Riung prices are quoted per boat, per day, and they move with the season, the size of the boat, and whether lunch and gear are bundled in. The table below is our working band for a full-day charter, checked with Riung skippers in August 2026. Treat it as a planning guide and confirm the final number when you book, because fuel and food costs shift these figures.
| Boat type | Best for | Full-day charter (per boat) | Usually includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small local wooden boat | 2–6 people, short route | IDR 1,500,000–2,000,000 | Captain, crew, basic snorkel gear |
| Standard wooden boat (shaded deck) | 6–12 people, full loop | IDR 2,000,000–3,000,000 | Captain, crew, gear, lunch, water |
| Larger boat / extended range | 10–15 people or outer islands | IDR 3,000,000–3,500,000 | Captain, crew, gear, lunch, extra stops |
What that means per person: split a IDR 2,500,000 standard boat between six travellers and you are paying roughly IDR 420,000 each for the whole day, gear and lunch included. That is why Riung rewards small groups. A bare-bones half-day charter for a couple can occasionally be arranged below the band, but a proper full day with snorkelling and lunch belongs in the IDR 1.5–3.5M range. For how Riung compares with every other route in Flores waters, see our full Flores boat trip price table.
The Classic Island-Hopping Route
The marine park is a scatter of small islands, sandbars and reefs just offshore, and a standard day links three to five of them in a loop. The route is flexible — your captain reads the wind and swell and reorders stops accordingly — but the backbone almost always includes the following.
- Pulau Ontoloe (Pulau Kalong) — the largest island in the group, ringed by mangroves, and home to the colony of flying foxes that gives it its “bat island” name.
- Pulau Rutong — one of the most reliable snorkel stops, with easy coral just off a small beach.
- Pulau Tiga and the smaller islets nearby — calm anchorages and shallow reef for swimming.
- Pasir Panjang (Long Beach) — a white sandbar for a lunch stop and a walk when conditions allow.
Most groups run the loop clockwise: an early snorkel while the light is good, a beach or sandbar for lunch through the hottest hours, a second reef in the afternoon, and then a slow drift toward Ontoloe to wait for the bats at dusk. A full circuit takes the better part of a day; if you only have a morning, the captain will trim it to two or three of the closest islands. Tell us how long you have and we will match the route to your boat.
Snorkeling Stops & Flying Foxes of Ontoloe
Snorkelling is the reason most people charter a boat here. The reefs around Rutong and Tiga are the dependable stops — shallow, sheltered, and reachable straight off the ladder, which makes them friendly for beginners and children. Visibility is best on a calm, sunny day in the dry season; after rain the run-off from the coast can cloud the water. Bring your own mask if you are fussy about fit, because the boat’s spare gear is basic.
The signature moment comes at the end of the day. Ontoloe is known as Pulau Kalong — “bat island” — because thousands of fruit bats and flying foxes roost in its mangroves and lift off around sunset, streaming across the bay toward the mainland to feed. Captains anchor off the mangrove edge in the golden hour, cut the engine, and let you watch the sky fill. It is a genuinely wild spectacle and, for many travellers, the highlight of Riung. If seeing the bats matters to you, say so when you book, because it means a later return to the harbour and your boat rate should reflect the longer day.
Getting to Riung by Land
Riung sits on the north coast of Flores and is reached overland, not by a tourist boat from elsewhere. The common approach is from Bajawa, roughly a four-hour drive over the mountains, or from Ende, also around four hours; both are usually done by private car or ojek, with limited public transport. From Labuan Bajo in the far west it is a long haul — a full day of driving across the island — so most travellers reach Riung as part of an overland Flores journey rather than as a day trip from the Komodo side. Land logistics and cross-island tours are a separate specialism; on this page we stay with the boats.
Best Season on the North Coast
The north Flores coast is calmest and clearest in the dry season, roughly May to September, which is the sweet spot for Riung: settled seas, good snorkelling visibility, and reliable daily charters. Shoulder months in April and October usually still work well.
The months to be cautious about are the wet season, roughly December to March, when the north coast gets more wind and rain, the water clouds up after downpours, and boat days are cancelled or cut short more often. Riung is generally more sheltered than the open Sape Strait crossings on the Komodo side, but you should still build a flexible day or two into your plans if you visit in the wet months. As with every route in Flores, the safe move is to check conditions locally the day before — message us and we will tell you honestly whether it is a good week to be on the water.
Combining Riung with a West Flores Boat Trip
Riung works beautifully as the quiet counterpoint to the busier Komodo waters in the west. A common pattern is to sail the headline islands first — dragons, Padar and the manta points — and then travel overland east to Riung for a slower day of snorkelling and the sunset bats, away from the crowds.
If Komodo is the anchor of your trip, start with our Labuan Bajo Komodo 3-day boat trip for the classic western route, then add a Riung charter at the end of an overland leg. Remember that the two areas are priced and paid for separately: your Riung boat rate is a private charter, while the Komodo side carries its own dated tickets and ranger charges — see our guide to Komodo park fees so there are no surprises at the gate. Riung’s own marine park has only a small conservation fee (see the FAQ below), which keeps it one of the better-value days in Flores. To sequence both sides into one itinerary, message WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or [email protected].
Riung 17 Islands Boat Trip FAQ
How much does a Riung 17 Islands boat trip cost?
A full-day boat charter in Riung runs about IDR 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 per boat in 2026, depending on the size of the boat and whether lunch and snorkel gear are included. Because the price is per boat, not per person, splitting it between four to eight travellers brings the per-head cost down to roughly IDR 300,000–600,000 for the day. Prices checked August 2026.
How do I charter a boat in Riung?
You hire a whole local wooden boat — captain and crew included — either directly at Riung harbour or through your homestay, and agree the route and price before you leave. It is an informal, person-to-person arrangement rather than an online booking. To lock in a boat, a start time and a fair rate ahead of arrival, message us on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 with your date and group size.
Is a Riung boat tour an open trip or a private charter?
It is a private per-day charter. Unlike the Lombok–Flores and Komodo open trips, Riung boats do not run on a fixed schedule with shared seats sold per person. You charter the boat, then decide who shares it with you.
Which islands do you visit on the 17 islands boat tour?
A standard loop takes in three to five islands, most commonly Ontoloe (Pulau Kalong), Rutong and Tiga, plus a sandbar such as Pasir Panjang for lunch. The captain adjusts the order based on wind and swell on the day.
Is there good snorkelling on a Riung marine park boat trip?
Yes. The reefs off Rutong and Tiga are shallow, sheltered and easy to reach straight off the boat, which makes them good for beginners and families. Visibility is best on calm, sunny dry-season days; it drops after heavy rain.
When is the best time for a Riung boat trip?
The dry season, roughly May to September, has the calmest seas and clearest water on the north coast. December to March is the wet season, with more wind, rain and cancelled boat days, so build in flexibility if you visit then.
Is there a marine park fee at Riung?
Riung’s 17 Islands Marine Park charges a small conservation or entrance fee — recent rates are around IDR 100,000–150,000 per foreign visitor, paid locally and separate from any Komodo National Park ticket. Confirm the current amount when you book, as it is set by the park and changes. Checked August 2026.
Can I combine Riung with a Komodo boat trip?
Yes, and many travellers do. The usual pattern is to sail the Komodo side first, then travel overland east to Riung for a quieter snorkelling day and the sunset bats. The two areas are booked and paid for separately. Message us and we will sequence both into one itinerary.
Plan your Riung boat day: tell us your date, group size and how long you have, and we will line up the right boat, a fair all-in rate and a route that fits the conditions. Reach us on WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected]. Part of Juara Holding Group.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Riung 17 Islands boat trip cost?
A full-day boat charter in Riung runs about IDR 1,500,000 to 3,500,000 per boat in 2026, depending on the size of the boat and whether lunch and snorkel gear are included. Because the price is per boat, not per person, splitting it between four to eight travellers brings the per-head cost down to roughly IDR 300,000-600,000 for the day. Prices checked August 2026.
How do I charter a boat in Riung?
You hire a whole local wooden boat – captain and crew included – either directly at Riung harbour or through your homestay, and agree the route and price before you leave. It is an informal, person-to-person arrangement rather than an online booking. To lock in a boat, a start time and a fair rate ahead of arrival, message us on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 with your date and group size.
Is a Riung boat tour an open trip or a private charter?
It is a private per-day charter. Unlike the Lombok-Flores and Komodo open trips, Riung boats do not run on a fixed schedule with shared seats sold per person. You charter the boat, then decide who shares it with you.
Which islands do you visit on the 17 islands boat tour?
A standard loop takes in three to five islands, most commonly Ontoloe (Pulau Kalong), Rutong and Tiga, plus a sandbar such as Pasir Panjang for lunch. The captain adjusts the order based on wind and swell on the day.
Is there good snorkelling on a Riung marine park boat trip?
Yes. The reefs off Rutong and Tiga are shallow, sheltered and easy to reach straight off the boat, which makes them good for beginners and families. Visibility is best on calm, sunny dry-season days; it drops after heavy rain.
When is the best time for a Riung boat trip?
The dry season, roughly May to September, has the calmest seas and clearest water on the north coast. December to March is the wet season, with more wind, rain and cancelled boat days, so build in flexibility if you visit then.
Is there a marine park fee at Riung?
Riung's 17 Islands Marine Park charges a small conservation or entrance fee – recent rates are around IDR 100,000-150,000 per foreign visitor, paid locally and separate from any Komodo National Park ticket. Confirm the current amount when you book, as it is set by the park and changes. Checked August 2026.
Can I combine Riung with a Komodo boat trip?
Yes, and many travellers do. The usual pattern is to sail the Komodo side first, then travel overland east to Riung for a quieter snorkelling day and the sunset bats. The two areas are booked and paid for separately. Message us and we will sequence both into one itinerary.