Lombok to Flores Boat Trip: Prices & Open Trips 2026

A Lombok to Flores boat trip is a 3-to-4 day open trip on a shared wooden boat that sails east from Lombok across the Sumbawa strait to Labuan Bajo in Flores, stopping at Moyo, Satonda and Komodo National Park along the way. The most-booked version is the 4 days, 3 nights (4D3N) crossing. In 2026 an open-deck spot starts around IDR 3,500,000 per person and a shared cabin runs IDR 4,000,000–4,600,000 per person (rates checked August 2026, park fees paid separately). This page is the practical, operator-by-operator breakdown — real prices, the exact route, which days boats leave, and the honest bits nobody puts in the brochure.

I’m Ratna, and I have handled open-trip manifests at Bangsal and Labuan Bajo harbours since 2017. Everything below comes from checking boards, boats and receipts in person, not from a booking widget. If you want a live seat count for a specific date, message us on WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected] and we will read you the actual departure list.

This route suits one kind of traveller in particular: someone who cares more about the islands, the snorkelling and the company on board than about thread counts and air-conditioning. If that is you, read on. If you want a polished, staffed, suite-style sail, skip to the last section — there is an honest answer there too.

How the Lombok–Flores Crossing Works

The crossing is a one-way point-to-point sail, not a round loop. You board in Lombok, sleep on the boat for three nights, hop islands by day, and wake up in Labuan Bajo on the last morning. Because it is an open trip (a shared boat sold per person), you travel with 12–25 other passengers from all over the world, which is exactly why the price is a fraction of a private charter.

“Open trip” is worth understanding before you book, because it shapes the whole experience. You do not choose the route, the stops or the departure time — the operator sets those, and everyone on the manifest follows the same plan. In return you split the boat cost across a full deck of travellers, so a four-day sail that would cost tens of millions of rupiah as a private charter drops to a few million per person. It is the backpacker and mid-range traveller’s way onto the same water the private phinisi sail.

The standard eastbound route strings together the best of the Sumbawa and Komodo waters. Here is what a typical 4D3N line-up looks like:

Total water distance is roughly 400 km, which is why the boat sails at night on at least one leg. A 3D2N version exists too — it trims one island day but keeps Komodo — while the 4D3N is the sweet spot most travellers pick. For the hour-by-hour version of the four-day plan, see the dedicated 4 days 3 nights itinerary. Prefer to sail the other way? The Flores to Lombok open trip runs the same islands in reverse.

Prices in 2026: Deck, Shared Cabin, Private Cabin

In 2026 a Lombok to Flores boat trip costs from IDR 3,500,000 per person for an open-deck spot, IDR 4,000,000–4,600,000 for a shared cabin, and IDR 4,750,000–10,500,000 for a private cabin on a named phinisi (rates checked August 2026). Budget deck seats on the shortest, most basic boats start from about IDR 2,500,000 per person. The single biggest price lever is not the operator — it is where you sleep.

For context, comparable Lombok–Komodo open-trip cabins are advertised internationally at roughly USD 350–750 per person, so the local IDR rates above are the value end of that market. These are per-person, shared-boat rates — a whole-boat private charter is a different calculation entirely, and we break every route and class down side by side on the full price table.

What actually moves your price? Four things, in order: the class you sleep in, the boat itself (an older wooden carrier versus a newer named phinisi), the season, and how far ahead you book. The operator’s brand name matters far less than travellers expect — the same handful of harbours, crews and routes serve almost every listing you will see online. Peak months (July–August) push rates to the top of the bands above; the shoulder months soften them.

Most operators hold your seat with a modest deposit and take the balance before departure, in cash or by transfer. One rule I never let a guest forget: the boat fare and the park fees are two separate payments. The number your operator quotes almost always excludes the Komodo National Park tickets you pay at the gate. More on that below.

Departure Days by Operator

Boats do not leave Lombok every day. Each operator runs a fixed weekly pattern, so your travel dates often decide your operator, not the other way round. The matrix below is the current eastbound (Lombok → Flores) pattern I work from, checked August 2026:

Wanua Adventure is the most frequent operator, which is why it fills up first in July–August. If your date is fixed, tell us the day and we will match it to whichever boat actually sails — that is faster than checking five websites. You can see the full weekly grid, including the reverse direction and the public ferry, on the boat schedule page, and compare the boats themselves on the operators comparison.

How far ahead should you book? In the calm high season of June to September, popular deck and cabin spots sell out one to three weeks in advance, so lock your date early. In the quiet months you can often join a boat with only a few days’ notice, but you also risk a departure being merged or postponed if too few passengers sign up. The safe move is simple: fix your Labuan Bajo onward flight for the afternoon of Day 4 or later, never the same morning you are due to arrive, because harbours run on sea time, not clock time.

The 4-Day Itinerary Day by Day

Here is the short version of what happens on each of the four days. It is answer-first on purpose — the full 4D3N itinerary has the timings, the waterfall climb and the Padar sunrise call in detail. Treat this as the shape of the trip rather than a fixed timetable, because captains do read the weather and reorder stops when the sea demands it.

• Day 1 — Bangsal to Moyo: morning board, a warm-up snorkel at a Gili near Sumbawa, then the tiered turquoise pools of Mata Jitu waterfall on Moyo Island.
• Day 2 — Satonda and the night sail: swim in Satonda’s salty crater lake, pass the smoking Sangeang volcano, then the boat runs overnight toward Komodo so you wake up already inside the park.
• Day 3 — Komodo National Park: the big day — Padar’s three-bay viewpoint at first light, Komodo dragons with a ranger, the pink sand of Pink Beach, and snorkelling with mantas at Manta Point.
• Day 4 — Arrival: a last snorkel at Kanawa or Kelor, then into Labuan Bajo harbour before lunch, usually by 11:00–12:00.

What’s Included — and What’s Not

An open-trip fare covers the boat, your bed on board, a crew, and all meals from Day 1 lunch to Day 4 breakfast. It does not cover Komodo National Park entrance fees, flights, or your night before boarding. Getting this straight upfront stops the single most common argument at the gate.

Usually included:

• Shared boat and your deck space or cabin for 3 nights
• Crew, captain and cook
• All meals on board (simple rice, fish, vegetables, fruit) plus drinking water, tea and coffee
• Basic snorkelling gear (mask and fins — quality varies, bring your own if you can)
• Small dinghy transfers to the islands

Not included — budget for these:

• Komodo National Park fees, paid at the gate — foreigners around IDR 250,000 for a one-day ticket or IDR 650,000 for the dated multi-day ticket used on a 3D2N segment; Indonesians pay IDR 150,000 / 350,000. Full breakdown on the park fees page.
• Flights to Lombok and out of Labuan Bajo
• Hotel the night before departure
• Alcohol, soft drinks and tips

Because those park tickets are dated and paid on the spot, always carry enough Indonesian rupiah in cash — there is no reliable card machine at Loh Liang. A quick word on the food, since it is the question I get most: meals on the value boats are simple and generous rather than gourmet — rice, freshly caught fish, stir-fried vegetables, fruit, and endless tea. Tell your operator in advance about vegetarian or allergy needs and the cook will almost always accommodate; do not expect a printed menu.

Deck Class or Cabin? An Honest Comparison

Choose the open deck if you want the lowest price and do not mind sleeping under the stars in a row of strangers; choose a cabin if you value privacy, a locking door and a fan on a humid night. Neither is “better” — they suit different travellers, and I have seen both work out perfectly.

My honest steer: on the value boats the “cabin” can be small and stuffy, so the deck is often the smarter buy unless the sea is rough. We walk through exactly what life on board is like — wifi, toilets, charging, food — in deck vs cabin on an open trip.

Sea Conditions: When Not to Book

The calmest window for the Lombok to Flores crossing is June to September; the roughest and most cancellation-prone months are December to February, worst in January and February. This is open water across the Sumbawa strait, not a sheltered lagoon, and the wooden boats feel every swell.

If you only have January dates, be honest with yourself about motion sickness and keep a buffer day — a captain who cancels in a storm is protecting you, not letting you down. Practical defences help: take a motion-sickness tablet the night before and again on the morning of an open-water leg, pick a spot low and central on the boat where the pitching is gentlest, keep your eyes on the horizon, and stay hydrated. Most travellers find their sea legs by the second day. I have written up the whole rough-sea reality, remedies included, in is the Lombok–Flores boat trip rough? and the month-by-month view in best time for a Flores boat trip.

Boarding in Lombok: Bangsal vs Senggigi

Almost every Lombok to Flores boat actually departs from Bangsal harbour in the north-west, not from Senggigi or the Gili Islands — Senggigi is usually just a pickup point, not the dock. Confusing the two is the classic way to miss a boat.

• Bangsal harbour — the real departure jetty for most operators. Plan to be there by mid-morning; it is about 1.5–2 hours by car from Mataram or the airport.
• Senggigi — many boats offer a hotel or beach pickup here and shuttle you to Bangsal. Confirm whether your quote includes this transfer.
• Gili Trawangan / Air — some operators collect Gili travellers by fast boat; check timing carefully, as it adds a leg.

Whatever your quote says, ask one question before you pay: “Which harbour do I physically stand at, and at what time?” We spell out both boarding points in Bangsal or Senggigi? so you land at the right jetty.

My advice is to sleep near your departure point the night before. If you are boarding at Bangsal, stay in Senggigi or around the north-west coast so you are not fighting Lombok traffic at dawn; if you are coming from the Gili Islands, cross to the mainland the afternoon before rather than gambling on an early fast boat. Pack a small dry bag for the day’s essentials — sunscreen, a power bank, a light layer for the night sail, and any medication — and keep your main luggage soft-sided, because hard suitcases are awkward to stow on a wooden deck.

Going Private or Upgrading

If a shared deck is not your style, you have two ways up. The first is a private charter — you book the whole boat for your group, set your own pace, and pay per boat rather than per person, which only makes sense for larger groups or those wanting real privacy. The second is upgrading to a higher class of cabin on a named phinisi, where food, air-conditioning and crew ratios all step up.

Travellers chasing a genuinely high-end, chef-and-suite experience on this route are really looking at a lombok to flores boat trip luxury product, which is a different market from the practical open trips this page covers. For everyone else, an upgraded cabin on a reputable open-trip boat delivers most of the comfort at a fraction of the cost.

When does going private actually pay off? Roughly from six or more travellers. Split across a group of that size, a whole-boat charter often lands close to the per-person cabin rate, and you gain control of the route, the departure time and who shares your deck — useful for families with young children, groups of friends, or anyone who wants an extra Padar sunrise instead of a set schedule. Below that number, the open trip is almost always the better value, and the mixed crowd on board is half the fun.

Not sure which way to jump? Tell us your group size and dates on WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or [email protected], and we will lay out deck, cabin and private side by side with live availability — no obligation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a Lombok to Flores boat trip cost in 2026?

In 2026, an open-deck spot on the 4D3N Lombok to Flores boat trip starts from about IDR 3,500,000 per person, a shared cabin runs IDR 4,000,000–4,600,000, and a private cabin on a named phinisi ranges IDR 4,750,000–10,500,000 (rates checked August 2026). Budget deck seats can start from IDR 2,500,000. Komodo National Park fees are paid separately at the gate. See the full price table for every route and class.

How long does the Lombok to Flores boat trip take?

The most popular version is 4 days and 3 nights, sailing from Bangsal in Lombok to Labuan Bajo in Flores with island stops at Moyo, Satonda and Komodo National Park. A shorter 3 days, 2 nights option also exists. The boat covers roughly 400 km of water, so at least one leg is sailed overnight.

Is the Lombok to Flores boat trip an open trip or a private charter?

The standard, budget-friendly version is an open trip — a shared wooden boat sold per person, so you travel with 12–25 other passengers and split the cost. Private charters, where you book the whole boat for your group and pay per boat, are also available and make the most sense for larger groups wanting privacy.

What is the difference between deck class and cabin?

Deck class means sleeping on a thin mattress in the open air on the shared deck — it is the lowest-cost, breeziest and most social option. A cabin gives you a private or shared bunk below deck with a door and usually a fan, for more privacy and warmth. Deck is popular with solo travellers and backpackers; cabins suit couples, families and light sleepers.

Which days do boats depart from Lombok to Flores?

Boats do not sail daily. As checked in August 2026, Wanua Adventure departs Sun, Mon, Tue, Thu and Fri; Bintang Laut on Mon and Wed; and Anugrah, Budi Jaya and Adam Jaya on Mon, Wed and Sat. Your travel dates often decide which operator you sail with. Message us on WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 for the live departure list.

Are Komodo National Park fees included in the boat price?

No. The open-trip fare covers the boat, your bed, crew and meals, but Komodo National Park entrance fees are paid separately at the gate in cash. Foreigners pay around IDR 250,000 for a one-day ticket or IDR 650,000 for the dated multi-day ticket; Indonesians pay IDR 150,000 / 350,000. Always carry enough rupiah, as there is no reliable card machine at the park.

Where does the boat actually leave from — Bangsal or Senggigi?

Most Lombok to Flores boats physically depart from Bangsal harbour in north-west Lombok, about 1.5–2 hours from Mataram. Senggigi is usually only a pickup point where the operator shuttles you to Bangsal, not the actual dock. Always confirm which harbour you board at and at what time before you pay.

Is the Lombok to Flores crossing rough or safe?

It is genuine open water across the Sumbawa strait, so conditions vary by season. June to September is the calmest and most reliable window, while December to February can bring big swells and safety cancellations, worst in January and February. Reputable operators cancel in storms to protect passengers, so keep a buffer day if you travel in the rough season.

Can I do the trip one way, or do I have to come back?

The boat trip is a one-way, point-to-point sail — you finish in Labuan Bajo and can fly onward from there. Many travellers do it one way and continue exploring Flores. If you want to sail back toward Lombok, the reverse-direction Flores to Lombok open trip runs the same islands westbound.

How do I book and pay for a Lombok to Flores boat trip?

Booking is usually a small deposit to hold your seat, with the balance paid before departure; park fees are paid in cash at the gate. To check live availability for your dates and lock in a deck or cabin, message us on WhatsApp +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected] and we will confirm the real departure list.