Answer first: the Flores to Lombok boat trip is the classic open-trip crossing run in reverse — sailing west from Labuan Bajo to Bangsal Harbour on Lombok over 4 days and 3 nights, with Komodo National Park visited on the very first day. It uses the same shared boats, the same crews and the same rates as the eastbound route, but far fewer travellers book this direction, so cabins are easier to secure. Deck fares start around IDR 3,500,000 per person and named-phinisi cabins run to about IDR 10,500,000 (checked August 2026). This page lays out the westbound schedule, the day-by-day route and honest prices so you can decide before you pay.
Planning a specific date? Message our coordinator on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected] for live seat and cabin availability — departure days shift with the season and we check them every quarter.
Why Sail West: Flores to Lombok
Most people search “Lombok to Flores” and book the eastbound run, which means the westbound crossing is the quieter, more flexible half of the same route. Choosing the Flores to Lombok direction has real, practical upsides:
- Cabins are easier to get. Because demand tilts eastbound, shared and private cabins on westbound departures sell out later. If you decided late, this is your best chance at a bed rather than a deck mattress.
- Komodo on day one, while you are fresh. You hit Padar, the dragons, Pink Beach and Manta Point before three nights at sea have worn you down.
- It ends closer to Bali. Landing in Lombok puts you a short fast-boat or 30-minute flight from Bali, which suits travellers finishing a longer Indonesia loop.
- Same price, same boat. Operators keep the same rate in either direction — the fare you see for Lombok to Flores is the fare you pay for Flores to Lombok.
The trade-off is simple: westbound saves the calmest waters (around Komodo) for the start and puts the longer open-water stretches later, so read the sea-conditions notes below before booking December to February. It is worth saying plainly who this direction suits. If you are wrapping up an eastern-Indonesia trip and want to funnel back toward Bali, the westbound run is the natural closing leg. In Flores to Lombok boat trip reviews, the same boats in this direction are often described as calmer and less crowded than their eastbound sailings, simply because fewer people book them. It is also the direction to pick if you booked late in high season and every eastbound cabin is gone.
The Reverse Route Explained
The single biggest difference between the two directions is when you reach Komodo National Park. Eastbound trips build toward the park as a grand finale on day three. Westbound trips do the opposite: you leave Labuan Bajo and enter the park on day one, then spend the following days working back through Sumbawa toward Lombok.
In practice the westbound sequence is Labuan Bajo → Komodo National Park (Padar, Komodo or Rinca, Pink Beach, Manta Point) → overnight sail to Satonda → Moyo Island → Bangsal, Lombok. It is the exact mirror of the eastbound 4-day itinerary, so if you have read our 4 days 3 nights day-by-day guide, simply flip it. For the eastbound counterpart and full route map, see our Lombok to Flores boat trip guide.
Doing Komodo first has one clear advantage and one clear risk. The advantage: you tackle the Padar climb and the dragon walk on fresh legs, on the morning you board, rather than after two nights of broken sleep at sea. The risk: the longest open-water legs come after Komodo, on days two and three, so if the weather turns you meet the roughest water when you are already tired. On a Komodo tour in the Flores to Lombok direction, that ordering is the whole reason to check the forecast before you commit to a date in the wet season.
Open Trip Schedules from Labuan Bajo
The Labuan Bajo to Lombok boat trip runs on a fixed weekly pattern, not daily, and an open trip Flores to Lombok departs only on set days. Departure days vary by operator and thin out sharply in the low season. The table below shows the typical westbound pattern (checked August 2026); always confirm your exact date on WhatsApp before booking flights.
| Operator type | Typical westbound departure days | Boat class |
|---|---|---|
| Wanua-style adventure boats | Mon · Wed · Sat | Deck & shared cabin |
| Fleet boats (Bintang Laut, Anugrah, Budi Jaya, Adam Jaya) | Mon · Wed · Sat | Deck & AC cabin |
| Named phinisi (premium open trip) | Wed · Sat | Private cabin |
How far ahead you need to book depends entirely on season. In peak months (June to September) popular westbound cabins fill one to three weeks out, so lock a date early. In the shoulder season a few days’ notice is usually enough. From December to February, sailings can be merged or cancelled at short notice when the wind is up, so keep your onward Lombok or Bali flights flexible. Boarding is at Labuan Bajo harbour, a short ride from the airport and the town’s hotels; most operators send a meeting point and time the evening before departure.
Peak season (June to September) adds extra sailings; the December to February window sees the most cancellations. For the complete weekday matrix across both directions, see our Flores boat trip schedule. For a live seat on a specific day, message +62 811 3823 875.
Prices: Same Boats, Same Rates
Because the operators run identical vessels in both directions, the Flores to Lombok boat trip price matches the eastbound crossing. The figures below are per person for the standard 4 days 3 nights open trip (checked August 2026). Komodo National Park fees are not included in any of these — budget those separately.
| Class | Price per person (IDR) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Open deck (budget) | 3,500,000 – 3,700,000 | Shared mattress on the covered deck, fan, shared bathroom |
| Shared cabin | 4,000,000 – 4,600,000 | Bunk in a shared cabin, often with fan or AC |
| Named phinisi private cabin | 4,750,000 – 10,500,000 | Private cabin, AC, en-suite on the higher tiers |
In shoulder season, promotional deck fares are sometimes advertised from around IDR 2,500,000 per person (market rate, competitor research). Internationally, these same open-trip cabins are marketed at roughly USD 350 – USD 750 per person depending on class and season. Some operators label the westbound run a Flores to Lombok cruise, and the multi-day format is effectively a Flores to Lombok liveaboard on a budget — you sleep, eat and sail on the one boat — but the boats and fares are the same shared open trip described here.
What the fare usually covers, and what it does not, matters more than the headline number. A typical open-trip rate includes:
- Included: your bunk or deck space, all meals on board, drinking water, snorkel gear, an on-board guide and the overnight sailings between islands.
- Not included: Komodo National Park entry and ranger fees, soft drinks and alcohol, travel insurance, tips, and any hotel the night before or after the trip.
Whichever way the price is quoted, ask exactly what is included before you pay — see the full cross-route breakdown on our Flores boat trip cost page, and the mandatory add-ons on our Komodo National Park fees page (the dated 3D2N foreigner ticket is IDR 650,000).
Day-by-Day Westbound
Here is the full Flores to Lombok boat trip itinerary in the westbound direction, day by day, so you know what each of the four days holds before you board.
Day 1 — Labuan Bajo to Komodo National Park
Boarding is in the morning at Labuan Bajo harbour. Day one is the headline day: an early climb up Padar Island for the three-bays viewpoint, a ranger-led walk to see Komodo dragons on Komodo or Rinca, a swim at Pink Beach, and a snorkel at Manta Point where you may drift over reef mantas. By late afternoon the boat turns west and begins the overnight sail across the open water toward Sumbawa — the first of the trip’s longer crossings, and the one where a deck spot near the middle of the boat is most comfortable.
Day 2 — Satonda Crater Lake
You wake near Satonda Island, a volcanic cone off the north coast of Sumbawa with a salt-water crater lake ringed by forest. It is a short landing: a walk to the lake, a swim, and a photo stop before the boat continues west along the Sumbawa shore. Days at sea settle into an easy rhythm of meals on the shaded deck, snorkelling and long stretches of watching the coast slide past.
Day 3 — Moyo Island & Mata Jitu Waterfall
Moyo Island is the green highlight of the Sumbawa leg. The walk in to Mata Jitu waterfall leads to tiered turquoise pools you can swim in beneath the jungle canopy. After Moyo the boat makes its final overnight run as it closes on Lombok, so this is the evening to pack and settle bills for any on-board drinks.
Day 4 — Arrival at Bangsal, Lombok
You dock at Bangsal Harbour in northwest Lombok in the morning, within easy reach of Senggigi, the Gili Islands and Lombok International Airport. Most travellers connect straight onward — a fast boat to the Gilis or Bali, or a transfer to the airport. For the full version of this itinerary with more detail on each stop, see our 4 days 3 nights itinerary.
Combining with a Komodo 3D2N First
If Komodo is the whole reason you are travelling, one day inside the park may feel short on a crossing. A popular fix is to run a dedicated Komodo trip first, then take the westbound crossing back toward Bali. You spend two or three focused days on the dragons, Padar and the reefs, then let the crossing carry you home the scenic way.
The most common pairing is a Labuan Bajo Komodo 3 days 2 nights boat trip before the westbound leg. It costs more in total and adds days, but no other combination gives you both deep Komodo time and a slow sail past Sumbawa. The trick is timing: your Komodo round-trip needs to end in Labuan Bajo on or before a westbound departure day, or you lose a night waiting in town. Message us and we will sequence the two so the dates line up without a wasted night in Labuan Bajo.
Ferry Alternative for Budget Travellers
If your goal is the lowest possible cost rather than islands and snorkelling, there is a public ferry chain instead of an open trip. ASDP car ferries run Labuan Bajo → Sape (Sumbawa), then road and further ferries carry you across Sumbawa and over to Lombok. It is the budget option: far slower, no guided island stops, and no cabins — but a fraction of the open-trip price.
The ferry is best for travellers who care about the destination, not the journey, and who have time to spare. Reckon on a long two-day slog of ferries and buses versus four scheduled days of islands on the open trip — and remember the open trip already bundles your meals and three nights of accommodation into the fare. We compare the real cost, timing and comfort of both in our guide to open trip vs public ferry to Flores. For most visitors the open trip wins on value once you count the islands, meals and nights aboard it includes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Flores to Lombok boat trip cost?
For the standard 4 days 3 nights open trip, deck fares run IDR 3,500,000 to 3,700,000 per person, shared cabins IDR 4,000,000 to 4,600,000, and named-phinisi private cabins IDR 4,750,000 to 10,500,000 (checked August 2026). Komodo National Park fees are extra. Shoulder-season deck promos are sometimes seen from around IDR 2,500,000.
How long is the boat from Labuan Bajo to Lombok?
The standard open-trip crossing is 4 days and 3 nights, with the boat sailing overnight between island stops. A shorter 3 days 2 nights version exists but skips one of the Sumbawa islands. The public ferry chain via Sape can take a similar wall-clock time but with no guided stops.
Do westbound trips still stop at Komodo?
Yes. On the Flores to Lombok direction, Komodo National Park is visited on day one, right after you leave Labuan Bajo — Padar, the dragons, Pink Beach and Manta Point are all included before the boat turns west.
Is the Flores to Lombok direction any different in price?
No. Operators charge the same rate in both directions because it is the same boat, crew and route reversed. You are choosing direction for convenience and cabin availability, not for a lower price.
Can I do it one-way, Flores to Lombok only?
Yes. Open trips are one-way by design, so a single westbound leg from Labuan Bajo to Bangsal is exactly what most travellers book. There is no requirement to sail back.
Is there a ferry from Flores to Lombok instead of a boat trip?
There is no single direct Flores to Lombok ferry. Budget travellers chain the ASDP ferry from Labuan Bajo to Sape on Sumbawa, cross Sumbawa by road, then take further ferries to Lombok. It is the lowest-cost route but has no island stops or cabins.
When is the sea roughest on the westbound crossing?
December to February brings the strongest winds and the most cancellations, with January and February the peak. June to September is the calmest window. If you are prone to seasickness, aim for the dry season and expect the open-water legs after Komodo to be the bumpiest.
Is the Flores to Lombok boat trip worth it?
For travellers who want Komodo plus a slow, social sail toward Bali — and who accept basic boat comfort — it is strong value: four days of islands, snorkelling, meals and nights aboard for the price of the deck or cabin fare. If you only want the dragons and dislike open water, a Komodo day trip or 3D2N round-trip fits better.
Ready to check a date? Message our boat trip coordinator on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected] for current westbound schedules, seat and cabin availability, and an itemised quote with park fees shown separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Flores to Lombok boat trip cost?
For the standard 4 days 3 nights open trip, deck fares run IDR 3,500,000 to 3,700,000 per person, shared cabins IDR 4,000,000 to 4,600,000, and named-phinisi private cabins IDR 4,750,000 to 10,500,000 (checked August 2026). Komodo National Park fees are extra. Shoulder-season deck promos are sometimes seen from around IDR 2,500,000.
How long is the boat from Labuan Bajo to Lombok?
The standard open-trip crossing is 4 days and 3 nights, with the boat sailing overnight between island stops. A shorter 3 days 2 nights version exists but skips one of the Sumbawa islands. The public ferry chain via Sape can take a similar wall-clock time but with no guided stops.
Do westbound trips still stop at Komodo?
Yes. On the Flores to Lombok direction, Komodo National Park is visited on day one, right after you leave Labuan Bajo, with Padar, the dragons, Pink Beach and Manta Point all included before the boat turns west.
Is the Flores to Lombok direction any different in price?
No. Operators charge the same rate in both directions because it is the same boat, crew and route reversed. You are choosing direction for convenience and cabin availability, not for a lower price.
Can I do it one-way, Flores to Lombok only?
Yes. Open trips are one-way by design, so a single westbound leg from Labuan Bajo to Bangsal is exactly what most travellers book. There is no requirement to sail back.
Is there a ferry from Flores to Lombok instead of a boat trip?
There is no single direct Flores to Lombok ferry. Budget travellers chain the ASDP ferry from Labuan Bajo to Sape on Sumbawa, cross Sumbawa by road, then take further ferries to Lombok. It is the lowest-cost route but has no island stops or cabins.
When is the sea roughest on the westbound crossing?
December to February brings the strongest winds and the most cancellations, with January and February the peak. June to September is the calmest window. If you are prone to seasickness, aim for the dry season and expect the open-water legs after Komodo to be the bumpiest.
Is the Flores to Lombok boat trip worth it?
For travellers who want Komodo plus a slow, social sail toward Bali, and who accept basic boat comfort, it is strong value: four days of islands, snorkelling, meals and nights aboard for the price of the deck or cabin fare. If you only want the dragons and dislike open water, a Komodo day trip or 3D2N round-trip fits better.