Komodo Island Hopper – Self-Launched

Fly into Lombok International Airport (LOP). Take a pre-booked airport taxi or an online ride-hail app like Maxim or Grab to Kuta Lombok (approx. 30–40 mins, ~£5–7). Check into your guesthouse, take a dip in the pool, and explore the local strip. Grab a Nasi Goreng from a warung for dinner — budget around £2–3 a meal. A relaxed arrival day.

🚌Pre-booked airport taxi or Grab app from LOP to Kuta Lombok (~£5–7)

🛏Novotel Lombok Resort or budget equivalent such as Lombok Mandalika Homestay or Pondok Kubuku (~£12–18/night for a dorm or budget room with pool)

• →Arrive at Lombok International Airport (LOP)
• →Taxi or Grab ride to Kuta Lombok (~£5–7)
• →Check in, relax by the pool
• →Explore Kuta's beachfront and local warungs for dinner

Hire a scooter (~£5/day) or join a shared day tour to visit a traditional Sasak village. The village of Sade near Rembitan is the most accessible and free to enter (tip the local guide ~£2). In the afternoon, head to Benang Kelambu Waterfall in Central Lombok — accessible by scooter or shared minibus. Enjoy a jungle trek and a swim in the cool natural pools. Book a combined village and waterfall tour via GetYourGuide for around £18–25 if you prefer a guided option.

🚌Hire a scooter (~£5/day) or book a shared day tour via GetYourGuide (~£18–25 all-in)

🛏Same as Day 1 — Kuta Lombok guesthouse (~£12–18/night)

• →Visit Sade Sasak Village (free entry, tip local guide ~£2)
• →Watch traditional weaving demonstrations
• →Afternoon trek to Benang Kelambu Waterfall (~£2 entry)
• →Swim in the natural waterfall pools

Spend the day exploring South Lombok's finest beaches on a hired scooter. Mawun Beach is a stunning crescent bay (~£1 entry) and Selong Belanak is perfect for beginner surfing — boards rent for around £5–8/hour from local shacks. Pick up snorkelling gear to hire (~£3) and explore the bay. Lunch at a beachside warung (~£3). These beaches are well-signposted and easy to reach independently.

🚌Scooter hire (~£5/day)

🛏Same as Days 1–2 — Kuta Lombok guesthouse (~£12–18/night)

• →Ride to Mawun Beach (~£1 entry) — sunbathe and swim
• →Surf lesson or board hire at Selong Belanak Beach (~£5–8/hr)
• →Snorkelling with hired gear (~£3)
• →Lunch at a beachside warung (~£3)

Take a morning ASDP public ferry from Kayangan Port (East Lombok) to Poto Tano Port, Sumbawa (~£3, approx. 1.5–2 hrs). From Poto Tano, catch a shared minibus or bemo east towards Sumbawa Besar or Hu'u (~£5–8). Settle into a beachside guesthouse, rent a hammock and enjoy a slow afternoon by the sea. This is genuine off-the-beaten-track Indonesia — embrace it.

🚌ASDP ferry (~£3) + shared bemo/minibus (~£5–8)

🛏La Petite Sumbawa or a local beachside guesthouse near Hu'u (~£10–15/night)

• →ASDP public ferry Kayangan (Lombok) → Poto Tano (Sumbawa) (~£3)
• →Shared minibus or bemo to your Sumbawa base (~£5–8)
• →Afternoon chilling on the beach or hiring a bicycle to explore (~£3–5)

Arrange a day trip to Moyo Island from Ai Bari or Labuhan Badas pier — local speedboat charters run at around £15–25 per person return (negotiate with local boat operators directly, or ask your guesthouse to connect you with a group to split costs). Moyo Island is a UNESCO-protected biosphere reserve with incredible waterfalls (Air Manis is the most famous), pristine beaches and lush forest. There's a ~£3 national park entry fee. Return to Sumbawa by late afternoon.

🚌Shared speedboat charter to/from Moyo Island (~£15–25pp return)

🛏Same Sumbawa beachside guesthouse as Day 4 (~£10–15/night)

• →Speedboat to Moyo Island (~£15–25 return, shared charter)
• →Hike to Air Manis Waterfall on Moyo Island (~£3 park entry)
• →Explore hidden beaches and forest trails
• →Snorkelling off the island's coral reefs

This is the centrepiece of the trip — a 3-day live-aboard boat through Komodo National Park. Book in advance via operators such as Under Flores (underfloresdiving.com), Wanua Adventure, or search 'Komodo live-aboard 3 days' on GetYourGuide or Klook. Budget boats cost approximately £90–130pp for 3 nights including all meals, snorkelling, and park fees. Depart from Sumbawa or Bima, sailing to Satonda Island — a volcanic island with a crater lake and excellent snorkelling reef. Dinner and overnight on board.

🚌Live-aboard boat departure from Sumbawa/Bima (included in boat package)

🛏Live-aboard boat shared dorm (included in boat package ~£90–130pp for all 3 nights)

• →Board 3-day live-aboard boat (book via GetYourGuide, Klook or direct ~£90–130pp total for 3 nights including meals)
• →Sail to Satonda Island
• →Snorkelling at Satonda's coral reef
• →Sunset dinner on deck, sleep on board in shared dorm

Wake up on board and sail towards Padar Island. Step ashore at the famous Pink Beach (Pantai Merah) — its blush-pink sand is caused by red coral fragments and it's one of only a handful of pink-sand beaches in the world. Snorkel in the clear shallows, then tackle the well-marked but steep ~30-minute hike up to Padar Island viewpoint for panoramic views across Komodo National Park towards Flores. Komodo National Park entry is ~£15pp (usually included in live-aboard packages). Sail onwards, dinner and overnight on board.

🚌Live-aboard boat (included in package)

🛏Live-aboard boat (included in package)

• →Morning sail to Padar Island
• →Swim and snorkel at Pink Beach (Pantai Merah)
• →Hike to Padar Island viewpoint (~30 mins, steep trail) for panoramic views
• →Komodo National Park entry (~£15pp, usually included in live-aboard package)
• →Overnight on board

An epic day on the water and on land. Sail to Manta Point (near Komodo Island) in the morning for snorkelling with manta rays — one of the world's top wildlife encounters. The live-aboard crew will guide you. In the afternoon, drop anchor at Komodo Island for a ranger-guided trek (mandatory, ~£5–10pp tip for the ranger) to see the legendary Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. By evening, sail into Labuan Bajo harbour on Flores — grab a group dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants (Mamas Kitchen or Tree Top are popular) to celebrate.

🚌Live-aboard boat to Labuan Bajo (included in package — disembark on arrival)

🛏Backpacker hostel or guesthouse in Labuan Bajo, Flores — e.g. Mango Tree Hostel or La Bohème (~£10–16/night, most have sea views and a pool)

• →Snorkelling with manta rays at Manta Point (~included in live-aboard package)
• →Ranger-guided Komodo dragon trek on Komodo Island (~£5–10 ranger tip)
• →Photography of Komodo dragons and volcanic island landscapes
• →Arrive Labuan Bajo, Flores — group dinner at a waterfront restaurant (~£8–12)

Check out of your accommodation and make your way to Komodo Airport (LBJ), which is approximately 15–20 minutes from the centre of Labuan Bajo. A taxi costs around £5–7 or grab a Grab/ojek. If you have time before your flight, the Labuan Bajo waterfront is great for a final coffee or breakfast — try Cafe Nikmah or any of the harbour-view spots. If continuing in Indonesia, direct flights run from LBJ to Bali (DPS), Jakarta (CGK) and Makassar (UPG) with Lion Air and Citilink from ~£25–50.

🚌Taxi or ojek to Komodo Airport LBJ (~£5–7)

🛏N/A — departure day

• →Final breakfast at a Labuan Bajo harbour cafe (~£3–5)
• →Taxi or ojek to Komodo Airport LBJ (~£5–7, ~15–20 mins)
• →Optional: book onward domestic flight to Bali or Jakarta (~£25–50 with Lion Air/Citilink)