kelor & its breathtaking view Kelor is a small island located in front of the the beautiful hills of Flores. It is one of the must do in the Komodo National Park as the view from the top of the island is simply breathtaking. A short hike of 15 minutes will lead you to the top where a panoramic view on Flores. The perfect spot to take pictures and selfies. Two white sandy beaches are perfect to relax and swim around before going back to Labuan Bajo after a wonderful trip in the amazing Komodo National Park.

Strange name and not many boat providers bring their guests to this place. Manjarite Island is about an hour from Labuan Bajo and its position is close to Rinca Island. There is a small wooden pier there. The island is uninhabited, and there is a clear, greenish shallow beach, with a depth of about 3-5 meters. Shallow water with minimum waves, making this location a perfect spot for easy snorkeling or relaxing on the boat, enjoying the scenery while our crew prepares lunch and refreshments. From the top, you can see the bottom full of various colorful fishes such as clownfish, scorpionfish, angelfish and even blue ribbon eels.

Kalong Island is named after its majority of occupants which are “Kalong” or the bat. Located just near Rinca Island or 8 kilometers from Labuan Bajo, there are thousands of bats living on this small island. Since the whole island is covered with mangrove forest, this island can be adored from distant only. The best time to visit Kalong Island is during the dusk as the bats are wonderfully flying in a big group and leaving for other neighboring islands to find food. This beautiful formation of flying bats can also be seen early in the morning as they go back to their homes. For its natural show, Kalong Island has become a popular and busy destination in Komodo National Park.

Padar is mostly savannah-covered, surreal landscape fringed by bright green-capped mountains of fairy-tale shapes. It’s all surrounded by three turquoise bays, and curiously, each one of the bays’ beaches has different coloured sand: One is pearly white, another charcoal black, and a third is a very rare baby pink. It is a rare combination, a quirk of this unique island.

Pink Beach, or Pantai Merah, as it is aptly named, is one of seven pink beaches on the planet, and is just one of the many amazing features of Komodo Island that make it truly a Natural Wonder of Nature. This exceptional beach gets its striking color from microscopic animals called Foraminifera, which produces a red pigment on the coral reefs. For this reason, it is called Red Beach in the local tongue. When the tiny fragments of red coral combine with the white sands, this produces the soft pink color that is visible along the shoreline. Aside from Pink Beach itself, a few small segments along Komodo’s eastern bay also have a pinkish tint.

The most remarkable inhabitant of Komodo National Park is the Komodo Lizard, Varanus komodoensis. These giant lizards, existing no-where else in the world, are of great scientific interest, especially for their evolutionary implications. Most commonly known as 'Komodo Dragons', due to its appearance and aggressive behavior, the Komodo Lizard, is the largest living species of lizard, growing to an average length of 2 to 3 meters. The species is the last representative of a relic population of large lizards that once lived across Indonesia and Australia. As well as being home to the Komodo dragon, the Park provides a refuge for many other notable terrestrial species such as the orange-footed scrub fowl, an endemic rat, and the Timor deer.

Manta Point is the most strategic location to witness Manta Rays. These creatures often pass by this spot peacefully. Their size is about 3 meters. They can hurt you easily. Though, they swim elegantly. Actually, the sea is warm. You only need to pay attention to its underwater current. It is quite strong. For beginners, it is better to dive in with an instructor. The sea doesn’t have lots of corals, actually. That means your main attraction will be the Manta Rays.

Taka Makassar is so small. In fact, it is smaller than a soccer field. Since it features shallow water, big boats aren’t able to get near to this island. Due to this reason, tourists usually ride a smaller boat either from Manta Point or Komodo Island. The name of the boat is Sail Komodo. Due to its shallowness, you can swim comfortably. It is similar to a swimming pool. Not to mention the water has a stunning color, which is clear Tosca. It is the sign of narrow water, after all.

Kanawa is one of the most famous island of the Komodo National Park. Located at the border of the park, Kanawa is known for its white sand beaches and coral reefs. Often described as paradise island, it is the perfect place to rest, relax and do snorkeling on the surrounding reef. Dolphin, stingrays, turtles and many starfishes are living in the reef nearby the island. Only 35 min away from Labuan Bajo, most of the day trip will stop at Kanawa to finish the day and admire the beautiful sunset over Sangeang volcano. Kanawa has a small resort located on the southern part that can welcome you for a night or more. It is possible to climb the small hill to enjoy a panoramic view over the wonderful surroundings and meet some of the goats and birds who live here.