Always wanted to see Komodo dragons up close? Marvel at being in the presence of whale sharks? Or have a tranquil escape at Indonesia’s famed pink beach? I wanted to do it all, which is why I signed up for Sotravel’s Komodo Boat Trip. Couple that with a hike up Padar Island to witness some fantastic sunset views and the experience of living on a boat. This trip has always been in ‘my cart’, if that function ever comes to exist in the app.
Trip Highlights:
Glide alongside Gentle Giants underwater
The main highlight of this trip for me was definitely seeing the whale sharks. For those who can’t swim, fear not, you will be given snorkelling gear and a life vest before proceeding into the waters, or just grab onto one of your newly-found boat friends and hang on for your dear life. 🤪
Once you’re in the waters, it literally feels like time stops as you bask in the whale shark’s beauty, there were moments I felt like I was alone in this world with them. They can also get pretty up-close so always be aware of your surroundings as you are snorkelling so that you don’t accidentally kick them. There were around two other boats near us, so you do have to be mindful about bumping into other people swimming around you (which kinda snapped me back into reality that I’m not alone, haha).
Walk along the largest lizards on earth
We stopped by Komodo National Park to, as you might expect, see Komodo dragons. Once there, you will be greeted by local park rangers who will explain the rules and regulations of the guided tour and the key things are basically: always stick to the group and the designated path, don’t disturb the dragons, don’t litter. Pretty basic common sense stuff so if you do anything outside of it, please get your common sense checked for the safety of humankind, thank you very much. You’ll also be accompanied by them throughout the whole trek so all you need to do is turn off your brain and enjoy the experience.
We were able to see a total of 2 Komodo dragons along our trek and were also pretty lucky to be able to see a deer (who appeared to be slightly injured). Whether or not it ended up being a Komodo dragon’s supper will forever remain a mystery.
As the animals are kept as undisturbed as possible, do note that the chances of seeing a Komodo dragon are not guaranteed so make sure you accumulate good karma or pray to your gods before coming here.
At the end of the guided tour, while you’re feeling hot and heavy — obviously from the afternoon sun and trekking, you’ll be greeted with numerous stalls selling food, drinks, and even souvenirs. Sip on coconut water, or slurp a freshly made Indomie to freshen up; somehow food just always tastes better after a trek, don’t you think?
Discover Pink Paradise
While what initially drew me to this trip was seeing the whale sharks, spending the day at the pink beach ended up being my favourite experience. The glistening sand, beautiful mountains along the island, abundance of ocean-life captured my heart.
I was experiencing a state of euphoria while snorkelling along the island and seeing the beauty of corals and fishes. The best part? Just relax and let the currents lead you across the island. This helped me save tons of energy so I could snorkel for a much longer time.
Once you’ve burnt off all that calories from snorkelling and unleashing your inner child playing on the beach, grab a drink or Indomie from the nearby stalls to maximise that island-living experience.
Tips & Things to Know Before You Go
Things to bring
Seasick medicine – You’ll be spending most of your time on-board a boat for several days, seasickness can hit you at any time. We had one really rough night where it was raining and the currents were super strong. Quite a number of us got really bad seasickness and we were all trying to deal with it the best we could in our own ways. If the medicine you brought isn’t working, try your luck and ask one of the boat crew members for it; these experts might have a stockpile of it somewhere.
Cash – Most of the islands that we visited have stalls selling food, drinks, and souvenirs. If you intend to purchase anything (which you most probably will), be prepared to bring along some cash (especially small notes) as that’s the only payment method they accept. Tip: bring along a small pouch (preferably waterproof) to store your cash / valuables so that it’s easier for you to carry around.
Offline entertainment – You’ll be spending a loooot of time on the boat, which can get pretty boring (or super relaxing) at times, don’t expect a stable internet connection, or any at all. Bringing some old school entertainment devices like a Nintendo Switch, a book, or even card games to play can help you pass the time and might prevent you from going insane.
Maximise your vacation by spending a few days exploring Bali
From your final destination — Labuan Bajo, you’ll have to transit at Bali Airport as there are no direct flights to Singapore. So… might as well spend a few days to explore Bali and book a hair treatment or facial to fix all that dryness your skin has been put through over the past couple of days, or just to get that ‘Bali glow’.
My Sotravel Experience: Trip Review & Favorite Moments
Out of the many activities and core memories that I got to experience on the trip, my favourite moment of all time has to be snorkelling along the pink beach. There are colonies of corals and fishes for you to observe and enjoy, I even got to see some fishes having a mini territorial fight so that was fun to watch (though I had to swim against the currents for quite a while, haha). The crystal clear waters and gentle currents make the moment even more magical as you get to see the different light refractions as it travels into the water.
Oki, byeeeeee
Sotravel 
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