A Labuan Bajo liveaboard price in 2027 runs US$150–250 per person per night for budget boats, US$250–350 for midrange, and US$800–1,500+ for luxury phinisi, with ultra-luxury charters above that. Plan on roughly IDR 350,000 (about US$22) per person per day in Komodo National Park fees, plus small per-group ranger fees, all paid through the official Siora app.
I have priced Komodo trips for our fleet every week since long before the Siora app existed, and the question I still answer most often is the simplest one: what does a Labuan Bajo liveaboard actually cost, all in? Not the teaser rate on a booking portal — the real number, with park fees, ranger fees, and the extras that appear on the last day. This guide is that number, laid out the way we quote it to our own guests in 2027. Our team has sailed Komodo National Park since 2015, so every figure here comes from trips we actually operate, not from a spreadsheet built in another country.
2027 Per-Night Price Bands by Tier
Liveaboard pricing in Labuan Bajo is quoted per person per night on shared open trips, and per boat per night on private charters. In 2027 the market settles into four clear bands:
| Tier | Price per person / night | What that buys you |
|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$150–250 | Simple wooden boat, fan or basic AC cabins, shared bathrooms, set menu, snorkeling gear |
| Midrange | US$250–350 | Comfortable phinisi, AC en-suite or semi-private cabins, better galley, dedicated cruise crew |
| Luxury | US$800–1,500 | Boutique phinisi, large en-suite cabins, chef-led dining, dive guides, curated daily plan |
| Ultra-luxury | US$1,500+ | Flagship vessels, full crew-to-guest service, private charter economics, tailored itinerary |
These bands are honest averages across the harbor, not just our own boats. Where a specific vessel sits inside its band depends on cabin category, season, and how many guests share the boat — you can compare our current rates cabin by cabin on the live pricing page, and see each vessel’s layout in our fleet.
Package Totals: 2D1N to 4D3N
Multiply the bands by nights on board and you get realistic per-person package totals for 2027. Cruise fare only — park fees come next.
| Package | Budget | Midrange | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D1N | US$150–250 | US$250–350 | US$800–1,500 |
| 3D2N | US$300–500 | US$500–700 | US$1,600–3,000 |
| 4D3N | US$450–750 | US$750–1,050 | US$2,400–4,500 |
Our advice after ten years of scheduling these routes: 3D2N is the sweet spot for value, and the 4D3N Komodo liveaboard is the sweet spot for the experience — it is the shortest format that covers Padar, Komodo, Pink Beach, and Manta Point without the itinerary ever feeling rushed against the park’s timed entry sessions.
What Is Included — and What Is Not
Two quotes that look US$100 apart can be identical once you read the inclusions. Here is the standard split we use, which most reputable Labuan Bajo operators follow.
Typically included in the cruise fare
- Cabin accommodation with linens, and all meals plus drinking water, tea, and coffee on board
- Snorkeling equipment, kayaks or paddleboards where carried, and tender-boat landings
- English-speaking cruise guide and full crew
- Hotel or airport transfers within Labuan Bajo town
Almost always excluded
- Komodo National Park entrance, guide, and conservation fees (paid via the Siora app)
- Ranger/trekking fees on Komodo, Rinca, and Padar (charged per group)
- Scuba diving packages and equipment rental — see our diving program for dive pricing
- Alcoholic drinks and soft drinks beyond the standards
- Crew gratuity, which is discretionary but customary
When you compare quotes, ask one question first: “Are park fees handled and itemized?” If the answer is vague, the cheap quote usually stops being cheap at the harbor.
Komodo National Park Fees in 2027: The Siora App Era
Since April 2026, Komodo National Park runs a daily visitor cap of around 1,000 people, focused on Komodo and Padar, and every visit must be booked through the official Siora app in one of three timed sessions: 06:00–11:00, 11:00–15:00, or 15:00–18:00. All fees are paid in-app — no more cash queues at the ranger station. We schedule our departures around the morning session, because Padar at sunrise is worth the early alarm and the light is kinder for the dragons too.
| Fee (foreign visitors) | Amount (IDR) | Approx. USD | Charged |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entrance | 250,000 | US$16 | Per person, per day |
| Guide fee | 75,000 | US$4.50 | Per person, per day |
| Conservation contribution | 25,000 | US$1.50 | Per person, per day |
| Ranger trek — Komodo Island | 200,000 | US$13 | Per group of up to 5 |
| Ranger trek — Rinca Island | 200,000 | US$13 | Per group of up to 5 |
| Ranger trek — Padar Island | 150,000 | US$9.50 | Per group of up to 5 |
| Harbour fee | 25,000 | US$1.50 | Per person, once per trip |
In practice, a couple on a 3D2N trip with two park days should budget roughly IDR 1,500,000–1,700,000 total (about US$95–110) for the two of them, depending on which islands they trek. Our crew handles the Siora bookings and session slots for every guest, because with a 1,000-person daily cap, showing up without a confirmed slot is no longer an option — especially in July and August.
Private Charter vs Open Trip: The Actual Math
When an open trip wins
If you are one to four travelers, shared open trip departures are almost always the better buy. You pay only for your berths: two people on a midrange 3D2N pay roughly US$1,000–1,400 combined, while chartering the same boat privately would cost the full nightly rate regardless of empty cabins.
When a private charter wins
The break-even arrives around six guests. A midrange phinisi that sells open-trip berths at US$300 per person per night typically charters whole for US$2,000–2,800 per night. Split eight ways, that is US$250–350 each — the same money, but you control the route, the pace, the menu, and the guest list. From six to ten guests, a private charter usually costs the same or less per person than open-trip berths, and at luxury tier the gap widens further because full-boat rates are negotiated, not stacked cabin by cabin.
Seven Ways to Pay Less Without a Worse Trip
- Sail December to March. Rates dip in the green season, boats are quieter — and it is the strongest manta season of the year at Manta Point.
- Book early, not late. Under the visitor cap, last-minute discounting has faded; the best cabins at fair prices go to guests who commit two to four months out.
- Choose 3D2N over 2D1N. The fixed costs — transfers, harbour fee, positioning fuel — are identical, so the second night is the cheapest night you will ever buy.
- Fill a charter with friends. Six or more travelers should always price the whole boat before booking berths.
- Pick the cabin, not just the boat. A lower-deck cabin on a luxury phinisi often costs less than the master cabin on a midrange one — same chef, same route.
- Fly direct to Labuan Bajo. Scoot now flies Singapore–Labuan Bajo twice weekly and AirAsia connects Kuala Lumpur three times weekly, which removes a Bali overnight from your budget. The expanded airport and new piers opened in 2026 make same-day boarding realistic.
- Ask what the quote excludes first. The cheapest way to overpay is to compare a fee-inclusive quote against a bare one.
How We Quote at Labuan Bajo Liveaboard
Our quotes itemize cruise fare, park fees, and diving separately, so you can see exactly where every dollar and rupiah goes — the same discipline that earned the Komodo Luxury team behind this operation a TripAdvisor 2025 Travelers’ Choice Award. Compare the route options, then request an exact date-specific price; the bands above are honest, but your travel date, cabin, and group size decide the final figure.
FAQ
Do 2027 liveaboard prices include Komodo National Park fees?
Usually not. Nearly all operators, ourselves included, quote cruise fare and park fees separately because fees are set by the park and paid per person per day through the Siora app. Budget about IDR 350,000 (US$22) per person per park day plus per-group ranger fees, and confirm the operator manages your Siora session bookings.
Is a private charter cheaper than an open trip in 2027?
From about six guests upward, yes — often the same or less per person. A midrange boat chartering at US$2,000–2,800 per night splits to US$250–350 per person with eight guests, matching open-trip berth prices while giving you the whole boat. Below five guests, open-trip berths remain the better value.
Will the 1,000-visitor daily cap push liveaboard prices up in 2027?
The cap has not moved the per-night bands much, but it has changed availability. Peak-season dates in July and August now sell out earlier, and last-minute discounts have largely disappeared. Booking two to four months ahead is the practical way to lock a fair price under the quota system.
Ready for an exact number instead of a band? Send us your dates and group size through our booking page or contact our Labuan Bajo team — or simply WhatsApp us — and we will return a fully itemized 2027 quote, park fees and Siora sessions included, within a day.