Splendour is a modern motor yacht liveaboard sailing Komodo National Park — around three to five cabins for six to ten guests, contemporary white-hull styling, and faster transits than a traditional phinisi. Priced mid to upper-midrange (roughly US$250–350+ per person per night), it suits couples and small groups who prefer sleek modern design over wooden schooners.
I’m Mira Mahendra, and I plan Komodo departures year-round from our office in Labuan Bajo. Most guests who write to us have already fallen in love with photos of wooden phinisi schooners — and then a smaller group arrives with a very different question: “Is there a boat out there that feels more like a private yacht?” Splendour is usually the first name we mention. This profile explains what the boat actually is, where it sits on the price ladder, who it genuinely suits, which alternatives to weigh, and how booking works in 2027 now that Komodo National Park runs on the Siora app and a daily visitor cap.
Splendour at a Glance
Unlike most of the boats you will see anchored off Labuan Bajo harbour, Splendour is not a phinisi. It is a modern motor yacht in the small-yacht category — white hull, large windows, clean contemporary interiors that lean Mediterranean rather than traditional Indonesian. On board it feels closer to a private charter yacht than a classic dive liveaboard, and that is exactly the point.
| Profile | Splendour |
|---|---|
| Vessel type | Modern motor yacht (not a phinisi) |
| Cabins | Approximately 3–5 cabins |
| Guest capacity | Roughly 6–10 guests |
| Style | Contemporary — white hull, large windows, modern interiors |
| Price tier | Mid to upper-midrange, varying by season and itinerary |
| Best suited to | Couples, families, and small groups chartering privately |
| Signature strength | Faster transits and a “small luxury yacht” feel |
Two practical consequences follow from that motor-yacht design. First, speed: Splendour covers the distances between Padar, Pink Beach, and the manta sites more quickly than a sail-rigged wooden boat, which matters enormously now that park landings are tied to timed sessions. Second, atmosphere: guests who find phinisi interiors dark or heavy tend to relax immediately in Splendour’s brighter, glassier spaces. Neither boat style is “better” — they are simply different holidays, and we say so plainly when guests browse our Komodo fleet lineup.
Where Splendour Sits on the Komodo Price Ladder
Komodo liveaboards in 2027 fall into three broad bands per person per night. Splendour sits in the middle-upper section of this table — stylish and comfortable, but deliberately below the ultra-luxury bracket occupied by boats like Silolona and Prana.
| Tier | Per person / night | What you get | Splendour? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | US$150–250 | Simple cabins, shared or basic facilities, open-trip departures | Below Splendour |
| Midrange | US$250–350 | Full AC, ensuite cabins, better food, small-group comfort | Splendour’s home band (upper end in high season) |
| Luxury | US$800–1,500+ | Suite-class cabins, high crew ratios, full-service charter | Above Splendour |
That positioning is Splendour’s quiet advantage. You get genuine yacht styling and private-charter pacing without stepping into the four-figure-per-night bracket. Exact rates move with season, cabin configuration, and trip length, so treat the band as planning guidance and check our current liveaboard pricing for live figures — high season (July–August) and manta season (December–March) both book out earliest under the visitor cap.
Who Splendour Suits Best
Couples and small groups who want the boat to themselves
With only a handful of cabins, Splendour makes far more sense as a full-boat charter than a shared trip. A group of six to ten — two or three couples, a multigenerational family, a friends’ milestone birthday — can take the whole yacht and set their own rhythm. If that sounds like your trip, our private trip service is the right doorway: we build the route, the menu, and the daily timing around your group rather than a fixed schedule.
Travelers who prefer modern design over traditional timber
We adore phinisi — they are the soul of this coastline — but they are not for everyone. Some guests want big windows, light interiors, and a contemporary aesthetic closer to what they would charter in the Mediterranean. Splendour answers that brief better than almost anything else sailing from Labuan Bajo. If you are undecided, read our phinisi liveaboard guide first; choosing between timber romance and modern lines is the single most useful decision you can make before comparing individual boats.
Guests on tighter schedules
Faster transit is not a luxury detail in 2027 — it is an itinerary tool. Since the park moved to three timed entry sessions (06:00–11:00, 11:00–15:00, 15:00–18:00) booked through the official Siora app, a boat that repositions quickly lets us fit Padar’s sunrise ridge and a manta swim into the same morning window without the schedule fraying. On a 3-day trip, that speed effectively buys you an extra highlight — and it is why we sequence every Splendour route around the sessions your group actually holds.
Alternatives to Splendour
If you want the traditional phinisi experience
Navila is our usual counter-suggestion: a ~28 m two-masted wooden phinisi with six air-conditioned ensuite cabins for up to twelve guests, warm teak interiors, and a strong snorkeling and nature focus. Leyla offers a similar intimate, classic-sailing feel for eight to twelve guests. Both trade Splendour’s speed and modern lines for timber character and sails.
If diving is the whole point of your trip
Splendour cruises beautifully, but serious divers should look at Fenides — a purpose-built 40 m+ steel dive yacht with a professional dive deck, camera facilities, and expedition-style routes. For guidance on sites, seasons, and certification requirements in the park, start with our Komodo diving guide.
If budget or ultra-luxury is the priority
Value-focused groups can charter Lalunia, a casual-boutique phinisi in the lower-mid band. At the opposite end, Silolona (five luxury suites, ten guests) and Prana (nine suites, up to eighteen guests, full spa) define the ultra-luxury tier — magnificent boats at full super-yacht charter pricing. Our luxury liveaboard collection maps that top bracket honestly, including when we think it is worth the jump and when it is not.
Booking Splendour in 2027: What Has Changed
Komodo National Park now runs a pilot daily cap of roughly 1,000 visitors, focused on Komodo and Padar islands, with entry booked exclusively through the official Siora app in the three timed sessions above. In practice, this means your boat and your park slots must be confirmed together — a beautiful yacht with no session allocation is just an expensive place to float. We schedule Splendour departures around the morning Siora session, then secure the boat, so neither piece is left to chance.
Budget the park costs on top of your charter. Foreign visitors pay IDR 250,000 (about US$16) per day entrance, plus IDR 75,000 per day for a guide and IDR 25,000 per day conservation, all settled in-app. Ranger and trekking fees are charged per group of up to five: IDR 200,000 on Komodo, IDR 200,000 on Rinca, IDR 150,000 on Padar, plus a small IDR 25,000 harbour fee. For a chartered group of six on a three-day trip, the total park outlay is modest next to the yacht itself — but it must be booked early in peak weeks, because the cap genuinely fills.
Getting here is easier than it has ever been. Scoot now flies Singapore–Labuan Bajo twice weekly and AirAsia connects Kuala Lumpur three times weekly, alongside the expanded airport and new piers completed in 2026 — so many guests skip the Bali overnight entirely. Once your dates and flights are pencilled, send them through our booking page and we will confirm Splendour’s availability, hold Siora sessions for your group, and arrange harbour pickup. First time planning a trip like this? Our 4D3N Komodo liveaboard route is the most popular frame for a Splendour charter — enough time for dragons, Padar, Pink Beach, and two manta sessions without rushing.
As a Labuan Bajo liveaboard operator run by the Komodo Luxury team — TripAdvisor’s 2025 Travelers’ Choice winner and named Best Boat Agency in Labuan Bajo — we have sailed these waters since 2015, and boats like Splendour are exactly why we keep a mixed fleet: the right vessel depends on you, not on fashion.
FAQ
Is Splendour a phinisi or a motor yacht?
Splendour is a modern motor yacht, not a traditional phinisi. It carries a white hull, large windows, and contemporary interiors closer to Mediterranean yacht styling, and it transits between Komodo sites faster than sail-rigged wooden boats — useful under the park’s timed-session system.
How much does a Splendour liveaboard trip cost per night?
Splendour sits in the mid to upper-midrange band, roughly US$250–350 per person per night depending on season, cabin, and itinerary length. Park fees are extra: about US$16 per day entrance plus guide, conservation, ranger, and harbour fees paid via the Siora app.
Can I book Splendour as a private charter for a small group?
Yes — with roughly three to five cabins for six to ten guests, Splendour works best as a full-boat private charter. We tailor the route, menu, and daily timing to your group and align every landing with your pre-booked Siora sessions before confirming the yacht.
Ready to see if Splendour fits your dates? Start on our booking page with your group size and travel window, or contact our Labuan Bajo team — you can also WhatsApp us for a same-day answer on availability, Siora sessions, and a tailored itinerary that is perfectly arranged before you ever step on board.