Komodo Island is just one of the islands located in the warm water of the Flores Sea. Besides the diverse flora and fauna above and under the water, this national park is also surrounded by many beautiful islands and beaches around Komodo Island. You can do not only diving but also kayaking, trekking, or island hopping.
However, when doing these outdoor activities, the temperature can be very hot, so make sure to pack and wear the right clothes, comfortable shoes (hiking shoes is better), hat, high SPF sunblock, and a lot of water. Don’t forget to bring your swimsuit and waterproof camera (housing) to capture the unforgettable moments during your adventure.
As the base of your visit, you can make a liveaboard trip, or stay in Labuan Bajo, reachable within 1.5 hours flight from Bali. To visit the islands and beaches around the Komodo Islands, you can join a day trip arranged by some tour operators in Labuan Bajo.
Pink Beach at Komodo Island
In Komodo Island, there is a rare and beautiful beach with “pink” sand – one of the seven beaches in the world – formed from the cracked red shells (of a tiny creature called foraminifera), get swept to nearby shores and combined over time with white sand. Luckily, there are some pink beaches in this area located in several different islands, where you can just lay back by the beach, do snorkeling, or scuba diving in its clear warm turquoise water full of a large variety of fishes and corals.
Padar Island
Padar Island is located between Komodo Island Rinca Island, small but the third largest island in Komodo National Park. Mostly covered by savannah, Padar Island offers one of the most stunning panoramic views from the top of its hill, overviewing the blue ocean and golden sunset over four crescent-shaped beaches shimmering under the sun – making it one of the best beaches around Komodo Island. The hike takes about 30-45 minutes with an upward trajectory, with no ladder or fence, until the top of the hill – so make sure to hike with caution.
Rinca Island
Rinca Island has located nearby the Komodo Island, the second largest island in Komodo National Park, and is still inhabited by some Komodo dragons. Some people prefer to visit Rinca Island compared to Komodo Island because it is closer to Labuan Bajo, and you are much more likely to spot the Komodo dragons in Rinca Island with fewer crowds compared to Komodo Island. Trip to Rinca Island can be easily organized from Labuan Bajo.
Kalong Island
Next to Rinca Island, there is a small beautiful island named Kalong Island, which literally means the “bats” in Indonesian. Covered by the mangrove forest, it is a perfect home for the thousands or millions of bats, which will fly out of the island to search for food during the sunset, and then come back in the morning.
According to the locals, no one is daring to enter the island since the last one who went there by local boat did not ever return; Moreover, to keep the original condition of the island as the habitat for the bats, no one is allowed to either cut the trees or catch the fishes illegally here; Therefore, the island retains its beauty and nature. There are many tour operators that can arrange a boat trip to see this island during sunset time, to capture the most picturesque sight of the bats leaving the coastline.
Kelor Island
Kelor Island is a small island located between Labuan Bajo and Rinca Island, where you can do a short hike of 15 minutes leading you to the top of the hill, where you can have a panoramic view of Flores Island, Rinca Island, and many other smaller islands and beaches around Komodo Island. Most of the people will just walk around the island, or jump to swim in the water. When you see its crystal clear water and step on the white sandy beaches, you might not want to leave soon.
Kanawa Island
If you want to visit a pink beach and stay on that particular island, Kanawa Island might be the best option. This island is closer to Labuan Bajo and has accommodation along the pristine beach and clear seawater. If you are keen on snorkeling or doing scuba diving, its underwater also offers a great marine life, such as a school of fishes, sea turtles, or even reef sharks and dolphins.