Komodo Dragons and Flores

Do Komodo dragons live on Flores?

Yes, but almost nobody sees them there. The wild population lives inside Komodo National Park, on Komodo, Rinca, Nusa Kode and Gili Motang, and in scattered pockets on the west and north coasts of Flores itself. There is no organised way to see the Flores animals, so every visitor meets them in the park.

The confusion in the question is geographic, and it is reasonable. Labuan Bajo, the town every Komodo boat leaves from, sits on the western tip of Flores. So you do fly to Flores to see the dragons, you sleep on Flores the night before, and then you cross to a different island to actually meet one.

For what fills the days either side of the boat trip, see what there is to do in Labuan Bajo.

Where do you actually see the dragons, Komodo or Rinca?

Rinca, for most people. Loh Buaya on Rinca is the closer of the two ranger posts to Labuan Bajo, the trails are short and flat, and the dragon density is high. Komodo Island has the name and the longer crossing, and it suits an overnight boat trip better than a day trip.

Either way the walk is guided. Ranger-led trails are the only way to see the dragons on both islands, and the rangers are there for safety as much as for spotting, since these are large, fast wild predators. Padar, the island on every photograph of this region, has the viewpoint and no resident dragons.

Whether to do this on a day boat or sleep aboard is its own decision, covered in our liveaboard versus day trip comparison.

How much does it cost to enter Komodo National Park?

Komodo now sells one bundled ticket per route rather than stacked fees. As a working estimate for 2026, budget around IDR 650,000 per person for the Komodo Island route, or around IDR 900,000 for routes taking in Rinca and Padar. Divers pay a different per-day structure. Fees change, so check the current official guidance.

The bigger change is not the price, it is the booking. Tickets are pre-booked through the SiORA app or a licensed operator, and walk-up sales at the ranger post are no longer the route in. Most travellers never touch the app because their boat operator holds the slots, which is the practical argument for booking the boat rather than assembling the day yourself.

How many days do you need for Komodo and Flores?

Three days covers Komodo National Park from Labuan Bajo and nothing else. Five to seven adds a second boat day, better snorkelling and room for a cancelled crossing. Ten days is the point at which overland Flores becomes possible, with Kelimutu and the villages inland, and that is a slower and much harder trip.

The mistake is treating Flores as a bolt-on. The overland road east from Labuan Bajo is long, winding and slow, and it deserves its own week rather than two rushed days at the end of a boat trip. If the dragons are what you came for, stay west and use the extra days on the water.

If the overland stretch tempts you, start with the Kelimutu crater lakes.

When is the best time to see Komodo dragons?

Any month, as far as the dragons are concerned. They are seen year-round on ranger walks, so the season does not decide whether you spot one. What the season decides is the boat: the dry months, broadly April to October, bring smooth predictable crossings, while the wet months can turn choppy enough to cancel a day on the water.

Within the day, timing does matter. Dragons are most active in the cooler morning hours, which is one reason park boats leave Labuan Bajo before dawn. If you travel in the wet season, build slack into the itinerary rather than booking the park day on the morning of your flight out.

Month by month, including diving and manta season, see when to go to Komodo.