Sea Familia
Sea Familia
Getting to Labuan Bajo with your family
Updated 28 October 2026
Fly to Komodo International Airport (code LBJ) and arrive the day before you sail. The harbour is 2 to 3 km, about 10 minutes by car. Bring ID for every guest, which we need 7 days before sailing for the passenger list, and meet your pickup, confirmed in writing.
Flights, and landing a day early
Labuan Bajo has one airport, Komodo International Airport, code LBJ. From Bali the flight takes about 1 hour 10 to 20 minutes, from Surabaya about 1 hour 30, and from Jakarta 2.5 to 3 hours. Schedules change, so check before you book.
Land the day before you board. A delayed flight on the sailing morning can cost you the departure, and a hotel night in town removes the risk. We do not sell flights.
The airport is 2 to 3 km from the harbour, about 10 minutes by car.
| Airport | Komodo International Airport, code LBJ |
|---|---|
| Usual connections | Bali (DPS), Jakarta (CGK) or Surabaya (SUB); Lombok and Kupang are smaller feeders |
| Flight time to Labuan Bajo | From Bali about 1 h 10 min to 1 h 20 min; from Surabaya about 1 h 30 min; from Jakarta 2 h 30 min to 3 h; from Lombok about 1 h |
| Airlines | Garuda Indonesia, Batik Air, Citilink and Indonesia AirAsia from Bali and Jakarta; Super Air Jet from Surabaya; Wings Air on the shorter island routes. Schedules change, so check before you book. |
| Airport to the harbour | 2 to 3 km, about 10 minutes by car |
Checked 11 October 2026
Passport, visa and the manifest
Nationals of 97 listed countries can enter on a Visa on Arrival, or apply for the same visa online before travelling at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Other nationalities apply in advance. Children pay the same as adults. Rules change, so check the immigration site before you fly.
We need a passport or ID for every guest 7 days before sailing. The harbour authority issues a boarding pass that must match the passenger list, and we register you.
Keep the passport valid for the whole stay, and keep a photo of it on your phone as a spare.
| Visa on Arrival (VoA) | Open to nationals of 97 listed countries, including most of Europe, the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Japan, South Korea, China, India and the Gulf states. Other nationalities apply in advance at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. |
|---|---|
| e-VoA | The same 30-day visa, applied for online before you travel at evisa.imigrasi.go.id. Once approved, you must enter within 90 days. |
| VoA / e-VoA price | IDR 500,000 per person; children pay the same. Fees can change, so check the official site before you fly. |
| Length of stay | 30 days from the day you arrive, single entry |
| Extension | Once, by 30 days (60 days in total), for IDR 500,000. Apply at an immigration office about a week before the first 30 days end. |
| Visa-free entry | 30 days, not extendable, for citizens of ASEAN countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. |
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date, with at least 2 blank pages |
| Onward ticket | Proof of a return or onward ticket is required for a VoA |
| All Indonesia arrival card | Free and compulsory. Fill it in within 72 hours before arrival at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id or in the app; it covers immigration, customs and the health declaration. |
| Arriving in Labuan Bajo | Most visitors clear immigration in Bali, Jakarta or Surabaya and reach Labuan Bajo on a domestic flight |
| Bali tourist levy | IDR 150,000 per foreign visitor if you enter through Bali, paid at lovebali.baliprov.go.id. It is separate from the visa fee. |
Checked 11 October 2026 · Entry rules and fees change: confirm them on the official immigration site before you travel.
Money, signal and sun
Cash machines are on Jl. Soekarno-Hatta near the harbour and at airport arrivals, and none are in the park or on the islands. Take cash before you board. Cards work at hotels and larger restaurants, sometimes with a surcharge.
Telkomsel has the widest coverage in Labuan Bajo and offshore, though signal is patchy between the islands. A SIM card needs a passport to register. Mains power is 230 V with two-pin round plugs.
Tap water is not safe to drink. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and any prescription medicine from home, because pharmacies in town have a limited range.
| Currency | Indonesian rupiah (IDR); about IDR 16,000 to 16,500 to the US dollar and IDR 17,500 to 18,000 to the euro in mid-2026 |
|---|---|
| ATMs | BCA, Mandiri, BNI and BRI on Jl. Soekarno-Hatta near the harbour and at airport arrivals; none in the national park or on the islands. Take cash before you board. |
| ATM limits | IDR 1,250,000 to 3,000,000 per withdrawal; a local fee of about IDR 25,000 to 50,000, plus your own bank's charges |
| Cards or cash | Cards work at hotels, dive centres, boat companies and larger restaurants, often with a surcharge of 2 to 4 per cent. Small eateries, markets, taxis and small shops take cash. |
| Tipping | Appreciated, never compulsory. In restaurants 5 to 10 per cent when no service charge is added; for a boat crew, IDR 50,000 to 100,000 per guest per day is a common range. |
Checked 11 October 2026
| SIM cards | Every SIM must be registered; visitors register with a passport |
|---|---|
| Best network | Telkomsel has the widest coverage in Labuan Bajo and offshore; signal is still patchy between the islands |
| eSIM | Install it before you fly and activate it on landing; a typical plan of 25 GB for 30 days costs about USD 15 to 22 |
Checked 11 October 2026
From the airport to the boat
Pickup in Labuan Bajo is free; the time and the meeting point are confirmed in writing with your booking.
Pickup covers the airport, the hotel and the harbour. The default vehicle is a car or minibus shared with your group, and a larger vehicle is available on request.
Give us your flight number when you book. If the flight is late, message us, and we move the meeting point in writing. A child who has been awake since the first flight needs a short drive and a bed, and the pickup is planned around that.
FAQ
Can we fly in on the sailing morning?
It is possible and we advise against it. Arrive the day before: a delayed or cancelled flight on the sailing morning can cost you the departure. From Bali the flight is about 1 hour 10 minutes, and the harbour is 10 minutes from the airport.
Do children need a visa?
Yes, the same rules as adults apply, and children pay the same Visa on Arrival fee. Check the current rules for your nationality on the immigration site, evisa.imigrasi.go.id, before you travel.
Is there a cash machine at the harbour?
There are cash machines on Jl. Soekarno-Hatta near the harbour and at airport arrivals. There are none in the national park or on the islands, so take cash before you board.
What should we carry on board?
Passport or ID, reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, closed shoes for the walks, a light layer, personal medicines and some cash for tips. Your park ticket is registered for you, and the boat carries the rest.
Check availability — Sea Familia
Sea Familia is published and booked by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia, a booking partner for Sea Familia 1 and Sea Familia 2. The boats belong to their owner.