Komodo park permits and fees: 2026 Labuan Bajo update

Questions readers ask next

Can I pay the Komodo island ticket by card at the harbour?

Sometimes, but you should not rely on it. Card terminals at the official counters are prone to outages, and staff will usually ask you to switch to cash if the connection is poor. To avoid last‑minute stress or missing your departure slot, carry enough Indonesian Rupiah in cash to cover your park ticket, ranger fee, and any remaining boat balance. If you are joining an organised trip, ask your operator in advance whether your specific departure point has working card facilities that day. Assume cash-first, card-second, especially for early-morning or late-afternoon sailings.

What did PP 36/2024 actually change about the ticket price?

It changed how the fees are structured, not merely the headline number. Before this regulation, many travellers were charged a patchwork of per-island and per-activity fees that made costs unpredictable. PP No. 36/2024 replaced that with a single park-wide ticket, which is now the reference price used by serious operators in Labuan Bajo. The regulation also centralised collection under the national PNBP system, so revenue goes straight to the park authority rather than being split among various local tickets. When comparing older blog posts to current costs, remember that any pre‑October 2024 breakdowns are effectively obsolete.

How do I work out the ticket and ranger fee per person?

Add two separate charges: park entry per person, and mandatory guiding per group. The park ticket itself is charged per individual, while the ranger/guide fee is charged per group of 1–5 visitors. If you join a shared boat with four other people, that guide cost is effectively split five ways; if you charter a private boat alone, you shoulder the full guide fee yourself. This is why two travellers on the same day can end up with quite different per-person totals even though the official entrance tariff is identical. Ask your boat operator how many guests will share your ranger so you can estimate your real per-person cost more accurately.

Is there a breakdown of taxes and retribution on the ticket?

Most of the small line items are now bundled into the central system rather than itemised. In practice, you will see a single national-park ticket plus any clearly stated guiding or service charges from your operator, rather than a stack of separate conservation or local retribution tickets. Behind the scenes, the government allocates portions of this income for conservation, facility maintenance, and local government revenue. What matters for your wallet is that the combined effect is already reflected in the realistic daily budget range for visitors. If someone tries to sell you extra “village tax”, “harbour tax”, or similar at improvised posts, treat it with caution and ask to see an official receipt from the park authority or port management.

How do I get a drone permit for Komodo National Park?

Arrange it in advance with the park authority or through your boat operator; it cannot be picked up at the pier. Approval is not automatic; requests are evaluated based on purpose, flight area, and impact on wildlife and other visitors. If you arrive with a drone but no permit, rangers can prevent you from flying and may confiscate equipment or impose fines if you ignore instructions. The safest approach is to clear your plans by email or WhatsApp with your operator several weeks before arrival, so they can coordinate with the Balai Taman Nasional Komodo on your behalf.

What is the current national park ticket price?

Foreign visitors pay Rp 250,000 per person per visit under PP 36/2024, and Indonesian citizens pay Rp 50,000 on weekdays or Rp 75,000 on weekends and public holidays. For trips departing late 2024 onward, the only figure that matters is the tariff set by PP No. 36/2024, which replaced the older, more confusing fee tables. This single ticket now covers entry to the whole Komodo National Park area on the day of your visit, regardless of which islands your boat stops at. Be wary of operators or blogs still quoting different “Komodo island”, “Padar island”, or “Pink Beach” entrance tickets as if they were separate mandatory charges. Use the official tariff as your starting point and then add your boat cost, ranger fee, and any optional extras like diving or private guiding.

Is SiOra the same thing as SIMAKSI?

Two ideas get merged in this phrase: SiOra, which handles ticketing, and the older SIMAKSI notion of a written access permit. Since April 2026, SiOra is the only recognised online gateway for booking Komodo and Padar visits, and your QR code functions as your practical entry permit. You choose your date and one of the three daily visitor sessions, pay the required charges, and receive a digital ticket to show at harbour and island checkpoints. Unlike the old paper-based SIMAKSI process, you do not need to visit multiple offices around Labuan Bajo before sailing. Just make sure the name on your SiOra booking matches the ID or passport you carry, as rangers can cross‑check the QR code against your documents.

What safety rules and insurance apply to boats leaving this port?

The requirements are a mix of national maritime rules and park-specific expectations. Boats should comply with Indonesian standards for passenger numbers, life jackets, and basic safety equipment, but enforcement quality can vary between small charter operators. The park authority expects visitors to be briefed on trekking rules, wildlife distance, and snorkelling safety before leaving the boat. Basic accident insurance is often embedded somewhere in your ticket chain, but the coverage limits are typically modest. For anything more than minimal protection, it is wise to carry your own travel insurance that explicitly covers boat trips, snorkelling, and, if relevant, scuba diving inside Komodo National Park.

Will my Singapore mobile plan roam here without a shock bill?

Check your mobile provider’s Indonesia roaming pack before you fly. Major Singapore carriers usually treat Indonesia as a standard regional destination, but pay‑per‑use roaming at the harbour can still be expensive if you upload photos or stream video. Mobile data coverage at the port itself is decent, but once you sail toward Komodo, coverage drops and your phone may latch onto any available network at higher roaming rates. A practical strategy is to buy an Indonesian prepaid SIM or eSIM upon arrival at Komodo Airport (LBJ) and use that instead of Singapore roaming. Download your SiOra tickets, offline maps, and important contacts over Wi‑Fi or local data before you board to minimise accidental roaming use.

Who regulates the port, and who regulates the park?

Authority is split between the harbour operator and the Komodo National Park management. The harbour side controls vessel berths, passenger movements on the piers, and basic maritime safety inside the port limits. Once you sail out toward the islands, you fall under a mix of maritime law and park regulations enforced by rangers and patrol boats. Rules you encounter at the dock—like restricted access zones, security checks, or passenger counts—are there to manage congestion and safety during the morning and afternoon departure waves. If you are unsure whether a particular instruction comes from the port office or the park authority, your boat captain or trip leader is usually the best person to clarify.

What is the port’s official name and code?

Names and codes confuse travellers here because the seaport and the airport are two separate things. For flights, the official airport name is Komodo Airport with the IATA code LBJ, located roughly 10–20 minutes by road from the harbour area. The passenger harbour is commonly referred to as Pelabuhan Labuan Bajo or simply Bajo Port in local usage and tourism materials. Long‑distance ships such as PELNI and ASDP list Labuan Bajo as their port of call without a special three‑letter passenger code, using the town name in schedules and tickets. When arranging transfers, always specify whether you need pickup at Komodo Airport (LBJ) or the Labuan Bajo harbour to avoid mix‑ups.

Read next

• our guide to komodo Park Permits, Quota & SiOra
• our guide to komodo 4D3N Tour From Labuan Bajo
• Honeymoon and Couples Cruises From Labuan Bajo
• our guide to aI Knowledge Base
• Every charter guide in Boat Charters from the Port

Where these trips are actually sold

This guide does not operate boats. Bookings are fulfilled by Komodo Luxury, and this site may earn a referral commission.

• Labuan Bajo tour packages
• Komodo boat tours
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