Boats and Ferries in Komodo and Flores
There are a number of ferries operating with more or less regular schedules to Flores from Java, Bali, Surabaya, Lombok, Sumba, Sumbawa, West-Timor, Bira and Makassar. Unfortunately departure time and dates change frequently.
Bali / Lombok / Bima-Sumbawa / Makassar / Sumba
The passenger ferry KM Tilongkabila of the national company PELNI operates twice a month between South Bali´s harbour Benoa to Labuan Bajo in West Flores with a stop in Lembar/Lombok and Bima/Sumbawa. After reaching Labuan Bajo the boat continues to Makassar/South Sulawesi and returns from there back to Labuan Bajo and Bali. The Tilongkabila is a large passenger boat with a capacity of 916 people. Different categories of accommodation are sold on each of the routes. The PELNI passenger ships have a limited number of international standard cabins. The journey from Bali to Labuan Bajo takes about 33 hours. Check out PELNI Indonesian Ferries.
PELNI´s KM Wilis operates twice a month between Makassar and Kupang with stops at Bima/Sumbawa, Labuan Bajo/West Flores, Waingapu/East Sumba and Ende/Middle Flores.
Check out PELNI Indonesian Ferries.
KM Kelimutu operates between Labuan Bajo, Makassar, Bau-Bau, Ambon, Banda, Timiika and Merauke.
Check out PELNI Indonesian Ferries.
KM Binaya operates between Labuan Bajo and Bali. The journey takes 24 hours on the direct route between both islands without any stop overs. But be aware and check the schedule twice. Sometimes KM Binaya has a stopover in Bima on Sumbawa. In this case the travel duration is about 30 hours.
Check out PELNI Indonesian Ferries.
Other ferries on Flores
Sape/Sumbawa to Labuan Bajo
A car- and passenger ferry service operates once a day between Sape on the eastern end of Sumbawa Island and Labuan Bajo in West Flores. It starts in sape at nine in the morning, you should arrive latest in sape on eight in the morning to purchase your ticket. The ferry arrives in Labuan Bajo apprx at four in the afternoon. From labuan Bajo the ferry starts at nine in the morning as well and arrives in sape at four in the afternoon. Please take in consideration that the ferries often start later than nine in the morning. Nevertheless you should be in time to purchase your ticket and be in time on the ferry.
During the time from mid July to mid August and January and February you should take in mind that the ferries don't operate due to high waves and bad ocean conditions.
More Informations, time schedule changes or cancellations you only can get from the local harbour offices. It doesn't exist any online service.
Using local ferries between Java <-> Bali, Bali <-> Lombok, Lombok <-> Sumbawa and Sumbawa<->Flores or Java<->Flores directly it is possible to drive by car or motorbike from the nation’s capital of Jakarta to Labuan Bajo on Flores.
Surabaya/Java Island to Labuan Bajo and Ende
Twice a week a passenger, car and motorbike ferry operates between Surabaya and Labuan Bajo.
Bira/South Sulawesi and Selayur Island to Labuan Bajo
Once a week there is a boat from Labuan Bajo to Bira/South Sulawesi and to Selayur Island. Please ask for the departure dates and time at the local ferry harbour in Labuan Bajo.The departure days sometimes alternates. Therefore it is difficult to tell you which day during the week the ferry departs.
Maumere to Makassar or Kupang
Twice a month a Pelni passenger ferry operates between Kupang, Maumere and Makassar.
Check out PELNI Indonesian Ferries.
Ende to Labuan Bajo
Once a week there is a connection between Ende and Labuan Bajo
Ende to Kupang/West Timor
Once a week there is a connection between Ende and Kupang. Departure days are unknown and can alternate.
Aimere to Kupang/West-Timor
Once a week there is a connection between Aimere and Kupang. Departure days are unknown and can alternate.
Larantuka to Kupang/West-Timor
Once a week there is a connection between Larantuka and Kupang. Departure days are unknown and can alternate.
Larantuka to Andonara
Every day at eight o'clock in the morning a small, wooden passenger boat departs to Andonara. Transportation of motorbikes are limited. Please ask one day before departure in the harbour
Larantuka to Lembata
Every day at eight o'clock in the morning a small, wooden passenger boat departs to Lembata with a stopover in Andonara. Transportation of motorbikes are limited. Please ask one day before departure in the harbour
Labuan Bajo to Lombok and Gilis (low budget package tour)
Every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday the Wanua Adventure Boat departs from Labuan Bajo to Lombok and the Gilis. Included are visits to Rinca, Komodo, Santonda Island, Moyo Island and many other islands for snorkeling, hiking, bathing and sightseeing. The journey takes four days and three nights.
Information about Wanua Adventure Tour from Flores to the Gilis
Live-aboard and chartered boats
Bali and West Flores have a large fleet of live-aboard boats and schooners to serve visitors to the area. Travelers can live on the boat and either sail with a luxury yacht (wooden schooner) from Bali or Lombok to Labuan Bajo in West Flores or with wooden motorboats of different standards and sizes. Not all motorboats provide cabins. Therefore please ask before you book a trip whether the boat has single cabins or only one uncomfortable dark collective accommodation under deck. Meals are taken on the boat and on the way to Flores or Bali and Lombok most boats and yachts passes Rinca and Komodo with the opportunity for diving and snorkeling excursions.
Tags: Flores, travel hints Flores, Komodo, Boat Cruise Komodo
Appreciate to receive time table and fare for cars ferries between Bali island and flores portsand any restriction(if any)
Thank you
Dear Mr./Mrs. Wattimena,
there are no car ferries between Bali and Flores. If you want to make a trip to Flores you have to do island hopping. From Bali by car ferry to Lombok (apprx. 5 to 6 hours). Overland to the east of Lombok (apprx. 1 to 2 hours) and ferry to Sumbawa (2 hours). Overland from west to east Sumbawa (apprx. 10 hours). Ferry from Sape to Labuan Bajo (apprx. 7 hours). The ferries in Bali and Lombok start every hour. The ferry in Sape starts at 9 in the morning. During Corona Pandemic and Ramadhan the ferry schedules might be different.
Hi
Thanks for the informative post.
We are planning a round trip in jeep starting and ending in Bali and visiting Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Sumba.
We are also looking at an extended jeep trip from Bali Surabaya to Sulawesi to Flores and back.
is it possible to prebook tickets? What are the best links for ferry times?
Thanks
Nick