About Marvelous
If you're looking to share a relaxed yet authentic liveaboard experience with a small group without the price tag of private luxury, Marvelous fits just right. At 23 metres and built in 2019, she’s sized for steady passage across Komodo’s channels but still nimble enough to tuck into quiet bays like Taka Makassar by sunrise. With just one cabin configured for shared occupancy, she runs open-group trips that keep the vibe social and accessible – ideal if you’re travelling solo or as a pair and want to meet fellow adventurers without chartering the whole boat.
Your days unfold across a classic 3-day Komodo rhythm. You’ll arrive in Labuan Bajo by noon on Day 1, settle into shared cabin space with storage for your gear, then sail out to Menjerite Island by late afternoon. As the sun drops behind the hills, you’ll snorkel the outer reef where current brings in reef sharks and bluefin trevally – a solid first taste of what these waters hold. Back on deck, a simple dinner is served under the rigging, with the sounds of the anchorage settling around you.
Day 2 starts early with a pre-dawn ride to Padar Island. The hike isn’t long, but the view from the top – especially at first light – shows Komodo’s volcanic drama in full force. After breakfast back on board, you’ll head to Komodo Village for the ranger-led dragon walk through the savannah. Seeing these creatures in the wild, lumbering past in the midday heat, never gets old. Then it’s a short sail to Pink Beach, where you can swim or nap on sand tinged coral-pink from foraminifera. Late afternoon brings you to Manta Point at Batu Bolong, where consistent upwellings draw in feeding mantas – and you’ll have time in the water before sunset at Kalong Island, watching thousands of fruit bats stream out from the mangroves.
On Day 3, you’ll wake at anchor in the open channel near Kanawa Island. By 07:30, you’ll be snorkeling Taka Makassar, a sandy pinnacle where reef meets open ocean – look for white-tip sharks resting on the bottom and jacks circling above. A second stop at Kanawa offers shallower coral gardens, perfect for photos or beginner snorkellers. The boat returns to Labuan Bajo by early afternoon, giving you time to catch onward flights or explore the town. Marvelous doesn’t serve five-star cuisine or private butlers, but she delivers the rhythm of Komodo with reliability and local insight – a solid pick for travellers who care more about what’s beneath the surface than the polish on deck.
