About Bombana 2
I remember the smell of hot coffee and fresh timber on the top deck the first morning, just after sunrise. We’d anchored off Padar the night before, and from the upper deck, the island’s curved ridges looked like something carved by wind and time, not geology. The air was cool, just enough to make the fleece blanket around my shoulders welcome. Below, the crew were already setting up breakfast – fruit platters, soft-boiled eggs, toast with local honey. No rush. That was the rhythm: unhurried, but never idle.
We’d boarded Bombana 2 late afternoon the day before in Labuan Bajo. The 60-metre hull sat low and solid in the water, twin masts rising like sentinels. After the welcome drink – lime, lemongrass, and something fizzy I couldn’t name – we dropped anchor near Kelor. A short dinghy ride took us to the beach, where we hiked the hill for sunset. The view flattened me: five islands fanned out in every direction, the sea shifting from turquoise to deep indigo. Back on board, dinner was served under string lights – grilled mahi-mahi, sambal, and sautéed kangkung. The table stretched long, and we all sat together, swapping stories.
Day two started before dawn. We were on deck by 5:45, wrapped in jackets, as the boat glided toward Padar. The hike up was steeper than it looked, but the sunrise made it worth every step – golden light spilling into the coves, one after another. By mid-morning, we were snorkeling near Komodo Island, then hiking through the savannah with a ranger. Seeing the dragons up close was surreal – their tails dragging, jaws slightly open, eyes like polished stones. We spent the afternoon at Pink Beach, where the sand really is tinged rose from crushed coral. Then Manta Point: I floated above them for nearly twenty minutes, watching their wings ripple through the water.
On the final day, we visited Taka Makassar – a sandbar that appears at low tide like a mirage. We walked the full length, taking photos, then swam out to Kanawa, where the coral shelves drop fast into blue. The crew had rigged the back platform with ladders and floaties. Some of us snorkeled until our lips went numb. By the time we motored back toward Labuan Bajo, the mood was quiet. Not tired, just full. We’d seen five islands, three kinds of sharks, and more stars than I thought possible. The boat handled the crossing smoothly – no pitching, just a steady hum from below.
Bombana 2 isn’t flashy. The cabins are clean, the woodwork honest, the service attentive without hovering. What it does well is space: wide decks, a top lounge shaded by sailcloth, a dining table where you never feel squeezed. I shared a cabin with my partner – it was tight, but the bed was firm, the AC strong, and the porthole opened to sea breeze. We kept our shoes off most of the time. That felt right.
