About Sands Bajo
We keep the bow into the current at Manta Point by 9 a.m., lines streamed and safety buoys out before the first guest enters the water. This isn’t guesswork — after 12 seasons in Komodo, we know the tide pushes hard through the channel between Gili Lawa Laut and Manta Alley, and that’s where the plankton ride high, drawing in the big reef rays. Sands Bajo sits steady at 23 metres, long enough to slice through the chop off Padar at first light but nimble enough to tuck into secluded bays like Taka Makassar by mid-morning.
The cabins are laid out with function in mind. The Master Cabin sits aft, full beam, with direct deck access — we keep that door locked until the anchor’s set, then open it for guests to step straight onto the shaded platform for early swims. Two Deluxe Cabins (I and II) are forward on the lower deck, each with twin berths and private en-suite bathrooms with real hot showers — not the trickle kind. Superior Cabins 1 and 2 share a mirrored layout amidships, while Superior 3 stands alone with a slightly larger porthole facing east, perfect for catching sunrise over Kanawa’s volcanic ridge.
Day one starts with arrival in Labuan Bajo by noon. We load supplies — fresh papaya, eggs from Ruteng, and bottled drinking water — then weigh anchor by 1 p.m. and head for Kelor. The island’s small, but the hike to the top takes 20 minutes and delivers the classic Komodo panorama: jagged islets, turquoise channels, and the long spine of Padar in the distance. We time it for sunset so the rocks glow red while the crew fires up the grill on deck. Dinner is served under the awning, with the sails still furled but the anchor light blinking steady.
Day two begins at 5:30 a.m. off Padar. The dinghy departs at first light, and by 6:15 you’re on the northwestern beach, walking the switchbacks up to the viewpoint as the sun clears the horizon. Back on board by 9, we steam south to Komodo Island, anchoring at Loh Liang by 10:30. Rangers meet us ashore for the dragon walk — we keep the group under 12, as the trail limits allow. After lunch, we reposition to Pink Beach, where the sand gets its hue from crushed coral, not minerals. Two hours here, then a short drift snorkel at Manta Point before rounding the cape to Kalong Island, where the sky turns purple with flying foxes at dusk.
On day three, we’re up early again. The anchor comes off at 6 a.m. for Taka Makassar, known locally as “the sandbar that appears twice a day.” We time it for low tide so you can walk 200 metres offshore and be surrounded by water in every direction. An hour here, then a final swim at Kanawa, where the reef drops fast and you can hang above the blue. We return to Labuan Bajo by 2 p.m., refuel, and unload. No rush — but if you’ve got a late flight, we keep cold drinks on standby.
