About Alila Purnama
We keep the starboard stabiliser reefed just enough when crossing from Padar to Pink Beach – too much drag and we lose time, too little and the swell rolls us hard. At 46 metres, Alila Purnama handles the Savu Sea’s short fetch better than most Phinisis, but she still wants respect. Our crew of eight know the rhythm: slack the main sheet after Komodo Island, let her drift into calm behind Rinca’s lee, then reset for the run north. You won’t feel tossed around – we’ve balanced the draft and ballast for these channels – but you’ll hear the water knock against the hull at night, a reminder you’re not on a hotel barge.
Alila Purnama carries ten guests, not twenty. That means we can drop anchor in Taka Makassar by 08:00, before the day boats arrive from Labuan Bajo. You’ll have the sandbar to yourself for half an hour, long enough for still photos and a proper swim. We do the same at Kanawa, timing slack tide so the current doesn’t drag snorkelers toward the open sea. Our dive guide preps the dinghy at Kalong River mouth by 17:45 – right when the fruit bats begin lifting from the mangroves in slow spirals. No rush, no crowd, just precision.
One master cabin occupies the aft deck – full beam, private terrace, direct water access. The other four cabins are forward, each with opening ports and individually controlled AC. We routed the generator beneath the saloon so noise stays forward, not under your head. The upper deck lounge is where most guests end the day, but I prefer the bow net at dawn with a thermos of Sumatran roast. If you’re up, you’ll see dolphins following the current off Sebayur, hunting silver fish in the grey light.
Day one starts with boarding at 13:00 in Labuan Bajo. We clear customs on deck while the galley serves chilled papaya and lime. By 15:30 we’re at Menjerite, dropping snorkel gear for a sunset drift along the reef’s edge. Day two begins at 05:45 with a dry landing at Padar – the trail is cool then, the light sharp on the switchbacks. After the summit, we motor to Komodo Village for the ranger briefing, then hike through savannah with two guides. Lunch is grilled mahi-mahi, served under shade tents at Pink Beach. We snorkel Manta Point by 15:00, where the upwelling draws in rays almost daily.
On day three, we aim for Taka Makassar by 08:00 – shallow, white, and calm. Swimming here feels like floating in milk. By 10:00 we’re at Kanawa, where the coral slopes meet blue water. The crew lowers the ladder, and you can stay in or out as you like. We return to Labuan Bajo by 15:00, just as the market stalls begin packing up. No airport rush, no missed flights – we time it so you walk off onto dry land with time to spare.
