A solo woman on a Komodo sailing trip: what to expect

Size is the first safety feature we can point to. Bombana 2 carries up to 13 guests and Bombana 1 up to 15.

The open trip includes a guide. On Komodo Island a park ranger leads the walk, and treks don't run without one. At sea the crew make the decisions about weather and route, and they can change the plan for the day if the water asks for it.

Life jackets are on board. Bombana 2 also lists a radio, AIS, GPS, a handheld radio and a compass.

Alone on the open trip, you book a bed in a sharing cabin. Bombana 1 starts at IDR 2,950,000 (≈ USD 181) and Bombana 2 at IDR 4,250,000 (≈ USD 261), both per person.

Sharing cabins are shared with other guests exactly as listed. We arrange sharing cabins with you at booking, so tell us what matters to you.

Each cabin has its own bathroom, so you aren't sharing a shower block with the deck. A private cabin needs at least 2 guests on the open trip. Want one? Bring a friend. The shared boat page covers the fares in full, and the booking team answers any question about the cabin in plain words before you pay.

Day 1 is the easy one. You are at the meeting point by 10:00, climb the short hill on Kelor, snorkel at Manjarite and watch the bats leave Kalong at sunset.

Day 2 is the long one. Padar comes first, before sunrise, then Pink Beach, the Komodo walk, Taka Makassar and Manta Point. By dinner you will be worn out, in a good way.

Day 3 is gentle. Siaba or Sebayur gives you a last snorkel, a last lunch aboard and Labuan Bajo around midday. Book flights home for after 13:00.

Nobody expects you to chat from breakfast to bedtime. The deck is big enough for a book and a corner, and the table is where everyone meets. The full route shows each stop.

On the boat and on the beaches, swimwear is normal. In town and in island villages, cover your shoulders and knees. That is local custom in Flores, which is mostly Roman Catholic, with a Muslim minority in Labuan Bajo.

For trails you want closed shoes with grip and a hat. Padar starts before sunrise, so a head torch matters more than any fashion choice. Bring a light layer for the deck at dawn.

Pack in a soft bag. Cabins on a small boat don't have room for a hard case, and a duffel folds away when you're done. Sunscreen should be reef-safe, and your passport or ID travels with you for the park registration. The packing guide lists the rest.

Send one message. Put four things in it.

• Your date and the boat you prefer
• That you are travelling alone, and what matters to you in a shared cabin
• How many guests are already booked on that date
• Where and when the meeting point is

We answer on WhatsApp, and a person writes the reply. If a date is nearly full we say so. If we can't confirm something, we say that too. Our booking page explains what follows once you choose a date, the deposit and the balance included.