Bombana Sailing Komodo
Bombana Sailing Komodo
A sunrise and sunset photo trip on a small phinisi
Updated 23 October 2026
A photo trip on Bombana 1 or Bombana 2 has two light windows: Padar before sunrise on day 2, with a climb of 25 to 45 minutes, and Kalong at dusk on day 1, where the flying foxes leave about 15 minutes after sunset. The sun comes up at 05:31 in November.
Padar before sunrise
Guests leave the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise and climb for 25 to 45 minutes. The viewpoint looks over three bays with differently coloured sand. The path is loose and steep, so carry the tripod in a bag and keep a hand free.
In November the sun comes up at 05:31. In July it comes up at 06:18. The table shows every month, and the start time moves through the year. Wear a head torch and shoes with grip.
The colour on the day is the sky's decision. Cloud, haze and wind change it, and we can't promise a clear horizon. We can promise you are standing there when it happens. Pack patience.
| Month | Sunrise | Leave the boat by | On the ridge by |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 05:54 | 04:49 | 05:34 |
| February | 06:05 | 05:00 | 05:45 |
| March | 06:06 | 05:01 | 05:46 |
| April | 06:04 | 04:59 | 05:44 |
| May | 06:07 | 05:02 | 05:47 |
| June | 06:14 | 05:09 | 05:54 |
| July | 06:18 | 05:13 | 05:58 |
| August | 06:12 | 05:07 | 05:52 |
| September | 05:56 | 04:51 | 05:36 |
| October | 05:39 | 04:34 | 05:19 |
| November | 05:31 | 04:26 | 05:11 |
| December | 05:38 | 04:33 | 05:18 |
Computed for the location; accurate to a few minutes.
Bats at dusk
Day 1 ends at Kalong. It is a mangrove islet in the park where thousands of flying foxes roost, and it is not a landing stop. You watch from the boat.
The bats leave in a long stream about 15 minutes after sunset, over about 30 minutes. Sunset falls at 18:01 in November and at 17:57 in July, and the table has the other months. Be on deck early. The show starts once, and it does not wait for a lens change.
A long lens and a charged camera are worth carrying. Light drops fast after the sun is gone, so a steady hand and a lens that takes in light help. Dinner follows. Count on it, since day 1 ends that way, and bring a layer for the deck once the sun has gone and the wind finds you.
| Month | Sunset | Bats fly from about |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18:27 | 18:42 |
| February | 18:26 | 18:41 |
| March | 18:15 | 18:30 |
| April | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| May | 17:49 | 18:04 |
| June | 17:50 | 18:05 |
| July | 17:57 | 18:12 |
| August | 18:00 | 18:15 |
| September | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| October | 17:55 | 18:10 |
| November | 18:01 | 18:16 |
| December | 18:14 | 18:29 |
Computed for the location; accurate to a few minutes.
Cameras and drones
Documentation by mirrorless, GoPro and drone comes with the open trip, and on a private charter it is on request, quoted separately in writing. We confirm with your date how the files reach you.
A drone of your own needs a park permit, and we can't promise one. Ask us before you pack it. Flying without a permit is not something we will plan around.
Your phone and your camera need no booking. Salt and sand do the damage on a boat, so keep a dry bag and a cloth in reach. The special requests page lists a photographer or drone with a permit as an extra we quote.
Light on the deck
From the rail. On Bombana 2 the white foredeck has railings and a bowsprit that points out over the water. That gives the bow a clean line to shoot along. Nothing clutters the foreground. Just rail, rope and sea.
Pink Beach on day 2 follows the Padar descent and breakfast, and the tide and the cloud change the light from day to day. Taka Makassar is a sandbar that shows only at low tide, so the picture depends on the clock. Look at the tide before you promise anyone a shot of it. Low water only.
Bombana 1 has a sun deck with bean bags, an open stretch of sky at the top of the boat. The photo gallery shows Bombana 2.
Kit for the light
Pack for sun, spray and a path in the dark:
- Charged batteries and spare cards
- A long lens for the bats at Kalong
- A head torch for the Padar climb
- A dry bag and a lens cloth
- A waterproof case for the water stops
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a hat
Short list. It fits a soft bag, even with a long lens wrapped in a spare shirt, and nothing on it is expensive. The full version is in the packing guide. For the cabins and fares behind the trip, see the 3-day route.
FAQ
What time is sunrise at Padar?
It moves through the year. In November the sun comes up at 05:31, and in July at 06:18. Guests leave the boat about 65 minutes before sunrise, so day 2 starts in the dark whatever the month, and the sunrise table has the rest.
Do I need a permit for my own drone?
Yes, a park permit. We can't promise to obtain one, and the open trip's own documentation already includes drone footage. Ask us before you travel, because flying without a permit risks the whole group's access to the park.
Can I charge cameras on board?
Charge everything in Labuan Bajo the night before, and carry 2 spare batteries. Signal is patchy as well, so don't count on uploading from the boat.
Do photographers climb Padar in the dark?
Guests climb for 25 to 45 minutes on a loose, steep path with a head torch. The guide goes with the group. Shoes with grip matter more than any camera gear, and a tripod is best strapped to your bag.
Check availability — Bombana Sailing Komodo
Bombana Sailing Komodo is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.