Komodo Island has earned its place among the world’s leading destinations. It is not just because of its magnificent scenery, alluring sunsets, calming serenity, or breathtaking wildlife. It is more a matter of the combination of varied activities, unique wildlife, world-class amenities, and its favorable location — a combination that makes it irresistible to explorers and vacationers.
However, the fact that you have a lot of options is not always a great thing. It can be overwhelming. And this can ruin your overall experience.
Therefore, right after checking yourself into any one of the good Komodo island hotels, it is always a good idea to have a list of activities that you may want to take part in. Here are some of the activities that you should consider including in your list.
Diving
If you’ve never swum with manta rays, or if you’ve never experienced what it feels like to dive at night, then you should definitely consider going diving.
Areas like Batubalong, Manta Alley, Tatawa Kecil, Taka Makassar, and Castle Rock, offer fantastic diving opportunities. And it doesn’t matter whether you are a beginner or an expert diver. Provided you are interested in seeing marine life up close, you won’t be disappointed.
On dives on the island, you can get the opportunity to experience what it is to swim next to majestic manta rays. You will also be able to see pygmy seahorses, giant trevallies, white tip sharks, corals, and turtles.
And if taking a dive during the day isn’t awe-inspiring enough, you can always try out night diving. For this, the best spot in Komodo is Gili Lawa.
Watching and participating in local dances
The inhabitants of the area surrounding Komodo Island have a strong cultural identity. They take part in interesting traditional dances and songs. Therefore, if you are interested in soaking up a little bit of the local culture, visiting Melo Village is something that you should definitely consider.
You will get the chance to unwind by cheering “Caci” fights, supporting traditional performances by locals, and chatting with the locals. All in all, visiting local villages will give you perfect opportunities to create memorable moments and capture great photos.
Watching bat migration
If you’ve never seen thousands of bats flying all at once in the night sky, then you definitely have to make a stop at Kalong Island.
On the island, you will be able to see the daily migration of bats as they move from the mangroves. The experience, which lasts for about 15 minutes, is unique enough to make it worth your time. And given that it happens in the evening, at around 6 pm, you can always stop by when you are on your way back to your hotel — after visiting other attractions in the area.
See and learn more about Komodo dragons
If you’ve never seen a Komodo dragon, Komodo Island will offer you plenty of opportunities to see them. You can see them in their natural habitat when you visit Rinca Island. You can also opt to have a closer look at them at Komodo National Park.
Whether you encounter them when taking a hike on Rinca Island or at the park, you will have the opportunity to learn more about these majestic creatures. What you won’t be able to learn from observing them, you can always learn by asking your guide questions.
Taking a hike to the top of Padar Island
The Komodo Island scenery is breathtaking. However, very few spots offer the magnificence that Padar Island offers. Therefore, if you are in the vicinity, taking the hike is something that you should definitely do.
While the hike will take you anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, it is totally worth it. The combination of colored beaches, breathtaking sunsets, and incredible landscapes, make for one of the most beautiful sights in the world.
While this list is definitely not exhaustive, it offers great pointers as to where you can start on your journey to experiencing what Komodo Island has to offer.