Early
Before sunrise
On Padar day the crew wake you in the dark with coffee and head torches. It is twenty minutes of steps to the ridge, and it is empty at first light.
How it works
Your voyage, explained end to end
From the first WhatsApp message to the transfer back to the airport — what happens, in what order, and what we need from you at each point.
The short answer
Four steps, no agent in the middle
You message the reservations desk with dates and guest count, we send live availability and a written quote, a 50% deposit confirms the booking, and we collect you from your Labuan Bajo hotel on the day.
Riley is booked direct with the operator. There is no broker between you and the crew, which is why the quote comes back the same day and why route changes can be agreed in a message rather than a chain of emails.
Below is what happens at each stage, followed by what a day on board actually looks like.
Booking
From enquiry to confirmed date
01Step one
Send your dates and group
Message us with your dates, how many are travelling, which duration you are leaning towards, and anything that shapes the trip — dietary needs, an anniversary, whether anyone dives or gets seasick.
- WhatsApp or email
- Same-day reply
02Step two
Availability and a written quote
We check the calendar and reply with what is actually free, a draft route and a total in writing. Nothing is fixed at this point — this is when to ask for changes.
- Live calendar
- Draft route
- Total in writing
03Step three
Deposit confirms the boat
A 50% deposit by bank transfer holds Riley for your dates. The balance falls due 30 days before departure. Once we know who is sharing with whom, cabins get assigned.
- 50% deposit
- Cabins assigned
- Balance at −30 days
04Step four
Arrive, board, sail
Fly into Labuan Bajo the day before — LBJ flights are weather-sensitive and there is no second boat. We collect you from your hotel and you board at 11:00 WITA on day one.
- Arrive a day early
- Hotel pick-up
- Board 11:00 WITA
A day on board
How the hours actually run
Times shift with the tide and the light. The rhythm does not.
Morning
Breakfast under way
Back on board for breakfast while Riley repositions. The ranger walk among the dragons happens after that, before the heat builds.
Midday
In the water
The best light for snorkelling and the tide window for Manta Point. Lunch happens between stops rather than at a fixed hour.
Evening
Anchor and dinner
Sunset from the sun deck or the jacuzzi, dinner at anchor, and the night in a sheltered bay. Night one is usually off Kalong, after the bats.
Before you fly
The three things guests most often get wrong
Arriving the same morning. Flights into Labuan Bajo are weather-sensitive and often delayed. Riley departs at 11:00 WITA and cannot wait — arrive the day before.
No cash. Park entrance, ranger and activity fees are paid in cash, per person, on the day. ATMs exist in Labuan Bajo but not in the park.
Packing for a hotel. You need reef-safe sunblock, a hat, hiking sandals for Padar and a dry bag far more than you need anything formal.
The fare
What is covered and what is not
Included in the fare
- Accommodation on board Riley Phinisi for the full itinerary
- All meals, prepared fresh by the on-board chef
- Mineral water, coffee and tea throughout
- Professional documentation — drone, GoPro and mirrorless
- English-speaking cruise guide
- Snorkelling equipment and life vests
- Pick-up and drop-off within Labuan Bajo
Budget separately
- Flights to and from Labuan Bajo (LBJ)
- Komodo National Park entrance and ranger fees
- Crew gratuities
- Alcoholic and soft drinks
- Personal snacks and expenses
- Drone permit, where required
- Travel insurance
Process
Questions about booking and boarding
How quickly do you reply?
Same day, usually within a few hours. The reservations desk is on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875.
Can we hold a date before paying?
For a short window, yes — enough to confirm flights. Tell us what you need; nothing is charged until you say so.
What time do we board and disembark?
Boarding is 11:00 WITA on day one. On the last day you are back in Labuan Bajo in time for afternoon flights.
Do you pick us up from the airport or the hotel?
Your Labuan Bajo hotel, at a time we set around the 11:00 departure. If you are arriving that morning against our advice, tell us the flight number.
What happens if our flight is delayed?
Message us immediately. We will hold what we can, but the tide and the park schedule set the limit — which is exactly why we ask you to arrive a day early.
Can we change the itinerary after booking?
Yes, within weather and park regulations. Raise it before departure so the crew can provision and plan for it.
Keep reading
Where to go next
Reservations
Start with your dates
Send dates and guest count and we take it from there — live availability, a draft route and a written quote, same day.