DinnerCooked by your private chef
Served alfresco at the deck table. Menus run Indonesian and Western — grilled fish, sambal, fresh fruit, whatever the day suggested. Dietary requirements are provisioned for before departure.
The experience
Riley Cruise — the private Komodo cruise
What the days and the nights actually feel like on board: sunrise on Padar, the middle of the day in the water, and the jacuzzi as the sun goes down.
What it is
You charter her whole, or not at all
A Riley cruise is a private charter of Riley Phinisi, a 29-metre phinisi sailing Komodo National Park from Labuan Bajo — four en-suite cabins for up to 10 guests, a deck jacuzzi, full crew and private chef.
Riley is a traditional Buginese schooner, hand-built from ulin ironwood and teak by the shipwrights of Bulukumba in South Sulawesi and launched in 2020. Chartering her means every cabin, the sun deck, the jacuzzi, the dining table and the crew belong to your group alone.
There is no shared-cabin option, no strangers at breakfast, and no fixed group schedule. This page describes what that feels like. Rates and inclusions live on the booking page; the hull, engine and cabins are on the specifications page.
First light
Coffee on the sun deck, before the day boats
Most Riley cruises anchor overnight near Padar so the day can start on its summit. The crew have coffee ready on the sun deck before sunrise, and the ten-minute tender ride to the trailhead happens while the air is still cool.
Padar's three-bay viewpoint is the most photographed spot in the park, and reaching it at six — before the day boats arrive from Labuan Bajo — is the quiet advantage of sleeping inside the park rather than commuting to it.
Back on board, breakfast is served at the outdoor table while Riley repositions. She cruises at six to nine knots, a deliberate pace: the island-to-island hops mostly happen while you eat, nap or sit watching Flores slide past.
Midday
Mornings with dragons, afternoons in the water
The middle of a Riley day belongs to the park. Ranger-guided walks on Komodo and Rinca put you within a few careful metres of wild dragons. Pink Beach earns its name honestly — crushed red coral tints the sand — and the reef starts a short swim from shore. Taka Makassar is a crescent of white sand that barely clears the tide. Manta Point is a drift snorkel where reef mantas feed in the channel current.
The crew build each day around tides, currents and crowd timing rather than a printed schedule. Snorkelling straight off the boat, a second beach landing, or simply staying anchored in a calm bay are all legitimate answers to "what next?" — and that flexibility is the practical difference between a private charter and a seat on a shared cruise.
Golden hour
The jacuzzi, between five and seven
The jacuzzi on Riley's deck gets used most in the two hours before dark. The boat anchors, the crew bring cold drinks, and the sun goes down over the islands while you sit in warm water on a wooden schooner.
Time it near Kalong Island and the sky fills at dusk with thousands of flying foxes leaving their mangrove roost — a nightly migration you watch from the water rather than from a crowded viewpoint.
Evenings
Dinner, stars, and whatever your group wants next
Komodo National Park has almost no artificial light. On a clear night at anchor the Milky Way is visible from the balcony lounge with the naked eye.
Dinner
NightsKaraoke or quiet
Riley carries a sound system and karaoke for the groups who want them, and a lounge with a screen for the evenings that end early. What happens is entirely your group's call.
SleepFour air-conditioned cabins
All with private bathrooms. The Master Suite takes a double bed plus an extra bed and opens onto its own terrace over the water — the best seat on the boat for a last look at the stars.
Who it suits
The price is per boat, so the trip changes shape with the group
01
Couples & honeymooners
The jacuzzi, the Master Suite terrace and a crew that stays discreet make a two-person charter feel like a floating villa.
02
Families
Up to ten guests, the Master Suite for the parents, and a crew that handles tenders, gear and safety on every landing.
03
Friend groups
Sound system, karaoke, snorkelling straight off the deck, and nobody else's itinerary to negotiate around.
04
Small teams
A ten-guest yacht with outdoor dining and no distractions works as a retreat venue no meeting room can match.
On board
The spaces you live in
Riley cruise
Common questions
Is a Riley cruise private or shared?
Always private. Riley is never sold per cabin or per seat — one group of up to ten takes the entire yacht, its four en-suite cabins, the crew and the private chef. Your itinerary, meal times and pace are set with you, not for you.
How much does a Riley cruise cost?
From USD 3,350 for a 2D1N charter in 2026 and USD 3,800 in 2027, for the whole yacht. Each duration is priced separately — the published cards for every open season are on the booking page.
Where does a Riley cruise go?
Every cruise departs Labuan Bajo and sails Komodo National Park: Padar's sunrise ridge, Pink Beach, dragon walks on Komodo and Rinca, Manta Point, the Taka Makassar sandbar and the bat flight at Kalong. The crew adjust the order daily around tide, weather and crowds.
How long should the cruise be?
Two to four days. The 3D2N covers every headline stop unhurried and is what most guests take; the 4D3N adds Kanawa, Siaba and a second dragon walk on Rinca.
Can we drink alcohol on board?
Yes. Alcohol is not included in the fare, but you are welcome to bring your own and the crew will keep it cold.
Keep reading
Where to go next
Reservations
Take the whole boat
Send your dates and guest count. We reply with live availability and a written quote — direct from the operator.