Vhale
Vhale Phinisi
An active trip, with the walking and the swimming counted out
Updated 4 November 2026
A Komodo adventure boat trip on Vhale counts three walks (Kelor, Rinca, Padar) and several snorkels, with two paddle boards on deck and snorkel gear on board. For 24 active guests the 3D2N whole boat is IDR 6,170,000 (≈ USD 379) each. Certified divers should ask us first.
Rinca on foot, Padar on the ridge, mantas in the water
The 3D2N route is more active than its quiet reputation. Day one has Kelor, a short first climb, and the trek at Rinca with rangers, where the dragons are wild and are never promised. Day two begins on the Padar ridge before sunrise, steep and loose underfoot, and then turns to the water: Pink Beach, a sandbar at Taka Makassar and a drift over the reef at Manta Point. On day three the boat snorkels once more at Siaba or Sebayur.
That makes three walks and four swims in three days, with the sailing between them, which is about the right mix for people who like to arrive spent and pleased. Mantas are not promised. The current at Manta Point is why even a strong swimmer does well to wear a life jacket. The captain sets the order with the tide.
Snorkel gear on board, paddle boards on deck
Snorkel gear is on board and in the fare. Two paddle boards live on the deck, and the Yamaha 40 HP tender runs people to the beaches, which means the boat does not have to anchor on the reef itself. No scuba gear is listed; it is a snorkelling trip with two boards, and the boards are first come, first served.
The boards earn their keep at the anchorages and off Pink Beach, with shallow water and the shore close by. They matter most to the two cousins who will disagree about turns. Ask the crew about conditions before you stand up on one. Sea and wind are the captain's department, and he will say no without apology.
Non-divers welcome; divers, ask first
Vhale is a snorkelling boat, and everyone aboard who swims is welcome, whether or not they have ever been certified for anything. Snorkel gear comes with the open-trip seat and with the whole-boat charter alike. No dive equipment and no dive centre are offered, so this is a snorkelling voyage.
Certified divers who hope to dive from Vhale should ask us first, in writing, before they book anything on the strength of this page. We will tell you what the boat can and cannot support, and nothing will be assumed. Divers who are happy to snorkel will have a good time; those who are not should look elsewhere.
Sunburn, seasickness and a morning plan
The sun is the main hazard on this route, more than the sea. Taka Makassar has little shade on its sandbar, Padar has none, and Rinca has very little, so a hat, long sleeves and reef-safe sunscreen are worth packing. Closed shoes belong on all three walks.
Some guests feel the sea more than others, and we cannot advise on medicine. Bring what already works for you, and tell the crew early if the swell is bothering you. The Padar start is the only truly early morning, and the leaving time is about 65 minutes before sunrise.
Twenty-four active guests, one sum, divided
Twenty-four active guests divide the 3D2N whole-boat fare of IDR 148,000,000 (≈ USD 9,080) to IDR 6,170,000 (≈ USD 379) each. Twenty guests pay IDR 7,400,000 (≈ USD 454) each, and twenty-eight pay IDR 5,290,000 (≈ USD 325). That fare carries the cars to and from the hotel or airport, all meals, snacks, water on tap, tea, coffee, milk and juice, and the snorkel gear.
It leaves out the park package, flights, hotels either side, tips and any alcohol. With a charter, the guide and the photo record are requested and quoted apart. For a group under twenty, a cabin seat from IDR 4,450,000 (≈ USD 273) a person on a Monday or Friday sailing includes both.
Where the energy goes between stops
Between stops the boat sails, and the sailing is where people recover. Kelor is about an hour from the harbour, so day one has a long lunch before the first climb. The walk at Rinca follows, then the slow run to Kalong for sunset. The nights are at anchor, where the captain chooses the spot with the weather.
Spend the idle hours on the day bed or on a paddle board, in whichever order the sea allows. The speaker and karaoke set are for the evening, when legs are spent and voices are not. A good active day ends with a little noise.
FAQ
Is Vhale for snorkellers only, or can certified divers book it?
Snorkelling is what is offered: the gear is included in the fare. No dive equipment and no dive centre are offered. Certified divers should therefore ask us first, in writing, before booking.
Do snorkellers get life jackets, and is the gear provided?
Life jackets and snorkel gear are both carried. Ask us if you need something for a child, and we confirm sizes in writing. A life jacket is worth wearing at Manta Point because of the current, whatever your swimming.
What do I bring for the snorkelling, and what does the boat supply?
The boat supplies snorkel gear, included in every fare, and two paddle boards. Bring a hat, long sleeves, reef-safe sunscreen and closed shoes for the three walks. If a perfect fit matters to you, bring your own gear as well.
Which stops are walks and which are swims?
Walks are Kelor, Rinca and the Padar ridge. Swimming happens at Pink Beach, at Taka Makassar and at Manta Point, with Siaba or Sebayur saved for the last morning. The captain, watching the weather and the tide, decides which stop comes first.
Check availability — Vhale
Bookings for Vhale are made with the Komodo Explorer team in Labuan Bajo; the boat sails with its own crew of nine.