Kelor, Manjarite and the Kalong flying foxes: sunset boat trips from Labuan Bajo compared
5 min read
The answer first. The four half-day group trips in the table follow the same route: a swim or a short hike, a snorkelling stop, then the flying foxes at dusk. The Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong Island Boat Tour (€34.79 per person, 4.8 from 13 reviews) takes up to 10 people and brings you back to the waterfront at about 6:30 pm.
Five trips to the same island
| Trip | Duration | Group | Pickup | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong Island Boat Tour | 5.5 hours | Up to 10 | Hotel pickup in Labuan Bajo | €34.79 |
| Sunset Tour by Speedboat | 4 hours | Up to 10 | Pickup and drop-off included | €69.58 |
| Half-Day Boat Tour and Flying Fox Sunset | 6 hours, slow boat | Up to 15 | Starts at a street address in Labuan Bajo | €56.95 |
| Kalong Island Sunset Boat Tour with Snorkeling | 5.5 hours, shared wooden boat | Up to 11 | Pickup included, details at booking | €38.44 |
| Komodo Dragons, Kelor Hike and Kalong Bats | 4 to 6 hours, private yacht | Private, price per group of up to 6 | Hotel transfer | €644.28 |
The last trip is a different product: a private yacht whose price covers a group of up to six. It adds Rinca Island, where a ranger guides you to the dragons, and only its afternoon departure (1 to 7 pm) stops at Kalong; the morning trip does not. The other four are the classic group tour.
What happens on the route
On the first trip, Kelor Island brings free time to swim and a short trek to a viewpoint; Manjarite is the snorkelling stop; at Kalong Island, which one listing also calls Mangrove Island, you watch thousands of flying foxes leave the mangroves at sunset. The half-day boat tour says the Kelor hike is “brief but steep”. That tour also says the snorkelling is calm at Manjarite and suits beginners, and that the park fees are all included.
Where the listings disagree
- Park and Kalong fees. The Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong tour names a Kalong Island entrance fee “if applicable” in a list that mixes inclusions and extras. The Kalong Island Sunset tour names an entrance fee for Kalong of IDR 250,000 per person in its list, yet its itinerary marks both Manjarite and Kalong “Extra fee”. The Half-Day Boat Tour says all entrance fees are included. The yacht trip lists the park entrance fee among its inclusions, while its notes say entrance, marine and conservation fees are not included and are paid in cash on site. Where a page contradicts itself, ask the operator before you pay.
- Meals. The Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong tour lists snacks and meals at the very end, after personal expenses and other extra costs, so bring your own food unless the operator confirms otherwise. The Sunset Tour by Speedboat lists a snack with fruit, water, and coffee or tea.
- Documents. The Half-Day Boat Tour requires a passport for passenger registration and sailing permits.
Who should skip it
The Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong tour, the Half-Day Boat Tour, the Kalong Island Sunset tour and the yacht trip list people prone to seasickness as not suitable. The Sunset Tour by Speedboat names non-swimmers, people with heart problems and people with mobility impairments; the Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong tour names non-swimmers. The Half-Day Boat Tour names wheelchair users and children under 2. The yacht trip also names pregnant women, wheelchair users, people with mobility impairments, epilepsy or altitude sickness. Weather and sea conditions can change the order of stops, and the Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong listing offers a new date or a refund if the changes are large. We found no source for when the flying foxes are most numerous, so we promise no count.
Our recommendation
For most visitors the Kelor, Manjarite and Kalong Island Boat Tour: a small group, hotel pickup, snorkelling equipment on its list and a stated return time. Budget cash for the Kalong fee until the operator confirms it. The full list is in the Kalong sunset and bat tours category. If you would rather combine a sunset with the dragons, read Komodo or Rinca.
