Last updated: September 2026 · Prices & availability verified for the 2026/2027 season
Last updated: September 22, 2026
Yes — Komodo National Park is open. The park was never closed after the M7.7 Flores earthquake of August 15, 2026, whose epicenter lay roughly 200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo. As of August 16, Padar Island, Pink Beach, and the ranger-guided dragon treks are running on normal itineraries so far, and boats are sailing from Labuan Bajo under an official Harbormaster reopening issued the same day as the quake.
This update comes from the Komodo Luxury team in Labuan Bajo, the gateway town to the park. Our crews were at sea with guests when the earthquake struck on Saturday morning; every guest and crew member was safe and accounted for, and our boats returned to the water the same afternoon. What follows is what we know first-hand, checked against the official sources travelers keep asking us about.
- The earthquake: magnitude 7.7 (BMKG’s initial estimate of M7.0 was later revised), Saturday, August 15, 2026, at 05:58 local time (WITA).
- The epicenter: under the sea north of Flores near Mbay, Nagekeo — about 200 km northeast of Labuan Bajo and the park, at a shallow depth of around 15 km.
- Tsunami: no destructive tsunami formed. The Labuan Bajo tide gauge recorded a wave of about 0.36 m, and BMKG lifted its warning within roughly three hours.
- The park: Komodo National Park did not close. Treks, viewpoints, and snorkeling sites are operating as of August 16.
- Sailing: officially reopened by the Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP) on August 15 itself, under Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026.
- Komodo Airport: runway and apron declared safe by the airport authority; flights are operating.
Is Komodo National Park Open Right Now?
Yes. The park authority issued no closure on August 15 or 16. Ranger stations on Komodo and Rinca received visitors again as soon as boats were cleared to sail, and our own guests walked the Padar viewpoint trail on the morning of August 16 exactly as scheduled. The islands themselves — dry savannah ridges, beaches, and reefs — have reported no damage that affects visits so far. For the full picture of what the park includes, our Komodo National Park guide covers the islands, the dragons, and the marine sites.
One honest caveat: this is a live situation, and park management makes its own assessments. Should the park authority adjust anything — a specific trail, a specific island — we will update this page.
Are Padar, Pink Beach, and the Komodo Dragon Treks Operating as Usual?
So far, yes. The itinerary our guests are sailing this week is the same one we ran before August 15: the sunrise hike to the Padar Island viewpoint, swimming and snorkeling at Pink Beach, and ranger-guided walks to see the Komodo dragons on Komodo and Rinca. Snorkeling stops such as Manta Point and Taka Makassar continue to run sea-state permitting, exactly as they always have. The route, timings, and stops of a standard Komodo boat tour have not changed as of August 16.
How Far was the Earthquake from the Park?
About 200 kilometers. The epicenter sat in the sea north of Flores near Mbay in Nagekeo — the same island as Labuan Bajo on a map, but a very different place on the ground. Flores is nearly 400 km long, and Labuan Bajo and the national park sit at its far western tip. That distance is why the town came through with limited damage and a functioning port and airport, while the serious impact was concentrated in central and eastern Flores.
| What travelers ask about | Status as of August 16, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Komodo National Park | Open — no closure was issued |
| Padar Island viewpoint trek | Operating; our guests hiked it on August 16 |
| Pink Beach | Open for swimming and snorkeling so far |
| Komodo dragon treks (Komodo & Rinca) | Running with park rangers as usual |
| Sailing from Labuan Bajo | Officially reopened August 15 — Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026 |
| Komodo Airport (Labuan Bajo) | Operating; runway and apron declared safe |
| Tsunami warning | Lifted about three hours after the quake; no destructive tsunami |
Are Boat Trips Into the Park Running?
Yes. The Labuan Bajo Harbormaster (KSOP) reopened sailing on the afternoon of August 15 — the same day as the earthquake — after BMKG declared the tsunami potential over. The reopening is documented in Maklumat Pelayaran No. 05/MP-VIII/2026, and we tell that story hour by hour in how Labuan Bajo sailing reopened the same day. Our phinisi fleet was back on the water that afternoon, and departures on August 16 ran to schedule, from shared-cabin sailings to fully private yacht charters.
What About Aftershocks and Safety on Board?
We will not tell you the earth is done moving — nobody can promise that, and we don’t. Aftershocks have been felt in the region, which is normal after an earthquake of this size, and none has changed the operating status of the park, the port, or the airport so far. What we can tell you is how the system works: our captains sail only under Harbormaster clearance, monitor BMKG bulletins throughout every trip, and follow strict safety protocols — the same ones that kept every guest in life jackets and every boat holding steady in deep water on Saturday morning. For the wider picture of the town itself, read is Labuan Bajo safe after the earthquake.
What Would Change This Answer
We would revise this page immediately if any of the following happened:
- The park authority suspends visits to a specific island, trail, or dive site.
- BMKG issues a new warning for the waters around the park.
- The Harbormaster suspends sailing from Labuan Bajo again.
- Komodo Airport restricts flights beyond the brief adjustments already resolved on August 15.
None of these has happened as of August 16, 2026. Should the park authority adjust anything, we will update this page — and our team answers status questions in real time on WhatsApp.
A Word for Flores
The park is open, but this is not a story with only good news. Dozens of lives were lost in central and eastern Flores — in Nagekeo, Sikka, Manggarai, and Manggarai Timur — and communities there are grieving and rebuilding. Our crews and guides call this island home, and our thoughts are with every family affected across NTT. Traveling to the western tip of Flores, where the park and Labuan Bajo stand open and working, is one quiet way the region’s recovery continues.
Planning Your Komodo Trip
The dragons are still there, Padar still turns gold at sunrise, and the boats are sailing. Whether you join a shared open trip, book a private trip for your own group, or start with a Komodo tour from Bali, our team in Labuan Bajo will give you a straight, current answer about your dates. Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 — we’re the ones standing on the pier.
Sailing Komodo After the Earthquake: What It Looks Like From Our Deck
We kept sailing the same day the harbourmaster cleared departures, and every Komodo open trip 3D2N shared cabin departure since has run on our own boats — Ayvara, Malca, Catnazse and Naturalia. If you would rather have the whole vessel, a private Komodo charter follows the same safety standard with your own captain and crew. The Komodo National Park fee is set under Government Regulation No. 36/2024 as displayed by the Balai (IDR 250,000 per international visitor per day, IDR 50,000 per Indonesian visitor per day), confirmed by our desk as its own line on your invoice.
Status check — evening of August 16, 2026 (day 2): Komodo Airport (LBJ) operating normally, boats departing Labuan Bajo on schedule throughout the day, and Komodo National Park open as usual. Our crews report calm seas across the sailing routes.
