**A Flores charter boat, in Arunika Cruises terms, means buying out an entire comfort ensuite small-ship for your own group — roughly 10 to 24 guests across a private route from Labuan Bajo through Komodo National Park and east toward Riung, Ende and Maumere. Operated by Komodo Luxury, it is quoted per vessel as of 2026.**
This is a whole-vessel buyout of a scheduled comfort cruise, not a day-boat rental and not a bareboat yacht. You are not renting a local wooden boat for an afternoon, and you are not stepping onto an ultra-luxury private superyacht. You are taking over one of our ensuite-cabin small ships — the same vessels that run our fixed Monday and Thursday departures — and pointing it at the route your group actually wants.
What does a Flores charter boat actually include?
A full-ship buyout gives your party exclusive use of every cabin, the shared decks, the crew and the galley. Nobody outside your group is aboard. That single change — exclusivity — is what separates a charter from booking cabins on a shared scheduled sailing.
Included on a standard Arunika comfort charter:
- Every ensuite cabin on the vessel (typically 5 to 12 cabins depending on the ship), so your group sleeps in private, air-conditioned rooms — not open deck-class mattresses.
- Full crew: captain, deckhands, an English-speaking guide and a cook preparing all onboard meals.
- Route flexibility within the licensed cruising area, west into Komodo National Park or east along the Flores coast.
- Small tender/dinghy for island landings at spots like Padar, Pink Beach and Manta Point.
- Snorkelling gear and standard safety equipment.
Priced separately, as line items confirmed at booking: Komodo National Park entrance fees, flights to Labuan Bajo, pre-cruise hotel nights, alcohol on some vessels, and travel insurance. We list these openly so your quote reflects the true all-in figure.
Who is a full-ship buyout for?
Charters make sense the moment a group wants the boat to itself. In practice that means:
- Families, including those travelling with children under 16. Shared scheduled sailings carry a minimum age of 16, so families with younger kids must book a private charter — a buyout removes that barrier entirely.
- Multi-generational or milestone trips: birthdays, anniversaries, reunions.
- Corporate retreats and incentive groups wanting a closed, distraction-free setting.
- Special-interest groups: divers, photographers, or wellness retreats that need the itinerary shaped around their activity.
If your group is smaller than a full ship, booking individual cabins on a scheduled departure is usually the better-value route — ask our team and we will tell you honestly which model fits.
How much does a Flores charter boat cost?
Charter pricing is quote-based, not a fixed shelf price, because it moves with vessel size, cabin count, season and route length. Public per-person fares in this category are rarely listed for the same reason. The bands below are illustrative planning figures as of July 2026, subject to change and confirmed only at booking — they help you budget, not lock a price.
| Charter length | Typical route focus | Guests (full ship) | Cabins | Indicative buyout from (USD, per vessel) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3D2N | Komodo NP core: Padar, Pink Beach, Manta Point | 10–16 | 5–8 | from ~6,000 |
| 4D3N | Komodo NP + extended island time | 12–20 | 6–10 | from ~9,000 |
| 6D5N | Komodo west + eastbound Riung 17 Islands | 14–24 | 7–12 | from ~16,000 |
| 8D7N | Full Flores arc toward Ende, Maumere, Larantuka | 14–24 | 7–12 | from ~24,000 |
The buyout figure covers the whole vessel regardless of how many berths you fill. Komodo National Park entrance fees sit on top as a separate, non-refundable line item. The park is managed by Balai Taman Nasional Komodo under Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry (KLHK); exact fee tables are not publicly fixed and must be quoted at the time of booking, so treat any figure as subject to change.
Which routes can you charter?
Arunika charters are sold by route and cabin class, which is exactly what makes a buyout worth it — you decide where the ship goes. Popular framings:
- The Komodo classic (3D2N / 4D3N): Labuan Bajo out to Rinca, Padar’s sunrise ridge hike, Pink Beach and Manta Point, then back to port around 15:00 on the final day.
- The eastbound run (6D5N+): past Komodo toward the calmer, less-crowded Riung 17 Islands, with cultural shore excursions around Ende and Maumere.
- The full arc (8D7N): the long comfort voyage stitching Komodo, Riung and the east-Flores coast toward Larantuka.
Aqua Expeditions, a reference operator in this small-ship category, sails the Bali–Komodo–Flores region April to September only, explicitly avoiding the harsh weather of the off-season. Independent guides name April to June as the sweetest window — lusher landscapes, thinner crowds and better underwater visibility. We schedule charters inside that April–September window and will steer you away from dates the sea does not cooperate with.
How does booking a Flores charter work?
The path from enquiry to embarkation is short and handled directly by the Komodo Luxury reservations team.
- Send your brief. Message the concierge with group size, preferred dates, route interest and any children’s ages. We confirm which vessels fit.
- Receive a per-vessel quote. You get an itemised buyout figure plus separate park fees, dated and marked subject to change.
- Secure the boat. Following the market pattern set by scheduled operators such as Le Pirate, a 10% non-refundable deposit holds your dates. A further 25% is refundable only if you cancel 14 or more days before departure.
- Finalise details. We lock the route, cabin assignments, dietary needs and any add-ons.
- Settle the balance. The final 65%, plus Komodo National Park entrance fees, is non-refundable and due 14 days before departure.
- Arrive early. Fly into Komodo Airport (IATA: LBJ) at least one day ahead to absorb any flight delay — the transfer between the airport and the Labuan Bajo harbour area runs roughly 10 to 15 minutes.
- Embark. On departure day, meeting is 09:00–09:30 at the operator office, the ship leaves at 10:00 sharp, and you return around 15:00 on the last day.
We strongly recommend travel insurance covering cancellation, medical emergencies and disruption — the payment schedule above leaves little room for last-minute changes, and no operator can guarantee weather or sea conditions.
Charter your own comfort small-ship across Flores
Tell us the route in your head and the people you are bringing, and the Komodo Luxury concierge will build the buyout around it — vessel, cabins, dates and an honest all-in quote.
- WhatsApp: (https://wa.me/628113823875)
- Email: sales@komodoluxury.com
Reservations are handled directly by Komodo Luxury, a real award-winning operator founded in 2015 in Labuan Bajo. All prices and terms on this page are stated as of July 2026 and are subject to change; every figure is confirmed at booking. No sailing outcome, wildlife sighting or weather condition is guaranteed.
Published by Juara Holding Group. Route desk editor: Rangga Wirasena, Arunika Cruises.