Phinisi Day Charter to Kanawa & Komodo
A private traditional wooden sailing ship for one full day — cast off at sunrise, dock at sunset. The deck, the crew and the schedule are yours, and nobody else is aboard.
- Duration
- Sunrise to sunset
- Guests
- 10 to 20 typical
- Vessel
- Two-masted phinisi
- Overnight
- No — day only
What a phinisi day is, and what it is not
A phinisi is Indonesia’s two-masted wooden sailing ship, built in the boat-building traditions of South Sulawesi. On a day charter the whole vessel is yours from sunrise to sunset — which mostly means you decide when to linger at a snorkel site and when to move on. That single freedom is what a fixed-itinerary group boat cannot give you.
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The whole boat
Deck, dining area, crew and schedule, for your group only.
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Your pace
Stay in the water as long as the snorkelling is good. Nobody is waiting on a timetable.
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The sail home
Wooden decks, warm light, the Flores hills ahead. This is the part guests actually remember.
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No cabins
Day only. Cabins are not part of this product and multi-day cruising is a different trip.
Guests who want to wake up near the reef usually pair a day charter with a night ashore, arranged through the Kanawa Island stay desk. The boat collects you the following day.
A sunrise-to-sunset day
Routes are flexible and the captain adjusts to sea conditions, but a well-paced charter day out of Labuan Bajo usually runs like this.
- 05:30 Hotel pickup in Labuan Bajo and transfer to the harbour.
- 06:00 Cast off. Coffee and a light breakfast on deck as the sun comes up over the bay.
- Morning Padar Island viewpoint climb, then Pink Beach for the first swim and snorkel of the day.
- Midday Cruise to Kanawa. Lunch on board at anchor over the house reef, then unhurried snorkelling straight off the boat or from the beach.
- Afternoon Manta Point, the Taka Makassar sandbar, or simply more time at Kanawa — your call on the day.
- Sunset The sail home in golden light.
- ±18:00 Dock in Labuan Bajo and transfer back to your hotel.
Because the boat is private, any element can be swapped. Photographers often reverse the route to catch Padar in afternoon light; families with young children frequently skip the viewpoint climb and take a longer, calmer block at Kanawa.
What a phinisi day costs in 2026
Quoted per boat, per day. Rates depend on vessel class, group size and route.
Quoted per booking. Indicative only, not fixed quotes. Final pricing varies with the specific vessel, season, fuel routing and national park fees, which are charged separately at prevailing rates. Send your date over WhatsApp for a firm written quotation.
| Charter type | Detail | Indicative rate |
|---|---|---|
| Standard phinisi | Up to 10–15 guests | From USD 2,950 per boat, per day |
| Premium phinisi | Up to 10–20 guests | From USD 5,800 per boat, per day |
| Luxury phinisi | Small groups, full service | From USD 6,350 per boat, per day |
How to book a phinisi day
Send date and group size
On WhatsApp, plus any must-see stops.
Receive boat options
Matched by group size, style and budget, with a quote.
Confirm with a deposit
You get written confirmation of route, inclusions and pickup time.
Final briefing
The day before — weather check, pickup point, last route changes.
Sail
Sunrise out, sunset return.
Phinisi day questions
The four that decide whether this is the right boat for your group.
Can we see Komodo dragons on a phinisi day charter?
Yes — a ranger-guided stop at Rinca or Komodo can be built into a private charter, though it makes for a longer day and usually replaces one snorkel stop. Say dragons are a priority when you enquire and the route is structured around it.
Is a day charter suitable for non-swimmers or children?
Yes. Life jackets are carried for everyone, crew accompany snorkellers in the water, and Kanawa’s house reef starts in calm shallow water — one of the gentlest entries in the park. Non-swimmers have the beach, the warm shallows and the deck.
Can we sleep on the phinisi overnight?
No. This product is strictly a single day with no overnight component. If you want to stay out in the islands, the natural pairing is a night ashore on Kanawa, with the boat collecting you the next day.
What happens to a phinisi charter if the weather turns?
The captain has the final say on safety. In marginal conditions the route moves to sheltered sites; where sailing is not possible at all Komodo Luxury reschedules or works out a fair resolution directly — agreed in writing before you pay.
One boat, one crew, one unhurried day
Send your preferred date and group size and Komodo Luxury will come back with boat options and a firm quote — usually within hours. High season (July–August, and the Christmas–New Year window) sells out for the better boats, so two to four weeks ahead is sensible.
Request a Quote from Komodo LuxuryThe charter desk
- +62 811 3823 875
- sales@komodoluxury.com
- Based in
- Labuan Bajo, since 2015
Planning the details of your Kanawa & Komodo phinisi day
How does a Kanawa Island phinisi private charter actually differ from a shared Komodo day tour?
A private phinisi charter is your group, your route and your pace: the captain can linger on the reef here, skip Padar if the climb does not suit everyone, or divert to Manta Point when conditions look good. A shared speedboat tour runs a fixed loop on a timetable with strangers aboard. Private boats are priced per vessel per day; shared boats sell seats per person. For an overview of vessel types and layouts, browse Komodo Luxury’s boat charter fleet.
Are vegetarian or vegan food options available on Kanawa Island phinisi charters and on the island itself?
On the phinisi, vegetarian and simple vegan meals are usually possible if you say so clearly when you book; crews in Labuan Bajo are used to cooking without meat, seafood or eggs when asked. On Kanawa itself, do not rely on the island kitchen: operation is inconsistent and supplies limited. Treat it as a picnic spot rather than a restaurant. If you have allergies, bring clearly labelled snacks from town and confirm your needs in writing before paying any deposit.
If we stay overnight, where to store valuables safely if staying overnight on Kanawa Island?
The legacy bungalows on Kanawa vary in condition and may not have lockable safes; power and staff presence are also inconsistent. Most travellers keep passports, larger cash and electronics with them on the phinisi and carry them back to Labuan Bajo rather than leaving them on the island. If you do overnight, bring a small padlock for your bag, minimise what you bring, and confirm current security and storage options with your operator before committing to sleep there.
How does the snorkelling here compare with Taka Makassar, and what do the review scores miss?
Kanawa’s house reef starts close to shore with a gentle 1–3 m shallow, then drops to 5–18 m along the wall — easy for mixed-ability groups and children. Taka Makassar is a sandbar: boat-only access, stronger currents, and manta sightings when conditions cooperate. Online “kanawa island vs taka makassar tripadvisor snorkeling ratings” rarely explain tides, visibility or time of day, which matter more than star scores. If snorkelling is your main focus, discuss timing and tide windows with your charter desk or look at combining Kanawa with a manta-focused route such as a tailored leg within a private Komodo trip.
To turn this into a real date on the water, send your preferred day, group size and rough route ideas over WhatsApp at +62 811-3823-875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com. Komodo Luxury can match you with a suitable vessel, or fold Kanawa into a longer sail using their luxury phinisi charters in Komodo or a multi-day 3D2N Komodo tour package.