This trip had been on our minds for quite some time. My best friend has a daughter the same age as mine, and despite living in different countries—one in Singapore, the other in Indonesia—our girls have built a genuine friendship thanks to technology.
We'd been dreaming of a mothers-and-daughters getaway for years, but school holidays never aligned. Finally, this March, the stars aligned: Indonesia's Idul Fitri break coincided with Singapore's Term 1 holiday. Another friend and her daughter wanted to join, so by late 2025, we were planning in earnest.
Weathering the Worry
As March 2026 approached, anxiety crept in. The rainy season showed no signs of letting up—Jakarta and Singapore saw rain almost daily throughout February. We started to worry. What would a Labuan Bajo trip be without Komodo Island, Pink Beach, or Padar Island?
We kept praying. Then, less than a week before departure, the sun broke through. We were glad but the forecast still threatened rain. We did not dare to book any island hopping tour yet.
Thank God, the moment our plane touched down in Labuan Bajo, we were greeted by brilliant sunshine. Relief washed over us. It seemed we finally could be sure that our island-hopping tour would happen. After clearing immigration, we took a taxi to our hotel—a flat fare of IDR 100,000 from the airport to anywhere in the city.
Arriving at Katamaran Komodo Resort
Our hotel, Katamaran Komodo Resort, was really impressive. A calm, peaceful energy enveloped us the moment we stepped into the lobby. Through the wide doorway, the blue sea stretched out ahead and green hills rose to the left. We stood there, stunned, before settling into our seats with welcome drinks in hand.
The rooms were spacious and clean, but the real magic was the sea view. We could sit on our balcony and soak in the scenery whenever we wished. The kids were thrilled—this was their first trip together. We spent our first day simply enjoying the view, venturing out only for dinner in town.
Island Hopping: The Heart of the Adventure
Day two was our busiest. We booked a full-day speedboat tour covering Padar Island, Pink Beach, Komodo Village, Taka Makassar, and Manta Point. Our guide picked us up at 8:30 AM, and we drove to the harbour to board our private speedboat.
Padar Island
We arrived at Padar around 10 AM and began our ascent. The trail was only 1.5km, but it featured roughly 800 stone steps—some of them steep and physically demanding. Even at the first viewpoint, the scenery was stunning, and it only improved as we climbed.
By Post 3, we were struggling. The heat made every step harder. The kids complained, but they kept moving. When we finally reached Post 5, the view took our breath away: three curving coastlines, each lapped by turquoise water. Padar's panorama is unlike anywhere else. It was so unique and stunning.
Pink Beach
We reached Pink Beach at noon. Under the bright sun, the sand blushed in soft shades of pink—a phenomenon caused by fragments of red coral mixing with the sand in the shallows. The water was impossibly clear. The kids hunted for shells while we took photos, and we ended our visit sipping fresh coconut water.
Komodo Village
Next, we visited Kampung Komodo. With a local ranger as our guide, we walked through the village and spotted two Komodo dragons resting beneath a tree. We crept closer for group photos, hearts pounding. Seeing these wild creatures in their natural habitat was thrilling—and a little terrifying. Some of us couldn't wait to get back to the boat. It was hard to imagine sharing an island with these prehistoric predators.
Taka Makassar
From Kampung Komodo, we continued to Taka Makassar. Time to swim! By then, we were drenched in sweat. This crescent-shaped sandbar sat in the heart of Komodo National Park, surrounded by crystal-clear turquoise water. It appeared only at low tide and it is famous for snorkeling.The moment we stepped into the shallows, baby sharks glided past our feet.
Manta Point
Not far from Taka Makassar is Manta Point. Our guide promised manta rays at Manta Point, but we didn't spot a single one that day. We waited for some time, but we still couldn't find any manta rays passing by. To ease our disappointment, he took us to a nearby reef for snorkelling instead. Colourful fish darted among vibrant corals. Both kids and mums swam, snorkelled, and posed for group photos. This marked the perfect end to our day tour. The speedboat brought us back to port, and we returned to the hotel utterly exhausted.
Rest, Rangko Cave, and Sunsets
The following day, we simply rested. One day of island hopping had drained us completely—exhilarating, but rushed. Katamaran Komodo was the perfect place to recover. We watched the sunset from our balcony, the sky blazing orange and pink over the water.
The next day, we took a short boat ride to Rangko Cave, home to a tranquil natural pool of blue-turquoise water. We arrived at noon—too early to see the famous light show. We waited nearly two hours before sunlight finally pierced the cave, illuminating the pool in ethereal blue. Rangko was beautiful, though it couldn't quite match the drama of our island-hopping adventure.
Back at the hotel by 4 PM, the kids still had energy to burn. We spent the afternoon kayaking and riding water cycles at the back of our hotel—mums and daughters laughing together on the water. It was so much fun.
Dinner at Le Bajo Restaurant left us with one last perfect memory: a cozy atmosphere, stunning sea views, and a sunset that begged to be photographed.
Until Next Time
Our five-day, four-night trip to Labuan Bajo had ended, but the memories remain. Three mothers, three daughters, one unforgettable adventure.
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