Hunting Komodo by Camera | Traveler with 1,000 Reasons Why

When I went to Bali for the first time, one of the items on my bucket list was to see Komodo Dragons in their natural habitat. Komodo dragons are endemic to several Indonesian islands and are the largest living species of lizard in the world. These venomous reptiles are also able to run as fast as 12 mph on land to catch their prey.

Patricia recommended two different tours in her book. I chose the Hunting Komodo by Camera tour, run by Perama Tour & Travel, which cost around $300 via PayPal. This option provided additional sightseeing spots via bus, as well as a boat trip directly to the island where the Komodo dragons lived.

Though I paid in advance, if you are more of a spontaneous adventurer, you might get a last-minute deal the day of departure. Fair warning, seats are limited!

The night before the tour, I stayed at the Sheraton Senggigi Resort on the island of Lombok. It was conveniently located across the street from the Perama Tour office, which was our pickup spot the next day.

The day of the tour, you hop aboard the bus to a few stops beforehand:

The King’s Summer Palace in Lombok Barat: They give you an hour to explore the beautiful palace grounds. There is also an optional guided tour you can book at this time.
Rice paddies in a protected Geopark
Traditional fishing village with Bugis Phinisi boats: These boats had historical boat equipment and tools used for boat making. This occurred around sunset, which was lovely to see. We also got a short history lesson on the fishing life and tools used in the community throughout the years. They also gave us time to roam around the village.

Between the visit to the rice paddy and fishing village, you are served lunch at what appears to be a random, old, Indonesian man’s home. In actuality, our tour guide said it was a self-sustaining hotel, which reminded me of a bed and breakfast. He greeted us jovially and took us around his small garden, where he had planted different types of fruits and vegetables. Then he directed us to the buffet line for us to partake in. Though modest in portion, the meal was surprisingly good; flavorful and unique.

At the fishing village, they provided us dinner on what appeared to be a retired or salvaged fishing boat. Afterwards, we were finally directed to onto the boat that would take us to Komodo Island.

The boat itself was sturdy and stable, and I didn't feel any motion sickness during the ride. However, it's pretty much a Balinese fisherman’s boat. Definitely not a cruise ship.

As this is an overnight tour, we knew we would be sleeping on the boat to see the dragons the next day. They offer two sleeping options:

Deck: consisting of a sleeping mat they place for you outside along the boat deck.
Cabin: Small, private room with bunk beds. Benefits include a lockable door and amenities like water, snacks, and a can of beer.

Note: I'd highly recommend paying more for the cabin, especially if you're traveling as a couple. You’ll have more privacy and can leave your belongings in the room. That being said, though it’s a private cabin, the bathrooms are not. The boat had two shared bathrooms with small toilets that had no cover connected to an adjoining shower head. If you’ve ever traveled and stayed in Amtrak’s roomette cabin, this bathroom set up resembles that. Germophobes, mentally prepare yourselves: this isn’t the Ritz-Carlton!

The next morning, we arrived at Satonda Island. This was one of the more memorable stops on my trip because I got to swim in a salt water lake formed inside of this inactive volcano. I would highly recommend doing so because it was surreal and so beautiful! If you decide not to do this, or have had your fill of swimming, you can opt to go snorkeling along the reefs or relax along the beach.

Once we returned to the boat, our next island stop was Komodo Island! When we arrived and exited the boat to begin the guided walking tour, we came across a lot of dragons on the island. These dragons were BIG, similar to that of a crocodile or an alligator. It came as no surprise when our guide told us that their main source of food were the deer that cohabited the island with them. Seeing Komodo dragons in real life was amazing and unforgettable. As they’re both endangered and dangerous, our guide gave us a few warnings before stepping on the island:

Avoid wearing white because it entices the dragons, and
Cover up your body. The saliva from Komodo dragons is deadly and any contact with them should be avoided whatsoever.

That being said, it was so incredible to explore this creature's natural habitat. Truly a worthwhile experience!

To top the tour off, we had one more beautiful place to visit before our trip ended: Pink Beach. As the name suggests, upon arrival, we were greeted with a beautiful shoreline of calm, blue water and a pink sanded beach. It was going to be another relaxing beach day for us, and I didn’t mind it at all. The pink-colored sand comes from the eroding red coral reefs nearby. I spent the two hours allotted to us relaxing on the magnificent beach and soaking in the sun. Plus, there were no other tours visiting the area. It was just our group on the beach, so it felt like our own private island.

As we departed the Pink Beach back to Lombok, I felt I had just experienced a remarkable adventure. I was actually very surprised I had such a great time. I had my prejudgments when I first saw where I would be spending my nights (and those open-air toilets!), but these initial thoughts and concerns were wrong. Instead, I was able to explore places I had only dreamed of, learn about local communities, and experience delicious food.