SEA SAFARI · EXPEDITION
Komodo
Herp & Dive Add-On
- Next departure
- December 2026
- Duration
- 7 days / 6 nights
- Experience level
- Scuba certified for dive days; herping requires night-hike tolerance
- Group size
- Small expedition cohort, typically ≤12 guests
- Nearest airport
- LBJ (Komodo Airport, Labuan Bajo)
The Experience — Komodo National Park & Labuan Bajo, Indonesia
The Expedition
After Sumatra’s humidity bath, Komodo trades canopy roots for oceanic currents and reptilian giants. By day you trace Komodo dragons along island ridgelines with park rangers; by twilight you slide into macro mode for blue-phase pit vipers and gecko eyes glowing in beam scatter. Mixed in are scuba days on current-swept seamounts famous for mantas, sharks, and rainbow reef walls. Andrew helps guests marry terrestrial and underwater storytelling — knowing when to push ISO on a night hike versus when to sacrifice bokeh for focus stacking underwater. This segment is designed as a back-to-back add-on with Serpentine’s December circuit, but it can fill on its own for divers who crave BOTH dragons and pelagic drama.
What's Included
Included
- 6 nights hotel or liveaboard-style lodging (per Serpentine’s confirmed manifest)
- Dragon trekking fees with licensed rangers
- Scheduled boat days for diving and herping logistics
- Breakfasts plus listed lunches and dinners when operating offshore
- Tanks, weights, and guided dives for certified divers on scheduled dive days
- Andrew’s dual-terrain photography support
Not Included
- International flights and domestic connections
- Nitrox or rental equipment beyond standard packages
- National park surcharge changes if Indonesia adjusts fees mid-season
- Travel insurance covering diving depth (mandatory)
- Alcohol and boutique meals ashore
- Staff gratuities
Wildlife targets
What you might meet
Primary target
Komodo dragon
Largest living lizard; always with armed rangers nearby.
Primary target
Blue pit vipers & cryptic snakes
Night walks around trunks and stairs; strict stance rules.
Possible encounter
Manta rays
Cleaning stations when moon and tides cooperate.
Possible encounter
Reef sharks
Grey and whitetip pulses on seamounts.
Primary target
Critters & coral gardens
Pygmy seahorses, nudis, and pastel soft corals for macro rigs.
Day by day
Field rhythm
Day 1 — Arrive Labuan Bajo
Airport pickup, sunset orientation, contracts, and gear segregation (terra vs aqua).
Day 2 — Dragon trekking day
Morning boat to ranger-led trails; telephoto ethics and heat management.
Day 3 — Dive / snorkel day — north
Two-tank or snorkel zodiac sessions targeting mantas and jacks.
Day 4 — Herping night — coastal
Lowland snakes, amphibians, and skinks around sustainable light discipline.
Day 5 — Dive day — current corridor
Advanced profile for experienced divers; alternate snorkel for non-scuba guests.
Day 6 — Micro herp & village buffer
Visit viewpoints or community projects; optional spa recovery afternoon.
Day 7 — Final dragon sail
Repeat priority species for anyone who missed crisp angles; last sunset at sea.
Day 8 — Departure
Breakfast, airport transfer, weight checks for camera housings.
The order flexes with weather and wildlife — every day is built around the best available window.
Gallery
From past departures
Logistics
Stay & vessel
Where you stay
- Twin-share rooms (upgrade on request)
- Early breakfasts & pack lunches offshore
- Ground transfers — scheduled days
- Photography etiquette coaching with Andrew
- Daily debrief expectations by weather
- Wi-Fi variable by property / region
On the water
- Open panga-style chase boats — low gunwales for easy water entries
- Small groups per boat with a dedicated spotter
- Shade canopy, fresh water & dry storage aboard
- Padded camera stowage & rinse bucket on deck
Exact property and vessel are confirmed in your pre-departure guide.
Dates & Availability
The Next Departure
2026
Before you go
Questions, answered
How experienced do I need to be in the water?
Requirements vary by expedition — most trips ask for strong, confident open-ocean snorkeling rather than a dive certification. The quick facts at the top of this page list this trip's honest prerequisites; if you're unsure where you stand, ask before you reserve.
Do I book this trip here or with a partner?
Follow the reserve button in the dates section above — it always reflects how this expedition is sold. Some trips take a deposit directly on this site; others book through a partner operator like Serpentine or One Ocean, and the button links out when they do.
How do deposits and balances work?
For trips sold via this store, a deposit reserves capacity on published trip dates; balance terms follow your confirmation and trip packet. Partner-booked trips follow that operator's policy.
Is travel insurance required?
Yes. Medical, evacuation, and trip cancellation coverage is required before departure on expeditions Andrew leads or co-promotes. You'll be asked to certify coverage.
What if weather or wildlife don't cooperate?
Wild animals and ocean conditions owe us nothing. Briefings prioritize safety and ethics first — itineraries flex. Some days stay quiet; others rewrite your archive.