7 Best Sights in Indonesia

The dragons’ main lair is a section of shallow caves scraped out of a low, dusty ravine about 2 km (1 mile) from Loh Liang. Groups meet at the park office, then follow a fairly easy trail through open forest to Banu Nggulung overlooking the burrows. For years, park rangers fed live goats to Komodos here, but that practice has been abandoned. Dragon walks generally last one to two hours, depending on visitor interest and sighting success. If all else fails, Komodo dragons frequent Loh Liang, attracted by the food and trash there. Trails have minimal shade, so bring a hat, wear sunscreen, and carry water on any walk.

Several trails thread around the island to secluded beaches, mountaintop lookouts, and Kampung Komodo. English-speaking guides who know the routes and are well-versed on island flora and fauna can be hired at the park office. Day treks to the summits of Gunung Ara and Gunung Satalibo can be challenging given the rugged uphill paths through muddy, open woodlands and steep savannas. The rewards, however, are magnificent views all the way across the island and Indian Ocean to Lombok, Flores, and Sumba, as well as sightings of deer, wild pigs, buffalo, and the occasional Komodo dragon along the way. Be sure to have comfortable clothes, adequate sunscreen, and plenty of bottled water.

Settled into the lee along the island’s south side, this quiet, friendly kampung (village) is a cluster of stilt-raised, thatch-roofed shacks by the bay that is home to about 600 ethnic Bugis, famed seafarers with roots in Sulawesi (Celebes). This Muslim community descends from convicts exiled from neighboring Sumbawa by a local sultan during the 19th century. Villagers mainly earn their living by fishing; colorfully painted bagan boats line the brown beach. The main catch is squid, and men head out at night to attract them by dangling lamps underwater. Some villagers are also skilled wood- and stone-carvers who hone models of the famous dragons out of local materials. The community is a rocky, 2-km (1-mile) walk around the coast from the Loh Liang dock—but the journey should be made at low tide only, as sections of the track are covered by water at other times.

Indonesia's government established this park to protect the Komodo dragon in 1980. Pulau Komodo is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site—declared in 1992—and is now also a UNESCO Man and Biosphere Reserve. The 1,125 square km (434 square mile) sanctuary includes the islands of Padar, Motang, and Nusa Kode, the Wae Wuul reserve on Flores (the large island to the east), and a few small islets nearby, in addition to Pulau Komodo itself. An equal area of Indian Ocean surrounding the islands are also part of the park.

This is the main entry point to the island. The single wooden dock has the park office at the end of it, where you get your permit, pick up a map, and hire a guide. A short trail leads to the visitor area, where deer, pigs, and even Komodo dragons often wander across the grassy field between the café and accommodations.

Near the park headquarters, this simple wooden building houses limited displays of island flora and fauna, but the collection of bones, skins, fossils, shells, and other specimens make it worth a quick visit. Its workroom is often the base for visiting biologists, botanists, writers, and film crews on the island. The museum is named for Peter Ouwens, the Dutch zoologist who gave the Komodo its scientific name. Staff open the museum by request only.

The soft white beach arching around the Loh Liang jetty frames a clear aqua bay, with a spread of coral reefs just below the surface. Bring a swimsuit and snorkeling gear, and you’re set to explore on your own. Park officers can also point you toward other good reefs around the island, such as Red Beach, but you’ll need a guide to get there. Many tourists visit Komodo on scuba diving excursions. Divers may be able to negotiate a quick trip to dive sites near Rinca or Flores; you can rent scuba gear in Loh Liang. After years of reef destruction by fishing with dynamite and poison, efforts are succeeding to preserve and restore reefs in the marine reserve.