Top 5 Destinations in Indonesia's Majestic Labuan Bajo and Komodo Island

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Labuan Bajo is one of the leading tourist destinations in Indonesia. Located in Komodo District, West Manggarai, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT), this tourist destination has a lot of natural potential that is attractive to tourists. In 2023, Labuan Bajo received international recognition when it hosted the ASEAN Summit on May 5-13.

When traveling to Labuan Bajo, one of the major spots on the must-visit list is Komodo Island, which has natural beauty and world-famous ancient species, the Komodo dragons (varanus komodoensis), giant lizards known to exist only in Indonesia. Their existence was first published in a scientific journal in 1912.

The Komodo National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. It consists of several overlapping islands, namely Komodo Island, Rinca Island, Padar Island and several other nearby islands.

The following are our top recommendations for tourist attractions in Labuan Bajo:

1. Padar Island

The famous island with a unique landscape is located within the Komodo National Park. The island is known for its lush green hills with a gradient blue sea as a backdrop, one of the best photo spots in Labuan Bajo. From Padar Island, visitors can look out into the vast open sea and catch sights of boats, beaches and majestic hills.

2. Kampung Melo

Kampung Melo is a village in East Nusa Tenggara that welcomes visitors with its tranquil atmosphere of traditional houses surrounded by beautiful greenery and clear blue skies, colorful fabrics and traditional clothing, and local dances. Located in the middle of the mountains, the village offers clean, cool breezes and panoramic skylines. Visitors interested in the culture of Flores can choose to stay in one of the traditional Melo houses and observe and participate in the daily life of the locals.

3. Pink Beach

As its name suggests, Labuan Bajo's Pink Beach or Pantai Merah is an ocean front with beautiful, romantic pink sands. It is a top destination for beach lovers and snorkeling enthusiasts. This beach gets its striking color from microscopic animals called foraminifera that produce a red pigment on the coral reefs. Not only the sand, tourists can also enjoy a touch of pink under the sea.

4. Kelor Island

Kelor is an enchanting island located about 40 minutes by motor boat from Labuan Bajo. The breathtaking view from the top of the island is the main attraction of the island, where you can see the white sand beach jutting out into the sea.

5. Manta Point

Labuan Bajo is a heaven on earth for divers. One of the most popular spots in this area is Manta Point, an area where you can swim with manta rays.

MICHELLE GABRIELA | RECHA TIARA DERMAWAN | KHUMAR MAHENDRA

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