Labuan Bajo & Komodo, Indonesia

This whole trip actually started here, in a way. After a Reiki session where the word “Indonesia” came to me, I started reading about the country and came across photos of Pink Beach. I became completely set on seeing it in person. That’s how I found Labuan Bajo, a small town on Flores Island and the gateway to the Komodo Islands and Pink Beach. So I flew from Bali to Labuan Bajo, chasing a beach I’d seen in a photo months before.

Time of Year I Visited

I went in August, during the dry season — ideal weather for the boat tour and outdoor activities.

Did I Feel Safe?

Yes — Labuan Bajo felt very safe. It’s a small town, relaxed, easy to move around in.

Funny things happen when you travel solo. One night while having dinner there, I ended up talking to a Muslim woman wearing a hijab — the headscarf that covers a Muslim woman’s hair and chest. She was travelling solo too. One of the best things about solo travel is exactly that — meeting other women from completely different cultures, doing the same thing you’re doing. We ended up having a beer together. I just hope I didn’t lead her astray, given that alcohol is forbidden in Islam.

Where I Stayed

Eco Tree Hotel: Really good staff, beautiful place, great location — you can see the bay at night from the bar. I also had the best fried ice cream of my life here.

What’s Worth Doing

To finally see Pink Beach, I booked a day tour with Perama Tour, which covers the whole Komodo circuit in one day. We left at 5:30am and watched the sunrise. First stop was Padar Island, which we climbed. I was still very new to organising solo trips back then, and there wasn’t much information out there — so I didn’t read the itinerary properly and packed flip-flops and a dress for the day. Bring proper shoes, because you’ll be climbing what’s basically a small hill. Somehow I was one of the few who actually made it all the way to the top — pretty funny, climbing in flip-flops and a little dress while everyone else had proper gear. The effort is worth it once you’re up there — the view of the island is beautiful.

After that we went to Komodo Island to see the dragons — they can grow up to 3 metres long and can detect the scent of blood from kilometres away. Genuinely wild to see in person. Then came Pink Beach — the whole reason this trip started. The sand really is pink, though the waves were a bit wilder than I’d have liked. But the real surprise was what came after. We ended up at Kanawa, a nearby island I hadn’t even planned for, and that ended up being the best beach I’ve ever seen in my life — better than Pink Beach, better than anything I’d expected. The water was so clear you could snorkel without a mask. You could see starfish from the surface. It looked like a Google screensaver. Ultimately, the tour was worth doing for Kanawa alone.

Most evenings I’d go to Paradise Bar, where you get a great view over the bay and harbour for sunset. Good vibe, good live music. It’s a small place so you keep crossing paths with the same people — easy to get talking with the bands and whoever else is around.

How Long Did I Stay?

2 days. The Perama Tour takes a full day, so it works out perfectly.

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