A 4D3N liveaboard buys you northern Komodo. On top of the standard Padar, dragon and Manta Point circuit, the extra day reaches Gili Lawa’s viewpoints and reefs plus the current sites Crystal Rock, Castle Rock and the Cauldron. Neptune Cruise charters 4D3N at USD 14,000 for the whole boat, up to 20 guests.
What the fourth day is really for
The three-day route covers the park’s headline sites, and it does that well. What it cannot do is go north. Gili Lawa Darat and Gili Lawa Laut sit at the top of the park, several hours from the central circuit, and around them lie the sites that experienced divers come to Komodo for: Crystal Rock and Castle Rock, two offshore pinnacles that pull sharks and pelagics into the current, and the Cauldron – often called Shotgun – a fast channel drift between Gili Lawa and Komodo. Batu Bolong, a pinnacle with famously strong current, usually comes into the plan on the same extended route.
None of those are day-trip sites, and none of them fit a 3D2N without gutting the rest of the itinerary. The fourth day is what makes them reachable at a sensible pace.
The 4D3N route, day by day
Day 1 – Labuan Bajo, Kelor, Manjarite, Kalong. Board on the Labuan Bajo mainland, sail roughly one to one and a half hours to Kelor for a hilltop climb and a beach snorkel, then about 30 to 45 minutes on to the shallow coral garden at Manjarite. Sunset at Kalong Island for the flying-fox exodus, watched from the deck, then overnight at anchor.
Day 2 – Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo Island, Manta Point, Taka Makassar. The signature day: a pre-dawn climb to Padar’s three-bay viewpoint, Pink Beach about one to one and a half hours later, a ranger-led dragon trek at Loh Liang, then the drift snorkel at Manta Point and the sandbar at Taka Makassar. The boat then repositions north overnight.
Day 3 – the northern day. Gili Lawa in the morning: a hill walk to one of the quietest viewpoints in the park and reef time in the bays below. Through the day, certified divers work the pinnacles – Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, the Cauldron and often Batu Bolong – while snorkellers take the sheltered reefs and drift sites such as Tatawa Besar. Overnight in the northern anchorage.
Day 4 – south and home. A last snorkel on the way back, commonly Sebayur or Siaba Besar for turtles, then the sail into Labuan Bajo and transfers to your hotel or the airport.
The northern sites, described honestly
| Site | What it is | Who it is for | Conditions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gili Lawa Darat / Laut | Hill viewpoints and sheltered reef bays | Everyone | Short steep walk; calm anchorage |
| Crystal Rock | Offshore pinnacle near Castle Rock | Certified divers | Current-dependent, advanced |
| Castle Rock | Offshore pinnacle with sharks and pelagics | Certified divers | Strong current, advanced |
| The Cauldron / Shotgun | Fast-current channel drift | Certified divers | Timed to the tide, advanced |
| Batu Bolong | Pinnacle wrapped in coral | Certified divers only | Strong current, no snorkelling |
| Tatawa Besar | Coral garden drift | Snorkellers and divers | Mild to moderate drift |
| Siaba Besar | Calm bay, green turtles | Beginners | Sheltered, easy entry |
A boundary worth stating plainly: Neptune Cruise is a dive-friendly phinisi with a proper dive deck, not a dive centre. We do not employ our own instructors. Dives are arranged with partners, certification and recent logged dives are checked before departure, and the northern pinnacles are not places to make your fourth-ever dive.
Snorkeller or diver – what your day three looks like
Divers will spend day three doing two or three dives on the pinnacles, with surface intervals on the boat. Snorkellers are not stranded: Gili Lawa’s bays, Tatawa Besar and the reef shallows around the northern anchorages all work from the surface, and the hill walk at Gili Lawa is one of the best views in Komodo with a fraction of Padar’s crowd. Mixed groups work well here, which is exactly why the 4D3N suits families with one diver in them. Details for the surface crowd are on the Komodo snorkelling page.
Price
| Duration | Whole-boat rate | Additional person | Northern sites included |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2D1N | USD 8,900 | USD 500 | No |
| 3D2N | USD 11,450 | USD 500 | No |
| 4D3N | USD 14,000 | USD 500 | Yes |
| 5D4N | USD 16,550 | USD 550 | Yes, plus southern sites |
| 6D5N | USD 19,050 | USD 550 | Yes, plus southern sites |
| 7D6N | USD 20,950 | USD 550 | Yes, plus southern sites |
Shared departures on Neptune Cruise run on the 3D2N route, so the 4D3N is sold as a private charter for up to 20 guests on dates you choose. Group arithmetic is set out on the group charter page, and the full inclusion list is on the rates page.
Is the extra day worth it for you?
| If this is you | Book |
|---|---|
| First visit, no dive certification, want Padar and dragons | 3D2N |
| Certified diver who came for Komodo’s current sites | 4D3N |
| Photographer who wants two sunrises and less rushing | 4D3N |
| Tight flight schedule, arriving and leaving within four days | 3D2N |
| Mixed group with divers and non-divers | 4D3N |
| Budget is the deciding factor | 3D2N |
| Travelling December to March | 3D2N – weather closes the north more often |
If neither length fits, longer Komodo sailing options are worth reviewing before you commit, and the standard route is documented in full on the 3D2N itinerary and price page.
Frequently asked questions
What does a 4D3N Komodo liveaboard include that a 3D2N does not?
The northern sites: Gili Lawa’s viewpoints and bays, plus the current-driven dive sites Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, the Cauldron and usually Batu Bolong.
How much is a 4D3N charter on Neptune Cruise?
USD 14,000 for the whole boat, up to 20 guests, with additional guests at USD 500 each.
Do I need to be a certified diver for the 4D3N?
No. Snorkellers have Gili Lawa’s bays, Tatawa Besar and the northern reef shallows. The pinnacles are for certified divers only, and certification is checked before departure.
Are the northern dive sites suitable for beginners?
Castle Rock, Crystal Rock, the Cauldron and Batu Bolong all involve significant current and are considered advanced. Recent logged dives are expected, and the guide may decline a site on the day if conditions do not suit the group.
Is Gili Lawa better than Padar?
Different. Padar is the iconic three-bay view and gets busy at sunrise. Gili Lawa is a comparable hill view with far fewer people, and it is only reachable on 4D3N and longer routes.
Can we do 4D3N as a shared trip?
Shared departures run the 3D2N route. The 4D3N is offered as a private charter, which also means you set the departure date.
What is the best time of year for the northern sites?
June to September has the most reliable conditions, with visibility often in the 20–30 m band, though wind and current run strong. December to March is the least reliable period for the north.
How much sailing time is involved?
Repositioning north happens overnight so daylight hours stay on the sites. Neptune Cruise cruises at 6 to 10 knots, and the crew adjusts legs to sea state rather than holding a fixed schedule.
Book Neptune Cruise
Ask for 4D3N availability, or a route built around the dive sites your group wants.
WhatsApp: +62 811 3823 875
Email: [email protected]
Neptune Cruise is operated by Komodo Luxury, based in Labuan Bajo, Flores. Tell us your dates, guest count, dietary needs and whether anyone in the party dives, and we will confirm availability and a written quote.
