**For two travelers, an open trip almost always wins on cost: a shared one-day speedboat runs roughly USD 50-80 per person, while a private phinisi charter starts near IDR 12,000,000 (about USD 750) for the whole boat. Private only becomes competitive per head once your group reaches six to eight people, as of 2026.** Below the split is mapped out group size by group size, so you can see exactly where the maths tips.
What actually separates an open trip from a private boat?
The difference is not the boat class. It is how you pay. An open trip (also called a shared or join trip) sells one seat at a time on a fixed departure day, and you share the deck with strangers. A private charter rents the entire vessel for a flat daily rate, and you set the guest list and, often, the dates.
That single billing distinction drives every number on this page. Open trips are priced per person; private charters are priced per boat. So the “cheaper” option depends entirely on how many heads you divide that boat price across. A couple splitting a IDR 12,000,000 charter pays IDR 6,000,000 each. Ten friends splitting the same boat pay IDR 1,200,000 each. Same boat, wildly different per-person cost.
Both formats leave from the same harbor in Labuan Bajo, the coastal town on the western edge of Flores that serves as the gateway to Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering Komodo, Rinca, Padar and a scatter of islets. What you choose changes your wallet, your schedule flexibility, and how much of the deck you have to yourself.
How much does an open trip cost per person?
Shared departures are the entry point for most first-time visitors, and they cover a wide price band depending on trip length. Here is the current shape of the shared market, as of 2026:
| Open trip type | Duration | Price per person (approx.) | Departure pattern |
|---|---|---|---|
| Public local boat to Komodo Village | ~4 hours each way | IDR 50,000 (~USD 3) | Mon/Wed/Fri, 10:00-12:00 |
| One-day shared speedboat tour | Full day, 4-6 stops | USD 50-80 | Daily, depart ~05:30-06:30 |
| Basic shared liveaboard | 3 days / 2 nights | ~IDR 3,334,000 (~USD 205) | Fixed departure days |
| Luxury phinisi (shared cabin) | 3 days / 2 nights | From IDR 8,800,000+ (~USD 545+) | Fixed departure days |
| Labuan Bajo-Lombok crossing | Multi-day | USD 250-400 | Depart LBJ Sundays |
The most-booked product is the one-day speedboat tour: it departs around 05:30-06:30, hits four to six stops such as Padar Island, Pink Beach, Komodo or Rinca Island, Manta Point and Taka Makassar, and returns by late afternoon or sunset. That is the sweet spot for travelers who want the highlight reel without committing to a night on the water. If you want the full mechanics of that shared day-boat option, our breakdown of the [shared boat trip cost](/labuan-bajo-shared-boat-tour/) walks through what each price tier actually includes.
One number that trips people up: park fees are not in those prices. A commercial one-day island-hopping speedboat tour lists Komodo National Park and Padar Island entrance fees at about IDR 450,000 (USD 33) per person, collected separately, and a 2026 guide confirms tour prices exclude park entrance fees, which must be paid directly to the park authorities. Budget that on top of every quote below, open or private.
What does a private charter cost, and for how many people?
Private charters are quoted for the whole boat, per day. The two bands that matter for most groups, as of 2026:
| Charter tier | Guests | Price per day (per boat) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard phinisi | 8-12 | IDR 12,000,000-25,000,000 (~USD 750-1,550) |
| Higher-end charter | 8-12 | IDR 19,000,000-53,500,000+ (~USD 1,200-3,300+) |
Notice that both tiers assume a boat sized for eight to twelve guests. That is the structural reason small groups pay a penalty on private: you are renting capacity you cannot fill. A couple on a twelve-berth phinisi is paying for ten empty beds.
The upside private buys you is control. Open trips run on fixed departure days, so you sail when the boat sails. Private charters can depart on flexible dates, let you set the pace at each stop, and hand you the whole deck. For honeymooners, families with small children, or anyone who dreads a 05:30 alarm shared with fifteen strangers, that flexibility is the product.
Where is the break-even point?
Take the cheapest standard private phinisi at IDR 12,000,000 per day and divide it by group size. Compare that against a mid-range shared liveaboard at roughly IDR 3,334,000 per person for a comparable multi-day trip. The crossover looks like this:
| Group size | Private per person (at IDR 12M/day) | Shared liveaboard per person | Cheaper option |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | IDR 6,000,000 | ~IDR 3,334,000 | Open trip |
| 4 | IDR 3,000,000 | ~IDR 3,334,000 | Roughly even |
| 6 | IDR 2,000,000 | ~IDR 3,334,000 | Private |
| 8 | IDR 1,500,000 | ~IDR 3,334,000 | Private |
| 10 | IDR 1,200,000 | ~IDR 3,334,000 | Private |
| 12 | IDR 1,000,000 | ~IDR 3,334,000 | Private |
The tipping point sits right around four people. Below four, an open trip is clearly cheaper per head. At four, it is close enough that comfort and flexibility, not price, should decide. From six upward, a private boat is both cheaper per person and gives you the whole deck, which is why groups of friends and extended families almost always charter.
Two caveats keep this honest. First, these private figures use the entry-level IDR 12,000,000 rate; the moment you step up to a higher-end charter (IDR 19,000,000-53,500,000+), the break-even pushes to larger groups. Second, all figures are per-person for shared trips and per-boat for private, and every quote here excludes the IDR 450,000 (USD 33) park fees paid separately.
Which should you pick? A quick decision guide
- Solo or a couple, budget-first: Open trip. A one-day shared speedboat at USD 50-80 or a basic shared liveaboard near IDR 3,334,000 gets you the same islands for a fraction of a half-empty charter.
- Four travelers: Either works on price. Choose private if you value the flexible departure dates and a private deck; choose shared if you would rather bank the savings.
- Six or more: Private charter. You will usually pay less per person than a shared liveaboard and get the entire boat, plus you can depart on your own dates instead of fixed sailing days.
- You want a specific date or a slow pace: Private, regardless of size. Open trips only run on their scheduled departure days.
What else changes the total?
Season shifts both price and feasibility. The dry season, described by one guide as April-December and by another as April-November, brings calm seas and strong visibility. January-March brings wind, heavy rain and big waves that can cancel or reroute speedboat and liveaboard departures and close hiking trails, so a cheap January quote may not sail at all. Best diving runs March-October, with good visibility November-January; manta sightings peak in the rainy season December-February, though many operators skip the choppy January-March seas.
Getting to the boat is a minor line item worth knowing. Komodo Airport (LBJ) sits about 10 minutes by car from where liveaboards moor; a taxi to the ferry harbor is about 15-20 minutes and around IDR 100,000, while a motorbike ojek with light luggage is about IDR 20,000. Denpasar to Labuan Bajo flights run IDR 1.2-2.5M one-way on Garuda or Batik and IDR 700,000-1.5M on Lion or Wings, roughly doubling on busy dates.
There is no single official website that lists, compares and prices every boat class leaving the harbor, which is exactly why the numbers above are pulled together here. All figures are stated as of 2026 and are subject to change. Verify park fees directly with the park authorities and confirm current rates with the operator before you book, since seas, seasons and fuel all move prices. Bajo Harborline is operated by Komodo Luxury, a real operator founded in 2015 in Labuan Bajo, with bookings handled by its reservations team.
Ready to run your own numbers? Message the Bajo Harborline desk on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com with your group size and dates, and you will get a like-for-like open-versus-private comparison for your exact trip.