Bali to Labuan Bajo: Cheapest, Fastest & Smartest Routes
✅ Last verified on-the-ground: 22 July 2026
Figuring out how to get to Labuan Bajo from Bali in 2026 is simple: fly direct or one-stop, or ferry via Lombok and Sumbawa. Flights run ₹3,228-₹6,456 (~600,000-1,200,000 IDR) on sale; the ferry chain is cheaper but takes three to five days. This guide covers both with real prices. For related planning, see Sea Backpacking Hub.
I want to flag one specific detail up front, because most “how to get to Labuan Bajo from Bali” articles miss it: Ngurah Rai (DPS) and Komodo (LBJ) are not always served by the same airlines. On the day you search, only one or two of Citilink, Batik Air, Wings Air, and AirAsia may be running the route. The route is also seasonal: it gets thinned out in Jan-Feb (rainy season, choppy seas around Komodo, fewer demand) and is heavily oversupplied Jun-Aug. Search both one-way and round-trip because the price difference can be ₹1,076 (~200,000 IDR or ~$11.17) on the same airline, same date.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Book the Bali-Labuan Bajo flight on the Indonesian airline websites (Citilink, Batik Air, Wings Air) directly, not just on aggregator apps. The aggregator price is usually ₹538-₹807 (~100,000-150,000 IDR or ~$5.58-$8.38) higher because the low-cost-carrier “admin fee” gets baked in twice. If you must use an aggregator, tick “no insurance, no seat selection, no refund” to see the real floor.
Quick Answers
| What | Answer | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest Bali to Labuan Bajo route | 1-stop flight via Jakarta on Citilink/Batik Air (overnight layover OK) | ₹3,228-₹6,456 (~600,000-1,200,000 IDR or ~$33.51-$67.01) |
| Fastest route | Direct flight on Citilink or Wings Air, ~1h 20min | ₹4,842-₹9,684 (~900,000-1,800,000 IDR or ~$50.26-$100.52) |
| Cheapest overland route | Bali-Lombok ferry, Lombok-Sumbawa ferry, bus to Labuan Bajo | ₹1,883-₹3,497 (~350,000-650,000 IDR or ~$19.55-$36.30) |
| Bali tourism levy (added 2024) | Pay at DPS airport on arrival/departure | ₹807 (~150,000 IDR or ~$8.38) |
| Visa-on-arrival for Indians at DPS or LBJ | USD 35 (around 3,378 INR at 1 USD = ₹96.5289), extendable once | USD 35 |
The Three Real Options: At a Glance
Bali to Labuan Bajo is roughly 1,200 km as the crow flies, but the sea between Sumbawa and Flores (the Sape-Waikelo crossing) plus the mountain spine of Flores means there is no realistic all-land route. Pick from three patterns:
- Direct flight (DPS-LBJ). 1h 20min on the few airlines that run it. The route exists but isn’t daily year-round.
- One-stop flight via Jakarta (CGK) or Surabaya (SUB). More frequency, often cheaper, but adds 4-8 hours of transit.
- Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa ferry chain + bus across Flores. Three to five days, scenic, cheapest.
The flight wins for almost every Indian backpacker doing a short Bali-to-Komodo trip. The ferry chain only makes sense if you specifically want to add Lombok (Kuta Lombok, Gili islands) and the western Sumbawa surf coast to your itinerary, and even then most travellers fly Lombok-Flores after one island, not chain ferries all the way.
Option 1: Direct Flight DPS to LBJ
Three carriers fly this route non-directly, and one or two fly it direct at any given time in 2026:
- Citilink is the most consistent. They run DPS-LBJ as a tagged-on leg of a DPS-CGK route; sometimes the same aircraft continues, sometimes there’s a 30-60 minute plane change at CGK even though the booking shows “direct.” Search both the DPS-LBJ and DPS-CGK routes separately.
- Wings Air does seasonal DPS-LBJ, mostly Jun-Sep when Komodo demand peaks.
- AirAsia via CGK (always a connection, never direct).
- Batik Air does the route occasionally on the same aircraft number as their DPS-CGK shuttle.
The DPS-LBJ flight time is 1h 20min on a turboprop (ATR). Baggage allowance is typically 7 kg cabin on the cheapest fare, no checked bag. Pay for a 15 kg checked bag online in advance, it is half the airport-counter price.
One-way prices in mid-2026: ₹4,842-₹9,684 (~900,000-1,800,000 IDR or ~$50.26-$100.52) on sale, ₹8,070-₹13,450 (~1,500,000-2,500,000 IDR or ~$83.77-$139.61) at full fare. Tuesday and Wednesday are the cheapest days. Book 14-21 days out.
Safety Alert: Komodo airport (LBJ) is small and has no jet bridge. It’s a 5-minute walk across the apron in the heat. Keep your camera in your daypack, not your checked bag, because the apron walk is a known spot for “helpful” porters who ask ₹538 (~100,000 IDR or ~$5.58) for carrying your backpack 50 metres. Politely decline, walk yourself.
Option 2: One-Stop Flight via Jakarta or Surabaya
This is the highest-frequency option and the one most Indian travellers end up on, even when “direct” is technically available. Why? Because the via-Jakarta fare is often ₹1,076-₹2,152 (~200,000-400,000 IDR or ~$11.17-$22.34) cheaper than the direct one, and you can pick a convenient overnight CGK layover to break the trip into a half-day Bali day + half-day Bali evening.
Citilink and Batik Air dominate DPS-CGK, with 8-12 flights a day in each direction. Then CGK-LBJ is 4-6 flights a day on the same carriers. Total door-to-door from a Canggu hostel to a Labuan Bajo hostel is 7-10 hours including the layover.
Surabaya (SUB) as an alternative: Wings Air runs DPS-SUB-LBJ with a same-aircraft change in Surabaya. This is the cleanest 1-stop option for backpackers, because SUB airport is small and the layover is 45-90 minutes. The DPS-SUB-LBJ combined ticket is sometimes ₹538-₹807 (~100,000-150,000 IDR or ~$5.58-$8.38) cheaper than booking DPS-SUB and SUB-LBJ separately, even on the same airline.
Layover tricks at CGK (Soekarno-Hatta): The airport has free city-tour vouchers for transit passengers with 8+ hour layovers. Ask at the Garuda Indonesia tourist information desk in Terminal 3. Don’t take a “free city tour” offered at random counters, those are scam operators, the desk is the real one. If you have a 6-hour overnight layover, the airport hotel in Terminal 3 is around ₹3,228 (~600,000 IDR or ~$33.51) for a 6-hour room; cheaper than a Jakarta city hotel with the same transit time.
Option 3: Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa Ferry Chain + Flores Bus
This is the romantic option, and the only reason to pick it is because you specifically want Lombok and Sumbawa in your itinerary. The cost is ₹1,883-₹3,497 (~350,000-650,000 IDR or ~$19.55-$36.30) total for the chain (Bali-Lombok ferry, Lombok-Sumbawa ferry, then bus and ferry across Sumbawa to Sape). The time is three full days minimum if you want to see anything along the way, five days if you stop for Kuta Lombok, Gili Trawangan, and the Sumbawa surf coast.
The chain:
- Padang Bai (Bali) to Lembar (Lombok) ferry. 4-5 hours. Tickets at the counter, around ₹323 (~60,000 IDR or ~$3.35) for a deck seat, ₹1,345-₹2,152 (~250,000-400,000 IDR or ~$13.96-$22.34) for a cabin. Book on 12go for an English-language booking with confirmed seat. Without 12go, you can walk up, but mid-July to mid-September you may find the morning ferries full.
- Lembar to Labuhan Lombok (east Lombok) by bus or car, 1-1.5 hours.
- Labuhan Lombok to Pototano (Sumbawa Barat) ferry via the Alas Strait. 1.5-2 hours. Around ₹161 (~30,000 IDR or ~$1.68) for a deck seat. Book on 12go.
- Pototano to Bima (Sumbawa) by bus or shared minivan, 4-5 hours across the mountain spine of Sumbawa.
- Bima to Sape (eastern tip of Sumbawa) by bus, 3 hours.
- Sape to Larantuka or Maumere (Flores) by Pelni ferry, 12-14 hours on a big ship. This is the longest leg. Tickets ₹807-₹1,614 (~150,000-300,000 IDR or ~$8.38-$16.75) for an economy bunk. Book on 12go but note Pelni ferries run only twice a week on this route; check the schedule before committing.
- Larantuka/Maumere to Labuan Bajo by bus across Flores, 12-18 hours over two days depending on stops. Maumere to Labuan Bajo is around ₹4,304-₹5,380 (~800,000-1,000,000 IDR or ~$44.68-$55.84) by tourist minivan, or ₹1,076-₹1,883 (~200,000-350,000 IDR or ~$11.17-$19.55) by local bus (slower, less comfortable).
This is doable, but it eats a week. For Indian backpackers with 10-14 days total in Indonesia, the flight wins.
Booking Tips: Where Indian Travellers Save (and Lose)
Airfare from India first: Most Indian backpackers fly into DPS (Bali) from Mumbai, Delhi, or Bengaluru. One-way from Mumbai is around ₹18,000-₹22,000 (~$186.84-$228.36) on AirAsia/Malindo via Kuala Lumpur; from Delhi it’s higher, around ₹25,000-₹32,000 (~$259.50-$332.16). Use these as your anchor. The Bali-Labuan Bajo leg is then an internal-IDR price.
Forex card vs cash for internal flights: Indonesian low-cost carriers accept Visa/Mastercard but add a 2-3% surcharge. If your forex card has zero forex markup (HDFC, ICICI, Axis select variants) and a 1% cross-currency fee, paying in IDR is fine. If you have a 3.5% markup card, pay in IDR via Wise or Revolut (loaded onto the same card), it works out cheaper.
Subodh’s Pro Tip: Book the Bali tourism levy (₹807 (~150,000 IDR or ~$8.38)) online at lovebali.baliprov.go.id before you fly. The airport counter fee is the same amount but the line at DPS immigration can be 45-90 minutes during summer peak. If you prepaid, you skip the second queue. For more on Bali entry logistics, the street-smart Labuan Bajo transport guide covers the Komodo airport scams in detail.
Visa-on-Arrival for Indian Travellers
At Ngurah Rai (DPS) or Komodo (LBJ), Indian passport holders get a Visa-on-Arrival: USD 35 (around ₹3,378 at 1 USD = ₹96.5289), single entry, valid 30 days, extendable once at an immigration office in Indonesia for another 30 days. You need a passport valid 6+ months, a return or onward ticket, and proof of funds (credit card statement or ₹144,508 (~1,500 USD) equivalent is fine).
Pre-pay the VoA online at imigrasi.go.id to skip the arrival queue. The e-VoA is the same fee as on-arrival. If you fly into DPS first and then onto LBJ, you clear immigration only at DPS unless you transited CGK domestic-international; LBJ is a domestic terminal.
For the broader Bali-Sumatra-Java entry questions (transit, customs declaration), the Indonesian Embassy contacts article has the up-to-date MEA advisory link.
Comparing the Three Options: Cost vs Time
| Route | Door-to-door time | Total cost (IDR, mid-2026) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct flight DPS-LBJ | 5-6 hours | ₹4,842-₹9,684 (~900,000-1,800,000 IDR or ~$50.26-$100.52) + 150,000 levy + ₹3,372 (~35 USD) VoA | Komodo-only trip, 4-7 days in Flores |
| One-stop via CGK or SUB | 7-12 hours | ₹3,766-₹8,070 (~700,000-1,500,000 IDR or ~$39.09-$83.77) + levy + VoA | Budget-conscious, flexible dates |
| Ferry + bus + ferry chain | 3-5 days | ₹1,883-₹3,497 (~350,000-650,000 IDR or ~$19.55-$36.30) + levy + VoA + hotels | Lombok+Sumbawa+Flores combined trip |
| DPS-DPS (round trip with overnight stops in between) | 7-10 days | ~₹3,766 (~700,000 IDR or ~$39.09) per leg | Long Indonesia itinerary |
For Indian backpackers running Bali + Komodo in a single 7-day window, the one-stop via SUB is the sweet spot: cheapest, frequent, manageable single-airline booking.
Airport Transit and Layover Rules
At DPS (Ngurah Rai), domestic departures are in Terminal 1 (LCCs like Citilink, Wings Air, AirAsia). International arrivals use Terminal 2 (full-service like Singapore Airlines, Cathay) or Terminal 3 (Garuda, KLM). The terminals are not connected airside; you walk or take a free shuttle. If you arrive international and have a domestic DPS-LBJ connection the same day, allow minimum 3 hours, more during peak season, because you clear immigration, collect bags, go to Terminal 1, check in again, and clear domestic security.
At LBJ (Komodo), the airport is one small terminal. A taxi to Labuan Bajo town is ₹538-₹807 (~100,000-150,000 IDR or ~$5.58-$8.38) fixed (agree before you get in), or ₹161 (~30,000 IDR or ~$1.68) by ojek. Grab and Gojek don’t operate in Labuan Bajo, this is one of the few Indonesian tourist towns without ride-hailing.
At CGK (Jakarta), international-to-domestic transfer at Soekarno-Hatta is painful in 2026. The international terminals (2 and 3) are not connected airside to the domestic terminal (1) or the low-cost terminal (1A/2E). Budget 4 hours for an international-domestic self-transfer. If you book a single ticket through to LBJ on the same airline (Citilink is most reliable for this), they transfer your bag and you clear immigration at the domestic terminal only. If you book two separate tickets, you clear immigration twice and reclaim bags; this is the single biggest source of missed connections at CGK.
SIM Cards and Connectivity in Indonesia
Indonesian SIM cards for tourists work in both Bali and Flores (Komodo airport is the easiest place to buy in Labuan Bajo). The main operators are Telkomsel (best coverage on Flores, where the Komodo islands are), XL Axiata, and Indosat (now merged with Tri). For Indian backpackers hopping Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa-Flores, Telkomsel is the only realistic choice, because XL and Indosat have weak coverage outside Java-Bali.
The airport tourist SIM at Komodo (LBJ) costs around ₹538 (~100,000 IDR or ~$5.58) for 10GB/7 days, but the same SKU is ₹134-₹215 (~25,000-40,000 IDR or ~$1.40-$2.23) cheaper at any Indomaret or Alfamart convenience store in town. Buy in town.
A more flexible option is the Nomad eSIM, which gives you Indonesian data coverage before you even land. It’s especially useful if you have a long DPS-CGK-LBJ transit and want Google Maps and WhatsApp working through both airports without a physical SIM swap. Get Nomad eSIM. For deeper SIM strategy across Southeast Asia, the SIM setup guide compares the major carriers by country.
Common Mistakes Indian Backpackers Make on This Route
Booking DPS-CGK and CGK-LBJ as separate tickets to save ₹538 (~100,000 IDR or ~$5.58), then missing the connection because immigration took 90 minutes. Two separate tickets = two check-ins = two security checks = two bags reclaimed. The single-ticket price difference is not worth a missed flight. If you must split, allow 6+ hours at CGK.
Assuming Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa is “the cheap route” without budgeting for Pelni ferries running only twice a week. Most Indian backpackers plan the chain in 3 days, then find out Pelni Sape-Larantuka runs Wednesday and Saturday only, and the next sailing is 4 days away. Check the Pelni schedule before committing.
Paying the Bali tourism levy twice. Some backpackers get charged at departure on arrival day (when they fly into DPS) and again at the DPS departure counter when leaving Indonesia. It is once per person per visit. If you prepaid online, screenshot the QR code on your phone.
Underestimating the dry season vs wet season split. The Komodo islands are closed in part for trekking reasons Jan-Mar (heavy rain, dragons less active, sea choppy), and LBJ flights get cancelled in bad weather. For Indian travellers booking in October-December, factor in a buffer day.
Not carrying enough IDR cash for Flores. Labuan Bajo has ATMs but they go down, and outside town there are no ATMs at all. The Flores minivan and bus network is cash-only. Carry ₹2,690-₹5,380 (~500,000-1,000,000 IDR or ~$27.92-$55.84) in small bills.
FAQ
Q: Is there a direct flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo? Yes, on Citilink and Wings Air, but only 1-3 flights a week in low season and 4-7 a week in peak. Most days the fastest option is DPS-SUB-LBJ on Wings Air.
Q: How long is the flight from Bali to Labuan Bajo? Direct: 1h 20min. Via Jakarta: 5-7 hours total including a 1.5-3 hour layover. Via Surabaya: 4-5 hours with a 45-90 minute layover.
Q: Can I take a ferry all the way from Bali to Labuan Bajo? Not directly. There’s no Bali-Flores ferry. The closest is Pelni from Sape (eastern Sumbawa) to Larantuka/Maumere in Flores, twice a week. Bali-Flores by ferry requires the Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa chain plus this Pelni leg.
Q: How much is the Bali tourism levy and do I need to pay it? ₹807 (~150,000 IDR or ~$8.38) per person, per visit. Yes, it’s checked at DPS immigration and at Komodo airport check-in for some flights. Pay online in advance at lovebali.baliprov.go.id to skip the airport counter line.
Q: What is the cheapest way for Indian backpackers to get from Bali to Labuan Bajo? One-stop flight via Surabaya on Wings Air. Around ₹3,766 (~700,000 IDR or ~$39.09) one-way if booked 2+ weeks out. The Lombok-Sumbawa ferry chain is cheaper per-day but the ferry chain takes 3-5 days.
Q: Is Komodo airport (LBJ) safe for tourists? Yes, it’s a small modern terminal. The known scams are porter overcharging (₹538 (~100,000 IDR or ~$5.58) for a 50m walk) and unmarked taxis without meters. Fix the taxi fare before getting in (₹538-₹807 (~100,000-150,000 IDR or ~$5.58-$8.38) to town). See the Labuan Bajo transport guide for the full scam list.
Q: Should I fly into Labuan Bajo and out of Bali (open-jaw)? Yes, this is the smarter routing for Indian backpackers doing Bali-Komodo-Bali in 7-10 days. The Bali-Labuan Bajo flight is one-way ₹3,766-₹8,070 (~700,000-1,500,000 IDR or ~$39.09-$83.77); round-trip DPS-LBJ-DPS is usually ₹1,076-₹2,152 (~200,000-400,000 IDR or ~$11.17-$22.34) cheaper than two one-ways. Compare both on the airline website.
Subodh’s Take
Look, the honest answer is: fly. The Bali-Lombok-Sumbawa ferry chain sounds romantic on a YouTube vlog, but for an Indian backpacker with limited days and a Komodo boat to catch, you don’t have three to five days to spare on ferries and mountain buses. Book the direct flight if the date and price work, otherwise the one-stop via Surabaya. Spend the time you save on the boat trip to Padar Island at sunrise. That’s where the magic is, not on a Pelni ferry deck.
Safety First: Before booking, check your government’s current travel advisory for Indonesia. For Indian travellers, the MEA advisory page at mea.gov.in lists region-specific notes for Bali, Java, and the Nusa Tenggara region (which includes Flores and Komodo). The advisory generally shows Bali and Labuan Bajo as standard-tourism zones, but recent volcanic and seismic activity in parts of Java/Sumatra is flagged. For broader safety questions, the Indonesia safety guide and earthquake preparedness article are worth a read before you fly.
