Princess Lala
Princess Lala Phinisi
Kanawa Island snorkelling
Updated 11 October 2026
Kanawa is the last stop of the three-day sailing on Princess Lala, on the morning of day three after breakfast on board. The reef is shallow, between 1 and 6 metres, the current mild and the beaches white. The boat docks again at 10:00 to 11:00. The two-day fare does not include Kanawa.
Two days or three: who gets Kanawa
One sailing carries two fares, and Kanawa is where they part. Guests on the two-day fare reach Labuan Bajo on day two, between 19:00 and 20:30. Guests on the three-day fare stay for one more breakfast and Kanawa. Kanawa is not on the two-day trip. Both fares share the boat, the cabins and the whole of day two, so nobody on board is on a smaller trip; the two-day guests simply leave sooner.
On a private charter Kanawa comes on day three of the three-day route after Sebayur, and the four-day and five-day charters call there too. The itinerary below shows where it sits in three days. The third day buys you one more breakfast, the beach at Kanawa and a morning landing between 10:00 and 11:00 in place of an evening one.
Day 1
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10:30 | Labuan Bajo — Hotel or airport pickup between 10:30 and 11:55; your guide confirms the time the evening before | — | soft bag rather than a hard suitcase |
| · | On board: cabin keys, safety briefing and the first lunch at the long table | — | |
| · | Short, steep climb to the Kelor viewpoint, then a swim off the beach | 50–70 min | shoes with grip, swimwear |
| · | Snorkelling off the jetty at Manjarite | 30–60 min | your own fins if you swim with them |
| · | Strawberry Rock, when the sea allows the stop | — | |
| · | Sunset off Kalong as the fruit bats leave the mangroves | 50–70 min | camera, a light layer |
| · | Dinner at the long table | — | |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. She spends the night where the weather and the captain decide on the day. | ||
Day 2
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Ridge walk on Padar; on the open trip Gili Lawa takes its place when the park quota for Padar is full | — | torch, water, shoes with grip |
| · | Breakfast on board | — | |
| · | Dragon walk with a park ranger on Komodo; on the open trip Rinca when the quota says so | — | closed shoes, park ticket |
| · | Swim and snorkel at Pink Beach, or at Namong beach | 30–60 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Lunch on board | — | |
| · | Drift snorkel at Manta Point Tide | — | |
| · | Sandbar and shallow reef at Taka Makassar Tide | 20–30 min | |
| · | Dinner at the long table | — | |
| 🌙 | Night aboard. She spends the night where the weather and the captain decide on the day. | ||
Day 3
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Breakfast on board | — | |
| · | Beach and snorkelling at Kanawa; private charters call at Sebayur first | — | |
| 10:00 | Back in Labuan Bajo between 10:00 and 11:00, then the transfer to your hotel or the airport | 60–90 min | bags packed before breakfast |
The times show the shape of each day, not a timetable, because tide, wind and the park quota move them. The one hour we fix in advance is your pickup, agreed with you before you sail.
The last breakfast
Day three opens with bags packed before breakfast and a last meal at the table. The long table indoors has tea and coffee at its end, and the stern table is there for anyone who wants one more look at open water with a cup in hand.
Pack the evening before. That way the morning is not rushed, and nobody is hunting for a charger while the tea cools. A soft bag is easy to close and easy to hand to the crew. If you snorkel with your own fins, put them in the day bag before breakfast, with swimwear on under your clothes, and keep the suitcase for the transfer. Cash for the park and for tips is on the packing list; check your wallet at breakfast and not at the pier.
An easy snorkel to finish on
Kanawa is a small island with white sand beaches and shallow coral reefs, which makes it an easy snorkel. The reef lies between 1 and 6 metres deep, the current is mild, the tide does not decide the stop, and you spend 45 to 90 minutes in and out of the water.
The water is shallow and mild, like Taka Makassar's. A child, a grandparent and a nervous swimmer can all be in it at once, with a snorkel and a mask from the boat. For fins, look in your own bag.
Kanawa is popular with day trips from Labuan Bajo and busiest in July and August. Outside those months the beach is quieter.
Getting home from Kanawa
From Kanawa the sail back to Labuan Bajo takes 60 to 90 minutes. The boat is in harbour between 10:00 and 11:00, and the transfer carries you on to your hotel or Komodo Airport.
Book flights after 13:00 on day three. The boat lands between 10:00 and 11:00, and the transfer and the airport still lie ahead of you. If you must fly earlier, ask us before you book if the three-day sailing can work.
Bring cash for tips for the guide and the crew; they are not in the fare. Hotel nights in Labuan Bajo are not in the fare either, so a last night ashore is yours to arrange.
FAQ
How long is the sail from Kanawa back to Labuan Bajo?
60 to 90 minutes. On the three-day sailing the boat docks at 10:00 to 11:00 on day three, and the transfer then takes you to your hotel or Komodo Airport. Kanawa comes before that sail, after breakfast on board.
Is Kanawa busy?
July and August are the busy months, because day trips from Labuan Bajo stop here too. The three-day sailing reaches Kanawa after breakfast on day three; outside July and August the beach is quieter.
Do I get Kanawa on the two-day fare?
No. Guests on the two-day fare go ashore on the evening of day two, between 19:00 and 20:30, and dinner that night is for the three-day guests. Kanawa belongs to day three, which is the three-day fare. The two fares share the boat and stop at the same places on days one and two.
Is Kanawa a good place for a first snorkel?
Yes. The reefs are shallow, between 1 and 6 metres deep, the current is mild and the grade is easy. The boat gives each guest a snorkel and a mask, and it carries no fins.
Can I take a lunchtime flight after the Kanawa morning?
Book flights after 13:00 on day three. The boat is back between 10:00 and 11:00, and then you need the transfer and the airport. An earlier flight puts the morning at risk, so tell us your flight when you ask for dates.
Check availability — Princess Lala
Princess Lala is sailed by her own crew; bookings and payments are handled by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.