Princess Lala
Princess Lala Phinisi
Kelor Island hike and swim
Updated 11 October 2026
Kelor is the first stop of day one on every Princess Lala sailing, 50 to 70 minutes by boat from Labuan Bajo after the first lunch. It is a short, steep climb of 15 to 30 minutes to a bay viewpoint, then a swim off the beach. Bring shoes with grip and swimwear.
Where Kelor falls on the first afternoon
Kelor is the hill you climb with lunch still settling. The sailing begins with a pickup from your hotel or Komodo Airport, from 10:30 to 11:55 on the open trip, and the evening before, your guide sends you the exact hour. On board come the cabin keys, the safety briefing and the first lunch at the long table. Then the boat sails for Kelor, 50 to 70 minutes away.
After the climb and the swim, Manjarite is next, with snorkelling off the jetty, then Strawberry Rock when the sea allows the stop, and the bats at Kalong at sunset. That is day one on every route we sail, the open trip and the private charters alike.
Have a soft bag rather than a hard suitcase when you are collected: cabins have little floor beyond the beds.
How steep is it, really?
Short and steep. The climb takes 15 to 30 minutes, the grade is moderate, and the path is dry and can slide under a loose shoe. Wear shoes with grip; sandals are the wrong pair for this hill, and the climb is the reason. The tide does not decide this stop.
For a child who loves a hill it is a good first adventure of the trip. For a grandparent it is a decision worth making in the half-hour after lunch, with the guide, and not on the path. The swim at the bottom is not tied to the climb: someone who stays down still gets the water. The way down is steep as well, so the same grip is needed on the descent.
July and August are its busy months.
Real photo from a Komodo Explorer trip · 8 photos
A hill, not a trek, and not a dragon site
Two things Kelor is not. It is not a long trek: the hill is short and steep and then it is over. And it is not a dragon site, so nobody should climb it hoping for one. The dragons are on Komodo and Rinca, on day two.
On Princess Lala Kelor is the first stop, 50 to 70 minutes by boat from Labuan Bajo, so your legs are fresh for the climb.
What you get for the climb is a view over the bay, and a swim at the bottom.
The swim afterwards
When you come down, you swim off the beach. Have swimwear on under your clothes or ready in the day bag. The tender handles the beach landing.
After that the boat moves to Manjarite, where you snorkel off the jetty. Manjarite is the first stop where fins matter: the boat supplies a snorkel and a mask, and the fins are yours to bring or to hire in town before the pickup.
Back on board at the end of the afternoon, the evening is the bats at Kalong and supper at the long table. Day one is the lighter day. It saves its energy for the ridge on Padar at dawn tomorrow.
FAQ
How long is the sail from Labuan Bajo to Kelor?
It is 50 to 70 minutes by boat. Kelor is a small hilly islet and the first stop of day one on every sailing. From Kelor, Manjarite is 30 to 60 minutes on, where you snorkel off the jetty.
Can young children climb Kelor?
It is a short, steep climb of 15 to 30 minutes, graded moderate, on a dry path. Children who like hills manage it in shoes with grip, with an adult beside them on the steep parts. The swim off the beach afterwards is for everyone, including anyone who does not climb.
Is Kelor the first stop on every sailing?
Yes. Kelor opens day one after the first lunch, 50 to 70 minutes from the harbour, on the open trip and on the private charters alike. Your legs are fresh for the climb, and the rest of the afternoon is easy: Manjarite for the jetty snorkel, Strawberry Rock when the sea allows, then the bats at Kalong.
Should I wear sandals on Kelor?
No. The path is steep and dry, and shoes with grip are what you need. Keep sandals for the boat and the beach. Swimwear goes under your clothes or into the day bag for the swim afterwards, and shoes with grip stay on until you are back at the water's edge.
What comes after Kelor on day one?
Manjarite, where you snorkel off the jetty; Strawberry Rock when the sea allows the stop; then sunset off Kalong with the bats, and supper at the long table. Two-day and three-day guests share all of it.
Check availability — Princess Lala
Princess Lala is sailed by her own crew; bookings and payments are handled by PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia.