Day 1 : Embarkation Day- (1 check dive + 1 night dive)Â
At 10AM, our team will meet you at the airport* or your hotel in Alor before transferring you to KLM Eliya, moored in Kalabahi Harbour. Once onboard, our crew will welcome you with refreshments while the Cruise Director introduces you to the vessel, safety procedures and the plan for the days ahead.
With the dry volcanic hills and rugged coastline of Alor rising around the bay, our expedition sets its tone immediately — remote, unhurried and a long way from the ordinary. After settling in and preparing your gear, we begin the afternoon with a check dive in the calm waters of Kalabahi Bay, followed by an exploration dive on the surrounding reefs.
As darkness falls over the bay, we drop in for the first night dive of the expedition — a dedicated exploration of the volcanic black sand slopes of Kalabahi Bay, where extraordinary macro life and unusual critters begin to emerge after dark.
*If you are planning to arrive on the same day, please be aware that there is currently only one daily flight from Kupang to Alor, landing at approximately 9:30 AM — which works comfortably with our 10AM boarding. We still recommend arriving the day before where possible to avoid any travel delays.
Day 2: (3 day dives + 1 sunset/ night dive)
The strait separating Alor and Pantar is one of the richest marine environments in Eastern Indonesia. Strong currents push nutrient-rich water through the channel, sustaining exceptionally healthy reef systems and driving the kind of fish density that makes Pantar Strait drift diving a genuine highlight of any Alor liveaboard itinerary.Â
Throughout the day, we select dive sites according to the tides and conditions. Large schools of reef fish gather along current-swept reefs and pinnacles, while pelagic species work the deeper blue water. Above the surface, the backdrop is equally compelling — steep volcanic islands, remote villages, dramatic coastlines and deep blue channels make this one of the most visually striking environments of our entire expedition.Â
After the afternoon dives, we move into a sheltered location for a sunset or night dive dedicated to macro photography and rare critters, before beginning the overnight crossing toward the Ipet Islands.
Day 3: (3 day dives)
Located near the Boling Strait between Adonara and Lembata, the remote Ipet Islands — marks the western border of the Alor Archipelago — remain one of the least explored diving destinations in Indonesia. Few divers make it this far, and that isolation shows — low-lying islands, quiet lagoons, white sand banks and offshore reefs that see almost no dive traffic.
The reefs are in excellent health, supporting abundant fish life, reef sharks and occasional pelagic encounters. We select dive sites, a mix of reefs and seamounts, according to conditions, working with the ocean while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere and stunning tropical scenery of this rarely visited region.
Crystal-clear water, distant volcanic peaks, turquoise lagoons and barely touched coral ecosystems — the Ipet Islands are the kind of place that reminds you why expedition diving exists. A genuinely rare find on any itinerary.
After sunset, we continue westward along the Flores coastline toward the Maumere region.
Day 4: (3 day dives + 1 sunset/ night dive)
We wake up in the Maumere region — an area with a compelling story. Once considered one of Indonesia's premier dive destinations, the reefs here were severely damaged by the 1992 earthquake and tsunami. Today, after more than three decades of recovery, they have returned to genuine form: beautiful coral formations, rich fish life and excellent biodiversity that rewards patient, exploratory diving.
Our morning dives focus on offshore reefs and deeper structures where pelagic activities can be encountered, while our afternoon and night dives move into the sheltered waters of the bay, known for their diverse macro life and muck diving on colourful sloping coral reefs.
The coastline around Maumere is particularly scenic, with green hills, volcanic ridges, small fishing villages, and quiet bays stretching along Flores Island.
The coastline around Maumere is particularly scenic — green hills, volcanic ridges, small fishing villages and quiet bays along the northern shore of Flores. During the night, we continue westward sailing toward Pulau Palue
Day 5: (3 day dives)
Pulau Palue rises dramatically from the sea west of Maumere, its active volcano forming a striking backdrop to every dive of the day. The underwater topography is equally dramatic — steep walls draped in giant sponges, large sea fans and healthy hard coral formations, with dense fish life throughout.
The shallower sections of the reef are particularly vibrant, with massive coral tables sheltering schools of reef fish and smaller critters tucked into every crevice. The deeper blue water surrounding the island regularly attracts tuna, trevallies and reef sharks working the current lines.
After our final dives around Pulau Palue, we begin our overnight crossing into the most iconic waters of the expedition — Komodo National Park.
Day 6, 7 & 8: (3 day dives + 1 sunset/ night dive each day)
Welcome to Komodo National Park! Scuba Junkie KLM Eliya’s original home waters and one of the world’s most iconic diving destinations. Over three full days, our dive team selects the best sites each day according to tides, currents and conditions, working through the Park's most spectacular reefs and channels.
Komodo is internationally recognised for its extraordinary biodiversity, powerful nutrient-rich currents, and exceptional fish density. The range of dive sites here is remarkable: colourful coral gardens, fast drift dives, current-swept pinnacles thick with schooling fish, and manta ray cleaning stations that rank among the finest in the world.
Above the surface, Komodo's landscapes are no less impressive. Dry savannah hills, rugged islands, turquoise bays, white sand beaches and dramatic coastlines create scenery that feels unlike anywhere else in Indonesia.
Each day we follow the same rhythm of three day dives and one sunset or night dive.
Depending on conditions, dives may include sites such as Batu Bolong, Crystal Rock, Castle Rock, Tatawa Kecil, Siaba Kecil, Shotgun, Golden Passage, Manta Alley, and the remote southern bays of Nusa Kode — some of the most iconic dives sites in Indonesia.
Day 9: (2 day dives + Dragon tour)
Our final diving day begins with two last dives within the Komodo National Park. Once back onboard, our crew rinses and stows all dive equipment while we enjoy lunch as Eliya cruises slowly toward Rinca Island.
A visit to Komodo National Park would not be complete without encountering its most famous residents — the Komodo dragons. Accompanied by local park rangers, we will explore Rinca Island and its recently developed educational centre at Loh Buaya while learning more about these remarkable animals and the surrounding ecosystem.
The landscape of Rinca is striking in its own right — dry savannah hills, twisted palm trees and panoramic viewpoints over the surrounding islands and turquoise water. Alongside the dragons, the island is home to deer, monkeys, buffalo and a wealth of birdlife.
Before returning to the marina, we stop near a small mangrove island inhabited by thousands of flying foxes. At sunset, they lift from the trees and stream toward the Flores mainland in one of the most memorable natural spectacles of the entire expedition — a fitting final scene before the journey ends.
We return to Labuan Bajo marina during the evening and spend our final night onboard.
Day 10: Disembarkation Day (Depart by 10am)
KLM Eliya concludes her expedition at Labuan Bajo. Breakfast is served onboard as usual before disembarkation begins. You may leave early in the morning, with all departures completed no later than 10 AM.
Our team will assist with airport transfers or transportation to hotels in Labuan Bajo for guests continuing their travels through Indonesia.
