Komodo National Park Diving Fees & Permits 2026: The Full Cost Stack, Itemized

How our trips work: Labuan Bajo Diving is the dive-specialist team of our operating partner Komodo Luxury. Prices shown are typical ranges and are confirmed with a fixed quote before you book; conditions, levels and routes are always weather- and season-dependent.

Komodo national park diving fees in 2026 follow a daily structure: every foreign visitor pays a marine park entry fee of IDR 250,000 per day, divers add a surcharge of IDR 25,000 per day, and a harbour fee of IDR 25,000 applies on top. That baseline totals IDR 300,000 per diver per day (roughly USD 18–20). Some operators itemise an additional IDR 100,000 per day as a conservation line, pushing the upper bound to IDR 400,000 (≈ USD 24–27). The short answer for trip planning: expect IDR 300,000–400,000 (≈ USD 18–27) per diver per day; itemisation varies by operator — confirm before travel.

Those numbers look simple on paper. In practice, the fee stack is where confusion starts — and where a surprising amount of trip-planning stress lives. Ranger fees are calculated per group, not per head. The harbour fee works differently on day trips versus liveaboards. A once-viral proposal to charge divers IDR 3.75 million per year as a membership was officially scrapped. Drone operators face a separate permit process entirely. And the Siora app now gates how many visitors can enter the park each day. This page works through every layer in the order it matters for your budget.

Why Fees Are Quoted Separately — and Why You Should Care

Most dive day trips and liveaboards quote their base price excluding park fees. That is not an attempt to mislead; the park collects fees daily, the amounts are government-set, and operators pass them through at cost. What varies is how operators itemise them on your invoice. One will bundle IDR 300,000 and call it done. Another will show four separate lines. A third adds the IDR 100,000 conservation contribution that a handful of operators collect on top of the official rate.

The practical risk: you compare two trip prices, one looks IDR 100,000 cheaper per day, and it turns out the cheaper operator simply hasn’t shown you the conservation line yet. Ask for the total cost including all park fees, ranger fees, and any conservation contributions before you put a deposit down.

For the money pages on this site — day trips, liveaboard durations, private charters — park fees are called out as excluded from base prices. That cross-reference is deliberate. A three-day liveaboard at IDR 9 million per person sounds very different once you add IDR 900,000 in park fees on top.

The 2026 Komodo Park Fee Structure, Line by Line

Here is every fee category a diver is likely to encounter, with the verified 2025–2026 figures and the logic behind each line.

The Baseline: IDR 300,000 per Diver per Day

Marine entry (IDR 250,000) + diver surcharge (IDR 25,000) + harbour fee (IDR 25,000) = IDR 300,000. This is the floor. If your operator quotes anything lower than this for a day trip, ask why — either the harbour fee is rolled in differently, or something is not being disclosed.

The harbour fee behaves differently on liveaboards. Because a liveaboard does not return to port daily, the harbour fee is collected once per trip rather than once per day. On a three-day liveaboard with three divers, that means one IDR 25,000 charge per person, not three. Day-trippers pay it each day.

The Conservation Line: IDR 100,000 per Day (Operator-Dependent)

A number of operators — particularly those with longer-standing relationships with park conservation programmes — collect an additional IDR 100,000 per diver per day and direct it toward reef monitoring, mooring-buoy maintenance, or ranger patrols. It is not a government fee; it is a voluntary contribution that some operators have formalised on their invoices. Others fold a similar contribution into their overall trip pricing without showing it as a separate line.

This is why the honest range for divers is IDR 300,000–400,000 per day. Both ends of that range are real numbers from operating boats in 2025–2026.

Snorkelers Pay Less

Snorkelers pay the base marine entry fee (IDR 250,000 per day) plus the harbour fee, but not the diver surcharge. Their daily park cost is approximately IDR 275,000–300,000, depending on how the harbour fee is structured for their trip type. The conservation contribution, if the operator collects it, typically applies to all guests regardless of activity.

Ranger Fees: The Per-Group Math

Ranger fees apply whenever a group goes ashore for a guided land visit — the Komodo dragon treks on Komodo Island (Loh Liang) and Rinca Island (Loh Buaya), and the Padar Island viewpoint hike. These are charged per group of up to five visitors, not per head. The split matters.

Komodo Island ranger fee

IDR 200,000 per group of up to 5 — that is IDR 40,000 per person in a full group of five, or IDR 200,000 if you happen to be the only one trekking

Rinca Island ranger fee

IDR 200,000 per group of up to 5 — same structure as Komodo Island

Padar Island ranger fee

IDR 150,000 per group of up to 5 — slightly lower because Padar’s management infrastructure differs

On a day trip with ten passengers, the operator will typically split people into two groups of five for the trek, meaning two ranger-fee charges (IDR 400,000 total for Komodo/Rinca, IDR 300,000 for Padar). That cost gets divided across the group. In a group of four, you pay a slightly higher share per head — IDR 50,000 each for a Komodo/Rinca trek. On a private day trip where you are the only trekker, you pay the full IDR 200,000 for a guide.

Most day-trip and liveaboard packages with a dragon-trek option include the ranger fee in the listed cost, but not all do. Ask specifically.

The Scrapped IDR 3.75 Million Annual Fee — Set the Record Straight

If you have been researching Komodo fees and found articles from 2022 mentioning a premium annual membership of IDR 3.75 million (or a similar figure sometimes quoted as IDR 3.5 million), those articles are describing a proposal that was officially abandoned. The Indonesian government floated a scheme in 2022 that would have replaced the daily model with an annual Komodo visitor membership — the idea generated significant pushback from the dive and travel industry, and it was scrapped before implementation.

The daily-fee model is what stands in 2025–2026. There is no annual membership, no premium Komodo Island surcharge above the figures in this table, and no indication that a change is imminent. Anyone still quoting the IDR 3.75 million figure as current is working from stale 2022 sources.

The 1,000-Visitor-Per-Day Cap and the Siora App

Since 2022, Komodo National Park has operated under a daily visitor cap of 1,000 people. Divers count toward that total. During peak season — July and August especially, with June and September close behind — this cap is real and regularly reached. Boats that arrive without a pre-allocated slot can be turned away.

The allocation system runs through the Siora app (sometimes written SiORA, short for Sistem Informasi Online Raja Ampat — though the same platform infrastructure handles Komodo bookings). Your operator should handle the Siora booking on your behalf as part of the trip logistics; this is not something individual visitors typically manage directly. What matters from your planning perspective:

• Peak months (July–August) routinely book six to twelve months in advance on popular liveaboards
• If you are planning a day trip during peak season and have a firm date, confirm that your operator has a Siora allocation for that date before paying
• Off-peak months (November through March outside of the Christmas–New Year window) have more flexibility, though the park remains open year-round
• Land-visit time slots are divided into three bands: 06:00–11:00, 11:00–15:00, and 15:00–18:00 — your operator’s Siora booking will specify which slot your group has

The cap exists for a conservation reason: Komodo and Rinca are active Komodo dragon habitat, and the 2022 closure proposal (the one that turned into the membership fee idea) was partly motivated by concerns about visitor impact on dragon nesting areas. The slot system is a more practical solution than a price barrier, and most operators consider it a manageable part of the logistics rather than a significant obstacle — provided you plan ahead.

Ready to work out the full cost of your trip and confirm operator availability? Plan your trip with our concierge — we can clarify what is and is not included in any operator’s quoted price, and help you check whether peak-season slots are still open for your dates.

Drone Permits in Komodo National Park

Flying a drone inside Komodo National Park requires a permit. The cost is approximately IDR 2,000,000 (around USD 120) per application. This is a one-off fee per trip, not a daily charge.

The permit is not quick to arrange — applications need to be submitted through the park authority in advance, and the documentation requirements include the drone’s registration, the pilot’s identity documents, and a stated purpose. If you are planning aerial photography as part of a liveaboard expedition, raise it with your operator at the booking stage rather than when you are already on the water. Some liveaboard operators have an in-house drone permit process; others will require you to arrange it independently through the Balai Taman Nasional Komodo (Komodo National Park Authority) office in Labuan Bajo.

Operating a drone in the park without a permit risks confiscation of the equipment and a fine. The regulation is enforced, particularly at higher-traffic sites like Padar’s ridgeline, which is a frequent photography target.

How Komodo Park Fees 2026 Fit Into Your Total Trip Budget

To make the fee stack concrete, here is how it accumulates across typical trip types.

One-Day Dive Trip (Two or Three Dives)

Base park fees for a diver: IDR 300,000. If the operator adds the conservation line: IDR 400,000. If the day trip includes a dragon trek on Komodo or Rinca, add IDR 40,000–200,000 in ranger fees depending on group size. Total additional cost on top of the trip price: typically IDR 300,000–550,000 per diver.

Day-trip base prices run from roughly IDR 2,500,000 to IDR 3,600,000 before fees, depending on operator and inclusions. With park fees at the upper end, a fully-costed day trip lands in the range of IDR 2,900,000–4,150,000 per diver.

Four-Day Liveaboard

Park fees for four days: IDR 300,000 × 4 = IDR 1,200,000 at the baseline, or IDR 1,600,000 if the conservation line applies. Add the harbour fee once (IDR 25,000 per person, already in the IDR 300,000 daily baseline for day one, and not re-charged on subsequent liveaboard days — though operators calculate this differently; confirm). Dragon trek on day four: add IDR 40,000–200,000. A four-day liveaboard diver should budget IDR 1,200,000–1,800,000 in park and ranger fees on top of the cabin price.

Seven-Day Liveaboard with Sumbawa Extension

Seven days × IDR 300,000–400,000 = IDR 2,100,000–2,800,000 in park fees. If the itinerary includes both a Komodo Island dragon trek and a Padar hike, add IDR 350,000–400,000 in group ranger fees (shared across the boat). Budget IDR 2,100,000–3,200,000 total in government and park levies, depending on your group size and which optional treks you join.

On Komodo Dragon Liveaboards’ published 12-day grand crossing itinerary, government fees are quoted separately at approximately EUR 360 per person — that is consistent with the IDR 300,000–400,000 per day range at 2025–2026 exchange rates for a twelve-day trip.

Practical Checklist: What to Confirm Before Paying a Deposit

• Are park fees included or excluded from the quoted price? If excluded, what is the daily amount per diver?
• Does the operator collect a conservation contribution? If yes, how much per day?
• For liveaboards: is the harbour fee charged daily or once per trip?
• If a dragon trek is included: are ranger fees covered? And is the trek on Komodo Island, Rinca, or Padar (they have different rates)?
• Has the operator secured a Siora allocation for your dates? Particularly relevant for July and August.
• If you are bringing a drone: what is the process for the permit?

These are questions any reputable operator should answer without hesitation. If the answers are vague, that itself tells you something about the operator’s organisation.

A Note on Independent Authority and How We Work

The fee figures on this page come from verified operator disclosures, park documentation, and independent research — not from a single operator’s marketing material. No one can pay to change what we publish. If you use our free guidance and proceed with an operator through our platform, that operator may pay us a referral fee at no extra cost to you.

We recommend the trip that fits your experience level and budget — including cheaper options when they are the right call. That is the point. An honest breakdown of park fees is part of that commitment: you should know exactly what you are paying before you get on the boat.

Questions about specific operators, current slot availability, or how fees work on a private charter? Reach us on our enquiry form or via WhatsApp — the planning conversation is free and there is no pressure to book through us.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Komodo National Park entrance fee per day for a foreign diver in 2026?

The baseline is IDR 300,000 per diver per day, made up of a marine park entry fee of IDR 250,000, a diver surcharge of IDR 25,000, and a harbour fee of IDR 25,000. Some operators add an IDR 100,000 conservation contribution, bringing the upper end to IDR 400,000 (approximately USD 18–27). Always confirm the total fee structure with your operator before paying, as itemisation varies.

Are the IDR 3.75 million annual membership fees still in effect?

No. The annual premium membership proposal — widely reported in 2022 — was officially scrapped and never implemented. Komodo National Park operates on a daily fee model in 2025–2026. Any source still citing IDR 3.5–3.75 million as a current entry fee is working from outdated information.

How does the ranger fee work in Komodo National Park?

Ranger fees apply to guided land visits — dragon treks on Komodo Island (Loh Liang) and Rinca Island (Loh Buaya) cost IDR 200,000 per group of up to five visitors. The Padar Island viewpoint hike costs IDR 150,000 per group of up to five. The fee is not per person; it is divided among the group. In a full group of five at Komodo Island, each person contributes IDR 40,000. If you are the only person on a private charter doing the trek, you pay the full IDR 200,000.

What does a drone permit cost in Komodo National Park, and how do I get one?

A drone permit for Komodo National Park costs approximately IDR 2,000,000 (around USD 120) per application. The permit is required for any drone flight within the park boundaries and must be arranged in advance through the park authority. If you are on a liveaboard, ask your operator at the booking stage whether they can facilitate the application. Arriving with an unpermitted drone risks confiscation and a fine.

How does the Siora app affect my Komodo diving trip?

The Siora app is the online booking and allocation platform that enforces Komodo National Park’s 1,000-visitor-per-day cap. Your dive operator handles the Siora booking on your behalf — you do not need to use the app directly as an individual visitor. What matters for your planning: during peak months (July–August especially), Siora allocations are limited and can sell out months in advance. Confirm that your operator holds a slot for your specific dates before committing to a deposit, particularly if you have a fixed travel window in high season.