Independent guide: Komodo Snorkeling Tour is an editorial planning guide — not a tour operator and not the official Komodo National Park website. Prices and park fees change with season and regulation, and marine-life sightings are never guaranteed; confirm the current total with your operator before paying. Operators cannot pay to change what we publish. Komodo Snorkeling Tour and operator Komodo Luxury are sister brands within Juara Holding Group — relationship disclosed in full here; bookings through Komodo Luxury may carry referral value to the group at no extra cost to you.
Komodo park fees for snorkelers in 2026 consist of at least two separate charges: a foreigner entrance fee of Rp 250,000 per person per day (domestic visitors Rp 50,000 weekday / Rp 75,000 Sunday and public holiday) and a harbor fee of Rp 25,000 per person. That is the confirmed floor. What makes the snorkeler position interesting is the diver surcharge: divers pay an additional Rp 25,000 per day that snorkelers are not asked to pay, based on the fee structure most consistently reported across 2026 sources. Add a contested conservation levy and ranger fees if your itinerary includes an island landing, and the realistic cash requirement runs Rp 275,000 to Rp 375,000 for a snorkel-focused day — with operators commonly advising Rp 400,000 to Rp 550,000 for full Padar-plus-dragons itineraries.
Every figure on this page carries a verification stamp because the fee landscape is genuinely unsettled. The old tariff regulation, PP 12/2014, was replaced by PP 36/2024 (new KLHK PNBP tariffs, late 2024). The increase triggered operator protests and strikes in Labuan Bajo in October 2024. Secondary sources agree on the headline numbers; the official PP 36/2024 annex text for Komodo has not been independently verified by this guide. Confirm current rates with your operator before you travel. All figures are last verified June 2026.
The Itemized Fee Table (Last Verified June 2026)
The table below separates each charge by category, confidence level, and who it applies to. Print it or screenshot it before you go to Labuan Bajo — ATMs near the harbor run dry on peak-season weekends.
| Fee Component | Foreigner | Indonesian (WNI) | Confidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance fee (per person per day) | Rp 250,000 | Rp 50,000 (weekday) Rp 75,000 (Sunday / public holiday) |
High — multi-source 2026 consensus | Applies whether snorkeling, trekking, or diving. Same fee for all visitors entering the park. |
| Harbor fee | Rp 25,000 | Rp 25,000 | High | Collected at Labuan Bajo harbor before departure. Bring exact change; change is often unavailable. |
| Snorkeling activity fee | None itemized | None itemized | Medium — no separate snorkel fee appears in any 2026 table | The old Rp 15,000 snorkel surcharge dates from PP 12/2014 era. As of June 2026, no separate snorkeling line item is listed — but it is not confirmed whether PP 36/2024 formally abolished it or operators bundle it. Flag this with your operator. |
| Diving surcharge (snorkelers exempt) | Rp 25,000 extra for divers only | Rp 25,000 extra for divers only | High | This is the snorkeler’s fee advantage. If you are on a shared boat with divers, you pay the entrance fee and harbor fee; they pay those plus the diving surcharge. |
| Conservation fee | Rp 100,000 (reported) | Rp 10,000 (reported) | Low — contested, reported but unconfirmed | Some 2026 sources include this; others omit it entirely. It is listed here for transparency. Whether it applies on any given day or itinerary is unclear. Confirm with your operator before departure. |
| Ranger / naturalist fee (island landings only) | Rp 200,000 per group (up to 5 pax) — Komodo or Rinca Rp 150,000 per group (up to 5 pax) — Padar |
Same | High on amounts; regulatory basis unclear | Only charged if your group sets foot on an island. Snorkel-only itineraries with no island landings may skip this entirely. Most full-day tours include at least one landing (Padar sunrise hike, dragon viewing at Komodo or Rinca). |
| Drone permit | Rp 2,000,000 per unit per day (reported) | Rp 2,000,000 per unit per day (reported) | Low — single source only | If you plan to fly a drone inside the park, ask your operator before departure. Unauthorized drone use is subject to confiscation. |
All figures are secondary-source consensus. The official PP 36/2024 annex text for Komodo has not been independently verified. Confirm current rates with your operator. Last verified June 2026.
What You Actually Pay: Realistic Day Totals
The table is useful in theory. Here is what it looks like in practice on the most common itineraries.
Snorkel-only day trip (no island landings)
Entrance fee Rp 250,000 + harbor fee Rp 25,000 = Rp 275,000 minimum. Add the conservation fee if it applies and you reach Rp 375,000. Operators running snorkel-focused circuits — Karang Makassar (Manta Point), Taka Makassar sandbar, Siaba Besar (turtles), Kanawa — sometimes skip island landings entirely, keeping you in the water longer. If that describes your day, Rp 350,000 cash is likely sufficient, though Rp 400,000 gives a buffer.
Full day — Padar hike + dragons + snorkeling
This is the standard six-stop circuit: Padar sunrise, Komodo or Rinca for dragon viewing, Pink Beach, Taka Makassar sandbar, Manta Point, and one more snorkel stop. Ranger fees at Padar (Rp 150,000 split across up to 5 people = Rp 30,000 per person at full boat) and at Komodo/Rinca (Rp 200,000 per group) bring the total up significantly on smaller boats where you share fewer people. On a full 22-person shared speedboat the ranger fee per head drops to roughly Rp 16,000 to Rp 20,000. Operators commonly advise Rp 400,000 to Rp 550,000 cash per person for this itinerary. Bring the higher end if you are travelling as a couple or small family, since ranger fees divide by group size.
Multi-day liveaboard (three days, two nights)
Park fees are paid per day, so a three-night liveaboard means three days of entrance fees. A single-source figure of approximately Rp 650,000 per foreigner for three days circulates among liveaboard operators — that works out to Rp 216,000 per day, which is lower than the single-day rate, possibly reflecting a multi-day bracket or operator handling. The regulatory basis for a multi-day discount is not confirmed. Treat it as indicative only and verify with your liveaboard operator before departure.
The Snorkeler’s Fee Advantage (and Why It Matters)
On a mixed dive-and-snorkel boat, snorkelers save Rp 25,000 per day compared to divers. That sounds modest, but across a three-day liveaboard it adds up to Rp 75,000 — roughly the price of a decent nasi goreng ikan plus a cold Bintang at the harbor. More practically, it confirms what most travelers assume: snorkeling does not cost more than basic park entry. There is no snorkel-tax, no certification fee, no equipment levy built into the park fee structure as of June 2026.
The historical snorkel activity fee of Rp 15,000 (from the old PP 12/2014 regime) does not appear in any 2026 operator briefing we reviewed across multiple sources. Whether it was formally abolished under PP 36/2024 or simply absorbed into the base entrance fee is unclear from the secondary sources available. Either way, the practical outcome is the same: no operator is currently asking snorkelers to pay a separate activity surcharge on top of the base entrance fee.
SiORA: The New Booking System (Reported Mandatory in 2026 — Unconfirmed by Park Authority)
Starting in late 2025 and reportedly formalized in April 2026, Komodo National Park switched to SiORA (Sistem Informasi Online Reservasi Wisata Alam) for visitor bookings. Walk-in ticket sales at the harbor were reportedly discontinued, and pre-booking 48 to 72 hours ahead became the expected norm. Sources include national tourism media and multiple operator updates from early 2026.
The important caveat: this shift to mandatory online booking has not been confirmed directly from a published park authority announcement or official notice. It is reported by secondary sources and strongly consistent across them — but travelers should verify the current booking requirement with their operator before arrival. Most reputable Labuan Bajo operators handle SiORA registration on behalf of their guests as part of the tour booking process. If you are arranging independently or with a smaller operator, ask explicitly whether SiORA registration is included. Last verified June 2026 — secondary sources only, confirm with operator.
The previous booking platform, INISA, is not the channel for Komodo. Do not attempt to book Komodo National Park entry through INISA.
Cash or Card? The Honest Answer
Bring cash — Indonesian rupiah, in smaller denominations. The harbor fee and ranger fees at island checkpoints are collected in cash. Even where online payment options exist for the entrance fee component via SiORA, the ranger station on Komodo Island and the Padar checkpoint operate on a cash-in-hand basis. ATMs in Labuan Bajo work reasonably well, but they routinely run low on cash during July and August peak season when visitor numbers spike. Withdraw before your tour day, not the morning of departure.
Denominations matter: a Rp 100,000 note for the ranger split across a group of five is straightforward. Presenting a Rp 500,000 note at a ranger post and expecting change is a recipe for delay and awkwardness. Stock up on Rp 50,000 and Rp 20,000 notes.
The Rp 3.75 Million Membership Scheme: Cancelled, Not Implemented
A proposal circulated in 2022 for a Rp 3,750,000 annual visitor membership to Komodo National Park. It was scrapped before implementation. If you see references to it on older blog posts or social media, disregard them. The scheme was never put into practice.
Similarly, figures of Rp 400,000 or Rp 500,000 as a flat daily fee sometimes appear in operator summaries or traveler forum posts. These almost always represent the bundled total for a typical full-day itinerary — entrance plus harbor plus ranger fees averaged per person — rather than a single regulated tariff. The regulated entrance fee for foreigners is Rp 250,000 per day. Everything above that is itemized separately.
When Fees Can Feel Higher Than Expected
A few scenarios make the fee total feel bigger than the table suggests.
Small groups and ranger fee division
Ranger fees are per group of up to five, not per person. Two people hiring a private boat to Komodo pay Rp 200,000 between them (Rp 100,000 each). The same fee on a 22-person shared speedboat divides to roughly Rp 9,000 per person. Private charter travelers should factor the full per-group ranger fee into their cash budget regardless of how many stops they plan.
Multiple days inside the park
Fees are charged per entry day, not per visit. If your itinerary spans two calendar days — for example, a sunset cruise to Padar the first evening and a full snorkel circuit the following day — you will pay entrance and harbor fees twice. Some liveaboard operators pre-pay multi-day park fees as a package; others collect cash from guests each morning. Confirm the payment mechanism with your operator before boarding.
Sunday and public holiday pricing for domestic travelers
Indonesian citizens pay Rp 75,000 on Sundays and public holidays versus Rp 50,000 on weekdays. For domestic travelers planning a day trip from Labuan Bajo, a weekday departure saves Rp 25,000 per person — not huge, but worth noting if you are traveling with a family group on a tight budget.
What Park Fees Pay For (and What They Do Not)
Komodo National Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and covers roughly 1,817 square kilometers of marine and terrestrial habitat. The park fees feed into the national non-tax revenue (PNBP) system managed by KLHK (Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry). In principle, they fund patrol boats, ranger salaries, marine monitoring, and trail maintenance.
What the fees do not pay for: your boat, your guide, your lunch, snorkel equipment rental, or any emergency evacuation. Reef-safe mineral sunscreen is strongly recommended as a conservation practice — there is no oxybenzone ban under Indonesian or Komodo National Park law as of June 2026, unlike Palau or Hawaii, but the ecological case for mineral-only products on coral reefs is well established. Use it not because you are required to, but because the reefs are why the park is worth the fee.
How Park Fees Are Collected on the Day
On most shared speedboat tours, the process runs roughly like this. You pay the harbor fee of Rp 25,000 at the Labuan Bajo harbor checkpoint before boarding. The boat crew either collected entrance fees in advance (bundled into the tour price — ask explicitly whether this is the case) or will ask for cash contributions from all guests before entering the park boundary. At island landings, the ranger at the checkpoint collects their group fee at the gate. Some operators carry a tally sheet and total everything at the end; others ask for cash station by station.
On private charters, the operator typically handles the SiORA booking and presents a receipt; guests pay entrance fees in cash to the boat captain who remits to the park. Verify this arrangement when you book.
The practical upshot: even if your tour price says park fees included, verify whether that means entrance plus harbor plus ranger fees, or only entrance. The difference between the two interpretations can be Rp 200,000 or more per person on a full itinerary.
Planning Your Trip Around the Fees
Park fees are not the biggest variable in your Komodo trip budget. A shared speedboat full-day tour runs approximately Rp 1,400,000 to Rp 1,600,000 per person (around USD 85 to USD 100) as a typical 2026 market rate, with park fees on top. A private speedboat charter for two to six people runs roughly Rp 6,000,000 to Rp 10,000,000 for the boat — fees additional. The park fees are a fixed cost everyone pays; the variable is how you split the boat cost.
If you are comparing itineraries and one operator quotes a significantly lower total, the first question to ask is whether park fees are included, and if so, which components. Operators who absorb ranger fees into their quote are offering genuine added value. Operators who quote a low base price and then ask for substantial cash contributions on the day are not being deceptive necessarily — but the comparison shopping becomes misleading if you do not account for the extras.
Ready to work through the numbers for your group size and itinerary? Plan your trip with our concierge — tell us your group, preferred dates, and whether you want a snorkel-first circuit or a full trekking-plus-snorkel day, and we will give you an honest cash estimate alongside tour options. Our partner operator is Komodo Luxury, a sister brand within Juara Holding Group — disclosed here and on our About page. No one can pay to change what we publish; if you use our free planning help and proceed through a partner, they may pay us a referral fee at no extra cost to you.
Key Dates and Regulatory Background
Understanding why the fee tables online conflict requires a quick look at the regulatory timeline.
- PP 12/2014
- The old tariff regime. Foreigner entrance Rp 150,000 weekday, Rp 225,000 Sunday-holiday. Domestic Rp 5,000 to Rp 7,500. Snorkeling activity Rp 15,000. Diving Rp 25,000. Wildlife observation Rp 10,000. Any source still citing these figures is outdated.
- PP 36/2024 (late 2024)
- The current legal basis. Raised KLHK PNBP tariffs, triggering the October 2024 operator strikes in Labuan Bajo. The exact annex text for Komodo National Park has not been independently verified by this guide. The multi-source 2026 consensus on Rp 250,000 foreigner entrance is derived from operator fee guides and travel sources, not from the official annex text.
- October 2024
- Labuan Bajo boat operators protested and went on strike over the fee increases under PP 36/2024. Operations were disrupted for a period. By early 2025, tour operations had resumed under the new tariff structure.
- January to April 2026
- SiORA booking system trialed and reportedly made permanent. Walk-in ticketing reportedly discontinued at Komodo National Park. Status unconfirmed from official park announcement — secondary source consensus only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do snorkelers pay a separate snorkeling fee at Komodo in 2026?
No separate snorkeling activity fee appears in any 2026 fee schedule reviewed for this guide. The historical Rp 15,000 snorkel fee from the PP 12/2014 era is not listed in current operator briefings. Snorkelers pay the base entrance fee (Rp 250,000 for foreigners) and the harbor fee (Rp 25,000), the same as trekkers. Divers pay an additional Rp 25,000 surcharge. This situation is last verified June 2026 — confirm with your operator, as fee structures can change.
Are park fees included in the tour price or do I bring cash separately?
This varies by operator and tour type. Many shared speedboat day tours quote a per-person price that excludes park fees, meaning you bring Rp 400,000 to Rp 550,000 in cash to cover entrance, harbor, and ranger fees depending on the itinerary. Some operators include entrance fees but not ranger fees. A small number include everything. Ask your operator explicitly: does the tour price include (a) entrance fee, (b) harbor fee, and (c) ranger fees at all planned island stops? Get the answer in writing before you pay your deposit.
What happens if I book a tour on a Sunday — do I pay more?
For foreigners, the entrance fee is the same Rp 250,000 regardless of the day of the week. The Sunday and public holiday premium applies to Indonesian citizens only (Rp 75,000 versus Rp 50,000 on weekdays). Foreign travelers do not pay a weekend surcharge on the park entrance fee. Peak season surcharges on tour prices are a separate matter — in July and August, shared boat slots sell out at the upper end of market rates regardless of the day of the week.
Can I pay park fees by card or does it have to be cash?
In practice, bring cash. The harbor fee and ranger fees at island checkpoints are collected in cash. Even if the SiORA booking platform supports digital payment for the entrance fee component, the ranger station on Komodo Island and the Padar checkpoint operate on a cash-in-hand basis. ATMs in Labuan Bajo function, but they can run out of notes during July and August peak periods. Withdraw the full amount the day before your tour rather than the morning of departure. Carry Rp 50,000 and Rp 20,000 notes for easy splitting of ranger fees across your group.
Is the Rp 3.75 million annual membership still a thing?
No. The Rp 3,750,000 annual visitor membership proposal was floated in 2022 and subsequently cancelled before it was ever put into practice. It was never implemented. The current regulated fee for foreign visitors is Rp 250,000 per person per day, not a membership scheme. Any website still referencing a membership fee or a flat Rp 3.75 million entry charge is working from outdated information.
Have more questions about planning a snorkeling trip into the park? Reach out via WhatsApp or use our planning form — our team monitors it daily during peak season and can give you a current cash estimate based on your exact itinerary and group size.