Featured anchorage – Labuan Bajo
Southeast Asia Pilot – October 2025
Labuan Bajo, Flores (Indonesia)
08°29.805S, 119°52.553E
Mooring buoys
Picking up moorings at an anchorage like Labuan Bajo, instead dropping anchor, is increasingly necessary as authorities scramble to preserve coral. Be prepared to move if asked to do so by the mooring’s owner or a local authority. Remember, it’s your responsibility to check moorings in terms of their availability, condition and suitability for your yacht. Be aware that some moorings are suitable for small, light boats only.
Overview
Labuan Bajo is the western gateway to Komodo National Park, where dragons roam the hillsides and manta rays glide beneath the waves. Once a sleepy fishing village, it is now a bustling hub with marinas, dive operators and provisioning options.
Anchorage Notes
Anchoring in 12-14 metres on sand is straightforward in the well-sheltered bay, though holding can be patchy in places. Many skippers prefer moorings arranged via local agents. From here, it is only a short day’s sail to the pink beaches and dramatic anchorages of Komodo and Rinca.
Facilities
Everything a cruising yacht needs is available – with access to small repairs, fuel, water and local provisions. Anything with any level of sophistication, including first-world provisions, though, has to be flown in from from Bali.
Why stop here
Labaun Bajo has an eclectic range and quality of restaurants and eating-houses. It is a hive of activity for diving and snorkelling tours and has some interesting overland excursions to unique villages in the mountains behind the town.
Spectacular Cruising Grounds
For yachts cruising east through Indonesia, Labuan Bajo is both a supply stop and a jumping-off point for one of the most spectacular cruising grounds in Asia.
Southeast Asia Pilot – 7th Edition has detailed coverage of 600+ anchorages across nine countries. Available now in print and digital editions.
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