Accessed from Labuan Bajo on Flores, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Komodo and Rinca islands are the only places to see the ferocious Komodo dragon, the world’s largest lizard. Rinca is the closer island and easily visited on a day trip during which you can go trekking (although dress appropriately as there is not much shade). Komodo is more forested and the dragons here tend to be bigger. Other wildlife includes macaques, deer, wild boar and various species of birds.
One can combine trips to the islands with diving and snorkelling opportunities: often a snorkel stop at Pink Beach is made after a visit to Komodo.
As Komodo is quite far from the mainland, most visitors stay on boats overnight, enabling them to combine both the islands and avoid the crowds. Some dive boats will detour to Komodo, and various resorts can organise boat trips there.
