Islands near Labuan Bajo

Kanawa, Kelor and Bidadari are three small islands in the waters off Labuan Bajo. They come up often when people talk about beaches and snorkelling near the town. This page describes each island in general terms and explains how they are usually reached. It also sets out what has been reported about their relationship to Komodo National Park. That relationship is reported, not confirmed, and the difference matters.

These islands are a separate subject from the better-known islands of the national park, such as Komodo, Padar and Rinca, which this page does not describe. Our guide to things to do in Labuan Bajo covers the town itself. This page is part of our Destinations & Islands section.

Islands near town, and the islands of the national park

Searches for islands near Labuan Bajo mostly return the national park’s islands. Those are covered in our guides to the islands inside Komodo National Park. The three islands here are a smaller set near town.

What has been reported. Stefanus Jemsifori, head of the West Manggarai regency tourism office, said in an interview on 12 August 2024 that the regency has authority over tourism activity in waters outside the national park area. He named Kanawa, Kelor and Bidadari among the islands concerned. Floresa published the interview on 14 November 2025. It is the regency official’s account, not a determination by the park authority.

What was not found. When this page was checked, no statement from the park authority (Balai Taman Nasional Komodo), no readable zonation map, and no decree naming these islands could be obtained. This page therefore does not establish where the park boundary lies.

Where accounts differ. Kompas, on 3 July 2022, listed Kelor as part of the national park. The Kelor section below sets out both accounts.

This page does not cover park charges.

Kanawa

Kanawa is a small island in the waters off Labuan Bajo. Indonesia’s Ministry of Tourism describes it as having a white-sand beach and clear water suitable for snorkelling. Its page on the island also mentions a jetty and high ground with views across the water. Snorkelling from the beach and near the jetty is described in both.

The island is reached by boat from Labuan Bajo. The Ministry says it is generally visited as part of a journey by boat.

On its relationship to the park, Stefanus Jemsifori named Kanawa among islands in waters he described as outside the park, in the interview of 12 August 2024 published by Floresa on 14 November 2025. The Ministry of Tourism describes Kanawa as lying “in the area around” the national park (di kawasan sekitar). That is general destination wording, not a statement of whether the island is inside or outside the park.

Kelor

Kelor is a small island in the waters off Labuan Bajo. The Ministry of Tourism describes white sand, clear water, and a small hill as part of its landscape, with water suitable for swimming and snorkelling. detikBali reported in September 2025 that visitors can climb the hill.

Kelor is where published accounts of the park boundary disagree most clearly:

• In August 2025, detikBali reported Kelor as one of the snorkelling spots outside the national park area managed by the regency tourism office. The office’s head, Stefanus Jemsifori, said the regency regulation he was referring to applies only to waters outside the park (7 August 2025).
• In July 2022, Kompas listed Kelor among nine islands of Komodo National Park and stated that it lies within the park area.

No park-authority source resolving this was found, and the conflict remains unresolved. Both accounts are reported here as what they say, with their dates.

Bidadari

Bidadari is a small island not far from Labuan Bajo. Its name means “angel” in Indonesian. The Ministry of Tourism describes a white-sand beach and water used for snorkelling, and says it can be reached by boat.

As with Kanawa, Stefanus Jemsifori named Bidadari among islands in waters he described as outside the park, in the same interview of 12 August 2024 published by Floresa on 14 November 2025. No contrary source was found, and no park-authority source confirming its status was obtained.

How these islands are usually visited

All three islands are reached by boat from Labuan Bajo. Arrangements vary, and this page does not describe boat trips, operators, or times. Our guide to how boat trips in the area work explains the main formats and what to check.

Snorkelling is described at all three islands. Sea conditions vary, and conditions in the water can change from one visit to the next. For how currents and safety are handled in the national park, see our guide to snorkelling in Komodo National Park. That guide is about the park and is not a guide to these three islands.

What is not settled

Several things about these islands could not be confirmed when this page was checked.

• Park boundary. Floresa (14 November 2025) reported a statement from an interview on 12 August 2024 in which Stefanus Jemsifori named Kanawa, Kelor and Bidadari among islands under regency authority in waters he described as outside the park. Separately, detikBali (7 August 2025) reported his position specifically on Kelor. Kompas (3 July 2022) listed Kelor as part of the park. No park-authority confirmation was obtained.
• Current facilities. Up-to-date information on facilities at the three islands is limited, so this page does not describe them.
• Distances and travel times. Published figures vary between sources and are not given here.
• Kelor. Tribunflores reported on 16 July 2026 that West Manggarai tourism office head Petrus A. Rasyid had described a planned redevelopment of Kelor covering infrastructure, safety facilities and area management, with no timeline reported.

Where sources disagree, or where information may be out of date, this page reports what was said and when, rather than presenting it as fact.

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