**Riung 17 Islands is a protected snorkeling archipelago on the north coast of Flores, reached by private crewed yacht as the eastern extension of a Komodo National Park charter. Most guests sail west from Labuan Bajo through Komodo, then east along the Flores coast to Riung and Maumere Bay on a multi-day expedition of 10 to 15 days.**
This is the frontier almost nobody charters. While the Labuan Bajo fleet cycles the same Padar-to-Pink-Beach loop, the reef clusters off Riung, part of the Seventeen Islands Marine Recreation Park, sit largely uncrewed by the luxury market. For guests who want the whole Flores arc rather than the Komodo day circuit, Riung is the payoff, and a modern motor or sailing yacht is the only comfortable way to reach it.
Where is Riung and why charter a yacht there?
Riung sits roughly two-thirds of the way along Flores’ northern coastline, well east of Komodo National Park. There is no yacht base here of the kind Labuan Bajo runs, and the group is not a day-trip from anywhere with an airport. That inaccessibility is exactly the appeal: the “17 Island” snorkeling group (the count is nominal, not literal) delivers hard corals, resident reef fish, and quiet white-sand cays without the permit queues that now define peak-season Komodo.
Meridian Flores runs Riung as a crewed expedition leg on modern yachts, explicitly not phinisi and not day boats. A full-vessel private charter means the captain, crew, private chef, and itinerary answer only to your party, so a slow snorkel morning at Riung followed by an afternoon repositioning toward Maumere Bay is a decision you make onboard, not a fixed schedule.
What are the Riung 17-Islands highlights?
| Site | What it is | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pulau Ontoloe | Largest island in the group, mangrove fringes and a resident flying-fox (kalong) colony | Dusk cruising, photography |
| Pulau Rutong / Tiga | Sheltered hard-coral reefs in shallow, clear water | Easy snorkelling, families |
| Pulau Kelelawar (Bat Island) | Roosting fruit-bat colony that lifts off at sunset | Evening spectacle from deck |
| Pulau Bampa / Meko sandbar | Tidal white-sand spit that surfaces at low water | Barefoot beach time, drone shots |
| Pulau Lainjawa | Deeper drop-offs with better fish density | Confident snorkellers, freedivers |
| Maumere Bay (eastern pairing) | Recovering reef systems east of Riung toward Maumere | Dive days, closing the arc |
Because Riung is a marine recreation park, expect a local ranger or conservation fee collected on the water, set by regional authorities and subject to change. Exact current tariffs are not published in operator sources, so the reservations team confirms the day’s fee before you sail.
How do you add Riung to a Komodo-departure charter?
Riung is not a standalone booking; it is a leg you attach to a Labuan Bajo departure. The yacht clears the Komodo highlights first, then continues east instead of turning back. A realistic shape:
| Days | Route segment | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1-4 | Labuan Bajo → Komodo NP | Padar, Pink Beach, Rinca dragons, Manta Point, Taka Makassar |
| Days 5-8 | Komodo NP → east Flores coast | Repositioning cruise, coastal anchorages, dive days |
| Days 9-12 | Riung 17-Islands | Ontoloe, Bat Island, sandbars, unhurried snorkelling |
| Days 13-15 | Riung → Maumere Bay | Eastern reefs, disembark near Maumere |
A complete Flores program of this kind runs about 15 days / 14 nights, combining Komodo NP sailing with the 17-Island snorkelling at Riung and Maumere Bay. If your window is tighter, the crew can compress to a Komodo-plus-Riung leg, but the eastern coast rewards a slower pace; this is a repositioning cruise, not a shuttle.
What does a crewed Flores-arc charter cost?
Riung legs are quoted on top of a Komodo base charter. To anchor expectations, here are example Komodo private-charter rates from Labuan Bajo (USD, per boat, as of 2026, subject to change; these are the Komodo-segment reference, not the full Riung program):
| Duration | 1-2 pax | 3-4 pax | 5-6 pax | 7-8 pax | 9-10 pax |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2D/1N | $2,000 | $2,240 | $2,350 | $2,640 | $2,750 |
| 3D/2N | $2,240 | $2,440 | $2,550 | $2,640 | $2,760 |
| 4D/3N | $2,460 | $2,640 | $2,820 | $2,940 | $2,980 |
The full eastern-arc program (Komodo + Riung + Maumere, roughly 15 days) is priced per vessel and per itinerary, because fuel for the long coastal repositioning, crew time, and provisioning scale with distance. A representative multi-day vessel carries up to 12 guests across 5 cabins (2 double, 2 bunk, 1 twin). A fully-crewed charter includes the yacht, captain and crew, a private chef, all meals and non-alcoholic drinks, fuel for the agreed route, snorkelling gear, and water toys such as paddleboards and kayaks; park and marine-park fees are additional and confirmed live.
The dry season, May to August, is the window for the Flores arc, with calmest north-coast conditions; peak demand is July-August, while May-June and September-October are quieter shoulder months. The December-to-March rainy season can bring thunderstorms and is not advised for the long eastern leg.
How booking works
- Message the concierge on WhatsApp 628113823875 with your dates, party size, and whether you want the full arc or Komodo-plus-Riung only.
- Receive a route draft with a per-day plan, the recommended vessel, and a per-boat quote itemising fuel and estimated marine-park fees.
- Confirm the vessel and dates with a deposit handled directly by the Komodo Luxury reservations team.
- Finalise the itinerary four to six weeks out: cabin allocation, dietary notes for the chef, dive-day add-ons, and the eastern disembarkation point.
- Board at Komodo Airport (LBJ), a roughly 75-minute flight from Bali (DPS), and begin the arc.
Plan your Riung expedition
Riung is a planning problem before it is a sailing one, and this is where an expedition concierge earns its place. Meridian Flores charters are operated by Komodo Luxury, a Labuan Bajo operator founded in 2015, with bookings handled directly by its reservations team, not a call centre.
Ready to sail the full Flores arc? Message the concierge on WhatsApp 628113823875 or email sales@komodoluxury.com with your travel window. You will get a route draft and a per-boat quote, with all park and marine-park fees confirmed before you commit. As of 2026, all rates are USD, per vessel, and subject to change.
Looking to 2027, the picture gets stronger: superyacht-marina growth around Labuan Bajo and Benoa is opening longer, better-provisioned expeditions, and the east-Flores and Alor frontier is where the next wave of quota-free itineraries will run, beyond the Komodo permit crowds. Charter Riung now and you are early to the coast that the market is only starting to notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riung 17-Islands the same trip as a Komodo yacht charter?
No. Komodo National Park sits at Flores’ western tip near Labuan Bajo, while Riung is a separate marine park on the north coast, well to the east. Riung is added as an extra leg onto a Komodo-departure charter, not booked on its own, which is why full-arc programs run 10 to 15 days rather than the usual 4 to 7.
How many days do I need to include Riung on a charter?
Plan on at least 10 to 12 days to reach Riung comfortably from a Labuan Bajo departure, and about 15 days / 14 nights to close the full arc through Maumere Bay. The eastern coast is a repositioning cruise, so compressing it below 10 days means rushing the sail east and cutting your snorkel time at the 17 islands.
What is the best time of year for a Riung yacht charter?
The dry season, May to August, is best for the Flores north coast, with the calmest seas for the long eastern leg. July and August are peak; May-June and September-October are quieter shoulder months. Avoid December to March, when the rainy season can bring thunderstorms that make the exposed coastal passage uncomfortable.
What does the Riung leg include and what costs extra?
The crewed charter covers the yacht, captain and crew, a private chef, all meals and non-alcoholic drinks, fuel for the agreed route, snorkelling gear, and water toys. Costing extra are Komodo park permits and the Riung marine-park conservation fee, which are set by authorities, subject to change, and confirmed by the reservations team before you sail.
Can a modern motor or sailing yacht actually reach Riung?
Yes, and it is the recommended vessel. Meridian Flores runs the arc on crewed motor and sailing yachts, not phinisi or day boats, chosen for the fuel range and comfort the long eastern coastal passage demands. A typical multi-day yacht carries up to 12 guests across 5 cabins, with the captain routing around weather on the exposed north coast.