Four days, three nights: an incentive cruise through Komodo

Day three is where a fourth day earns its price. Gili Lawa Darat is a walk. Sebayur, the larger of the Sebayur islands near Flores, offers beaches and nearby reefs for a swim and snorkel, and sits roughly an hour and a half to two hours by boat from Labuan Bajo. Kanawa, a small island with white sand and shallow reefs, is an easy snorkel after the walk.

None of the three is a ranger-guided dragon walk on this route, which makes day three the softest day for guests who found Padar demanding. For a company group it is also the day with the most unscheduled time: a long swim, a beach, an evening on deck. Leave it unscheduled on purpose, and use the dining table at dinner for the awards or the speeches.

Dinner is on board, and the group sleeps aboard.

The last morning has two stops: a swim and snorkel at Bidadari, and Rangko Cave. The captain's plan for each stop is confirmed in writing before you pay.

The return time on the last day is confirmed in writing; book flights only after that confirmation. Day four is the day that ends on the quay: luggage off the boat, the manifest closed, extras settled and crew tips handed over by the PIC if the group chooses. Arrive in Labuan Bajo one day before sailing to avoid cancelled or delayed flights.

Plan the flight home with a margin. A team that sails four days should not run for a connection, and a booking made before the written return time is a booking you may have to change.

A fourth day adds one night and four stops that the 3D2N route lacks, while the printed route drops Taka Makassar. Priced per boat, the 4D3N rate is IDR 95,000,000 · about USD 5,828 on both Zada Mega and Zada Zen, against IDR 85,000,000 · about USD 5,215 for 3D2N. On Zada Ulla's first band the step is from IDR 95,000,000 · about USD 5,828 to IDR 105,000,000 · about USD 6,442. On Zada Nara it is from IDR 105,000,000 · about USD 6,442 to IDR 160,000,000 · about USD 9,816, a far larger step than on the other three boats.

At 20 guests Zada Ulla costs IDR 5,750,000 · about USD 353 per person, the lowest figure in the table. 2026 rates, IDR, per boat, guide and documentation extra. Park fees, flights and the hotel before boarding are paid by you.

A split pickup in the middle of the route is arranged on request only. The boat sails one route with one manifest. If three people must leave on day three, ask us before the quote, and we say in writing what is possible and what it costs; do not promise your staff an early exit.

There are two alternatives. Book 3D2N for the whole group and accept that Gili Lawa Darat, Sebayur and Bidadari are out. Or book 4D3N for the people who can stay, and a separate, shorter booking for the rest on a free date.

The point of an incentive cruise is that the whole group is on it. If half the list cannot spare four working days, the answer is usually the three-day page, not a clever exit.

Producer's checklist, four-day edition.

• Leave approvals signed for every participant, with the sailing dates and the arrival day before.
• The manifest: names exactly as on the passport or ID, sent before the cut-off in the quote.
• The dietary and medical list, including allergies, halal needs and anyone who gets seasick.
• The rooming list, with each pair named; the bed set-up for each pair is confirmed with the rooming list, in writing, before you pay.
• A named PIC on board and a named contact at the office, with phone numbers shared with us.
• Travel insurance, which is recommended for every guest.

Send them together in one message rather than in six. The producer on your file checks the set against the quote and returns what is missing.