Kalong Island gave us something totally different than our time spent on Rinca and Kelor. Stillness. Sunset symphonies. A sky so full of bats it felt like a movie. And for the first time, I truly understood how special it was to be sleeping out on the water, with nothing but wood beneath me and stars overhead.
By the way, welcome to Day 2 of my Komodo liveaboard adventure.
Disclosure: If you use an affiliate link in this post to make a purchase, I may earn a commission that helps me continue providing travel and lifestyle hacks at absolutely no cost to you. Thanks for your support!
Slow Sailing, Salt Air
We started the day sailing past quiet coastlines with mugs of hot tea in hand. The phinisi glided through the sea, past tiny island after tiny island. I remember thinking I’d never seen so many islands in all my life. It was unbelievably beautiful!
I spent most of the afternoon on the deck, barefoot, reading, napping, watching the crew prep lunch (and honestly, drooling a little because it smelled amazing). The movement of the boat, the breeze, the steady creak of the sails. It was the kind of stillness you don’t know you need until you have it.
Pro tip: Pack motion sickness relief… just in case.
Kalong Island: Thousands of Bats, One Perfect Sunset
There are moments in travel that feel like they’re happening in slow motion. Kalong Island at dusk was one of them. Kalong, which literally means “bat” in Indonesian, is uninhabited and covered in mangroves. Locals consider the island off-limits, and boats keep a respectful distance, which only adds to the magic.
We reached Kalong Island just before sunset. The island was dense and dark, and it held a wild secret. Anchored right offshore in the Indian Ocean, our wooden phinisi gently rocked as the sun dipped behind the horizon.
Then, as if on cue, I could hear a faint rustling in the trees. And suddenly… bats. One by one, then in waves, thousands of flying foxes, giant fruit bats, took to the sky. It went on for minutes. Then ten. Then twenty.
It was like watching a living ribbon unravel across the sky. The bats flew in a steady stream overhead, heading toward Flores to feed. They weren’t just silhouettes. They were massive and graceful. Their eerily quiet, high-pitched squeaks were almost inaudible. We were all in an awestruck silence. The only thing louder was the soft creak of the boat.
I was stretched out on the bow of our phinisi, wrapped in a cozy cardigan, barefoot and salty-haired, watching this natural phenomenon unfold above me. No Wi-Fi, no distractions, just the rhythm of nature doing its thing.
It felt like the world had paused to let us witness something ancient and sacred. My eyes wide in wonder and disbelief.
Pro tip: Bring a light jacket or sarong for the breeze, and a low-light camera if you want to try capturing the bats in flight. But honestly? This is one of those moments best experienced with your eyes, not your lens.
Nightfall on the Water
That night, I took the blanket from my room up to the bow of the boat. Perfectly content, I nestled in my blanket fort and admired the night sky. But… I accidentally fell asleep.
Just before light the next morning, the crew came to pull the anchor up. The steel chain woke me as it rubbed against the wood on the way up from the ocean floor. I popped up immediately, scaring the bejeezies out of them. Wrapped up in my fluffy white blanket, I floated in the dark across the deck towards my room. Giggling and whispering apologies the whole way.
What to Pack for Kelong Island
- Sarong or light blanket for nighttime breezes
- Bug spray just in case (though we barely needed it)
- Portable power bank for phones + cameras
Want to plan your own Komodo trip? Start with my full packing guide and how to choose a liveaboard.
Plan Your Own Komodo Trip
Download my FREE Komodo Liveaboard Travel Guide!
- International Travel Checklist
- Komodo Packing List
- 5-day Komodo Liveaboard Itinerary
- Clickable Links
Next up: Day 3 – Padar Island Sunrise & Pink Beach Snorkeling
Or revisit the full Komodo Liveaboard journey to catch every post.
