A Dream Trip to Komodo Turned Into a Nightmare with Local Guides
Komodo Boat Tour on Zahra (August 2025)
Our Komodo boat trip with Local Guides on Zahra was meant to be the highlight of our journey. Instead, it became one of the most stressful and disappointing travel experiences we’ve ever had.
I saw from the Local guide that he had insisted and encouraged me to book before the boat sold out. Unfortunately, he has no understanding of his clients, and there is a massive gap between what he offers you and what his people in Indonesia can offer you. We were four adults and five kids aged 12–14.
What went well:
1. Our guide, Francisco , did his very best under challenging circumstances. It was his first time on this boat, and he had no authority over the crew, who openly dismissed him as “too young.”
2. The snorkelling sites were beautiful, and the food—though limited—was generally good.
What went wrong:
1. Safety: The engine broke down multiple times in the first two days, yet no one explained what was happening to us. On the first night, we had to stop along the way to our destination because the boat could not continue. On our last night, we ran aground on a reef, and the captain didn't notice until 3 hours later, so we had to move when it was late at night.
2. Boat conditions:
Three of the five cabins were nearly unusable. Bathrooms had no hot water; one toilet never worked despite multiple requests; showers often had no running water. The boat had no independent battery, so the old generator ran day and night, creating unbearable noise and fumes—especially near our cabin, where it was impossible to sleep. We eventually had to sleep outside on deck.
3. Hygiene:
The boat was filthy. We had to ask for basic cleaning, but only Francisco understood the issue—he could do little more than pour water on the deck. Every morning we found animal droppings in the cabins and bathrooms. Cockroaches were everywhere, and rats gnawed through fruit in the dining area. The room itself was dirty and cramped, with sealed windows and a leaking fridge that smelled of spoiled milk. Rusted metal speakers on deck even caused minor cuts to our children.
4. Food:
For the first three days, we were told that limited portions were all that had been planned and purchased for us. Only on the last day did “extra food” appear. Fresh fruit was scarce and had to be requested each time. Meals were mainly tofu, with minimal meat, fish, or rice—completely inadequate for a group of nine, including five teenagers spending hours swimming and snorkelling. The crew seemed to have consumed part of our provisions, and there was no way to buy more food.
5. Crew and management:
The crew ignored Francisco and admitted it was their first time working together. They had no understanding of basic safety or hygiene standards. The engine broke down several times, leaving us stranded mid-route with no explanation of what was happening.
6. Sustainability and cultural value:
We had chosen Local Guides believing in their promise of responsible, authentic travel. Instead, we found ourselves among dozens of boats crammed into the same small bays, with hundreds of tourists trampling coral reefs and no education or cultural context provided. This was the opposite of sustainable tourism.
7. Price and communication
We booked Zahra because Local Guides strongly recommended it as the best quality–price option. In reality, it cost 50 million IDR and offered conditions worse than those of budget operators.
When we reached out to Sal for help, he told us to contact the local guide in charge. Unfortunately, she was sick from day one and referred us to someone else who knew nothing about our trip.
Even worse, I had invited another family to join us, making this experience not only disappointing but also deeply embarrassing.
Conclusion:
I cannot recommend Local Guides for Komodo tours. Despite their promises, what we received was an overpriced, unhygienic, and poorly managed experience that turned what should have been a once-in-a-lifetime trip into a frustrating ordeal.
The saddest part is that the Local Guide, whom I trusted to organise our family trip, recognised the problems but claimed they were “out of their control” and did nothing to improve the situation.