Raffles Cruise
Raffles Cruise
Kalong: sunset on the water, with the flying foxes overhead
Updated 24 October 2026
When do the bats leave Kalong island? A quarter of an hour after sunset, in a stream that runs for about 30 minutes; July sunset is 17:57. Raffles Cruise watches from the deck on evening one of the 2D1N and the 4D3N, and on evening two of the 3D2N.
Kalong on each sailing
Shoes stay on the deck. The boat is in place before the light goes. Nobody lands. Dinner is served on board afterwards.
On the 2-day trip Kalong closes day one, after the Kelor walk, lunch, the Manjarite snorkel and a snack. On the 4-day trip it closes day one too, after the Manjarite snorkel, lunch, the Kelor walk and a snack. The 3-day trip saves it for the close of day two, once Padar, Pink Beach, Komodo and Pimpe are done.
The full day does not reach it. The captain sets the timing so the boat is there before sunset, and where the boat spends the night afterwards depends on the weather and on his decision that day.
What the bats do at dusk
Between Komodo and Rinca sits Kalong, a mangrove islet where flying foxes roost by the thousand. Fifteen minutes after sunset they rise out of the mangroves and string across the sky in one long line for about half an hour. Arrive early. A guest who comes on deck at the first sign of the stream has missed the start.
The table gives sunset for every month, computed for the islet, and it falls between 17:35 and 18:55 depending on the month. In July it is 17:57. Cloud and the sea change the show, and no evening is promised in advance.
| Month | Sunset | Bats fly from about |
|---|---|---|
| January | 18:27 | 18:42 |
| February | 18:26 | 18:41 |
| March | 18:15 | 18:30 |
| April | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| May | 17:49 | 18:04 |
| June | 17:50 | 18:05 |
| July | 17:57 | 18:12 |
| August | 18:00 | 18:15 |
| September | 17:58 | 18:13 |
| October | 17:55 | 18:10 |
| November | 18:01 | 18:16 |
| December | 18:14 | 18:29 |
Computed for the location and accurate to a few minutes.
Photo taken on a Komodo Explorer trip · 5 photos
Watching from the deck
Kalong is not a landing stop, so the show is watched from the boat. Stand on the deck with your back to the last light, and look towards the mangroves. The sky does the work. Bring a long lens and a charged battery if you have them. A phone still records the stream against the sky.
Dusk is also the hour the mosquitoes arrive on any coast, and the bring list names sunblock and personal medicines, not repellent. Pack your own.
Kalong is one of the busy stops in July, August and December, so expect other boats on the water. The crew keeps the boat clear of the roost.
Dinner afterwards
Dinner follows on board on all three routes that reach Kalong. The menu is the crew's, so this page names no dish. Three meals are served daily. Afternoon coffee or tea comes with a snack, and soft drinks are on the boat throughout.
Alcohol is yours to bring. Alcohol is not included, and you can bring your own.
After dinner on the 2-day and 4-day trips comes the Padar sunrise walk the next morning, which is why the night is short. Park entry is bought apart from the fare: IDR 250,000 for foreigners, IDR 50,000 for Indonesian citizens on weekdays.
FAQ
What time do the bats leave Kalong?
A quarter of an hour after sunset, and the stream runs about 30 minutes. Across the year sunset moves between 17:35 and 18:55, and July's is 17:57. Be on deck early.
Are bats there every evening?
Flying foxes roost in the mangroves by the thousand and fly out at dusk. We cannot promise any one evening. Cloud, the sea and the captain's position decide what you see, and the crew keeps the boat clear of the roost.
Can I see them from the boat?
Yes, and that is the only way. Kalong is not a landing stop, so the show is watched from the deck at dusk. A long lens helps, though a phone is enough for the stream.
Is there a fee?
Park ticket: IDR 250,000 if you are a foreign visitor, IDR 50,000 if you are an Indonesian citizen travelling on a weekday. The fare excludes it. We list no separate charge for watching from the boat. Ranger and pier charges come on top where they apply.
Check availability — Raffles Cruise
Raffles Cruise is booked through PT Komodo Explorer Indonesia. We arrange the pickup, take the payment and keep your booking in order. The boat sails with its own crew of 8.