King Cirox 2
King Cirox 2 Phinisi
Kanawa Island snorkelling: shallow reef on the way home, on King Cirox 2's longer charters
Updated 11 October 2026
Kanawa is a small island with white-sand beaches and shallow coral at 1 to 6 metres in a mild current, an easy first snorkel 1 to 1.5 hours from Labuan Bajo. On King Cirox 2 Phinisi it is a charter stop: day three of the 3D2N charter, day four of the 4D3N and 5D4N. The open trip does not call there.
Easy water, busy months
Kanawa's reef starts in water you can stand in and runs to about 6 metres, with a mild current. That makes it one of the easiest snorkels in the area: a good place for a first swim with a mask, for children in life jackets, or for anyone who found the deeper sites hard going. Allow 45 to 90 minutes.
It is not a quiet island in the high season. Kanawa sits close to Labuan Bajo and is popular with day trips, so in July and August you share the beach and the reef with other boats. Outside those months it is calmer.
Above the water there are white-sand beaches. Below it, fins help even in shallow water, and the boat carries none: pack your own, or pick up a rental pair in town before the trip. If you can avoid July and August, the table below shows why.
Which charters stop here
Three routes on King Cirox 2 include Kanawa, and all three are whole-boat charters.
- 3D2N charter: day three, after Sebayur, then back to Labuan Bajo.
- 4D3N: day four, followed by Seture and the harbour.
- 5D4N: day four, with Senator and Sabolon.
The 3D2N open trip has a different day three: Seture, then Labuan Bajo between 10:00 and 11:00. So a Kanawa snorkel means booking the whole boat. In the smallest band that is IDR 47,500,000 (≈ USD 2,914) for the 3D2N, IDR 58,500,000 (≈ USD 3,589) for the 4D3N and IDR 65,500,000 (≈ USD 4,018) for the 5D4N. Larger groups move into the six-to-ten and eleven-to-fifteen bands.
From Kanawa to the harbour is 60 to 90 minutes, so it works as a last swim before you go ashore. The route block below shows where Kanawa falls on the 4D3N.
Day 1
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Labuan Bajo — Hotel / airport pickup to harbour | — | soft bag, not a hard suitcase |
| · | Kelor Island trek (hill with a 360° view) | 50–70 min | sturdy shoes |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Snorkelling at Manjarite (long wooden pier) | 30–60 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Sunset at Kalong Island, fruit bats | 50–70 min | camera charged |
| · | Dinner | — | |
| 🌙 | Night on board: at anchor or under way, as the weather and the captain decide that day. | ||
Day 2
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Breakfast aboard | — | |
| · | Padar Island trek | — | sturdy shoes, hat |
| · | Komodo Island trek | 60–90 min | |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Snorkelling at Pink Beach | 30–60 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Dinner | — | |
| 🌙 | Night on board: at anchor or under way, as the weather and the captain decide that day. | ||
Day 3
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Breakfast aboard | — | |
| · | Gili Lawa Island trek | — | sturdy shoes, hat |
| · | Snorkelling at Manta Point Tide | 60–120 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Lunch | — | |
| · | Taka Makassar sandbar and snorkelling Tide | 20–30 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Siaba Island | 60–90 min | |
| · | Dinner | — | |
| 🌙 | Night on board: at anchor or under way, as the weather and the captain decide that day. | ||
Day 4
| What happens | Sailing from previous stop | Have ready | |
|---|---|---|---|
| · | Breakfast aboard | — | |
| · | Snorkelling at Kanawa | — | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Seture Island | 30–60 min | reef-safe sunscreen |
| · | Back in Labuan Bajo, drop-off | 30–90 min |
Tide and wind decide whether these stops trade places: Manta Point ⇄ Taka Makassar.
Treat the times as planning figures, not a timetable; the sea sets the real ones. The pickup is the one time we hold ourselves to.
The last swim
On all three routes that include it, Kanawa is a final-day stop. That shapes how you pack. By the morning you reach Kanawa your bag should be closed except for a swimsuit, a towel and a dry layer, so the stop does not end in a rush.
Reef-safe sunscreen still goes on, because the reef is shallow and you float close above it. Afterwards the black rain showers in the private bathrooms take the salt off before the run to the harbour. A rash vest is better than sunscreen on your back. If you have a flight to catch, book it after 14:00 on the last day, as the boat's logistics notes advise.
A charter does not include the guide or the photo and video crew; both can be booked as paid extras, while the open trip includes them. If you want the last swim filmed, say so when you book. The compass below shows the next departures and prices.
Open trips sail every Monday and Friday, except dates held by a private charter.
FAQ
Is Kanawa on the open trip?
No. The open trip's day three goes to Seture. Kanawa is on the charter routes only.
Is Kanawa a good place for a first snorkel?
Yes. The coral starts very shallow and reaches about 6 metres, and the current is mild.
How long is the run from Labuan Bajo to Kanawa?
About 1 to 1.5 hours by boat. It is popular with day trips, and busiest in July and August.
Can I see Kanawa on a 4D3N charter with my family?
Yes. The 4D3N route reaches Kanawa on day four, then Seture, before returning to Labuan Bajo. A family of up to five pays IDR 58,500,000 (≈ USD 3,589) for the whole boat; six to ten guests pay IDR 63,750,000 (≈ USD 3,911). Children under 3 travel free. The reef here is shallow, which suits children who can already swim. Bring fins in children's sizes, because none are carried. There are life jackets aboard, but their sizes are not listed, so bring a child's jacket if yours is small.
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