Soe Besar Vanrei
Soe Besar Vanrei Phinisi
A small island and an easy first reef
Updated 8 November 2026
Kanawa island snorkel is a day-three stop on the Soe Besar Vanrei 3D2N, as the alternative to Sebayur, and on the 4D3N. It is a small island west of Rinca with white sand and shallow coral, 60 to 90 minutes from Labuan Bajo. Easy water suits every age.
Kanawa in numbers
Day 3, Kanawa: white sand, shallow coral, an easy first snorkel.
Kanawa is a small island west of Rinca, 60 to 90 minutes by boat from Labuan Bajo. The snorkel runs 45 to 90 minutes, the water is 1 to 6 m deep, the current is mild and the effort is easy. The coral is shallow, and for a beginner it is a gentle first reef.
On the 3D2N it is the alternative to Sebayur on day three. On the 4D3N it opens day three, before Gili Lawa and Sebayur. The 2D1N does not reach it. It is not a promised stop on the 3D2N, because the choice with Sebayur is agreed with the captain.
Kanawa is not a fixed stop on the 3D2N.
Snorkel and sand on a small island
The beach is white sand and the reef sits close to it. A child can float in water that reaches the chest and see coral below. A grandparent can sit on the sand, or wade and watch.
Kanawa is popular with day trips from Labuan Bajo, so it can be busy in high season, in July and August. Morning light is softer, and an early landing meets fewer other boats.
- Effort: easy.
- Who can stay aboard: anyone.
- Shade: not documented ashore; bring a hat.
Kayaks and stand-up paddle boards are on the boat. On a calm morning they are the best way for a teenager to cover the shore, while a parent stays with the smaller children in the shallows.
Kanawa versus Sebayur at the captain's discretion
Kanawa and Sebayur ask for the same kind of morning, with a few differences that matter to a family. Kanawa is the shorter ride, at 60 to 90 minutes, and the shallower reef, at 1 to 6 m. It is also the busier island in high season. Sebayur is further and deeper.
If the sea is rough, the shorter ride is the kinder one, and the captain may choose it for that reason alone. If the party wants a larger beach, the captain may lean the other way. In both cases the choice is made on the day, and we tell you what was chosen.
Caveat: the choice belongs to the captain, with the weather and the sea in view.
Where Kanawa falls on day three of four
On the 4D3N, day three starts with Kanawa, goes on to Gili Lawa for a walk, and ends at Sebayur for a snorkel. Day four then visits Bidadari and returns to Labuan Bajo. This is an example route, and the final order is agreed with the captain.
The slower pace is the point. Three stops on day three leave time between them for lunch, a rest and a nap in the cabin, which is how a party with grandparents and small children keeps the whole day cheerful.
Gili Lawa has no page of its own. It is a walk, and it is the one stop on day three that asks for legs.
FAQ
Is Kanawa on the three-day trip?
It is one of two options for day three of the 3D2N, with Sebayur, and the captain agrees which. It is not a promised stop on that route. On the 4D3N, Kanawa is the first stop of day three.
Is Kanawa good for a first snorkel with children?
Yes. The reef is shallow, at 1 to 6 m, the current is mild and the sand is white. A child should wear a vest and stay with an adult. In July and August, expect other boats and go early in the morning.
How long is the boat ride to Kanawa?
About 60 to 90 minutes from Labuan Bajo, the shorter of the two day-three options. We do not print exact sailing times, because the sea sets them on the day, and we confirm the plan in writing.
Check availability — Soe Besar Vanrei
Bookings for Soe Besar Vanrei run through the Komodo Explorer team in Labuan Bajo. We plan the voyage, take payment and answer in writing before you board; the boat keeps its own captain and crew.