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Written by Taylor Donlon
TA’AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo, is the resort that makes Labuan Bajo unmissable.
Labuan Bajo sits at the edge of Indonesia’s most dramatic landscape, a former fishing village turned luxury destination that serves as the gateway to UNESCO World Heritage-listed Komodo National Park. Ten minutes from the airport, TA’AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo, opened in 2024 as the first Marriott International property in the region and it was certainly worth the wait – here’s why.
The first glimpse of TA’AKTANA stops you in your tracks
Just ten minutes from Komodo International Airport, the first glimpse of TA’AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo, is enough to stop you mid-sentence. The name means “green land” in the Manggarai language – and standing here, looking out over 16 hectares of emerald hillside cascading toward the Flores Sea, it is hard to argue with that. Arriving by boat makes it even more dramatic – the villas stretching out above the water, the hills rising behind them, the whole thing looking like it was placed there deliberately by someone with very good taste.
Short direct flights connect Labuan Bajo to Bali and Jakarta, making this level of luxury more accessible than it looks. The transfer from airport to resort takes just ten minutes.
The grounds are as dramatic as the views
The grounds at TA’AKTANA are immaculate. Manicured gardens line the pathways between venues, punctuated by bursts of hibiscus, bougainvillea and heliconia in shades of red, purple and deep coral.
The open-air lobby frames the Flores Sea like a postcard. The architecture draws from the dialogue between two peoples, the Bajo sea nomads and the Manggarai land dwellers, whose union founded this town centuries ago. Geometric carvings, handcrafted textures and organic shapes run throughout the property, each one a reference to that founding story.
The resort’s first Olympic-sized pool in Labuan Bajo sits at the heart of the property, surrounded by sun loungers and sea views. A golf buggy ferries guests between venues. TA’AKTANA spreads across 16 hectares of hillside.
The overwater villas at TA’AKTANA rival the Maldives
Seven overwater villas sit above the Flores Sea on private decks, the water so clear beneath your feet that the coral garden below is visible without getting wet. Their number references the seven cone-roofed houses of Wae Rebo, a traditional village perched more than 1,200 metres up in the mountains of West Manggarai.
The villas echo that same architectural language at water level: circular floor plans, subtly curved roofs that taper like seashells, and 195 square metres of space dressed with vibrant textiles and uninterrupted sea views.
Think the Maldives, but with a living reef below, a fraction of the foot traffic, and a destination that has actual stories to tell. They’re the resort’s most romantic option, built for honeymooners and anyone with no particular agenda beyond sun, stars and open water. A short walk leads to the activity centre, where kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are available to paddle out over starfish, sea anemone, clownfish and the occasional hawksbill turtle.
The island hopping around Labuan Bajo is the best day of your trip
TA’AKTANA has its own jetty and three private boats on standby, and a day on the water with the resort’s island hopping experience is worth clearing your schedule for.
Padar Island is steeper than it looks, but the view from the second lookout earns every step. Jagged hilltops frame a crescent of white sand and a bay so still it barely registers as water. It’s just one of things to do when you visit Labuan Bajo.
Komodo Island is home to the world’s largest living lizards. The dragons roam freely across the island, and a village of 2,000 people has coexisted alongside them for generations. The local people understand these animals and their rhythms in ways that no guided tour can fully replicate.
The reef surrounding Turtle Point is thriving. Blacktip sharks, fish in colours that seem implausible and coral so abundant it feels almost designed. Green turtles are a near-certainty here – you might even catch one surfacing beside the boat before you’ve hit the water.
The restaurants at TA’AKTANA are worth the trip alone
The dining at TA’AKTANA spans six venues, each distinct but connected by the same instinct to cook with what Flores gives you. At Taba, the rooftop robata grill, the name translates to “fire” in Manggarai, and the kitchen takes that literally. Japanese grilling techniques meet the freshest catch from the Flores Sea, with fresh sashimi and charred seafood served alfresco with panoramic views of the water below.
Dishes at Umasa are served family-style, designed to be shared, and draw from across the Indonesian archipelago. The spice-forward cooking of Padang, the subtler balance of Javanese flavours, the seafood traditions of Sulawesi. The space itself references Wae Rana Beach, a historic trading point where merchants from across the islands once gathered.
MAIGA! Bar sits on the jetty above the Flores Sea, its name taken from the Manggarai word for “come drink.” Every cocktail ordered funds a reef restoration programme run by the resort’s in-house marine biologist. General Manager Peter-Paul Kleiss sums it up: “Luxury should be a catalyst for good.”
A villa designed around the hillside at TA’AKTANA
Space is the first thing you notice in the One Bedroom Villa. The lounge area sits in front of floor-to-ceiling views of the emerald hillside, and in the morning, a single switch draws back the blackout and sheer curtains to reveal the mountain. The terrace has a private plunge pool, and after a day on the water in Labuan Bajo heat, it earns its place.
The walk-in wardrobe has more space than most hotel rooms. The bathroom is generous enough that leaving it requires a conscious decision. Freestanding bath, double vanity, and enough square footage to move around without negotiating the furniture.
Villa guests have access to a dedicated 24-hour butler. In practice, this means a golf buggy appears when needed and requests are handled quietly and quickly. The level of service holds from check-in to checkout.
The spa at TA’AKTANA takes up two floors for good reason
The spa, Di’a, means “beautiful” in the local language, and the two-storey wellness centre lives up to it. Six treatment rooms inspired by the caves of Labuan Bajo, hot and cold plunge pools, a 24-hour gym and a spa menu built around regionally inspired rituals make it easy to lose an afternoon here.
The after-sun treatment is the one to book after a day on the water. A 60-minute neck and shoulder massage comes first, working through the tension that builds after a day of snorkelling and island hopping in the Labuan Bajo heat. Then comes the banana leaf wrap, with aloe vera and cucumber applied to soothe sun-exposed skin. The masseuse explained that banana leaf is a common ingredient in Indonesian healing traditions, used for its ability to draw out toxins.
The Bajo massage, drawing from the traditions of the sea nomads whose story runs through the whole resort, is worth adding to any stay of more than two nights. Book early. The treatment rooms fill up.
