Indonesia: Flores highlights roundtrip

The 'flower' of the Lesser Sunda Islands

About this tour

A beautiful rugged landscape, filled with volcanoes, green jungle and rice terraces, inhabited by a friendly, predominantly Catholic population. Malaysians used to call the island Tandjoeng Boenga, cape of flowers, because of all the flowers that covered the island. The Portuguese have literally adopted this as Cabo das Flores. Later the island was named 'Flores' by the Dutch. 

What will you do

During this trip you will climb the Kelimutu volcano with its three coloured lakes. You will visit different population groups in their authentic villages. Furthermore you will pass the spider web rice fields and visit the island of the giant komodo dragon.

Where

Flores lies in the east side of Indonesia above Sumba and under Sulawesi. The small fishing town on the west, Labuan Bajo, is the gateway to visiting the komodo dragon. Flores is a stretch of the vulcano series of Sumatra and Java and contains 14 active volcanoes.

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrival in Maumere, Flores | From the airport will be brought to the hotel on the beach. After check-in you can take a refreshing dip in the sea. The view is incredible during sunset.

Day 2

Maumere - Moni | From Maumere you travel by car to Moni. This is a small village in the mountains and the basis for a trip to the Kelimutu volcano. Along the way you can visit the church of more than a hundred years old in Sikka and also stop at an old community house in Jopu. In Moni you will sleep in an eco-hotel, in the middle of the rice fields.

Day 3

Moni - Kelimutu - Bajawa | An early start with the car will make sure you are in time for the sunrise on the Kelimutu volcano. The hike to the summit takes about 30 minutes. A local guide will take you to this point. From the top you have a view of the three different colored crater lakes of the Kelimutu. After sunrise you return to Moni. On the way it is possible to make a 1,5 hour walk with your guide. You walk down past villages and plantations. From Moni you travel on to Bajawa. Mountains and coast alternate during this beautiful ride. In the small town of Bajawa you stay in a cosy, but simple hotel.

Day 4

Bajawa | You are in the middle of the Ngada area. This traditional population group maintains ancestor worship and this is still clearly visible in some authentic villages. During a simple half-day walk in the mountains near Bajawa, accompanied by a local guide, you will pass through several of these villages, including the famous Bena. Along the way you will have spectacular views. After the walk you can immerse yourself in the hot springs of Soa.

Day 5

Bajawa - Ruteng | Today you drive through the mountains again, on your way to the market town of Ruteng. On the way you stop in Aimere. Here you can see how arrack (palm wine) is fired. Just before Ruteng you pass the Rana Mise crater lake and some spectacular rice field terraces. Ruteng is situated at 1200 meters altitude, which makes it rather cool. The city is the centre of the Manggerai area. If there is time, visit the lively and colourful local market. You will spend the night in Ruteng in a pleasant hotel on the edge of the city centre.

Day 6

Ruteng - Labuan Bajo | In the morning you can make an easy walk with a local guide of about 2 hours through the rice fields near the city. After that you will leave for a last, mountainous drive through the west of Flores, on your way to Labuan Bajo. On the way you stop at a viewpoint to see the famous 'spiderweb-sawahs'. Finally you arrive in the relaxed coastal town of Labuan Bajo. This is the starting point for a trip to Komodo National Park. This evening you will sleep in a fine middle class hotel on the beach.

Day 7

Day trip to Rinca, part of Komodo National Park | At 6 am you will depart with your private boat and an English speaking local guide for the trip to the island of Rinca, part of Komodo National Park. The crossing takes about 2 hours. Together with a park ranger you can choose which walk you want to take. After the visit lunch is prepared on board and you sail to an island to snorkel or relax on the beach. At the end of the day you sail back to Labuan Bajo and you will be brought back to your hotel.

Day 8

Transfer to the airport | The journey ends today with a transfer to the airport.

Additional info

Entrance to the national park and costs of the ranger are not included. Bring your own snorkel gear or rent some in Labuan Bajo.