Spectacular Flores And Komodo

📍 Ende – Moni (60 km): 2 hours

Upon arrival at Ende Airport, be welcomed by a local guide and receive a transfer to Moni, in the east of Ende.

Recommended flights (Not included and quoted separately– Tariffs and schedule subject to change without prior notice): Garuda Indonesia from Denpasar (Bali) to Ende GA7026, departing at 07:30 and arriving at 09:05 or GA7036 / GA7028 departing in DPS at 11:00 / 14:20 and arriving in LBJ at 12:35 / 15:55.

Check-in at the hotel in Moni and spend the rest of the day at leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Overnight in Moni.

Inclusions:

🍗 Dinner

📍 Moni – Kelimutu (15km): 30 to 45 minutes each way Moni – Ende (60km): 2 hours Ende – Blue Stone Beach - Bajawa (125km): 4 hours

After an early wake-up call around 04:00, proceed to the mysterious Mount Kelimutu to discover the most amazing natural phenomenon in Flores. Kelimutu consists of three unique lakes that are uniquely coloured from brilliant aquamarine, to ochre red and chocolate brown. Over the years, the three crater lakes have often changed colors. While a scientific reason for the color change is due to varying mineral content, local people still strongly believe that the three lakes are gathering places of ancestral spirits, each color being related to a different karma.

Note: Easy access with a 30-minute walk from the parking area of the Kelimutu National Park.

Drive back to the hotel in Moni for breakfast and then take some time for changing and packing.

After checking out, drive back to Ende where the former President Soekarno was exiled by the Dutch from 1934-1938. Stop on the way for a visit to Nduria’s bustling fruit and vegetable market and Saga, a traditional Lionese village.

Lunch at a local restaurant in Ende.

After lunch, drive to Bajawa in the afternoon -a small and quiet town surrounded by mountains in the middle of Flores. Along the way, enjoy scenic views over the southern coast of Flores and its beautiful mountainous landscapes dotted with macadamia nuts trees. Stop on the way for a walk along the unique blue pebble beach near Nagapanda.

Late in the afternoon, visit a traditional Ngada village while stopping at Wogo. The village hosts impressive ancestral stones as well as the typical Ngadhu and Bhaga shrines representing the clan’s ancestors. 

Upon arrival in Bajawa, check in to the hotel

Dinner this evening will be served at the hotel or at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Bajawa.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Bajawa – Belaragi (40 km): 90 minutes of drive + 90 minutes of trekking

In the morning, explore the unique Ngada culture with a half-day excursion around Bajawa.

After visiting a bamboo plantation, stop for some very scenic views over Mount Inarie, one of the highest volcanoes in Flores (2,245 m) which is well-known for its beautiful conic shape.

Continue to Luba, a traditional Ngada village.

From here, take a short 15-minutes walk to Bena, the most impressive of all Ngada villages and one of the most beautiful traditional villages in Indonesia.

Built at the foot of Mount Inarie, Bena Village consists of two parallel rows of traditional high thatch-roofed houses. In the centre of the village there ancestors shrines and megalithic formations meant to connect Ngada people with the supernatural realm and to communicate with ancestors via animal sacrifice.

Return to Bajawa for lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue to the west and proceed to Paukate, the starting point of a one-hour hike among the dry savannah with beautiful views over the Sawu Sea.

Note: some part of the hike can be quite steep and good trekking shoes are necessary. If someone has difficulty walking, a ride by motorbike can be arranged locally (with a small tip to driver).

After one hour, arrive in Belaragi, a very traditional Ngada village founded in the 16th century. Enjoy the warm hospitality of its clan and the unique opportunity to spend the night in a traditional house.

Before dinner with the local people, participate to a unique welcome ceremony held for asking the protection of the village ancestors. The ceremony will take 30 minutes and be led by the village elder. He will say some words in their local language as a symbol of their admission for guests. Betel nuts will be given to try, and a chicken will be sacrificed and later eaten. The food will be prepared by the hosts of the house.

Overnight in a basic traditional homestay in Belaragi Village.

Note:  Accommodation at the village is very basic and there is no electricity (only oil lamps). A small mattress, a blanket and a pillow are provided to each guest. We recommend for guests to bring their own mosquito net and bedsheet. There is no private toilet or bathroom in the local houses but only one shared basic toilet and a traditional mandi shower available in the all village – porters will bring bottled mineral water.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 1 hour trek down from Belaragi to Paukate Paukate- Aimere - Mborong - Ruteng (100 km): 4 hours

Enjoy the peaceful early morning atmosphere of Belaragi and, after breakfast, start walking down to Paukete where the driver awaits.

Depart to Ruteng via Aimere.

Enjoy a refreshing swim in the Sawu Sea at a black sandy beach before reaching the coastal village of Aimere to visit a local arak factory and see how people make this typical alcoholic drink.

Leave the coast and proceed to the highlands towards the western district of Manggarai.

Lunch is served on the way in a local restaurant.  

After lunch, proceed with the journey and stop on the way for taking pictures of the picturesque emerald crater lake of Ranamese.

Arrive in Ruteng, capital of the Manggarai District and the largest rice-producing area of Flores as well as an important Indonesian coffee-producing area. Ruteng is located at around 1100m in elevation in the volcanic highlands and offers a cool climate.

Spend the night in a Catholic Convent. Dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Ruteng.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Ruteng – Labuan Bajo (132 km): 4 hours 30 minutes

After an early breakfast at the convent, visit the old Ruteng Pu’u, one of the rare Manggarai villages that has kept traditional tall houses with their typical spiked roofs.

Leave Ruteng and proceed to Labuhan Bajo at the westernmost tip of Flores.

Stop en route in the countryside of Cancar Village. Here, a short 20-minute walk along stairs leads to the top of a hill to a viewpoint offering amazing views over a number of lingko fields.  With the round, spider-web structure, these unique rice-fields are not only spectacularly beautiful, but they’re also specific to the Manggarai people: the central point is used for ceremonies celebrating the unity of the male and female and heaven and earth.

Arrive in Labuan Bajo in the afternoon and enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the beautiful bay of Labuan Bajo and its charming harbour

Check-in at the hotel mid-afternoon.

The remainder of the day is free at leisure to relax by the pool. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Overnight in Labuan Bajo.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Pick-up time (approximately): Standard & First Class Hotel (by car): 05:00 Superior Hotel (by boat): 05:30 Drop-Off time (approximately): 18:00*Pick-up time (approximately): Standard & First Class Hotel (by car): 07:00 Superior Hotel (by boat): 07:30 Drop-Off time (approximately): 18:00*Pick-up time (approximately): Standard & First Class Hotel (by car): 06:45 Superior Hotel (by boat): 07:00 Drop-Off time (approximately): 18:00*Distance and journey time: Hotel – Labuan Bajo Harbour (3 km): 10 minutes

Awake early in the morning for a full-day boat trip to Komodo National Park. It was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon, the world's largest lizard, and also became a protected marine habitat due to the unusually high levels of biodiversity in the coral reefs that surround the island. Because of its unique stature as a center for wildlife, Komodo National Park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Boat-Trip Version 1 (default): Rinca – Komodo – Pink Beach

It’s time to live out those travel dreams on a full-day excursion through Komodo National Park with visits to the dragons of Rinca and Komodo Island and a snorkelling excursion to the world-famous Pink Beach.

Notes:

This is a long day on a basic local boat.

*Cruising times give guidance only as this can be influenced by local weather and ocean conditions such as winds, currents and tides - the order of visits can be modified on site by the captain depending on the cruising conditions on the day of the cruise. The hiking time and / or snorkeling may be shortened depending on these cruising conditions.

Board a local motorized boat to Rinca, a small island near Komodo. The island is famous for its population of Komodo dragons as well as wild pigs, buffalos and birds. Go ashore and see these magnificent lizards in their natural environment.

Continue to Komodo Island while enjoying lunch on the boat. On the island, take a trek to Banunggulung, a river bed where dragons used to be fed fresh goats. The trek goes through spectacular scenery and many unusual plants and animals can be seen along the way.  Before leaving Komodo, take a swim or go snorkelling at Pink Beach. This pristine cove has incredibly clear water and an abundance of coral and sea life that some say make it among the best places in the world for snorkelling.

Return to Labuan Bajo by boat and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant or the hotel before settling down for the evening.

Boat-Trip Version 2 (price deduction applies): Rinca – Kanawa Island – Bidadari Island

This is a shorter and more comfortable version to experience Komodo National Park. The visit to see dragons is made on Rinca Island. There’s an opportunity to go snorkeling at the beautiful Kanawa Island and Bidadari Island

Notes:

This excursion is arranged on a basic local boat.

*Cruising times give guidance only as this can be influenced by local weather and ocean conditions such as winds, currents and tides - the order of visits can be modified on site by the captain depending on the cruising conditions on the day of the cruise. The hiking time and / or snorkeling may be shortened depending on these cruising conditions.

Board a private local boat and depart to Rinca Island. Arrive in Loh Buaya Bay and register at Komodo National Park Office. Smaller than Komodo, and mostly covered with savanna, it is easy to observe the dragons and other animals such as wild deer, water buffaloes, monkeys, boars and horses on a short, 1½ trek under the guidance of a local park ranger.

Afterwards, return to the boat and, while cruising to Kanawa Island, enjoy a simple but filling lunch. Upon arrival at Kanawa Island set the snorkeling gear and get ready for an incredible snorkeling adventure at one of the island’s beautiful reefs.

Continue to nearby island of Bidadari for another snorkeling opportunity which offer wider reef and marine life.

In the afternoon return to the boat and cruise back to Labuan Bajo.

Boat-Trip Version 3 (surcharge applies): Rinca – Padar – Komodo – Kanawa Island

This speedboat excursion allows one to maximize the use of time in Komodo National Park, visiting many points of interest and viewpoints within the park in the relatively short amount of time.

Notes:

This excursion is arranged with a speed boat and allows for a greater coverage and more comfort.

*Cruising times give guidance only as this can be influenced by local weather and ocean conditions such as winds, currents and tides - the order of visits can be modified on site by the captain depending on the cruising conditions on the day of the cruise. The hiking time and / or snorkeling may be shortened depending on these cruising conditions.

Board a private local boat and depart to Rinca Island. Arrive in Loh Buaya Bay and register at Komodo National Park Office. Smaller than Komodo, and mostly covered with savanna, it is easy to observe the dragons and other animals such as wild deer, water buffaloes, monkeys, boars and horses on a short, one-and-a-half-hours trek under the guidance of a local park ranger.

Continue by boat to Padar Island. After a short trek, witness one of the area’s most spectacular panoramic viewpoints from atop one of the island’s tallest hills. For those looking to come home with photos to make all their friends jealous, this is one of the best opportunities to be had, as there are virtually unrivalled views of the surrounding ocean, islands, bays and hills. 

From Padar Island, continue to Komodo Island, arriving at the pier of Loh Liang. Komodo Island is the largest and most famous of all islands in Komodo National Park and covers 390 square-kilometers. It also has the largest community of Komodo dragons and many other animals such as wild horses, buffaloes and pigs. Set off for a 1½ hour trek under the guidance of a local park ranger who will explain all about the dragons and life on the islands. Pass by waterholes where animals drink and dragons watch their prey while enjoying endless views over the park.

Lunch will be served upon arrival back at the boat or, alternatively, prior to visiting Komodo Island. After returning to the boat, cruise further towards the island of Kanawa for snorkeling. Enjoy your time on the beautiful white sandy beach or in the water observing the colorful underwater world -there is a dazzling array of tropical fish and coral species here.

In the late afternoon cruise back to Labuan Bajo.

Overnight in Labuan Bajo.

Note: Depending on the condition of navigation, visit to the islands can be reverse.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Hotel – Labuan Bajo Airport (3 km): 10 minutes

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Labuan Bajo for the return flight to Denpasar on the island of Bali.

Recommended flights (Not included and quoted separately– Tariffs and schedule subject to change without prior notice): Garuda Indonesia from Labuan Bajo to Denpasar (Bali) GA7027, departing at 16:00 and arriving at 17:30.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast