Best of Flores

📍 Ende – Moni (60 km): 2 hours

Upon arrival at Ende Airport, a local EXO Travel guide will welcome and transfer the guests to Moni on 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

Dinner 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 at around 04:00, proceed to the mysterious Mount Kelimutu to discover the most amazing natural phenomenon in Flores. Kelimutu consists of three uniquely colored lakes from brilliant aquamarine, to ochre red and chocolate brown. Over the years, the 3 crater lakes have often changed colors. While a scientific reason for the color changes may be the varying mineral contents of the lakes, local people still strongly believe that the 3 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 time for changing and packing.

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

Lunch at a local restaurant in Ende.

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

Late in the afternoon, visit 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 local restaurant.

Overnight in Bajawa.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Bajawa – Ruteng (140 km): 5 hours

Breakfast at the hotelIn the morningfirst visit to a bamboo plantation with also some very scenic views over Mount Inerie. Continue to Luba, another traditional Ngada village and from here, take a 15-minute walk to Bena. It is the most impressive of all Ngada villages still with stone megaliths besides the ancient houses that overlook Mount Inerie.

Lunch at local restaurant.

Proceed to Ruteng in the afternoon. Stop enroute to visit local arak factory near Aimere and see how the people make this typical alcoholic drink. There will be the chance to get a snapshot of Ranamese Lake and rest in nearby black sandy beach.
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 around 1100m in the volcanic highlands and offer a cool climate.

Spend tonight in a Catholic Convent and dinner will be served at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Ruteng.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

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

After breakfast, start today’s excursion with a short visit to traditional village of Ruteng Pu’u. Continue to Cancar where a 20-minute hike to the hilltop is required for an overview of the unique lingko spiderweb rice fields. With their round, spider-web structure, these unique rice-fields are particular 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 harbor

Check in at the hotel in the mid-afternoon.

Remainder of the day is free at leisure to relax by the pool. Dinner will be served at 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*

Awake early this 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 became also a protected marine habitat for other species as part of the Coral Triangle containing some of the richest marine biodiversity on earth. Komodo National Park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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

This is a full day of exploration of the Komodo National park with visits to the dragons of Rinca and of  Komodo Island and a snorkeling excursion to 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, the river bed where the dragons used to be fed fresh goats. The trek goes through spectacular scenery and many unusual plants and animals can be seen.  Before leaving Komodo, take a swim or go snorkeling at Pink Beach. This pristine cove has clear water and an abundance of coral and sea life

Return to Labuan Bajo by boat and enjoy dinner at local restaurant or the hotel before returning to the hotel.

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 of Komodo National Park allows for a maximum of visits and view-points within the park combines with fast comfortable travel.

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 your local privatized speed boat and depart to Rinca Island. Arrive in Loh Buaya Bay where you 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, horses upon a short, one- to one-and-a-half-hours trek under guidance of a local park ranger.

Continue by boat to Padar Island. A short trek allows to witness the spectacular panorama from the top is the islands. This is one of the best spots in the Komodo National Park providing 360 degree views of the surrounding ocean, islands and bays.

From Padar continue to Komodo Island where you arrive 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 enjoy the endless views over the park.

Lunch will be served after your return to your boat (you may choose to have lunch also prior to the visit to Komodo Island) while cruising 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. Many tropical fish and coral species can be seen here.

In the late afternoon cruise back to Labuan Bajo.

Overnight in Labuan Bajo.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

Breakfast at the hotel.

Transfer to Labuhan 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