Spectacular Flores And Komodo

📍 Ende – Moni (60 km): 2 hr

Upon arrival at Ende Airport, you will be greeted by a local guide and transferred to Moni, located in the eastern part of Ende. Along the way, enjoy a visit to the traditional village of Saga and a photo stop at the scenic Detusoko rice fields.
Upon reaching Moni, check in to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure. Dinner will be served at the hotel.

Overnight in Moni

Inclusions:

🍗 Dinner

📍 Moni – Kelimutu (15km): 30 to 45 mins Moni – Wologai Village (25 km): 45 mins Wologai - Wolopaku (20 km): 35 mins Wolopaku – Nangapanda (80 km): 2 hr 40 mins Nangapanda – Bajawa ( 90 km ): 2 hr 50 mins

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. 

Return back to the hotel in Moni for breakfast and refresh before checking out.

Afterward, drive back to Ende where former President Soekarno was exiled by the Dutch from 1934-1938, stopping on the way for a visit to Nduria fruit and vegetable market and Wologai, another traditional Lionese village.  Then proceed to Wolopaku for Coffee Plantation.

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 nut 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. Enjoy dinner this evening to conclude your day trip.

Overnight in Bajawa

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Bajawa – Belaragi (40 km): 90 mins of driving and 90 mins of trekking

Morning breakfast at the hotel, then proceed to explore the unique Ngada culture with a half-day excursion around Bajawa. 

After visiting a bamboo plantation, a stop will be made for the stunning views of Mount Inerie, one of the tallest volcanoes in Flores (2,245 m), renowned for its striking conical shape.

Continue on to Luba, a traditional Ngada village, and from there enjoy a short 15-minute walk to Bena—considered the most impressive of all Ngada villages and one of the most beautiful traditional villages in Indonesia.

Set at the foot of Mount Inerie, Bena Village features two parallel rows of traditional houses with tall thatched roofs. At the heart of the village are ancestral shrines and megalithic structures, which serve as a spiritual link between the Ngada people and the supernatural world, and are used to honor and communicate with their ancestors through ritual animal sacrifices.

Savor lunch at a local restaurant in Bajawa, then later 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, and drive to Belaraghi Village.

Note: Now cars can reach Belaraghi from the Pau kate area. IF clients expect to do trekking to reach the village then they can start from Beiposo near Bajawa. It takes approx. 4 hours to reach the village.

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 in 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. 

Notes:  

• 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 that guests 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 village – porters will bring bottled mineral water. 
• The leader of the village will say some words in their local language as a symbol of their admission for the clients. Betel nuts will be given to the guests to try and a chicken is sacrificed which is later eaten. The food is prepared by the lady of the house where the clients are staying and consists of rice, vegetables, chicken. This is a simple local meal prepared on the spot.
• Cars can reach Belaragi at this moment, no more trekking needed.

Overnight in a basic traditional homestay in Belaragi Village

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

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

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. 

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. 

Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and spend the night in a Catholic Convent.

Overnight in Ruteng

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Ruteng – Labuan Bajo (132 km): 4 hr 30 mins

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.

Then proceed to Labuan Bajo with a stop at Todo Traditional Village to explore one of The Manggarai Tribe.

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 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

📍 Hotel – Labuan Bajo Harbour (3 km): 10 mins

The adventure begins with a morning transfer to Labuan Bajo port, followed by boarding a speedboat for an exciting day cruise through Komodo National Park. 

The first destination is Padar Island, where a short trek rewards you with panoramic views from the island’s summit. Continued to Komodo Island, 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. A local park ranger will guide on a trek, sharing fascinating insights into the island’s ecosystem and wildlife, including wild horses, buffalo, and pigs.

Next, head to the iconic Pink Beach, to snorkel or relax on its unique sands and marvel at vibrant marine life and corals. Afterward, sail to Manta Point for an exhilarating snorkeling experience amidst gentle manta rays, then make your way to Rinca Island. Here, in the savanna landscape, observe more Komodo dragons, buffalo, and wild pigs, with another ranger-led trek. 

Conclude an unforgettable day with a scenic cruise back to Labuan Bajo port, and return to the hotel for a relaxing evening.

Note: Timing and itinerary may vary due to local weather or sea conditions, with the captain adapting as needed to ensure a smooth experience.

Overnight in Labuan Bajo

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

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

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

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast