FLORES OVERLAND & KOMODO

Day 1 : Arrival Maumere – Hotel (- / - / -)

Settle into tropical island life with a day at leisure to explore Flores’ largest city, Maumere. Upon arrival at the airport, we will be met by our guide and taken to the hotel for check-in. 

We then have the rest of the day free to start exploration of the capital of the Sikka Regency on the north-eastern coast. This town is blessed with a stunning landscape of rolling hills and mountains and shimmering aquamarine waters. 

It is famed for its superior snorkel and dive spots, with a colourful underwater world in the coral reefs that protect the island. A collection of pristine beaches can be found close to the city that ticks all the boxes for beach lovers. While Maumere is home to several attractions including Sikka Old Church, Nilo Hill and Geliting Market 

Overnight in Maumere

Day 2 : Maumere – Ende – Moni (B / L / D)  

Today marks the start of our exploration of Flores Island as we hit the road to the quaint town of Moni. Our first destination is Ende, the oldest town on the central-south coast.

After breakfast, we set off on our drive, stopping to soak up local life along the way. At the small fishing village of Wuring, we get a glimpse into the daily lives of the Bugis and Bajo people who live in traditional stilt houses, with a backdrop of striking volcanic Mount Egon. 

We will then continue to Sikka village. This former centre of the Sikka Kingdom features a large church built with the support of Jesuit priests in 1899. Its walls are ornately decorated with ikat motifs. We then drive to Paga Beach to enjoy some relaxation time on the white sandy shores, ahead of lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, we drive along scenic mountain roads to Moni where we visit Ranggase village before checking-in to the hotel.

Overnight in Moni

Day 3 : Moni – Kelimutu – Bajawa (B / L / D)

The early bird catches the worm and we rise early for a 4.30 am start to indulge in a simply spectacular sunrise (subject to weather conditions). We will be collected from the hotel by our guide and driven to Kelimutu to visit one of its most famous attractions. 

The volcanic mountain is home to the tri-coloured Kalimutu Lake, which sits within the summit of the craters at a height of 1,690 metres. The breath-taking natural phenomenon comprises three adjoining lakes that contrast in colours of striking turquoise, black and blue. 

We will watch the sun rise as we overlook this incredible site. We then return to the hotel for a well-deserved breakfast before continuing on our journey to Bajawa. Along the way, we stop at the blue stoned beach of Nanga Panda and Soa and then check-in to our hotel. 

Dinner is at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Bajawa

Day 4 : Bajawa – Ruteng (B / L / D) 

Culture is the order of the day as we set off on an exploration of traditional villages. After breakfast, we head to the village of Boloji or Warusoba – which are both home to Bajawa tribespeople. Here, we will attend a Bajawanese dance performance, followed by a Suling show – a bamboo flute concert.

Note: other option for the Dance Performance will be take a place at Belaraghi traditional village of Ngada.

We then continue to Bena, a megalithic village where people preserve their ancestral spirits. This can be seen in their Ngadhu and Bhaga conical thatched roof huts that symbolise their male and female ancestral spirits. On the way, we stop at the slopes of Inerie, an active volcano, to soak up the stunning scenery. 

We then continue to the small town of Ruteng, making our last stops of the day at Aimere to see how local palm wine is made and Ranamese Lake, before we check-in at our hotel in Ruteng.

Overnight in Ruteng

Day 5 : Ruteng – Labuan Bajo (B / L / D)

Explore more of Flores’ rich culture and fantastic scenery. After breakfast, we check-out of the hotel and hit the road to visit the traditional Manggarainese village of Rutengpuu. Here, we can mingle with villagers and take a tour of their unique shaped houses. 

We then continue on our drive to the western tip of the island, stopping for lunch along the way. Our next stop sees us admire the spider web of rice fields at Cancar and Lembor’s impressive patchwork of sprawling paddies, with rolling hills as a backdrop. We will have some time to meet the locals and learn about their agricultural lives in this lush and fertile area. 

Next, we continue on our journey to Labuan Bajo, where we head straight for dinner at a local restaurant before driving to the hotel to check-in.

Overnight in Labuan Bajo 

Day 6 : Labuan Bajo – Komodo – Pink Beach – Bidadari Island (B / L / D) 

Set off on an island-hopping adventure that introduces us to stunning nature. We leave the hotel in the early morning and set cruise to Komodo Island. Here, we embark on a scenic 1.5-hour trek that takes us through lush jungle, sun-soaked savannahs and past watering holes, where the island’s famous residents, the Komodo dragons, can often be seen lazing on the banks along with Timor deer and wild pigs. 

We will then climb Sulphured Hill and Frigate Hill to enjoy magnificent views across the islands, bays and beaches. We then return to the boat and set cruise for one of the stunning pink beaches that dot the area. This peculiar beach gets its colour from red coral fragments that give it striking pink hues. 

We then re-board the boat to enjoy a leisurely lunch while cruising to the tropical paradise that Bidadari Island.

Overnight on Boat

Day 7 : Bidadari Island – Labuan Bajo (B / - / -) 

Morning is free at leisure relaxing at beautiful of Bidadari Island. Here, we have time to indulge in some final swimming and snorkelling, or simply relax on the powder-soft sands. 

In the afternoon We then return to Labuan Bajo and transfer to the hotel, or airport for the onward flight, This brings to an end our seven-day adventure that has seen us delve into local life on Flores, explore its wealth of natural beauty and embark on an island-hopping adventure.

End of the Tour