Flores & Komodo Tour Package - 10 days/9 nights

Maumere - Kelimutu - Riung - Bajawa - Ruteng - Labuan Bajo incl. 2 days/1 night Boat trip to Rinca and Komodo Island

Day 1:

Travel and departure to Flores Island

Pick up from airport in Maumere and transfer to beach resort east from Maumere. Depending on your choice you will stay in a comfortable and charming beach front bungalow in Amrita Beach Resort on the beautiful Waiara beach or in the stylish and as well comfortable bamboo cottage in Coconut Garden Beach Resort or in 4 Star Capa Maumere Resort . After your arrival on Flores use the rest of the afternoon to relax on quiet and beautiful volcanic beach with good swimming and snorkelling conditions.

Day 2:

From Maumere to Moni village at the foot of Kelimutu

In the morning we visit the market in Maumere (Pasar Alok) and the Bajo village Wuring. Then we drive to the mountain village Watublapi or Dokar with a long history of Ikat weaving. Here, we visit a demonstration of the weaving of Ikat fabrics and each step starting with spinning and dyeing of cotton up to the finished Ikat are vividly explained. Then we visit the Bikon Blewut Anthropology Museum in Ledalero, the viewpoint of Nilo with a large Holy Mary statue and continue to Paga Beach (with possibility for lunch) and have some time to relax on the wonderful Koka Beach. Then we visit the traditional village Sikka on the South coast of Flores. Enjoy wonderful views of the countryside with plantations and small mountain villages. In Sikka we visit a very interesting 150 years old Portuguese Church. Then we continue to Moni with stop at Wolowaru, where you can see traditional Lio houses. Accommodation in a bungalow in Kelimutu Eco Lodge which is remote located surrounded by beautiful natur just outside the Moni village.

The tour can also start directly on Maumere or Ende airport and drive to Moni (Kelimutu) for the first overnight. The tour will be then shorter 9 days/ 8 nights

Day 3:

The 3-colored Lakes of the Volcano Kelimutu - Bajawa

Kelimutu is a volcano near the Moni village in Central Flores in Indonesia. The Volcano Kelimutu consists of three crater Lakes, which have different colors because of minerals. The colors of the Lakes have changed several times dramatically over the last years. The Lunar of crater is a hideout of the spirits according to the beliefs of the locals. Then the souls of boys and girls live in the Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai , which change the color between turquoise, blue and white greenish In Tiwu Ata Polo the sinner wait till night, to fly up with the wind and destroy every living Intruder. This lake change the colors between red, dark green, dark red and green color. The souls of the ancients rest in the Tiwu Ata Bupu. The now almost black Lake was once dark blue then light blue to white. The name of Kelimutu itself in the local language means 'keli' = 'mountain' and 'mutu' = 'boiling'.

On this day, we have to get up early in the morning and after a cup of coffee or tea, we drive to the volcano Kelimutu. After 30 minutes we reach the parking lot, and here a pleasant walk about 1.5 km and 127 stairs leads to the terrace of Mount Kelimutu at 1690 m altitude. From here, you have wonderful views of all three colored crater Lakes of Kelimutu and the surrounding countryside. Approximately at 10: 00 fog or clouds can come up and prevent the view so it is important to be up at least between 8 and 9. In the midst of this lunar landscape, the colors of the Lakes look spectacular. It's always a surprise what colors the Kelimutu Lakes will have when we visit.

From Kelimutu, we descend to the Hotel for breakfast, and than continue our trip to Ende, with a stop at fruit market of Nduaria on the roadside. Lunch is at a local Restaurant in Ende.

After Lunch, we drive westward, following the coast until Aegela, where we take the road to Riung on north coast of Flores. On the way, you can enjoy the scenic beauty of the landscape. Accommodation in simply Guesthouse/Hotel in Riung.

Day 4:

Riung /Seventeen Islands National Park

After breakfast, we go by wooden motorboat to a nearby island. Relax on the pristine beach. Riung is one of only few places in Flores with access to white sand beaches. The area of Riung makes up a national park called Pulau Tujuh Belas (Seventeen Islands). Some of the islands are just rocks sticking out of the sea but the large ones are hilly and fringed with mangroves, where we will see thousands of flying foxes hanging in colonies in the mangrove trees.

After a relaxing day spend on the beach with picnic lunch and snorkelling we return in the afternoon to Riung. Accommodation in simply Guesthouse/Hotel in Riung.

Day 5:

Riung - Soa - Bajawa

After breakfast we drive from Riung to Bajawa, the major center of Ngada District. We stop at Soa Hot Spring, where we can bath in the pool.

In the afternoon we arrive at Bajawa.Accommodation depend on availability and your choice in Hotel Happy Happy or in Villa Manulalu.

Day 6:

Bajawa - traditional village Bena - Ruteng

After early breakfast, we take a detour to Bena, one of the most traditional villages in Ngada District. The village consist of two rows of centuries - old high thatched houses along a ridge. In the center you can see cult houses and much older stone monuments formerly used for ritual sacrifices in the ancient local religion. The local Christian people still use this historic protected site for worship. After that we visit the smaller traditional village Luba.

We continue driving to Ruteng, stoping to take short walks along the way. We pause at Aimere to see people brewing arak in very traditional way. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant on the way. Today is a spectacular drive. Enjoy the trip through undulating hills with mountains standing majestically in the distance. The rice terrace fields in Mano make a spectacular scene, with wonderful views of Lake Ranamesee. In the afternoon, we visit Ruteng Pu'u to see the "Adat House" and enjoy the panorama of Ruteng town. Accommodation in Ruteng in catholic nun convent Kongregasi Santa Maria Berdukacita or local Guesthouse/Hotel.

Day 7:

Ruteng - Labuan Bajo

After breakfast, we drive from Ruteng to Labuan Bajo. Our first stop is in Cancar to see the "spider web rice field" called Lingko. Lingko is a typical farmer land in the group or clan belong to Manggaraian (west part ethnic group) when they divide land. Than we continue to Todo (2 hours drive) in South Central Manggarai. It is one of the few possibilities to see the traditional ceremonial houses Mbaru Niang. In the past, Todo was also the Centre of the Kingdom of Manggaraian and the home of the Royal clan. Alternative to Todo you can visit Liang Bua (Hobbit cave). This large cave was the site of a stunning archeological discovery in 2003, when the skeletal remains of a small humanoid were unearthed, the so-called Homo Floresiensis. There is a small museum on site with some displays. Otherwise the cave is indeed empty and the road in poor condition but the scenery is beautiful. If you spend 2 nights in Ruteng you can visit both sites and make hiking from Hobbit Cave to Tengkulese Watterfall. Optional and with additional charge we can visit Melo to see performance of Caci - ritual whip fight dance . Accommodation in Golo Hilltop Hotel or in Puri Sari Beach Hotel in Labuan Bajo

Day 8:

Labuan Bajo - Komodo Island - Pink Beach

After an early breakfast we drive to the harbor in Labuan Bajo, where we board for 2 days private wooden boat for sailing in Komodo National Park, the home to the Komodo dragons and explore the fabulous underwater marine life around Komodo and Rinca Island. First we go to Komodo Island. The sail takes about 3.5 hours. After arrival on Komodo Island we make a hike of about 1.5 hours where we can observe at water holes wild boars, Timor deer and the unique Komodo . We climb the Sulphurea and Frigate Hill with a magnificent view over the Komodo Island those bays and beaches. Then we go back to the boat and sail to the Pink Beach, where you can relax on the beach and snorkeling in the wonderful underwater world of Komodo National Park. In the afternoon we make stops for snorkeling at the Manta Point and stop at Kalong (flying foxes) Island, where you can see a large colony of flying foxes, when they leave the Island in all directions. Lunch and dinner will be served on the boat. Overnight on the boat near the coast of Rinca Island.

Rinca Island has a higher density of the Komodo population, so it is not necessarily to visit Komodo Island to see wild Komodo lizards. If you decide to visit only one of the Komodo Dragon Islands, than you have planty time for discover the famose underwater world of Komodo Nationalpark

Day 9:

Rinca Island - Kanawa Island - Biddadari Island - Labuan Bajo

After breakfast on the boat, we start early morning to Rinca Island to make a 2 hour hike were we can see Komodo Dragons when they leave there hideouts and go to the sun. The hike leads through a landscape dotted with Lonta Palm trees. We will see not only Komodo Dragons but we can observe also other animals, such as Timor deer, buffalo, monkeys, wild boars, and exotic birds. From a few point on the hills there are breathtaking views of the slopes. After returning to the boat, we sail to Kanawa Island and Biddadari Island, where you can wonderfully snorkel off shore. In the afternoon we sail back to Labuan Bajo. Accommodation in Golo Hilltop Hotel or in Puri Sari Beach Hotel in Labuan Bajo

Day 10:

Departure from Flores Island

The tour ends with the transfer to the airport in Labuan Bajo. If you have an afternoon flight , than we can offer optional half day excursion around Labuan Bajo with visit of Batu Cermin Cave.

The tour can also start in Labuan Bajo and end in Ende or Maumere.