Highlights of Flores
9 Days / 8 Nights
all inclusive
Flores might be one of the less frequently visited islands in eastern Indonesia, but it still has a very well defined tourist trail taking in almost all of the attractions as Ikat weaving, traditional villages, hot springs, impressive rice fields and breathtaking volcanoes and lakes. The tour follows the amusingly named Trans-Flores Highway, winding and often little more than single track in places.
Starting point is Maumere.
Itinerary
I T I N E R A R Y9 days / 8 nights
DAY 1: ARRIVAL IN MAUMERE
Arrival from Bali in Maumere either in the morning or in the early afternoon. Our local guide will pick you up from the airport. Transfer to your beach resort hotel where you can spend the rest of the day on the beach. In the early evening introduction to the tour in the restaurant or lobby of our hotel
Overnight at a beach resort in Maumere.
DAY 2: MAUMERE – MONI
Shortly after we left Maumere, our car climbs up the winding street to the Maria Statue in the hill country high above Maumere. The statue is similar to the Christus Statue of Rio de Janeiro. From the mountain you have a wonderful view across the Sikka regency. Afterwards we continue our trip to the village of Sikka on the south coast of Flores, once the seat of the king of East Flores. At Sikka one can find the oldest portuguese church of Flores. Find out how old ladies weave the traditional fabric, called Ikat. We also visit the small village Wolowaru and explore its traditional houses. In the late afternoon we arrive at Moni.
Overnight in a guest house at Moni
DAY 3: MONI - KELIMUTU – RIUNG
Early morning at 4 o'clock or a little bit later we drive up to the Kelimutu Volcano to see the Three Coloured Lakes when the sun slowly appears at the horizon. Upon arrival at the parking terrain we take a walk for about 1,5 kilometers and ascend 127 steps to the top. If the weather allows during this time of the year, we will enjoy the great view of Kelimutu’s light green, brown and black lakes before we continue our tour to Ende and Riung. After Ende there is a unique beach with thousands of blue/green pebbles. One can find these type of stones only in this special small area of Indonesia. People from Bali and Java used to import them to beautify paths in their gardens or to make paving stones.
Afterwards we travel through the driest part of Flores. A wide grasland with hills and occasionaly wooden settlements. If you wouldn’t know already that you are in Indonesia, then you might think you travel to the hill country of Wyoming South Dakota.
Overnight at Riung
DAY 4: RIUNG
Today we explore the Seventeen Islands National Park by boat. Don´t get surprised when the captain suddenly claps his hands. Thousands of bats leave their trees and darken the sky. It is a fantastic spectacle which you won’t forget very soon. Afterwards we travel along uninhabitat islands with white sandy beaches. Time for snorkeling and to explore the underwater world. We continue our boat cruise and go on land of one of these wonderful Robinson Crusoe islands. We stroll around on the beach and who is in a good mood can explore the tiny island. Late afternoon we are back in Riung, Through a majestic allee of coconut trees we walk back to our accommodation.
Overnight at Riung
DAY 5: RIUNG - BAJAWA
In the morning we head towards Bajawa. Bajawa is a small and quiete town settled on a plateau between high vulcanoes. This area is full of traditional culture and here you can find all the famous traditional Megalith-Villages.
Do you need a good treatment for your health condition? Then you shouldn't miss the hot sources of Soa. Jump into the natural whirlpool, play or sit in the warm river, let the warm water fall down on your body under the cascade or just swim in the big natural swimming pool of slightly sulfurous warm water. A delight you won't have every day!
Late afternoon we arrive at Bajawa. Time for exploring the tiny clean city. Bajawa is located 1.200 m above sea level. Excellent conditions to grow vegetables and herbs. During the night it could be very chilly.
Overnight at Bajawa
DAY 6: BAJAWA - RUTENG
Today we enjoy a diversified day. Early in the morning we drive south towards the sea. Along the way to the most unique and obiviously best-preserved megalith village of Bena you will already see many more or less intact traditional villages. We approach the vulcano Mt. Inerie, a vulcano like in a picture book. It appears in its full size close infront of us. Bena is nestled at its food. We are almost sure, you have never seen such an impressive traditional village where the villagers still keep their habits and live their daily life. If there still is enough time we also explore the village of Gurosina - a hideaway off the beaten path.
Then we travel up and down mountains, we reach twice the coast line before we arrive at our final destination of the day: the administration city of Ruteng. At Aimere we have a short break - not to be confused with 'Almere' in the Netherlands - to see the traditional way of burning 'Sopi', a hard liqueur made of palm tree fruits. In Mbolata we stop for a drink on the beach. There will be enough time to take a bath in the warm water of the Savu Sea or for a sun bath or stroll on the sandy beach.
Overnight at Ruteng
DAY 7: RUTENG - LABUAN BAJO
Ruteng is a small town in the mountains surrounded by rice terraces. It has a chilly climate. If the weather allows we go up to Golo Curu, the 'Welcome Mountain' of Ruteng. It is a beautiful vista point from where you have incredible views to Ruteng and the mountain range in the back and to thousands of spectacular terraced rice fields in the front.
We continue our journey to Cancar and explore the beautiful panorama of the spiderweb rice fields surrounded by green hills. From 1.200 meter above sea level we descend slowly to the west coast of Flores. We pass huge forests of candlenut trees and the flat and impressive rice plateau of Flores.
Overnight at Labuan Bajo
DAY 8: KOMODO NATIONAL PARK – RINCA
We pick you up from your hotel in the morning and bring you to the harbour of Labuan Bajo. After you took your snorkeling equipment you board the local, wooden buginese boat and travel along the coast to Rinca Island in the Komodo National Park. Many uniques picturesque small islands with white sandy beaches cross your way. when you arrive at Rinca, the ranger who accompanies you during your island trek, is already waiting for you. He explains everything about the life and behaviour of the Komodo Dragons. After our hike we take a short rest at the National Park Headquarter before we do snorkeling and sightseeing on the way back to Labuan Bajo. During this tour a lunch package will be served on the boat.
Overnight in a small and good hotel.
DAY 9: DEPARTURE or EXTENSION IN LABUAN BAJO
After breakfast we deliver you to the airport for your flight to your next destination.
Itineray subject to change without any prior notice
Extension
EXTENSION
Depending on your available time you can extend your stay either in Maumere before the tour starts or in Labuan Bajo or one of the closeby islands as Sebayur, Seraya, Kanawa or Bidadari after the tour.
Flores Komodo Expedition is pleased to organise your extension days. Just tell us your ideas!
Transp/Accom
Accommodation
In Labuan Bajo we choose a small and good hotel in the city center with air conditioned rooms and a nice view to the sea of the Komodo National Park with all its islands. During the nights in the countryside we stay in good and clean guest houses, simple hotels or in a very modern monestry (small rooms). In Maumere we stay in one of the nice beach resorts apprx. 8 kilometers east of Maumere. All rooms have the bathroom ensuite.
In Maumere you can upgrade the room to a Beachfront Cottage instead of a Garden Cottage for additional costs
In Labuan Bajo you can upgrade the hotel to a Beach Hotel apprx three kilometers outside of the city center instead of a City Hotel for additional costs
Please note:
In the cities located in the mountain areas (Moni, Bajawa, Ruteng) there is no air condition available because during the night it is usually not hot.
Rooms are very small in the countryside of Flores and simple equipped. This is typical for Flores as the countryside is not yet very well developed for tourism.
Difficulty of the trip
It is always hard to judge the difficulty of a trip. Distances between destinations are not far but it takes a lot of time to get there because of the winding roads in the mountains. We try to make as much stops as possible during the day to make the journey comfortable. There are no long walks included in our itinerary. However our tour guide might suggest to do a short walk beyond our itinerary, if the time allows it.
Transport
You will be transported by private car, minivan or minibus with air condition. The driver will be also the tour guide, if we take our minivan. He speaks english. If you are more than 5 adults we can use a bigger minibus and there will be a driver and an additional english speaking tour guide. Please ask for a quotation
Prices
PRICES
starting from 9.300.000 IDR to 16.800.000 IDR per person
(ca. 665 Euro to 1.200 Euro or apprx. 715 USD to 1,290 USD per person)
depending on the amount of participants and on the season
the price is based on double occupancy rooms
single supplement: IDR 2.000.000 (ca. 145 Euro)
All prices are for a private tour.
Please ask for a quotation
Price includes:
* airport and harbour transfers
* boat cruise to Rinca Island
* boat cruise to the Seventeen Islands National Park
* snorkeling equipment Rinca Island
* overland tour in an air conditioned car as per itinerary
* english speaking guide
* 8 nights accomodation;in Labuan Bajo and Maumere in good hotels with air condition
in other locations in guest houses
* breakfast indonesian style
* Meals: starting from dinner on day 1 to dinner on day 8, on day 8 lunch package
* one free drink (juice, soft drink or beer where beer is available) per meal
* National Park and entrance fees as: NP Tickets, tourism tax, ranger and other fees
* accommodation for guide
* pick up from Maumere
Not included in the price:
* flights
* airport tax
* National Park and entrance fees on Sundays and National Holidays
* personal expenses
* extension days
Tags: Flores tours, sightseeing Flores