The most beautiful experience in Flores

On arrival in Ende you will meet my your driver who will transfer you to your hotel in Moni. A short drive of approx. 1 hour but the landscape is incredible and treats you to some truly remarkable rice terrace views. If time allows it check out the old town and/or go to the local pasar, it is a nice first experience. Buying an sarong could prove usefull in the duration of your tour. It keeps you warm, you can sit on it and you can use it as a blanket when you change your clothes.

An early start (4AM) to the Kelimutu volcano; where you experience a crater sunrise. From the parking area it is a 45-minute walk (path and stairs) to the viewpoint. We recommend comfortable hiking shoes or sneakers its not a difficult trail more a long path. Bare in mind to bring warm clothes at this altitude it is cold this early morning. At the top there are several vendors selling coffee or tea (approx. IDR 10.000/each). It is a mysterious place with it’s three lakes that over the years miraculously change color. Currently it is green, blue and black. It used to be red, white and blue. Adding to the mystery as the locals believe the souls of passed away villagers end in the colour of the lake suitable to life's lived. In your own pace you return to the car and then hotel for breakfast and freshen up. When ready to depart you get in the car and drive you to Riung. Riung situated on the north coast of Flores. You’ll be amazed by the variety of landscapes Flores has to offer. We stop at a stretch of beach with green stones. You can relax and have lunch (own expense), at low tide the swing gives you a nice photo opportunity. In the late afternoon we arrive in Riung, a small fishermen-village net yet discovered by mass tourism.

Today you go by boat to the 17 (Toejoehbelas) national park. Actually the park has 33 islands but it is called 17 to honor Indonesia's Independence day, 17 August. The place is well-known for its reefs, tropical fish and thousands of flying dogs (you can see them quite close)! You'll be enjoying a day at sea; the underwater world is really beautiful. For lunch you will enjoy a fresh fish coconut bbq prepared by the boatman. It is a relaxed and delightful day! If you are looking for a nice diner walk up the street and find 'Pato' next to hotel Pondok SVB.

After breakfast you leave for Bajawa (best to have your bathing suite on). On the way you stop by a viewpoint, which offers an astonishing view over the coral islands we visited yesterday. Around lunchtime we arrive in a small town called 'Soa'. This village is famous for its natural thermal springs, heated by a volcano in the neighborhood. Here you will have some time to take a nice warm bath in a beautiful natural environment. In the late afternoon we arrive in Bajawa, a little town surrounded by volcanoes, situated about 1200 meters above sea-level. Again warm clothes are needed when evening hits, it can be quite chilly.

Bajawa is the center of Ngada and surrouded by several very traditional villages, who still live according to the ancient Ngada traditions in which ancestor worshipping plays an important role. Today you will visit Bena, a sign post for the Ngada culture located at quite a stunning location. A local guide will accompany you and explain the local traditions and the strict 'rules' (adat) of the village. They are quite complicated and are based on the principles of a caste system. After your visit to Bena we start a soft hike of 3 hours to another even remoter located village. It's a beautiful walk through this hilly green landscape. After about 2 hours you can see the village you are walking to from a far. After a shor break at this village you'll continue to find the car, parked at the bottom of the hill. We drive you back to the hotel in Bajawa.

We continue our journey to Labuan Bajo. And drive through the most fertile part of the island. In Manggarai you will witness the impressive Lingko fields. With their round, spider web structure, these pieces of land are the unique eye-catchers in Manggarai. The spider web rice fields actually represent the families of a village and are created to resemble the rooftops of the traditional houses. We continue for the final stretch (if time allows it we can stop and have coffee at Tado Village) until we reach your hotel in Labuan Bajo in de afternoon.

Start the day as early as possible! By the time you reach the Komodo/Rinca islands, you will have been traveling for at least 2 hours. Leaving too late means arriving during the hottest hours, when wildlife is not active. Our advice for this 2-day, 1-night mini cruise is as follows: On this first day, depart around 5 am (coordinate with the driver) from the hotel in Labuan Bajo. The mini cruise is full board, so water, coffee, tea, and meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner are sufficiently provided; there is also plenty of watermelon. However, you might want to purchase additional alcoholic drinks, cookies, or chips. You arrive at the boat and depart at a relaxed pace. We sail first to Komodo, where you can see the Komodo dragons and go for a walk. After that, you can go snorkeling in the afternoon while the skipper looks for a good place to spend the night. You can swim around the boat, and at sunset, you will witness the spectacle of flying foxes (bats) taking flight. A beautiful sight from the deck of your boat.

The next morning, you start early again. As soon as possible, you take a walk on the island of Rinca. In the early morning, you will see the most wildlife, and the Komodo dragons are also most active. A ranger and your guide will accompany you. Be aware that Komodo dragons are very dangerous and fast, so follow the instructions of the rangers and guide carefully. On the island, you will see some dragons near the kitchen area. It is an impressive sight. Afterwards, you take a walk. You can choose the length yourself (for the longer walk, the ranger receives an extra allowance), and here you may encounter more Komodo dragons roaming in the wild. After your visit to Rinca, you sail back to Labuan Bajo. At the harbor, transportation will be waiting, and you will be taken directly to the airport for your flight to the next destination (departure after 3:00 PM).