Start: Labuan Bajo
End: Ende or Maumere
Overview
This Flores Island Tour 6 Days 5 Nights a comprehensive experience, blending cultural immersion, scenic landscapes, and opportunities for relaxation. Starting in Labuan Bajo and ending in Ende or Maumere, the itinerary includes visits to traditional villages, volcanic lakes, hot springs, and beaches.
The journey begins with a visit to Melo Village to witness the Caci whip dance, a traditional Manggarai performance symbolizing strength and unity. Next is Lembor, offering panoramic views of Flores’ largest rice fields. The tour continues to Cancar Village to see the unique Spider Web Rice Fields (Lodok), showcasing an ingenious land division system. The day concludes in Ruteng, with an optional visit to Ruteng Pu’u, a traditional Manggarai village featuring circular houses and ancestral stone altars, before checking into a 3-star hotel for the night.
After departing Ruteng, the first stop is Ranamese Lake, a misty crater lake surrounded by a lush rainforest, ideal for photography and birdwatching. The journey continues to Aimere Village to learn about the traditional distillation of arak (sopi), a local palm liquor made using bamboo tubes. The day concludes in Bajawa, a highland town known for the Ngada ethnic group and its famous Bajawa coffee, where you’ll stay overnight in a 3-star hotel.
Day three starts with visits to the traditional Ngada settlements of Luba and Bena Villages, featuring ancestral shrines, stone monuments, and traditional thatched houses. Next is So’a Hot Springs, where you can relax in natural hot pools surrounded by tropical greenery. The day ends with a drive to Riung, a coastal town and the gateway to the 17 Islands Marine Park, where you’ll stay overnight in a local guesthouse.
A full day is dedicated to exploring the Riung 17 Islands Marine Park. The adventure includes a visit to Kalong Island to witness thousands of flying foxes (giant fruit bats) soaring above the mangroves at dusk. The tour also includes snorkeling at Tembang and Bako Islands, known for their pristine coral reefs and colorful marine life, and relaxation on the white sandy beach of Rutong Island, perfect for a picnic and swimming. Lunch, featuring fresh grilled fish, is served on the beach, followed by an overnight stay in Riung.
The journey continues from Riung to Blue Stone Beach (Penggajawa), a picturesque coastline covered in blue and turquoise pebbles. Next is Ende Town, where you’ll visit the Bung Karno Museum, the former exile home of Indonesia’s first president, Soekarno. The day concludes in Moni Village, a small mountain town and the main gateway to Kelimutu National Park, with a stop at Wologai Village, a well-preserved Lio tribe village featuring conical houses and ancient stone courtyards. You’ll stay overnight in Moni, either in a 3-star hotel or a homestay.
The final day starts early with a visit to Kelimutu National Park to witness the sunrise over the Three-Colored Lakes, each lake’s color changing due to volcanic minerals and considered sacred by the local people as the resting place of ancestral spirits. Depending on the onward travel plans, there’s an optional visit to Koka Beach for those heading to Maumere, a crescent-shaped white sand beach with turquoise water perfect for relaxation, or Sikka Village to visit the historic Portuguese church and see traditional ikat weaving demonstrations. The tour concludes with a transfer to Ende or Maumere Airport/Hotel.
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