Exploring Flores and Komodo

Day 1 Depart the UK

Depart the UK on your overnight flight to Indonesia.

Day 2-4 Sideman (Bali)

On arrival, your guide will meet you for your private transfer to the picturesque hills of East Bali. Sideman is a lovely, off-the-beaten-track  retreat where you can relax and get a feel for authentic Balinese life.

You can opt to laze around the resort and take in the views, pool and spa or you might choose a more active stay. Activities on offer include a trek to nearby Pura Bukit which is home to traditional Ikat weavers, cycling through the foothills of Mount Agung or exploring the secluded coast nearby. Whatever you choose to do, you’ll enjoy a remarkably beautiful landscape of rice paddy terraces, volcanic valleys, lush tropical forest and mountain terrain.  

Day 5 Moni (Flores)

Refreshed from your Balinese retreat, today you’ll fly east from Bali to Flores. Arriving in Ende, you’ll be met by your local guide for the transfer to Moni, a small village that is the ideal base from which to visit the stunning Kelimutu volcano, one of the most startling natural phenomenon in Indonesia. 

Day 6 Three Coloured Lake and Ende (Flores)

It’s an early start today for the trip to the top of the crater where the three crater lakes appear to change colour. Admire the spectacular view as the sun rises before you return to the hotel for breakfast.

Later you’ll travel back towards Ende via a traditional Lionese village on a forested volcanic ridge. Your overnight stay will be in Ende.

Day 7 – Bajawa (Flores)

Today you’ll travel west through valleys and mountains towards Bajawa, the regional capital of the traditional Ngada people.  Stop off en route at Tanggo Beach for a picnic lunch. Tanggo beach is unique on account of its egg-sized volcanic stones that create a musical sound as the waves wash over them.

Day 8 Bajawa to Ruteng (Flores)

Leave Bajawa today for the extraordinary Ngada village of Belarghi. The journey includes a road trip followed by a gentle 1.5 hr trek through the hills towards Belarghi, which is home to 5 clans. Expect a warm welcome into the community as their guests and have a refreshing coconut drink as you meet the local people. Megalithic traditions and ancestor worship are still very much alive in these hills around the Inerie volcano, and the cultures and belief systems are incorporated into the building of every house. 

 After your visit, walk back down to Mbalata beach where you can enjoy lunch and a relaxing swim. Then you’ll continue to Ruteng for a two-night stay.

 Day 9 Ruteng (Flores)

Ruteng is a busy town at the western end of Flores, located at the foot of a high mountain range and in the centre of a complicated network of valleys which feed the island's largest rice-producing area. The pleasantly cool climate and high altitude make the region ideal for coffee production.

Today you’ll explore the hills, visiting a picturesque waterfall and a cave that was made world-famous by the fascinating discovery in 2003 of Homo Floresiensis, nicknamed 'hobbit man'. The powerful two-tiered waterfall is around an hour's drive and a short trek from Ruteng, while the cave is 45 minutes from the waterfall. Stop at a local restaurant for lunch.           

Day 10 & 11 Komodo National Park

With your guide, you’ll transfer by road and then boat to your resort which is close to some of Komodo’s best underwater spots.

Of course, Komodo National Park offers the opportunity to catch a glimpse of the world’s largest living lizard. The park is spread across three islands: Komodo, Rinca and Padar, and on Day 11 you’ll travel to Rinca in search of the “dragons” themselves. There are many other animals in the park, and this is one of the world’s richest marine environments, so it’s a fantastic place for snorkelling and kayaking too.

Day 12 – 15 Bali Beach

After your adventures in Flores and Komodo, you’ll depart Labuan Bajo on the short flight to Bali to spend four days relaxing by the beach. Equally, you could explore Bali in more depth or swap Bali for a beach stay on Lombok.

Day 16 Fly Home

Today you depart Bali on your flight back to the UK. Alternatively, your holiday can be modified to include a full tour of Bali or any of the other amazing Indonesian islands. 

• International Flights (we can omit if you prefer)
• Accommodation as described
• Privately guided tours and transfers 
• Original Experience Travel Group "Signature" experiences 
• Full financial protection (full ABTA and ATOL bonding)
• 24-hour in-country backup while away
• Your dedicated travel expert in the UK