Flores Highlights - Komodo Dragons & Volcano Kelimutu - 5 Days Tour
Flores has world famous attractions such as the UNESCO protected Komodo National Park and the Kelimutu Volcano with its 3 colour-changing crater lakes. With a flight between Labuan Bajo and Ende, these two main attractions of Flores can be easily combined without long drives.
ITINERARY: Bali ✈ Komodo Airport/Labuan Bajo (Flores) ➝ Komodo National Park on Rinca Island ✈ Ende ➝ Volcano Kelimutu National Park ➝ Maumere ✈ Bali
Day 1:Travel to Labuan Bajo on Flores Island
Fly to Flores Island from Bali or any other airport in Indonesia. Here you will be picked up from Komodo Airport and stay the night directly on the beach in Labuan Bajo.
Day 2:
Boat excursion from Labuan Bajo to Rinca Island
After an early breakfast we drive to Labuan Bajo port where we board a boat and drive about 2 hours to Rinca Island in Komodo National Park. Rinca Island has a high density of Komodo population and the chance of seeing wild Komodo is very high.
Upon arrival at Rinca we start a 1-3 hour hike through a savannah-like landscape dotted with Lonta palms. Along the way we will not only see the Komodo dragons but we will also see other animals such as Timor deer, buffalo, monkeys, wild boar and exotic birds. From the slopes there are breathtaking views. After returning to the boat, lunch will be served and we will cruise to Kelor Island for swimming, snorkeling or just relaxing. In the late afternoon we drive back to Labuan Bajo. Overnight stay in Labuan Bajo
If the flight arrives very early in Labuan Bajo, the first overnight stay in Labuan Bajo can also be omitted and you can start the boat tour directly after the transfer from the airport to the port. The tour is then shortened to 4 days/3 nights.
The boat trip can also be done with a private speedboat with an appropriate surcharge. If you really want to immerse yourself in the fascinating underwater world of Komodo National Park, we recommend spending at least 2 days/1 night on traditional Phinisi boats.
Day 3:
Labuan Bajo ✈ to Ende on Flores Island
Transfer to Labuan Bajo Airport for your flight to Ende. After a short 1-hour flight, you will be picked up at the airport in Ende by a private car and guide/tour guide and drive to Moni at the foot of Kelimutu National Park in about 2 hours. The journey leads on winding roads through a very beautiful mountainous landscape past small villages. Between Ende and Moni there are beautiful rice terraces to admire. Depending on the current flight connection, there is also the possibility of a detour to Penggajawa Beach (blue stone beach), which is strewn with many colorful stones. The stones are predominantly blue to turquoise, but there are also green and red stones in between. The stones are collected by the local population and sold as building material. On the way from Ende to Moni we can also visit the village of Wologai with well-preserved traditional houses in the Lionese architecture typical of the Ende region in the past. Accommodation in a bungalow at Kelimutu Eco Lodge, idyllically situated just outside the village of Moni.
Day 4:
Tree color lakes of Volcano Kelimutu ➝ Maumere
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. It's always a surprise what colors the Kelimutu Lakes will have when we visit.
On the way back from Kelimutu to Moni we will pass beautiful rice fields and tropical Florest. We can do also a detour to small waterfall and hot springs. After breakfast in Hotel we continue our trip to Maumere passing Sikka village on the south coast of Flores Island. This village is famous for the traditional ikat-weaving and the old church, dating from the end of 19 century. You have some time to relax on the wonderful Koka Beach and than we continue our journey to Maumere. Enjoy the breathtaking views of this spectacular volcanic terrain, with plantations and villages clinging to mountain sides. We can stop along the way to make short walks at points of interest.
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 with additional charge in the stylish and as well comfortable Coconut Garden Beach Resort or in our Waiara Village Guest House.
Day 5:
Departure from Flores ✈ from Maumere
The tour ends with transfer to airport in Maumere for your flight to Bali. If you take the afternoon flight out maumere you have in the morning the possibilities to make half day Village Encounter in the surroundings of Maumere or just relaxe on volcanic beach with good swimming and snorkeling in your beach front resort in Maumere Bay.
