Flores Island Itinerary – 9 Days from Maumere to Komodo
Maumere, Kelimutu, Bajawa, Ruteng, Wae Rebo, Labuan Bajo & Komodo
16 – 24 July 2016
Flores had been on my wish list for a long time. I had travelled through many Indonesian islands before, but somehow never made it here. This 9-day journey finally took me across the island, from Maumere in the east to Labuan Bajo in the west.
Flores is one of Indonesia’s most diverse islands. White sandy beaches, rolling grass-covered hills, active volcanoes and deep green valleys follow each other in constant variation. Along the way, small traditional villages sit quietly in the landscape, each with its own culture and history.
This itinerary combines natural highlights like Kelimutu’s crater lakes and Komodo National Park with village life, mountain scenery and remote trekking to Wae Rebo.
Enjoy the journey!
9 Day Flores Island Itinerary
Day 1: Denpasar to Maumere (Sylvia Hotel)
Day 2: Visit Maumere and Wuring, then drive via Koka Beach to Moni (Angi Lodge)
Day 3: Climb Kelimutu and down to Moni. Drive via Wolotopo to Bajawa (Nusantara 2)
Day 4: Visit Luba, Bena, Tololela, and Gurusina (Nusantara 2)
Day 5: Bajawa via Belaraghi and Ruteng Pu’u to Ruteng (Hotel Sinda)
Day 6: Via Cancar spiderweb fields and Dintor to Denge and trekking to Wae Rebo (overnight Wae Rebo)
Day 7: Hike back to Denge and drive to Labuan Bajo (overnight hotel)
Day 8: Board live-aboard Boat to Komodo and Rinca (overnight on boat)
Day 9: From Rinca back to Labuan Bajo, to fly back to Denpasar
Flores Destinations
Highlights of the journey include the three coloured crater lakes of Kelimutu, the remote mountain village of Wae Rebo, and the wildlife of Komodo National Park.
About Flores Island
Flores belongs to the province of East Nusa Tenggara, the chain of islands stretching east of Bali. The island is about 360 kilometres long and between 12 and 60 kilometres wide, yet it offers an impressive variety of landscapes within a relatively small area.
In 1544 a Portuguese ship reached the eastern cape of the island and named it Cabo de Flores – Cape of Flowers. Today, Flores is known less for flowers and more for its dramatic volcanic scenery.
The island lies along the volcanic arc that runs from Sumatra through Java and Bali towards the Banda Sea. This geological history has shaped Flores into a rugged and mountainous island. Volcanoes rise across its entire length. Among the most prominent are Mount Egon near Maumere and Mount Inerie near Bajawa. The most famous, however, is Kelimutu, whose three crater lakes change colour over time.
Flores is also the gateway to Komodo National Park, home to the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo dragon. The dry savannah hills of Komodo and Rinca contrast strongly with the lush interior of Flores, creating one of Indonesia’s most varied travel experiences.
Beyond its natural highlights, Flores is known for traditional villages such as Wae Rebo, Gurusina, and Bena, where local architecture and customs are still preserved.
Why Visit Flores
Flores offers a rare combination of volcanoes, remote beaches, traditional villages and wildlife found nowhere else in the world. Compared to Bali or Lombok, tourism remains relatively small-scale, making it possible to experience quieter landscapes and strong local culture.
For travellers who enjoy varied scenery and overland journeys, Flores is one of the most rewarding islands in Indonesia.
Organisation
My parents were supposed to come with us, but unfortunately they had to cancel last minute, as my father was not well. They didn’t want us to cancel the trip, so we went ahead and shared our experiences remotely along the way. We had rented a car with driver in advance and booked most accommodation as well, as it was high season and Flores simply still doesn’t have much accommodation to just go-show. For the visit to Komodo we had hired a boat just for us, as we wanted to have the freedom to decide what to do and where to go.
I believe our itinerary is almost perfect if you have limited time but want to see and do a lot, don’t mind making long and action packed days and do not want to spend much time doing your own research.
