Flores & Rinca Island Tour (8 Days/ 7 Nights)
OverviewFlores is one of the most unspoiled islands of Indonesia. On this trip you will sail to Rinca to see the Komodo Dragons, visit traditional villages, climb the Kelimutu Volcano and see the rare Spiderweb ricefields. An experience you will never forget!
What to Expect
Flores is one of the most unspoiled islands of Indonesia. It offers beautiful beaches and a hilly inland, perfectly suitable for stunning walks. Besides that, Flores is home to several tribes, which still hold on to their traditions. Animistic practices still exist in the mountains around the Kelimutu. Your trip will start with a relaxing and at the same time exciting boat trip to Rinca. Here you will see one of the world’s most ancient animals, the majestic Komodo dragon. We will also dive into Rinca’s stunning underwater-world. You also visit Manggarai, the most fertile area of the island. Experience a world in which time stands still!
Day 1 Maumere
On arrival in Flores you spend the night in a nice hotel on the beach, just outside Maumere. There will be some time left for leisure; snorkel in the clear blue waters or just relax.
Day 2 Maumere – Moni/Detusoko
Today is reserved for a beautiful tour through the mountains. The village of Sikka, situated on the south coast, is one of the first places of Portuguese influence and Catholic missionary activity in Flores. Besides the beautiful, with local ikat motifs decorated, Portuguese church from 1899, Sikka is still one of the Flores’ most important and famous weaving centres. You will stop by a beautiful white sandy beach, named Paga. Here is a local restaurant where you can have lunch but lunch is also possible in the furtherdown Wolowaru. Wolowaru is a place for organic cashew nut processing which are harvested at the eastern part of Flores. The processing involves a lot of female workers from several villages. You can see the processing from peeling till packing. We continue our way to Moni, where we arrive in the late afternoon. Moni will be our starting point for a visit to the Kelimutu.
Day 3 Detusoko/Moni – Bajawa
An early start to the Kelimutu Volcano; you might have a chance to see a spectacular sunrise. It is a mysterious place where you can see three lakes constantly changing colour. You continue your jouney to Ende. You will visit the beautiful Lio village Wologai. Wologai is one of the few villages in the Ende district with well maintained houses built in the traditional architectural style. The main ceremonial house is the storage place for several sacred objects and myth-spun drum. The story goes that this instrument is made out of human skin and only used for important annual ceremonies.We will take a break to walk on the beach where to local people search for green stones. We continue our way to Bajawa, where we arrive in the late afternoon.. Bajawa is a little town surrounded by volcanoes, situated about 1200 meters above sea-level. Bring some warm clothes, because the nights here can be quite chilly.
Day 4 Bajawa
Bajawa is a very traditional village, ancestor worshipping plays an important role in local life. Today you make a trekking to the beautiful surroundings of Bajawa, from village to village through a variety of landscapes. There are numerous traditional villages around, it’s like the place is forgotten by time. The local people here are amazingly friendly. The hilly landscape, dotted by bamboo-forest, offers some stunning viewpoints over the south coast of Flores You will be invited by friendly locals to sip tea inside their homes. A local guide will come with you to explain everything about the habits and customs of the Ngada people. From time to time you have to climb and descend during the trek, but you will be rewarded by astonishing views over the area. In the afternoon we leave for Soa, famous in Flores for its natural thermal springs. Here you can dabble in the hot water, while enjoying the local scenery.
Day 5 Bajawa – Ruteng
Today promises a beautiful ride. On the way to Ruteng you will see people working in the countryside and stop by places where the local drink Arak is made. Ranamese means “big lake” in the local language and is not far from Ruteng. This 11,5 ha sized lake was a crater which eventually created deep-slope bank of water. The lake is surrounded by rainforest and is home to endemic birds.
For those who want to learn more about the beautiful culture and friendly people we can insert a visit to Belahragi. The village consists of two paralles rows of 16 houses, and the land structure is ascending like the other traditional villages in this area. To the Belaragi people, visitors from abroad are guests, not tourists. Therefore, guests are traditionally welcomed with a ceremony called ti’I ka ebu nusi, which translates as ‘give food to the ancestors”. A bamboo flute ‘suling’ concert makes the visit complete. To reach the village you have to walk apprx. 1 hour from the village of Pauleni. The path goes gradually uphill.
Day 6 Ruteng – Labuhan Bajo
After breakfast we leave by car for a 1 ½ hour stroll around the small villages and rice fields, of course accompanied by a local guide who will know about this area. Ruteng is the capital of the Manggarai-area, surrounded by beautiful rice fields. Here the rare spider web rice fields are located, which are called Lingko. You will continue your drive to Labuan Bajo, through one of the greenest parts of Flores.For those who want to learn more about the Manggarai culture, we can add a visit to the village of Tado, a concept of community-based eco tourism. You are received with a traditional ‘adat’ welcome ceremony and ‘Caci” a ritual whip fight, a major element of Manggarai cultural identity. Guests to Tado have the opportunity to experience the different activities like weaving mats and baskets and the preparation of traditional medicines.
Day 7 Labuhan Bajo (Boat trip Rinca)
In the early morning we sail to Rinca, one of the few places where the magnificent Komodo Dragon lives.We will stroll around the isle that offers astonishing views. In the afternoon there will be some time left to go snorkeling by one of the other islands. Around dusk we will go back to Labuan Bajo.
Day 8 Departure
In the morning you will have time to wander around Labuan Bajo. You can also visit the local market. Around noon your will be transferred to the airport for your flight.
What’s Included
• Accommodation based on double / twin share including breakfast
• Transfer Airport-Hotel Labuan Bajo
• Transfer hotel–harbour–hotel
• Boat trip to Rinca including lunch and parking fee boat
• Car 5 days with english speaking driver & english speaking guide
• Local guide in Moni, Ruteng and Bajawa
• Transer hotel – airport in Maumere
What’s Not Included
• International flights and domestic flights
• Airport taxes
• Meals not mentioned
• Personal expenses
• Tips and donations
• Entrance-, conservation- and snorkel fees
• Snorkel equipment
Meeting Point
Pick up at airport Maumere (Flores) airport code MOF (flights from Bali/Denpasar)
For more info: eastnusatenggara@indonesia-tourism.com
