12 days in Flores: the route from Labuan Baggio to Kelimutu - volcanoes, villages and Komodo
Flores is one of the most underrated islands Indonesia. Here you can storm volcanoes, look into traditional villages, admire turquoise lakes and search for dozens of hidden wonders. Many people travel to Flores for the nearby Komodo National Park, but the island plateau itself holds a lot of unobvious treasures.
We've been to Flores many times, and each time we find new important and unexpected places. If you are close to adventure and pristine nature, Flores is definitely on the must-visit list in Indonesia. Below is a working road trip from Labuan Baggio to Maumeré with a comment on the main stops and logistics.
Where to start the route
The starting point will be the fishing town of Labuan Baggio in the west of Flores. This is where boats start to the famous Komodo Islands. Labuan Baggio has an international airport (LBJ code) - from there daily flights from Bali, Jakarta, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur fly at affordable prices (finding tickets can be done through Skyscanner). If you want, you can take the route in reverse order: fly to Maumer or Ende and move west.
How to get around Flores
With the exception of Komodo, which is explored only from water, most points on Flores are accessible by land. The island is long, the facilities are scattered, but Trans Flores Road connects the main centers.
Mobility options:
Renting a scooter is cheap and gives you freedom, but some roads are very broken and the distances are long; it is suitable if you drive confidently and plan short trips.
Buses (for example, Gunung Mas) are comfortable and cheap, but they connect only major cities and are not suitable for “forays” to remote attractions.
A private car with a driver is our favorite: safer, more convenient and allows you to flexibly stop in interesting places. I give the contacts of the recommended drivers and guides below in the full guide - if you like, with a local guide, many places will open much brighter.
Keep in mind: roads are often winding, sometimes bumps and pits, so travel time is usually longer than the cards suggest. Plus, it inhibits mobility and makes you enjoy the views — almost like a built-in speed limiter.
Where to look (a couple of visual accents)
Views of the Ineri volcano and coastal slopes are an impressive cone shape of the mountain.
The traditional village of Bena with clay buildings - authenticity and atmosphere.
Wae Rebo is one of the iconic places of Flores, which is worth visiting with respect and, if possible, with a local guide.
The best start to the journey is to break out to the legendary Komodo Islands: beaches, unusual landscapes and, of course, Komodo dragons. Usually people spend in the park from 1 to 3 days: a one-day excursion on a speedboat allows you to cover the main points, but if you want to watch the dive locations, trekking and sunsets in a measured manner, it is better to spend the night on liners (liveaboard) and explore the islands slowly.
The only way to get to Komodo National Park is by boat from Labuan Baggio. You can choose a short speedboat tour for a busy day or book a liveaboard, where you will spend the night on the ship and have more time for snorkeling, diving and trekking on sparse beaches.
Tip: a tour of Komodo is more profitable and safe to take with an experienced local guide - he will tell you the best points and tell you about the behavior of animals and safety rules.
You'll be met in Indonesia.private guidesAnd they'll offer you a copy.individual toursehtravel agenciesIndonesia will offer its services and organize tours and interesting excursions for travelers.
Text and photo:https://www.personalguide.ru/
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