Flores

Awe-inspiring experiences await in Flores, with Komodo National Park's extra-ordinary Komodo Dragon, and Mount Kelimuti at sunrise with its multi coloured crater lakes.

Located to the east of Bali and one of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Flores is the gateway to Komodo National Park and home to the multi-coloured crater lakes at Kelimutu National Park, both unmissable destinations.

Komodo National Park is reached by boat from the charming fishing town of Labuan Bajo. There are many domestic flights from Bali to Labuan Bajo, as well as a good choice of day or overnight cruises to the three major islands in the national park: Rinca, Komodo and Padar. On a cruise, you will visit these, as well as stopping at remote uninhabited islands for snorkelling. The coral reefs, exotic fish, whales, turtles and underwater species are memorable. 

Cruise in Indonesia

The most remarkable species in Komodo National Park is the giant Komodo Lizard, endemic to the region and the largest living species of lizard in the world. To see the ‘Komodo Dragon’ in its natural habitant is exhilarating and exciting; you will feel a slight sense of fear as you approach the viewing area as these mammals are truly larger than life. The park has many other interesting species, including the orange-footed scrub fowl and the Timor deer.

On the Western tip of Flores is Ende, the base to the great Kelimutu National Park. Stay in a comfortable lodge and arise early to see the sunrise over the three crater lakes at the top of Mount Kelimutu. The colours of the lakes change, making for an extraordinary natural phenomenon. The locals believe the three lakes are gathering places of ancestral spirits, each colour being related to a different Karma. 

Travelling from Labuan Bajo to Ende takes 2 to 3 days through picturesque countryside of rice paddies, authentic villages, temples and small towns. The accommodation is not great, but the cultural interaction is authentic and provides an enjoyable contrast to the natural wonders of Flores.