FLORES: The Roughness of Flores

Day 1 : Arrival Labuhan Bajo
Individual arrival in Labuhan Bajo and optional transfer to your hotel. Labuhan Bajo is Flores' most westerly point, where the bay is filled with the candy-stripped sails of outrigger fishing boats and encircled by bougainvillea-festooned houses. Lilies and sunflowers grew from cracks in the dusty streets. It was easy to see why the sixteenth century Portuguese, who came here to trade in sandalwood, named the island "the cape of flowers." Visit the Batu Cermin Caves or go swimming and snorkeling on one of the nearby remote and small islands. At the end of the day you can enjoy a breathtaking sunset with a view over the small islands between Flores and Komodo.

Day 2 : Labuhan Bajo - Ruteng
The barren landscape of Western-Flores becomes greener as we approach Ruteng. This is a small, Catholic city with a lively store and market district. Because of its high location, Ruteng has a cool and pleasant climate. The city is also the centre of the Manggarai-minority.

Day 3 : Ruteng - Bajawa
The first part drives trough rugged hills and dense jungle, than the landscape becomes more open and you will have spectacular views on the sea, the many volcano tops and lava stream. This friendly hill town is the centre of the Ngada people, one of the most traditional of Flores with five tribal groups. Each has its own customs, languages, beliefs and distinctive dress made of hand-spun ikat cloth, intricately patterned and colored with dye extracted from plants and minerals.

Day 4 : Bajawa
Hike with a local guide trough traditional villages along the foot of the Inerie Volcano. You’ll visit Bena with megalithic stones, offering and meetings places where the head of the village’s decisions are still made that influences their relations with the supernatural. The traditional houses of Bena have steep ending, high roofs of grass. Some have been rewarded with the image of a warrior with a spear. If you walk through Bena it is as if you are back in time. From a hill top, you can overlook this town, the volcano and the blue Sawusea.

Day 5 : Bajawa - Riung
Before heading to Riung you dip in the Natural Hot Springs of Soa for a delightfully “mandi”. The ride goes diagonal over the island to Riung. Because it not at the Trans-Flores “Highway” it’s less visited by tourists. It is a small place and known for its beautiful choral gardens.

Day 6 : Riung
Visit the National Park Pulau Tujuhbelas with a local guide and enjoy the beautiful white beaches. Go snorkelling because the coral is still in good state. Therefore you find here also lots of colourful fish. If the tide is not to low, you go to the coast of the island Ontoloe where the flying dogs (kalongs) with hundreds escapes the mangroves by sunset.

Day 7 Riung – Moni
Again a beautiful route that brings you to the higher situated Moni. Moni is located on the foot of the Kelimutu volcano. Rice fields are surrounding this picturesque village. The tradition plays an important role in their modern life, and the high roofed ‘adat’ houses in this district are a stunning sight.

Day 8 : Moni - ascent Kelimutu volcano – Maumere
Before dawn you leave to the Kelimutu volcano to enjoy a very impressive panorama and a beautiful sun rise. On a clear day, the Kelimutu is one of the most spectacular sights in the world. The colors of the three lakes change continual through the varying mineral content of the water. It is also no wondrous that this spot was previously an important spot for rituals. One believed (and praised still) that the souls of the death find their last resting-place in these lakes; that of the old men in one lake, that of the young men in another and that of the witches in the last lake. You can walk down to Moni trough small villages to start your last ride on Flores to Maumere. You’ll overnight here at the beach for plain relaxing, or opportunities for snorkeling or swimming in the morning.

Day 9 : Maumere
Tour ends after breakfast.