TOUR PACKAGES – 12 Days/11 Nights FLORES KOMODO & CACI with overnight at hotel
Day 01
Upon your arrival at Maumere’s airport in East Flores, you will be welcomed by our local guide and driver, who will transfer you to your beach hotel Wailiki for overnight.
Day 02
After breakfast at the hotel, we spend a day at leisure and stay overnight at Wailiki.
You might want to take advantage of one of these optional excursions:
Dance performance at Watublapi
Hiking Mount Egon (difficult level)
Diving at some of the dive sites near Pulau Besar.
Please inform & book the day before.
Day 03
After breakfast we visit Wuring a fishing village on the water in Maumere, then go onwards to Ledalero Museum. In this small museum you will see a collection of woven Ikats and precious stones. Sikka, as the area where we now are is called, is known for its old church dating back to 1899, and its Ikat woven fabrics, which are enthusiastically sold by the local people. At Paga Beach we take a moment to relax and possibly have a swim. We then visit the traditional village of Jopu, before our arrival at tonight’s accommodation: the charming chalets of Kelimutu EcoLodge at the riverside of a mountain stream in the town of Moni.
Day 04
After an early morning wake-up call we depart for the Kelimutu volcano. A short walk (30 minutes) will take us to the lookout point on the summit, where we wait for the sunrise. Keli Mutu means Mountain of the Spirits. This place is renowned for its famous 3 colour lakes: one turquoise, one brown and one black. Various degrees of dissolution of minerals give the volcanic lakes different colours. We enjoy a well-deserved breakfast upon our return to the hotel, then continue through beautiful landscape to the port town of Ende. Along the way we stop at the green stone beach Pengga Jawa, then onto Flores’ arid north coast, where we’ll spend the night in Riung. The last part of the road is still in poor condition, so it’s quite an adventure to arrive at Pondok SVD for our overnight here.
Day 05
Today we make a boat trip to the 17 islands National Park near Riung. We’ll see a great variety of many-coloured fish and corals here. But first we make a stop at the hundreds of flying foxes that hang in the mangrove forests near the coast. We enjoy lunch on one of these paradisiacal remote islands and enjoy a bit of leisure time upon our return to Riung. Snorkels are included in the tour. Overnight at Pondok SVD.
Day 06
After a hearty breakfast we depart for the mountain village of Bajawa. En route we visit the naturally formed So’a hotspring where hot water boils to the surface and for those among us who don’t mind a hot bath, take a dip in the pools. In the afternoon we continue to Boloji, where we assist a traditional dance and flute performance by the Bajawanese. We spend the night in the breezy Villa Silverin with a majestic view of the surrounding mountainside.
Day 07
In the morning we visit the traditional Ngada village of Bena: fully intact, it features megalith stones side by side with rows of old houses. The village is also beautifully located, with views of Mount Inerie. Then in the afternoon a visit to another impressive traditional village: Wogo. Here, too, its people still preserve their ancestral beliefs and spiritual way of life. Overnight at Villa Silverin.
Day 08
In the morning we visit the traditional village of Bena: fully intact, it features megalith stones side by side with rows of old houses. The village is also beautifully located, with views of Mount Inerie. In the morning we depart for the catholic stronghold Ruteng with its typical cathedrals. On the way we visit Rana Mese, a big lake where we have the possibility to do some great hiking. Then onto Ruteng Puu. a Manggarainese traditional village with elegantly narrow houses. Our final stop today is the cave of Liang Bua, where archaeologists recently excavated the skeleton of the short Homo Floresiensis (often dubbed the ‘Flores hobbit’). We spend the night in Ruteng, at the monastery of Santa Maria whose gates close at 9pm.
Day 09
It is likely we are woken up by the young nuns’ soft angelic chanting coming from the nearby chapel. After an early rise we head for the western port of Labuan Bajo. En route we climb a hill to overlook the magnificent spider web ricefields at Cacar. At the town of Melo we witness the Tari Caci a whip dance ritual famous among the Manggarai people of West Flores. After our arrival at Labuan Bajo’s EcoLodge* we spend the rest of the day at leisure, then overnight at the hotel.
Day 10
After breakfast at the hotel, we spend a day at leisure and stay overnight at the EcoLodge. You might want to take advantage of one of these optional excursions:
visit to the Mirror cave and market (3 hours)
diving at world-class dive sites near Komodo island
Please inform & book the day before.
Day 11
After an early morning wake-up call and breakfast on board we head for Komodo island. For about four hours we sail over blue tropical waters and past hundreds of small islands until we reach Komodo island. During a one-hour guided walk we go in search of Komodo dragons with a local ranger. Along the way we’re sure to meet wild buffalo, deer, pigs and various species of tropical birds like the Cockatoo. Then onto Pink Beach. Here we take our lunch, grab the snorkels and fins on board our boat and swim in these rich waters to discover their submarine life. Then On
Upon our arrival at the harbour of this bustling port town, we step aboard a motorized live-aboard boat and cross over to Rinca island. Along the way we enjoy lunch with constantly changing views of emerald sea dotted with green islets. After sailing about one and a half hours we reach the ranger station at Loh Buaya. Our purpose here today is to see the Komodo Dragon. This largest living lizard on earth lives on the three islands of Rinca, Padar and Komodo, and in some parts of West Flores. Its length can go up to 3 meters, and it can weigh up to 90kg. Led by a local ranger we make a 2 hour soft trekking through forest and savanna. Komodo Dragons are often spotted on the way. From the highest point on this hike we witness a beautiful panorama of the surrounding island. After returning to the boat, we enjoy dinner and overnight on board.
Bidadari
Day 12
Rinca, Pink Beach & Komodo Island (B,L)
Our purpose today is to see the Komodo Dragon. This largest living lizard on earth lives on 3 islands Rinca, Padar & Komodo and some parts of West Flores. Its length can go up to 3 meters with weight of up to 90 kilo. Early morning wake up call. Breakfast at hotel transfer to the harbour. At 6.00 am depart for Komodo island This trip over blue tropical waters and past hundreds of small island will take approximately 4 hours. On our visit to Komodo island we make a walk (1 hour) with a local ranger in search of the Komodo dragons. During your visit also wild buffalo, deer, pigs and various species of tropical birds like the Cockatoo can be seen. At Pink Beach lunch and time to discover the splendid underwater world of these rich waters (snorkels and fins are provided). Onwards to Rinca. Led by a local ranger 1 hour soft trekking through forest and savanna. Komodo Dragons are often spotted on the way. From the highest point on this hike a beautiful panorama of the surrounding island. Return to Labuan Bajo will take around 1 1/2 hours. Upon arrival at the harbour transfer to Hotel EcoLodge in Labuan Bajo for overnight
Day 13
Labuan Bajo – Denpasar (B)
We enjoy a hearty breakfast at the hotel and spend a leisurely morning until our transfer to LBJ airport for our onward flight.
Included : AC transport, English speaking guide, 2 days boat, snorkel equipment, entrance fees (incl. Conservation Fee KNP @ USD per person), daily breakfast, 2x lunch on board for Komodo/Rinca Tour, accommodation as per itinerary, Dance performance at Boloji, Whip Dance performance at Melo
Excluded : air tickets, domestic airport tax, porters, personal expenses, tips etc.
Note: overnight on board is very simple: mattresses with sheets under a covered deck. Mosquito net is provided. Toilet is simple at the rear end of the boat. EcoLodge is a small 3 star hotel with swimming pool. Rooms have AC and hot water.
What to bring: proper walking shoes, swimwear, towel, hat and sun lotion
