Most people come to Flores just to see the Komodo dragons, stay in Labuan Bajo, and call it a day. But if you really want to experience Flores in the most authentic way possible, you will have to travel inland from west to east to understand why Flores is one of the most exciting destinations in Indonesia.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to plan the perfect trip to the wonderful island of Flores, from west to east. Without further ado, here is a complete 10-day backpacking itinerary for Flores:
- Flores Itinerary Map
- Quick Summary: 10 Days Backpacking Flores and Komodo Islands Itinerary
- 10 Days Flores Itinerary
- More Flores Activities
- Indonesia Travel Video
- Why Go to Flores?
- When to Go to Flores?
- Which tourist SIM card is best for Indonesia?
- What to Pack for Flores, Indonesia?
- How to Get to Flores?
- How to Get Around Flores?
- Further Reading for Indonesia
Flores Itinerary Map
Quick Summary: 10 Days Backpacking Flores and Komodo Islands Itinerary
- Komodo Island Hopper (9 days)
- Discover Indonesia's Eastern Islands (12 days)
- Komodo & Flores Adventure (9 days)
10 Days Flores Itinerary
Day 1: Labuan Bajo (2 nights)
Labuan Bajo is a city located in the western part of Flores and is the nearest to the Komodo National Park. This will be our first exciting destination. The city itself is nothing special, with one crowded tourist street where all the travel agencies are, and a few nice waterfalls around. But that does not matter, as our goal is to explore the Komodo National Park, and this is the best place to do so.
Spend the first day walking around the tourist street to find an agency that offers you a 2-day, 1-night cruise around Komodo Island for 800,000 IDR and no more. This should include snorkeling gear and all the meals on the boat. For the national park entrance fee, you will have to pay separately, and it should be around 150,000 IDR.
Where to Stay in Labuan Bajo?
Day 2: Komodo Islands (1 night)
Once you pick the cruise, they will pick you up the next day, and you will be on a boat for the next 2 days and 1 night. You will spend some time hiking around Rinca Island and Komodo Island to track down the Komodo Dragons on your first day. It will be a pretty slow first day, but it was still very interesting to learn about this elusive animal, why they only live on these 2 islands, and whether they are dangerous (yes).
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You will end your first day with snorkeling at Pink Beach, which has the clearest water and the most colorful coral reefs I have ever seen, and watch the sun go down from this island.
You will also have a chance to sleep on the deck under the stars, which makes the overnight cruise worth it.
The next day, you will hike to one of the most beautiful places in the world: the viewpoint of Padar Island. This is one of the most photogenic places in the national park, best seen at sunrise when the light is at its finest. You will hike up for 30 minutes before being met with the stunning panoramic view of Padar Island.
There is no shade along the trail, so this hike is best done in the morning when the sun is not too strong. Be sure to bring enough water, as the temperature rises quickly as the sun rises. It is also less crowded in the morning before the day trippers arrive.
After reaching the island, you will be dropped off at Manta Point, where you can swim with the Manta rays. It is one of the most magical moments to witness these wonderful and intelligent animals in an intimate manner.
You will spend a few hours at Manta Point before being dropped off at Kanawa Island for snorkeling and resting until the end of the day. Then, you will be dropped off at the port. Stay one night in Labuan Bajo, and the next morning, prepare to go into the mountains of Flores, starting with Ruteng.
Day 3 - 4: Ruteng (2 nights)
Ruteng is a quiet, small town in the hills of Flores. The town has its charm, from being surrounded by the mountains to the amazing locals who are always curious about hearing where you are from. I recommend renting a scooter for a day and exploring the surrounding area. You can rent a brand new scooter from Kopi Mane Inspiration. They also have the best locally brewed coffee in town.
The spider web rice terrace is not something you will see every day, even if you have been traveling in Southeast Asia. So, be sure to ride to a small village called "Lao", a few kilometers northwest of Ruteng, and check it out. You can also go further and visit Liang Bua or the Hobbit cave, where they recently unearthed the skeletal remains of a small humanoid dubbed Homo floresiensis. The cave and the museum itself are not big, but riding a motorbike through the beautiful rice fields around the area made it all worthwhile.
Be sure to spend the evening walking around the town itself and enjoying the company of the locals who will approach you and practice their English with you.
Where to Stay in Ruteng?
Day 5 - 6: Bajawa (2 nights)
Bajawa is well-known for its large traditional villages scattered around the area's hills. The most notable one is Beno, which is the biggest of its kind and contains a lot of reading material for you to learn from.
You can either rent your own motorbike or hire a driver to take you there as early as possible, as tourists get crowded in the afternoon. I was there by 8:30 AM, and no one was around except me and a few other tourists. It got considerably crowded after 9:30 AM.
If you have another day here, you could also hike up to the summit of the cone-shaped volcano that towers over Bajawa, the Gunung Inerie. Climbing volcanoes is always tricky; as you take one step up, you go down 2 steps, and this one is no different.
You must be in reasonable physical condition to attempt to reach the 2245m high summit. It will take you 3 hours up and 3 hours down, and it is best that you start your hike as early as possible to maximize the chance of having a clear sky when you reach the top. Talk to the tourist information for the possibility of hiking the mountain when you are in Bajawa.
Where to Stay in Bajawa?
Day 7: Ende (1 night)
Ende is a good place to stop for a night to break the trip down to a more manageable size. It is a big city in the western part of Flores, and it has the main airport that people often fly into when they want to go to Kelimutu.
Most people skip Ende, but I found it quite interesting as it has no filters at all when it comes to seeing how locals live their lives. I also had one of the best Nasi Ayam (chicken rice) here at the Sari Rasa restaurant, owned by a fascinating and talkative man who will explain the menu and recommend the best dish for you based on where you are from. The food is super delicious, and you get to meet a very interesting local. Nothing gets better than that!
Getting from Ende to Moni
To get from Ende to Moni, you will have to go to Roworeke Bus Terminal, which is 9 km north of Ende, where you will find several buses heading to Moni. To reach the terminal, you can flag down a go-jek and pay them to take you to the bus terminal. The bus ride will take approximately 2.5 hours, and it should cost you no more than 30,000 IDR per person.
Where to Stay in Ende?
Day 8: Moni - Kelimutu (1 night)
From Ende, you can take a bus in the early morning to Moni and spend a relaxing day walking around this small mountain town. Grab a nice coffee at Mopi's Place, sit on the balcony, and watch the rolling clouds passing through the green mountains of Flores.
At night, be sure to come back to Mopi's Place again to enjoy the live music of a very talented local reggae band. Before you end the day, make sure to either rent a motorbike or hire a motorbike driver for a sunrise trip to the Kelimutu lakes.
The next morning, wake up at 4:30 AM, get on a motorbike, and drive for 30 minutes up the mountain to Kelimutu, the three tri-colored volcanic lakes. They are among the most beautiful lakes you can see on Flores. The lakes are best experienced during sunrise on a clear day, as you will be able to witness the shifting colors and features of the lakes.
After sunrise, spend a few more hours walking around the three lakes and find a quiet spot to immerse yourself in this natural beauty.
For more information on how to get to Kelimutu and what to bring for the sunrise, be sure to check out my comprehensive guide on how to get to Kelimutu lakes for more details.
Where to Stay in Moni?
Day 9 - 10: Maumere (2 nights)
Photos by Sims8899
Last but not least, we visit the beach town of Maumere, where you can relax by the Ahuwair or Waiterang beaches in warm weather, a welcome change from the cooler climate in the mountains of Flores. You can also dive here if you have the certificate and a few more days to spare.
From Maumere, you can fly back to Labuan Bajo or directly to Bali and either end your Indonesia trip or continue your adventure to other islands in Indonesia and head over to Timor-Leste to explore the newest country in Southeast Asia.
Where to Stay in Maumere?
More Flores Activities
Why Go to Flores?
Flores is an amazing island with stunning wildlife, diverse nature, and friendly people. The island can be easily reached via Denpasar, which makes it a great destination after Bali. The island is known for its proximity to the famous Komodo Islands and is the only place you can see a real living dragon. There is so much more to Flores than just the Komodo Islands.
For one, the island is almost entirely populated by Roman Catholic Christians. In contrast, most of Indonesia is Muslim, bringing different traditions, ways of life, and many other things to see. Additionally, there are the tri-colored volcanic lakes of Kelimutu, the traditional villages of Bajawa, and the spider web rice fields in Ruteng, which will keep you occupied for weeks.
When to Go to Flores?
The best time to go to Flores is from May to September, when the weather is dry and more predictable. This is essential if you want to have a great trip in Flores, especially on the Komodo Islands cruise and in the mountain region of Flores.
The temperature in cities at sea level (Labuan Bajo, Ende, and Maumere) is pretty warm, but when you head up to the mountains, the temperature will go down to a comfortable 20°C during the day and 16°C at night, so prepare accordingly.
Daily Budget
This place is quite affordable compared to all the other countries in the world. If you are planning a trip here, you can expect to spend around $25 - $45 USD per day per person, which should include accommodation and three meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Indonesia?
Update: If your phone supports eSIM, I highly recommend checking out Airalo, a global eSIM marketplace. It allows you to stay connected affordably while traveling in Flores, Indonesia without having to switch out your physical SIM card.
Gone are the days when you needed to scramble to find a local SIM card at an airport upon arrival. You can purchase an eSIM before your arrival, and you'll be good to go. If your phone doesn't support eSIM, here is how you can get a local SIM card in Flores, Indonesia:
WIFI is widely available in hotels and restaurants in the cities and is pretty fast except in two places: Moni and around the Komodo Islands. If you want to stay connected in those two places, I would recommend getting a local SIM card from Telkomsel, as I had that, and there are services in both places. You can read more about data and SIM cards in Indonesia here.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
What to Pack for Flores, Indonesia?
As you may already know, I am an advocate of light traveling, and indeed, packing light for a journey like this is a unique art form. Here are some packing tips for your upcoming trip to Flores, Indonesia:
- Walking/Hiking Shoes: With all the walking and possible hiking during your travel, a comfortable pair of shoes is a must. I recommend the Timberland 3-Eye Classic Boat Shoes that are my go-to pair for long strolls and hikes.
- Breathable Shirts: Given the potential for hot weather, pack a few breathable shirts for your outdoor adventures.
- Shorts/Jeans: Anticipate lots of walking during your travels? Be sure to pack some breathable shorts and a pair of Levi's jeans for when the weather cools. For women, leggings are excellent for both hot and cold climates, so consider packing some as well.
- Outer Shell Jacket: An outer shell jacket is great for windy or rainy conditions. I highly recommend the Columbia Watertight Jacket (for women). It's lightweight, breathable, and even comes in a cool orange color.
- Microfiber Towel: A Microfiber towel is the ideal backpacker's towel due to its lightness, quick drying, and compressibility.
- Swim Suits: A swim trunk is a must-pack item if you are planning to visit Flores, Indonesia in the summer, just in case there is a body of water you can jump in.
- Camera: You should also pack a good camera for your trip so that you can capture all the beautiful experiences you might have. I recommend the Sony a7R V camera together with the Sony 24-70mm f2.8 GM II lens, which is probably the highest-performance camera and lens combination you can get right now.
- Power Bank: Keep your electronics charged on the go with a 20,000+ mAh Power Bank.
- Water Bottle: The Hydro Flask Trail Water Bottle is a great insulated water bottle to have with you in cities or on hiking trails. It is lightweight and can keep your water cold or warm for more than 12 hours. It's a total game-changer.
- Universal Adapter: You'll need just one universal adapter to plug in your electronics in any country you visit.
- Packing Cubes: Packing Cubes will help you save space in your backpack and keep all your belongings organized.
- Daypack: The Langly Alpha Globetrotter is my go-to everyday camera backpack. It's large enough to carry all my travel gear, and it comes with plenty of slots and pouches. Plus, it's stylish as hell!
- Large Backpack: You will need a large backpack to carry all of your stuff. I recommend the Osprey Atmos AG 65L backpack. With excellent weight distribution and a lifetime guarantee, you can't go wrong with Osprey.
For more information on what I pack in my backpack for this trip, check out: My Packing List: 60 Travel Essentials.
How to Get to Flores?
Traveling in Indonesia requires planning, and if you are planning to visit Flores, the easiest and cheapest way is to fly to Denpasar, Bali. From there, you can get a domestic flight to Labuan Bajo, the westernmost city of Flores, and nearest to the Komodo National Park. From there, you can begin your journey by landing in Maumere and flying back to Bali.
You can also follow my itinerary in the opposite direction by flying from Bali to Maumere and traveling by land through Flores, then flying back to Bali from Labuan Bajo.
If you are looking for a flight to Bali and domestic flights to Flores, I would recommend you to compare prices either via Skyscanner or Expedia as these are the services that I found to be the easiest to use, and I always find the cheapest price from there.
How to Get Around Flores?
For traveling around cities and towns, you can easily flag down any motorcycle (o-jek), and they will take you to places like the bus station for a cheap price. Cities in Flores are pretty small, so you can also walk.
For traveling to attractions nearby, I would recommend either renting a motorbike for a day (70,000-120,000 IDR per day) and driving around yourself using Google Maps or hiring a motorcycle + driver for a day who will take you to places at an agreed price. It should not cost you more than 150,000 IDR. The key is to ask how much they want and negotiate down to a price that is reasonable for you.
For traveling from city to city, you can either take a local bus, a bemo (small van), an exclusive bus (Gunung Mas), or a shared taxi. The prices increase respectively from 60,000 IDR for buses to 100,000 IDR for shared taxis. The Gunung Bus is the most comfortable option, and you can book it through the hotel you are staying at.
For local buses, you can ask your guesthouse where the bus station is and go there with an o-jek early in the morning (8 AM - 9 AM) to catch the early bus. The bus leaves when it is full, so it is difficult to predict when you will arrive, but the earlier you get on the bus, the better chance you will have of arriving before dark.
That is it for the 10 Days Backpacking Flores and Komodo Islands Itinerary. Have we missed anything? Have you found the guide useful? Let us know in the comments below!
Now that we have all the information we need, it's time to plan your trip to Flores, Indonesia! Here are some resources to help you get your trip going:
Are you planning to travel to Flores, Indonesia independently? Be sure to check out my guide on How To Plan A Backpacking Trip here.
Further Reading for Indonesia
I hope this travel guide will help you plan your trip to Indonesia. I have visited Indonesia more times than I could count, and I have written many articles about the country.
If you are looking for more articles about Indonesia, here is a selection of articles that might help you plan your trip to Indonesia even more.
- Looking for a complete itinerary and travel guide for Indonesia? One Month Itinerary for Indonesia.
- Are you planning to travel to Indonesia as part of a big Southeast Asia trip? Check out our 3-month backpacking itinerary for Southeast Asia.
- If you are visiting Bali for the first time, here is a travel guide to get you started: 10 BEST Places To Visit In Bali.
- Jakarta is a massive city unlike any other, and there are quite a lot to do here if you know where to look. Here are the 8 Best Things To Do in Jakarta.
- Yogyakarta is a great cultural and historical place to visit in Indonesia, and there are plenty of things to see and do there. Here are the 9 Best Things To Do in Yogyakarta.
- Did you know that there is an island in Indonesia that is free of tourists? One of them is Karimunjawa, a true hidden gem island of Java. Here's a complete guide on how to travel to Karimunjawa island.
- Looking for an article that summarizes a trip through the Java island? Check out my photo essay of Java, Indonesia.
- Lombok is now gaining in popularity, but one of the best things you can do on the island is to trek Mount Rinjani, a volcano on a lake in another volcano on an island. Here's a complete guide on how to trek Mount Rinjani.
- Gili Trawangan is one of the most popular Gili islands in Lombok, and even though it's crowded, you can often find solitude if you know where to look. Plus, it's cheap. Here's an article about exploring Gili Trawangan.
- Komodo Island is one of the most unique experiences you can never experience anywhere. Here's a backpacking travel guide on how to explore the Komodo Islands (what to do, which cruise to pick and more).
- Want to visit Kelimutu lakes? Here's a complete travel guide on how to get to Kelimutu lakes in Flores.
- Watch a travel video I made about Bali, Lombok, and Flores here: Nusantara, a journey through Bali, Lombok, and Flores, Indonesia.
- Not convinced by my words about Indonesia and Southeast Asia? Check out my photographic journey through the subcontinent: 64 photos that will inspire you to visit Southeast Asia.
- Wondering where you want to go next? How about Timor Leste? Visit Timor Leste Travel Guide page for more information about traveling to Timor Leste.
- To see all articles about Indonesia, visit the Indonesia Travel Guide page.
- Looking for more travel guides for Southeast Asia? You can find more on my Southeast Asia Travel Guide page.
- For more of my travel guides, visit my Destinations page.
27 Comments
Hi! great entry. I've been to Flores and love it so much I've been thinking about coming back here almost everyday. but i was wondering why did you not visit Waerebo. Its a village few hours from Ruteng. You should go there next time cause that place is so magical !
Thank you for the comments Farah. As for Waerebo, I simply didn't have enough time. :) Also, it was starting to rain a lot and I heard the trail gets really muddy when that happens so I decided to pass. Maybe next time. :)
Hey!! Awesome content. Awesome description. Thanks for being so thorough! Would you mind telling me which company you remember using? Cheers! xoxo
I meant for the trip to Komodo island haha sorry!
Hey Morgan, of course! I just went to Labuan Bajo and found an agency on the tourist street (Jl. Soekarno Hatta). There are hundreds of them there. If I remember correctly, I think it was with Christopher Adventure travel agency which is at the opposite side of Mutiara Restaurant in Labuan Bajo.
There's more info on my "The Backpacking Guide To Komodo Islands" article so feel free to check that out.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for this article
I would like to know how much did this itinerary cost you without the Komodo national park tour ? or in general how much would it cost for a backpacker?
I would like to visit Flores in addition to other destinations in Indonesia but i worry that might cost more than i can support
It's quite cheap in Flores especially without visiting Komodo Island as that is the priciest things you can do around there.
For a rough estimate, as it often depends on which towns you are in, the price can vary, I'd expect to pay around 30~ USD per day minimum, give or take, given you rent a motorbike/traveling by bus every day. Accommodation is 10~ USD, bus 5~ USD, motorbike 5~ USD and 3 meals 10 - 15~ USD.
Again this is a very rough estimate and it's always ideal to carry more than you need just in case things don't go as planned.
I hope this helps and good luck with your trip!
Hello, great article and photos! Do you mind sharing what lens did you to capture such wide angle shots (of the lakes). Thank you!
Thank you for the comments! I used the 12mm f2.8 Meika-equivalent lens on my Sony a6500 (APS-C Cropped sensor). Depending on if you are using cropped or full-frame, the focal length at 12mm (Cropped) or 15 - 30mm for full frame should be good to capture Kelimutu. :)
I hope this helps!
Super helpful! was wondering how many mm is wide enough, so your answer is great!