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Flores & Komodo
Between dragons and multicolored volcanoes
Flores Island and the Komodo region offer you the opportunity to discover unique landscapes and enjoy one-of-a-kind encounters. Between the endemic dragons of the Komodo region, the Kelimutu volcanoes—said to be magical—the spider-web rice fields of Ruteng, remote villages, green pebble beaches, and the discovery of an authentic people, there is much to explore.
Your Holidays in Flores & Komodo
LOCATION
8° 27′ 00’’ S, 121° 07′ 59’’ E
Lesser Sunda Island
Flores Sea, Savu Sea in the Pacific Ocean
SURFACE AREA
13,500 km2
POPULATION
Bajau, Butonese, Bugis, Manggarai, Ngada, Sikka, Lamaholot 1,831,472 inhabitants (2011).
TIME ZONE
UTC +8:00. 7-hour time difference between Flores and France Daylight Savings Time in France: 6-hour difference
RELIGIONS
Predominantly Christian, Muslim, Animist, Buddhist, Hindu.
official language
Bahasa Indonesia
More than 10 different dialects spoken
Currency
Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)
Highest point
Poco Mandasawu (2,370 m)
Located approximately 2 hours from Bali by plane, Flores is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands. These islands, known as Kepulauan Sunda Kecil in Indonesian, form an archipelago stretching between Indonesia and East Timor.
This includes Bali, Lombok, Sumba, Sumbawa, Timor, as well as the Solor and Alor archipelagos. Together with the Greater Sunda Islands (Kepulauan Sunda Besar)—which include Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, and Borneo—they form the Sunda Islands, part of the Sunda volcanic arc.
The island was discovered by the Portuguese during the great spice trade adventure of the early 16th century. They sought to stay ahead of Spain and Holland, who were competing with Arab spice merchants as Islam gradually spread throughout the archipelago.
Unlike Sulawesi, for example, Flores was not a spice island and possessed no exploitable wealth, but it was a strategic location, a port that provided shelter for ships and facilitated trade. Although the Portuguese named it ‘Ilha das Flores’ or ‘Copa de Flores’, meaning ‘Island of Flowers’, the original name of the island of Flores was Nusa Nipa, the ‘Island of Snakes’.
Around 1565, Portuguese missionaries opened a school in Larantuka with the aim of educating the local population and converting them to Christianity. In 1859, the Portuguese ceded the entirety of Flores to the Dutch, with one requirement: the Catholic religion must be maintained and preserved. This was achieved through the involvement of Dutch Jesuits in 1865, who preached a variation of Catholicism that still exists today.
As in Bali, a unique version of Christianity developed, sometimes blending animism, ancestor worship, and spirit worship. While Indonesia is 90% Muslim, Flores Island is an exception—much like Bali with Hinduism—and the Christian religion represents 85% of practitioners.
Traveling from West to East along often long and winding roads, one quickly realizes that every region has distinct peoples and cultures: the Manggarai in the Ruteng region, the Ngada in Bajawa and Lio, the Lio people around Ende and Kelimutu, the Sikka near Maumere, and the Lamaholot in Larantuka.
Flores Island still holds ancient secrets, and many discoveries are still being made today. In 2003, when Amanaska began scouting the interior, paleontologists discovered the Liang Bua cave and the skeleton of a woman initially named “Flores Man.” She is believed to have lived on the island 60,000 to 100,000 years ago, a descendant of a lineage dating back 1 to 3 million years.
In 2008, Indonesian architect Yori Antar traveled to the Pocoroko mountains. After more than 8 hours of hiking on steep trails, he discovered a “forgotten” village, Wae Rebo, at an altitude of 1,200 meters. This discovery earned him the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for Excellence.
Flores is therefore an island to be discovered, slowly revealing itself through peoples, stories, and traditions, many of whose origins remain a mystery.
VISIT
Flores & Komodo
Organized tours of Flores & Komodo
Various forms of transport are available on Flores, though not all are suited to every region. We have tested scooters from Labuan Bajo to Maumere, as well as cars and minibuses; the most practical choice depends on the number of participants.
The scooter remains the most uncomfortable and dangerous option given the road conditions and traffic. However, it is also the one that allows access to improbable trails, provided one has a perfect command of Indonesian driving customs.
Accommodation options are as varied as they are rare in certain regions. Gradually, the island is opening up to travelers from Indonesia and the rest of the world, but infrastructure remains simple and practical, and may not always meet the standards we are accustomed to or prefer.
In practical terms, it will be necessary to adapt, sometimes improvise, appreciate comfort when it is available, and above all—as in the rest of Indonesia—keep smiling no matter what happens.
The Amanaska team began exploring the Island of Flowers years ago, at a time when Komodo National Park was just beginning to develop and Labuan Bajo offered only a few modest accommodations. Traditional boats took the more “adventurous” to discover Rinca Island, which was and still is home to Komodo dragons, one of Indonesia’s endemic species.
Initially, we stayed mainly on the coast, but gradually moved inland to discover hidden treasures, starting with the island’s population—welcoming, kind, and as curious to exchange and share as we were to understand and learn.
After some scouting, we quickly realized that our team should follow the advice of the locals and continue further, higher, and deeper into the heart of the Island of Flowers.
While Flores is not particularly large (13,500 km2), it stretches over 350 kilometers in length with a width of only 10 to 60 kilometers. Given the winding roads, numerous stops for exploration, and rather approximate or incomplete maps, travel required time and a great deal of patience.
Our first true encounter came through an impromptu invitation to a local Manggarai wedding in Ruteng. We remember the great simplicity with which strangers were accepted into an intimate event, and participating in a demonstration of Caci martial arts, where warriors equipped with buffalo-hide shields and whips engage in unusual combat. Discovering Flores means accepting to go “off-program” and following invitations, outstretched hands, and smiles…
Between Labuan Bajo and Maumere, you must follow a sometimes long road to see incredible landscapes, such as in the village of Cancar near Ruteng, famous for its spider-web rice fields. The maxim “It is not the destination that matters, but the journey” takes on its full meaning on this Island of Flowers.
Prepare your holidays in
Flores & Komodo
HOW TO GET TO FLORES?
Many of you wish to travel as close as possible to local life, discover unknown lands, and enjoy authentic encounters. Flores Island is an essential stop for those willing to trade a little comfort for off-the-beaten-path experiences.
To reach Flores Island, we recommend the simplest and fastest way: take a domestic flight during your family trip to Bali. Depending on the airline, you can reach Flores in a few hours. It is also possible to reach the island by boat, but this will take much more time that could otherwise be spent on encounters and discovery.
WHEN TO GO TO FLORES?
Flores, which belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara), is located at 8 degrees South latitude in the Alor archipelago. The climate is therefore tropical. As with many Indonesian islands, there is a rainy season from early December to early April, and a dry season that begins in late May and generally ends in mid-October.
The dry period has lower temperatures, and when the Southeast monsoon wind blows, the temperature can drop to around 19/20 °C.
Note that as you move higher in altitude, you will regularly encounter fog and cooler temperatures.
To avoid the busiest tourist period, we recommend avoiding the last week of July and the first week of August. Generally, the further inland you go and the further you move from Labuan Bajo, the fewer “tourists” there are, except at sites like Kelimutu which is popular with local tourists.
WHAT TO DO IN FLORES?
Your first steps on the Island of Flowers often provide an opportunity to explore Komodo National Park, where a two- or three-day mini-cruise will allow you to encounter the last remaining Komodo dragons, as well as spot wild boars and deer native to the region. During this adventure, you’ll also have the chance to go scuba diving and swim with manta rays
Labuan Bajo has become a small seaside resort and a strategic point for discovering Flores. However, it is also possible to fly into Ende or Maumere. In this case, the program could begin, for example, with the beaches of Ende, covered in green pebbles that are highly prized by the Japanese for decorating their spas.
In Flores, you will appreciate the many traditional markets and the improvised encounters that can happen at any time. The island itself offers many sites to visit or explore during a trip with friends, such as the Moni, Ende, and Riung regions. This includes the possibility of a walk—rather than a true climb—up Mount Kelimutu and its three volcanoes with different colored crater lakes, and enjoying the panorama of the Detosoko rice fields.
In Bajawa, you can enjoy the Soa hot springs and visit the traditional village of Bena.
Further towards Ende, a hike of several hours will take you in the footsteps of Indonesian explorer Yori Antar to the UNESCO World Heritage village of Wae Rebo. Alternatively, you may prefer more secluded trekking in the hinterland.
Flores is a wild, multicolored, and multicultural island to be discovered through hidden trails, guided tours, and a desire for authentic encounters.
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154 REVIEWS
We had a fabulous family trip to Bali thanks to Amanaska!!
Melisande provided us with a fifteen-day itinerary that met our expectations in every respect!!
The guide and driver were excellent, as were the suggested activities and hotels; I highly recommend Amanaska for a trip to Bali!
Thank you again to Melisande and the entire Amanaska team!
We have just returned from an absolutely exceptional trip to Bali, organised by the Amanaska agency.
A huge thank you, especially to Melisande, for her professionalism, attentiveness, and flawless organisation. Thanks to her, everything went perfectly.
We loved every region of Bali, each with its own character, charm, and unique landscapes. Every excursion was a real highlight.
We were also very touched by the kindness and helpfulness of the staff we met, and by the warmth of the Balinese people.
Thank you to the entire Amanaska team for this unforgettable stay.
We recommend you without hesitation.
I recommend it!
Regular communication to plan the trip, excellent advice, great responsiveness—everything went as planned.
Thank you again for your professionalism.
The family came back with stars in their eyes.
Bali, the trip of a lifetime
We owe this unique and unforgettable experience to David from the AMANASKA agency, who perfectly understood our desires from our very first phone call. He was able to craft OUR trip while respecting our specifications.
These unique moments shared with my wife and children will forever be etched in our memories. THANK YOU AMANASKA ❤️
A customized program. We appreciated our exchanges with David.
An excellent driver and guide team.
We highly recommend this wonderful personable agency.
We spent 3 weeks in Bali in late April and early May, the four of us! And what a fabulous trip! A wonderful experience, breathtaking scenery—sea, mountains, volcanoes, rice fields, temples, typical villages—everything is beautiful! The Balinese people are incredibly kind and have a rich culture, with traditions and Hindu rites that are still very much alive. A philosophy of life to discover! Amanaska put together a programme tailored to our wishes, with many discoveries, surprises, and truly wonderful encounters. Accompanied throughout the tour by our excellent French-speaking guide, Ketut Nik, and our lovely driver, Putuh (a top team), we shared unforgettable moments—this is a magical trip! Come and visit BALI and choose AMANASKA without any hesitation! Calou and Serge
An unforgettable stay thanks to Amanaska.
Melisande is very attentive and always available to chat and answer our questions, whether before or during our stay.
Stéphane, another member of the agency, was also very friendly.
Thank you once again for the high standard of your services.
Amanaska organised a three-week family holiday in Bali for us, which will remain etched in our memories forever.
What did we love? EVERYTHING! From the quality of our discussions with David, the agency’s founder, as we planned our bespoke tour of the island – avoiding the overly touristy traps – to the selection of charming hotels blending tradition and modernity, right through to our guide and driver, who were always so attentive and knew the route inside out.
We particularly enjoyed the opportunities to meet Balinese families and discover their way of life, arts and traditions in an intimate and personalised way (cooking classes, dance lessons in a magical school, making our own kites, visiting a village with its nursery school, and so on).
And what can we say about the kindness and hospitality of the Balinese people? That first glimpse made us want to come back.
We had an amazing three-week road trip in Bali, organised by Amanaska.
Right from the start, the team went out of their way to look after us: Melisandre, our tour organiser, put together a tailor-made itinerary for our family (with two children aged 6 and 9), allowing us to discover the real Bali, off the beaten track, whilst taking our wishes and needs into account.[...]
A huge thank you to the whole Amanaska team for this unique experience and the thoughtful touches they provided. We highly recommend their services to anyone looking to discover Bali in a different way, with authenticity and warmth.
A wonderful trip. Discovering Bali was an unforgettable family experience... Melisande and her team at Amanaska made it easy for us to learn about the local customs and traditions. They listened to our wishes and stuck to our budget.
We can’t recommend them highly enough.
Thank you again!!!
I wanted to visit the real Bali, not the one overrun by mass tourism, and the agency understood this straight away. We discovered a wonderful culture and met some very kind and welcoming people. The trip alternated between sightseeing and sporting challenges for my older teenagers (aged 16 to 20). We watched the sunrise over the volcano and went on a bike ride through the rice fields. We even helped the locals replant rice. Our French-speaking guide was absolutely brilliant. The driver was very kind and incredibly skilful in this world of lawless roads…
It’s the best trip we’ve ever been on.
Thank you to the whole Amanaska team
We spent 15 days in Bali in June, exploring and unwinding. Mélisande put together an unforgettable trip for our wedding anniversary. Every time we arrived at a new hotel, we were delighted to find a bed decorated with flowers. Gustut and Nura were our guide and driver, and they looked after us so well.
This is the second time I’ve been to Bali and had my trip organised by you.
I’ll be back a third time with great pleasure.
Thank you
Léa and Pierre
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