Round trip 16 days adventure & culture: Komodo and Flores

Garuda Indonesia flies non-stop from Amsterdam to Jakarta with its new Boeing 777-300 ER. Experience the hospitality of Indonesian culture on board at Garuda Indonesia, the national airline of Indonesia. The direct connection will take you from Amsterdam to Jakarta in just 13.5 hours. Departure Amsterdam around mid-day, arrival Jakarta early in the morning. Your connecting flight departs approximately 3 hours later and lasts approximately 2.5 hours. Max. hold luggage: 30 kg plus 23 kg sports luggage

After having collected your luggage from the belt you walk out of the arrival hall. Outside, your driver is waiting for you to drive you to your hotel.

This day there is nothing on the program. From Labuan Bajo you can make daily dive trips in the Komodo National park. You can also relax on the beach or at the swimming pool. If you want to go out, you can book special excursions in the area at the reception of the hotel or in town.

After breakfast, the driver takes you to the port where you'll board your private boat. You can choose between a simple boat with overnight stay on deck, or (at an additional cost), a more luxurious boat with AC cabins. You'll sail to the island of Kelor to snorkel above the coral and among the colorful fish. The captain then heads for the island of Rinca. During a 2-hour (easy) trek with local rangers you will be looking for the Komodo dragons Back on board you continue to Kalong island, where you can enjoy sunset and spot hundreds of flying dogs (big bats). Overnight on board. (simple accomodation!)

After breakfast you sail to Padar island. Here you make a steep climb to enjoy the most beautiful view in the Komodo National Park. Back on the boat you will sail to Komodo island. You also go for a hike on Komodo, hoping to encounter the Komodo dragons in the wild. If they don't show up there, you'll always find a few near the rangers' buildings. After the hike you continue to Pink Beach for snorkelling and finally to Kanawa island to relax and maybe do one last snorkel. In the afternoon you reach the mainland of Labuan Bajo and the driver will be waiting to take you to your hotel. Overnight stay in Labuan Bajo

You're leaving for Ruteng. On the way several stops, one at the spiderweb rice fields of Cancar.

Another beautiful day ahead. You continue your journey across Flores, stopping for a tough climb of over an hour to the beautiful traditional village of Belaraghi. There is hardly a warmer welcome than here. You have lunch with some people from the village. After a warm farewell, you continue to the village of Aimaire, where you can see (and taste) how arak (palm wine) is made. At the end of the afternoon you will arrive in the mountain town of Bajawa where you will spend the night in hotel Happy-Happy, Edelweiss or Manu Lalu.

Today you will take a lovely walk in the surroundings of Bajawa. The walk starts with a visit to the local market. Then you head into nature and start the hike in the traditional village of Luba, in the immediate vicinity of Bajawa, then a short walk to the village of Bena. The people here are very friendly and will probably invite you to have a look inside a house. The guide will tell you everything about the habits and customs of the Ngada people. Sometimes it is a little climbing and descending, but you will be rewarded with beautiful views. You finally descend to the village of Tololela. There your driver will be ready to take you to the Malanage Hot Springs, where you can chill out and relax. Overnight stay in the city of Bajawa or in the mountains, half an hour from Bajawa.

After breakfast you leave the mountainous area and drive to the north coast. On your way several stops, one of them at the hotspring in Soa. In the afternoon you arrive in the coastal village of Riung. From the road you can already see the 17 islands. Overnight stay in a simple hotel in Riung.

You'll quickly forget the bumpy road of the previous day.. Today you wander all day long on the water and you will enjoy the time on and around the 17 islands. On one of the small islands you'll see hundreds of 'flying dogs', an oversized species of bats, hanging in the trees. Next to that there is plenty of opportunity for snorkelling or lazing on the beach. Lunch is prepared on the beach: delicious fresh grilled fish! Overnight stay in Riung

After breakfast, you say goodbye to the beautiful 17 islands and take a partly very bad road to the south coast. You will travel through the mountains again and make an occasional stop to stretch your legs and enjoy the views. You will arrive in Moni towards the end of the afternoon.

Early in the morning you have to climb for about an hour to the panoramic viewing point to enjoy sunrise over the Kelimutu volcano. The Kelimutu is known for its 3 lakes with beautiful colours. The local people attribute mythical powers to the lakes with their constantly changing colours which is due to dissolved minerals. Back at the hotel we enjoy our breakfast. Then we’ll visit the traditional village of Saga. A very enthusiastic local guide tells you about the village, its inhabitants and their traditions. After a stop at the white beach of Koko beach we continue the road to Maumere.

There is nothing on the program these days. You can laze by the pool or take a dip in the Flores Sea. Divers and snorkelers can also indulge themselves here. Diving and snorkelling trips are made from Seaworld Club.

After breakfast your driver will take you to the airport for your flight via Bali and Jakarta to Amsterdam. Flight with Garuda Indonesia, departure 12:05.

Departure from Maumere around 12:00 via Denpasar to Jakarta. Here you change planes and board the night flight to Amsterdam. Arrival at Schiphol in the morning.

In the morning arrival at Schiphol. The end of a beautiful trip...