24 Adventurous Things to Do in Flores, Indonesia
What is Flores known for?
Flores, Indonesia shook me…in the best way. Part of the East Nusa Tenggara province, this lesser-visited island is most famous for being the only place in the world to view the Komodo Dragons. But, with a deeper look, you will find a whole host of amazing things to do in Flores, Indonesia, from beautiful caves, well-preserved unique ethnic cultures, and intricate agricultural fields, to tri-colored volcanic craters.
Only one very windy main road runs through all of Flores, so it only makes sense to give you the list of the best things to do in Flores in road trip order. However, I want first to point out the highlights of a trip to Flores to make sure you plan your trip around these must-do Flores attractions.
Bucket List of Flores Island (In My Ranking of Awesomeness)
- Watch the Sunrise (or Sunset) on the Three Colored Beaches of Padar Island
- Short Trek to the Tri-Colored Lakes of Volcano Kelimutu
- Find Sharks and Manta Diving at Komodo National Park
- Learn about the Traditional Culture of the 9 Flores Ethnic Groups
- Track Komodos, the Largest Lizards on Earth
- Photoshoot on a Pink Beach (There’s more than one!)
Top 3 Picks: Flores tours
Flores may only have one main road, but the island is hugggge! As in you may want to take at least 5 – 7 days if you plan on doing any sort of overland trip yourself or with a tour. Although you can totally see the island yourself, here is the top overlanding tour option and the best Komodo boat tour options. And yes, you do need a tour to see Komodo National Park.
Flores Dreamland Tour (for 4 Pax)
Best Overland Flores Tour | ⭐️ Rated: 5
One day Komodo trip with Bintang Komodo Tours
Best 1 Day Komodo Island Tour | ⭐️ Rated: 5
3 Days Komodo Boat Tour Private (for 12 Pax)
Best Multi-Day Komodo Island Tour | ⭐️ Rated: 5
Things to Do in Flores, Indonesia
Things to Do Near Labuan Bajo
Adventures in Komodo National Park
I will admit, Komodo National Park is very unique; it’s definitely one of the best places to visit in Indonesia, a true Southeast Asian bucket list attraction. Not only is it home to the largest lizard on Earth, but expect to see a whole host of large, rare creatures in the sea, land, and air. The park covers three major islands: Komodo Island, Rinca Island, and Padar Island.
The best way to see the Komodo National Park is by boat, with itinerary options leaving from Lombok and Labuan Bajo – like this popular 1 day boat tour. Many Flores tour operators offer similar itinerary day trips or liveaboards – like this private 3 day option – from Labuan Bajo.
If you’re staying on Lombok, two operators (Wanua Adventure and Travel Wise) depart from Lombok on a 4D/3N journey making many stops past exciting and uninhabited islands along the way.
Important Note: The government officially increased the entrance fee at the start of 2023. Fees have increased from 275K – 350k IDR (18.50 – 23.50 USD) to 500,000 IDR (~33 USD).
1. Watch the Sunrise (or Sunset) on Padar Island
Trekking up to the top of Padar Island is one of the best things to do in Flores, Indonesia. I think it is even more iconic than seeing the Komodo Dragons. The views are incredible, with a see-it-to-believe-it panoramic view of tri-colored bays and beaches (pink, black, and white!).
It’s an easy hike that should only take about 30 minutes to reach the top of this small island. I highly recommend going for the sunrise. Sunsets would also be amazing, but as clouds tend to form in the early afternoon in West Flores, it is riskier to go for the sunsets.
2. See a Komodo on Komodo or Rinca Island
You can’t leave Flores without seeing a Komodo. This was certainly on my bucket list, and check. While Komodo Dragons do not live on mainland Flores, you will need to take a boat tour – like this one – to either Komodo Island or Rinca Island.
Here are some cool Komodo Dragon facts to pique your interest in seeing these endangered species.
- Komodo Dragons can grow up to 10 feet long and 150 lbs.
- Their mouths are extraordinarily venomous, and their drool contains 54 disease-containing pathogens. They typically eat buffalo, boar, and deer, so they can easily take you down too.
- Komodos have no natural predators, so they balance their own population with cannibalization.
Tip! During the Komodo Dragon mating season (May-August), the chances of seeing these rare creatures drop as they go deeper into the island away from sight. Unfortunately, you will have to hope to be lucky during these months.
3. Visit a Pink Beach
Have you ever seen those Instagram pictures of bikini-laden, swim trunk wearing youth laying aesthetically on a pink beach surrounded by turquoise water? I’m here to tell you that it is not photoshopped, but reality.
On a typical komodo trip, you may be taken to two pink sand beaches: Long Pink Beach on Padar Island and Pink Beach on Komodo Island. Both are amazing, but the pros of Komodo Pink Beach are that the sand is finer, and on Padar, it is less visited. The sand naturally occurs from the erosion of pink corals, which you can find lying along the sand banks.
The best time to see the strongest pink color is early morning or before the sunsets, but the middle of the day is the best time to see the contrasting turquoise waters.
4. Watch the Flying Foxes Fly Around Eating Fruit
The flying fox is the largest bat in the world, with a wingspan up to five feet. You can see these nocturnal creatures fly around at dusk by the thousands eating fruit on Kalong Island.
5. Snorkel In and Around Komodo National Park
With over 260 types of coral and 1000 species of fish, it is easy to spend an entire day snorkeling in Flores. Snorkel right off the beach on many small islands within the park, including Kalong Island, both Pink Beaches, Kanawa Island, Taka Makassar, Kelor Island, Gili Banta, etc.
6. Dive at Komodo National Park
With some of the most diverse marine life in the world, it is no wonder that the island of Flores is one of the top dive destinations. With over 70 dive sites, it is a mecca for divers in terms of marine and coral diversity, from spotting large sea creatures to macro diving sites. Manta rays, turtles, sharks, and nudibranchs are just a few things you might see while diving in Flores.
Komodo National Park Dive Pricing
I inquired at 8 different dive centers in Labuan Bajo to find the best dive shop and price hunt. Everyone seems to be on the same page in terms of pricing.
As of July 2022, it is 2.5 million for three dives per day, including everything (equipment rental, breakfast, lunch, sunscreen, water, and drinks). Noticeably not included is the National Park entrance fee, which in 2023 has increased up to 500,000 IDR per person per year.
Dragon Dive Komodo did have a 20% discount on the days I was there. Blue Marlin offers a speed boat, so you can get out to Komodo and return a few hours earlier than the other dive shops.
Best Komodo National Park Dive Sites
North Komodo and Central Komodo are the most common areas that dive centers go to. Like in Nusa Lembongan, North Komodo is known for its drift diving, larger creatures like sharks, sea turtles, and giant schools of fish.
Most scuba instructors seem much more excited about the north side. The best visibility is during the dry season, from April – November.
Central has a lot of diversity too! Turtles and manta rays are almost guaranteed at Manta Point (when it is not low season) and muck diving, coral gardens, pinnacles, and reef walls are available too.
7. Goa Rangko Caves
Looking for another thing to do in Labuan Bajo, Flores, after your adventures in Komodo National Park? Go play in the natural blue pools in the secluded Goa Rangko Cave.
You can take a tour from any of the operators in town. But the cheapest way is to rent a scooter to go to the village of Rangko, then ask for a boat to go to the cave. The more people you have for the boat, the cheaper it is: For 4 people, you can get a ride for 100k IDR per person.
👉 For a private full-day adventure to all the tourist destinations around Labuan Bajo, book this tour to Cunca Wulang, Rangko Cave, Mirror Cave, and Sylvia Hill, and more!
Things to Do Near Ruteng
8. Marvel at the Spiderweb Rice Fields at Cancar
Flores is filled with fantastic rice terraces and stunning agricultural fields around every turn. But the making of spiderweb rice fields is unique to Flores, and there is no better example than in the village of Cancar. There is even a short walk up to a viewpoint for a small fee.
9. Make the Trek to the Traditional Village Wae Rebo
As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wae Rebo is one of the top things to do in Flores but also a bit of an undertaking. The traditional village of Wae Rebo is set deep in the Flores jungle and high up in the mountains. This unique village is only accessible by a 2-3 hour long trek. But, you are awarded a culturally preserved society who have lived this way for centuries.
In each of these cone-shaped traditional houses lives between 6-8 families (with 4 people per family on average). What’s craziest is that the children starting from 7-8 years old go to school and only come return for weekends.
For the Best Experience: Visit Wae Rebo as an overnight excursion, living with a family in a homestay – like this 3 day tour from Labuan Bajo
10. Liang Bua Cave
This is the cave where the bones of Homo Floresiensis were found (dubbed the Hobbit Cave). While it is not possible to go inside and see the bones, you can see a replica of what they believe the hobbits looked like in the museum next door.
The Liang Bua cave is still an active research site for archaeologists worldwide, and you can often see them working at the site.
Things to Do Near Bajawa
11. Climb Mount Inierie
As the tallest mountain on Flores, the Mount Inierie peak overlooks the entire area of Bajawa. It is an active volcano, but don’t let that scare you off – the last time it erupted was so long ago that even researchers don’t know when it was.
Although I didn’t endure this tough hike, fellow travelers have told me that the four hour trek to the top for the sunrise is steep and entirely on volcanic ash, which means every two steps up is a one step slide down. For the toughness, feedback seemed to be that it wasn’t entirely worth the view.
12. Wolobobo Inierie Viewpoint
If you want the views of Mount Inierie without having to do the hike, make your way to the Wolobobo Viewpoint. Only a 30 minute drive from Bajawa, make Wolobobo your first stop on your itinerary of the day. Although Wolobobo is known as a sunset spot, it is common for clouds to form in Bajawa’s afternoons, completely obscuring a view of the volcano.
13. Visit the Ngada Traditional Villages
Ngada is one of the most unique and interesting traditional cultures still alive and practiced today. Every year, Oxford (or Cambridge) sends anthropology students to live in a Ngada village for a month to learn about their culture.
There are several Ngada villages around Flores, with Bena being the largest and the most popular with tourists. A few nearby ones are Luba and Tolelela (my personal favorite), and further away ones like Watu and Balaraghi.
If you are around during a ceremony, try your best to be invited! Large ceremonies can see hundreds of pigs and dozens of buffalo sacrificed for a tens of thousands of people celebration.
Related Post: If you’re interested in learning more about the Ngada culture, I spoke with a tribesman Marcelino for more than two hours about his culture and have attempted to transcribe everything he told me in this post.
14. Trek up to Wawo Muda Lake
Wawo Muda, also known as “mini-Kelimutu” of Bajawa, is a series of rusty-brown lakes that occasionally changes color. To get to the lake, you need to hike for about an hour and a half, but supposedly in the dry season, you can cut the hike down a bit.
15. Explore Bajawa’s Hot Springs
The undeveloped Malanage Hot Springs was probably one of the best hot springs I have been to, and I have seen my fair share of hot springs. The bathing area sits at the junction of a cold and hot river joining, so you can choose your heat level or play with the temperatures in the rapids. There are other lesser-known hot springs in and around Mount Inierie.
Things to Do Near Ende
16. Take Only Photographs at Blue Stone Beach
West of Ende, the geological oddity of Blue Stone Beach comprises a high concentration of blue-colored stones along the black sand beach.
In recent years, local communities have begun collecting and selling beautiful blue stones. Reviews state that the blue stone beach is now more like a grey stone beach.
17. Bonus: Snap a Pic at a Beautiful Bamboo Bridge and Rice Fields
Just a side detour on your way to the famous Indonesian landmark in Kelimutu National Park, you will pass by an incredibly beautiful bamboo bridge and awesome rice fields, on par with the famous ones in North Bali and East Bali. Highly recommend a quick stop to snap a pic.
18. Admire the Kelimutu Lakes
Kelimutu is series of three crater lakes sitting side by side at the top of a mountain in Kelimutu National Park. The lakes each have different colors due to varying mineral compositions and depths. The colors have been known to change over time, even turning from blue to rusty red!
If you happen to be around on August 14th every year, the local Lio people believe that the spirits of their dead live on in the sacred lakes of Kelimutu and present offerings on this day.
Tip! Many people go for the sunrise at Kelimutu, but honestly, unless you are willing to wait around for hours, the colors of the crater lakes are much more beautiful post 9am.
19. Soak in Hot Springs in Moni
As the home base of Mount Kelimutu, Moni is unsurprisingly located near several hot springs. These include the more developed Lia Sembe Hot Springs and the undeveloped Kolorongo Hot Springs, which are open to the public for bathing.
Lia Sembe may not be great…for women. Separated by gender, women are put in the lower pool, with the slow flow of the men shaving and bathing “upstairs” naturally flowing downward.
Kolorongo was situated randomly in the middle of a rice field but was very pleasant if you were alone. It would be crowded with others as it is small and shallow.
20. Visit Koka Beach
If you’re continuing onwards to Maumere, stop by one of the most beautiful beaches in Flores, Koka Beach. With powdery white sand and dramatic jungle cliffs, the crystal clear waters of Koka Beach is a perfect place to break up your drive with some snorkeling and relaxation.
Other Things to Do in Flores, Indonesia
21. Visit Riung 17 Islands Marine Park
Quite off the beaten path, the small fishing village of Riung is a group of 17 islands off the coast of Flores that offer stunning coral reefs and crystal clear waters perfect for snorkeling. The 17 Islands Marine Park is a 5 hour drive from Bajawa or Ende.
22. Watch a Caci dance
The Caci dance is a traditional warrior dance originating from Manggarai culture. It is characterized by whip cracking and intense facial expressions and was originally performed as part of rituals to make crops grow. Nowadays, it is mainly performed for tourists.
23. Try Flores Coffee
Flores coffee is some of the best in Indonesia, and you can find many coffee plantations around Bajawa and Ruteng. Make sure to try the local weasel coffee, made from coffee beans eaten and defecated by a weasel! Sounds appetizing, I know.
24. Chase Waterfalls
Just like in all of Indonesia, Flores is home to many beautiful waterfalls, including:
- Ogi Waterfall – Bajawa
- Waterfall across from Rainbow Cafe – Moni
- Cunca Wulang – Labuan Bajo
How to Get to Flores, Indonesia
Fly into Labuan Bajo Airport
The easiest way to get to Flores is to fly into Labuan Bajo Airport, which is located in western Flores. You can fly directly to Labuan Bajo from Jakarta, Denpasar/Bali, or Surabaya.
Take a Ferry from the Nearby Islands
Labuan Bajo, Ende, Maumere, and Larantuka has ferry ports with ships arriving from Makassar, Jampea, Kalabahi, Benoa, and Denpassar. Many journeys from neighboring islands can be long, like very very long, and uncomfortable, so I would only recommend this option if you’re on a tight budget, making an overland-only trip, or just up for an adventure.
As with my experience trying to get a ferry from Ende to Kupang, West Timur, ferries may only leave once a week, and no one seems to be able to agree on the day of departure. The best way to know about the timetable is to go directly to the port to ask. Check Pelni online for a passenger-only ferry, but you must go to a local office to purchase a ticket as a foreigner.
Take a Komodo Tour Boat from Lombok
If you’re already in Lombok, you can take a tour boat to Flores. Two companies offer this journey (Wanua Adventure and Travel Wise). It takes 4 days and includes stops at Komodo National Park.
How do you get around Flores Island?
Rent a Scooter or Bike
Like all of Indonesia, renting a scooter is the best way to get around Flores. This will allow you to explore at your own pace and stop whenever you want. You can find scooters for rent in most towns on Flores. Check with your accommodation as most people don’t advertise scooter rentals online.
In Ende, there is only one scooter rental I could find in the whole town: here. They charge 150k IDR per day, which is high for Indonesia, but they have a monopoly, and at least their bikes are in excellent condition.
Take a Bus, Minibus, or Local Transport
For longer journeys, taking a bus or minibus is the best option. You can find buses and minibusses from Labuan Bajo to most major towns on Flores. Unfortunately, no one could confirm where or when the bus leaves from Labuan Bajo. Still, your hotel can call a bus to pick you up directly.
Standing on the side of the road and waving down a car also gives great results. Someone will eventually take you in a shared car, picking up other random people along the way.
For shorter journeys, you can take an ojek (motorbike taxi). These are most commonly found near markets or bus/minibus terminals. You can negotiate the price with the driver before you get on.
Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is also possible on Flores, as only one main road exists. Unfortunately, you will have to weed out a lot of the taxis and transports, so it will be easier if you are well outside any major town.
How many days should you spend in Flores?
To fully experience all that Flores has to offer, it is recommended to spend at least 5-7 days on the island. This will give you enough time to visit the famous Komodo National Park, go island hopping, witness the Kelimutu volcano, trek in the Wae Rebo Village, and immerse yourself in the local culture. However, if you have a more limited schedule, you can still have a wonderful time in Flores with just 3-4 days.
Where to Stay on Flores Indonesia
There are many accommodation options on Flores, though hostels and luxury resorts essentially don’t exist outside Labuan Bajo.
Where to Stay in Labuan Bajo
LUXURY RESORT WITH PRIVATE BEACH – Seraya Resort Komodo (9.2 ⭐️)
A stay at Seraya Resort Komodo means you are literally on Seraya Island, so you’ll feel completely secluded and private in your own oceanfront villa with a private pool and unbeatable sea views. Snorkel or paddleboard off their private beach access and enjoy amazing local and international cuisine at their on-site restaurant.
HIPPEST HOSTEL YOU WILL EVER SEE – Seaesta Hostel (8.9 ⭐️)
Every backpacker should book a stay at Seasta Hostel, a hip and trendy hostel with a gym, beautiful view, and fun amenities. The hostel features a modern and beachy design, with colorful murals and quirky decorations, making it look like you’re luxury-ing in Santorini.
HOSTEL FOR SCUBA ENTHUSIASTS – Dragon Dive Komodo (7.9 ⭐️)
If you’re diving with Dragon Dive Komodo, stay at their awesome hostel, where you get a steep discount and one of the best breakfasts I’ve had in Indonesia. They will not allow you to stay if you are diving with another company.
Where I Stayed in Bajawa
Marselino Homestay – Backpacker homestay & excellent conversions with the owner, an Ngada Ethnic Local who taught me so much!
More: Find Top Accommodation Deals in Bajawa on Booking.com
Where to Stay in Kelimutu (Moni)
Geckos Homestay – Although I randomly camped, a couple I met raved about this place
More: Find Top Accommodation Deals in Kelimutu on Booking.com
Bucket List Worthy: Is it worth visiting Flores?
Absolutely! Most people who visit Indonesia don’t make it as far east as Flores, but they really should. Beyond the amazing landscape of Komodo National Park, the culture, incredible things to do, and the friendly local vibe make Flores one of my favorite islands in Indonesia.
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