Flores Complete in 14 Days

📌 Snorkeling and diving

The coral reefs around Maumere are still incredibly colourful. Combine that with the small number of tourists and you have what feels like a hidden underwater paradise. If you love snorkeling or diving, make sure you leave some time for it. This was one of the places on Flores that pleasantly surprised us.

📌 Enjoy peaceful beaches

After a long flight, a long journey or simply a busy period at home, Maumere is the perfect place to slow down. Enjoy the beaches, swim in the ocean and do absolutely nothing for a while. One of the best things about Maumere is simply the peace and quiet.

📌 Sunrise at Kelimutu Volcano

Set your alarm early because you will leave Moni while it is still dark. The gate opens at five in the morning. Always check the current opening hours before your visit, as these can change depending on the season. Once inside, you can spend as much time as you like around the viewpoint and the three crater lakes. We ordered a coffee from a local at the top and were rewarded with not only a beautiful view, but also great conversation and some useful tips for the rest of our Flores trip.

📌 17 Islands Tour

The 17 Islands Tour is one of the highlights of this Flores itinerary, and for good reason. The full-day boat trip takes you around the beautiful islands and coastline of the Riung area, with opportunities to snorkel, swim, relax on beaches and explore the incredible marine life. You will also see countless bats hanging from the trees, moving their delicate wings in the wind. Your tour is rounded off with delicious grilled fish on an idyllic beach. It is a full-day experience, so we strongly recommend staying two nights in Riung. After the boat trip, you will be happy to have a comfortable evening rather than immediately getting back on the road.

📌 Bena Traditional Village
📌 Tololela Traditional Village
📌 Malanage Hot Springs
📌 Heaven’s Door Bar & Restaurant

📌 Climbing Mount Inerie

Climbing Mount Inerie was one of the most exciting, and physically demanding, things we did in Flores. You will get up in the middle of the night, drive to the starting point and then climb the steep mountain for around 2,5 hours. It is hard work, but reaching the top makes every step worth it. The views are incredible, and it is very satisfying to stand on the mountain after making that climb. The wind at the top was also something we had never experienced quite like that before.

You will need to arrange a local guide in advance for the hike. We can advice Santos, you can find his WhatsApp-number via Google. Read more details about our Mount Inerie experience to get a better feeling for what you can expect about the hike and our guide Santos.

After the hike, we recommend taking it easy. Visit the hot springs, eat something and get some well-deserved rest.

📌 Staying at Manulalu Jungle Lodge

Bajawa is also home to one of the most incredible accommodations on Flores: Manulalu Jungle Lodge. The bungalows are the perfect place to relax after climbing Mount Inerie. At this point in your trip, you are roughly halfway through your Flores adventure, making it an ideal moment to slow down, read a book, enjoy the view and simply spend some time together. We honestly could have stayed here much longer. Book this accommodation well in advance. It sells out quickly.

📌 Leave your luggage in Denge

At the starting point in Denge, you can leave your larger luggage at Homestay Blasius Monta. You do not have to stay overnight there. Leaving your luggage costs only a few euros and is a common thing for travelers doing the Waerebo hike. Pack a small bag with everything you need for one night and leave the rest behind.

📌 Staying overnight in Waerebo

You can hike to Waerebo on the same day. Once you arrive, you will take part in a welcome ceremony, followed by dinner and an overnight stay in the traditional village. The sleeping arrangements are very basic. You will share a room with other travelers and the mattresses are very, very thin. But honestly? The experience is absolutely worth it. Sleeping in Waerebo, surrounded by the traditional houses and mountains, is one of those travel experiences that you will remember long after your Flores trip is over.

The next morning, hike back down to Denge, collect your luggage and continue towards Labuan Bajo. If you feel like you need a break after the hike, you can of course stay another night at the homestay in Denge.

📌 Take a multi-day boat trip

A typical route includes stops like Padar Island (famous for its viewpoint over three differently colored bays), Komodo or Rinca Island (for a guided trek in search of the Komodo dragons), Pink Beach (for swimming and snorkeling), and Manta Point (for a chance to swim with manta rays). Depending on the operator, additional stops such as Kelor Island, Kalong Island (known for its sunset flying foxes), or the Taka Makassar sandbar may also be included.

If you love diving, you could easily stay in Labuan Bajo for several extra days. Komodo National Park is one of the most beautiful places we have ever been diving. We personally recommend Komodo Diving. We had a very professional experience with them, and we particularly liked that our boat was not overcrowded with too many people.