Read on to find out how to travel in Flores, Indonesia when you have only one week or less to travel the island after the Komodo Island boat trip.
Flores, Indonesia is the final stop of the Komodo boat trip (this is the company I recommend), although most struggle with what to do after the cruise. They’re unsure what to do in Flores upon arrival, and unsure if they have enough time to travel in Flores.
Many people go on this boat trip to swim with whale sharks, experience sleeping on the deck, making friends from all over and, of course, see Komodo dragons. But what travelers don’t realize is that the island they land on is so worth exploring, even if you don’t have time to see it all.
In this travel guide to Flores, Indonesia, I’ll be sharing what to do on the island if you only have a short period of time. I’ll be giving you info I wish I had, like how to travel in Flores and outlining a one-week itinerary.
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The fastest and easiest way to get to Flores is to fly. The island actually has several airports, but Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo has the most connections and cheapest flights.
This post is aimed for those that arrived to Flores on the Komodo Island boat trip coming from Lombok. (Although, of course anyone can make use of my one-week itinerary in Flores.) While the journey is much more important than the destination for most travelers choosing this trip, the destination is pretty impressive too.
If you are arriving in Flores on the Komodo boat trip, you’ll arrive in the harbor at Labuan Bajo.
Travel in Indonesia isn’t always easy, and traveling in Flores is especially difficult. Coming from other Indonesian islands like Java, Bali and Lombok, I was surprised to find how hard it is to travel in Flores.
It’s more difficult to find a scooter or motorbike rental in Flores. There’s only one, windy main road that’s not always in the best condition. And much of the island is remote and undeveloped.
It’s not impossible to travel here, however. It just requires a bit of planning.
If you’re going to rent a motorbike in Flores, I’d recommend getting one in Labuan Bajo. It’s pricey, but it’s actually the cheapest price I found in Flores.
At my hostel in Labuan Bajo, they arranged a scooter for 80k per day. Having rented bikes for 50k in Bali and Lombok, I thought I could get cheaper elsewhere. But my hostel in Ruteng quoted 100k, and my homestay in Bajawa quoted 150k!
So if you’re planning to travel in Flores by motorbike, rent one in Labuan Bajo.
Make sure that you give yourself more time than expected to get from one place to another, as you’ll likely have to go slow on the winding roads. I saw a few accidents on the road (including my bus causing a motorist to fall), so make sure you’re being extra safe, especially when going around tight corners.
That being said, renting a motorbike and driving across Flores is the highlight of most people’s trips, so don’t be dissuaded! If you have good weather and are a confident rider, go for it! It will be much easier and cheaper to access remote areas, and you’ll save time on trying to find transport (which occupied much of my time in Flores).
Because I arrived in Flores at the beginning of rainy season and the weather wasn’t great, I opted for the bus. I’m glad I did, as the windy roads with bits of rocks and trees would be so much worse in the pouring rain and the resulting flooded streets.
But getting a bus wasn’t as cheap as I expected (about 120K to get from one city to another), and it was quite difficult to find info on it. I couldn’t find much online, so here’s what you need to know.
Gunung Mas is the bus company I went with, as it was the one recommended by all the accommodation that I stayed in.
They have an office in Labuan Bajo, so it’s easy to get your ticket. However, the office is located far from the center so it would be easiest just to give them a message or call (you can Whatsapp them at +62 852 3932 2000).
They also have an office in Ruteng and it’s in the center of town (right next door to my accommodation, ChaCha Dormitory) so it’s easiest to just head there for a ticket.
They do not have an office in Bajawa, so the only way to get picked up there is to get the driver’s phone number (I got it from the office in Ruteng) and call to see if there’s space on the bus. If there is, you’ll get picked up on the side of the road. This is how I got back to Ruteng from Bajawa. It was quite stressful, since I had to wait for almost 2 hours, unsure if the bus would actually come.
Another way to travel throughout Flores is to go by a shared taxi. It’s a cheap alternative to traveling in a private car, and you’ll share a car with others traveling in the same direction as you. It was only slightly more expensive than the bus.
Or, you might get lucky and get the car to yourself if no one else is interested in a ride. This happened to me, but I would have much preferred the bus, to be honest. The driver was going super slow in populated places as he was trying to get more customers, so it took an extra few hours to get from Ruteng to Bajawa.
The easiest (but also most expensive) way to travel in Flores is to take a tour. Especially if you’re low on time in Flores, it might be worth not needing to deal with the difficult modes of transportation on the island and also have the logistics sorted out for you.
But because Flores is a bit off the beaten path and not as developed as other islands in Indonesia, there aren’t too many options. This highly-rated tour is the only one departing from Labuan Bajo that I found online.
Most people on my boat just spent a few days in Labuan Bajo and flew onwards. It’s not because they didn’t want to travel Flores, but because they didn’t think that they had time.
Flores is a big island without much infrastructure for easy travel (pretty much just one road cutting across the mountainous island), so time is necessary if you want to see all of Flores.
But if you do have a bit of time, after the Komodo boat trip you should explore the island that the cruise ends on. If you only have a few days or one week to spare, read on for the itinerary I created for my own travels in Flores.
If you want to travel the entirety of Flores, Indonesia, you have to dedicate about two weeks, especially if you want to return back to Labuan Bajo to catch an international flight off the island.
And many people who do the Komodo Island boat trip want to return to Lombok or other Indonesian islands. Since Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo has the cheapest flights, many want to end their trip in Flores in the same city where they stared. In this case, a roundtrip journey to anywhere else in Flores is necessary.
In my opinion, the only way you can travel across Flores in just one week is if you take an organized tour and if you travel the island one way (i.e. fly out from a different airport on the other side of the island).
I traveled in Flores for about one week, but I only made it about halfway through Flores before heading back to Labuan Bajo. Although I didn’t get to see the whole island, I’m happy I got to see and experience at least some of this welcoming and beautiful island.
It is definitely worth it to travel outside of Labuan Bajo. You just need a bit of time and the energy and adventurous spirit for it!
So, if you have some time to spare after the Komodo boat trip, I think it’s definitely worth staying in Flores a few days longer and trying to see at least some of it.
Here’s what my itinerary to travel in Flores looked like, which allowed me to see some of Flores, Indonesia points of interest in just one week.
P.S. I highly recommend reading Flores: A Glimpse of the People and Culture to enhance your visit to Flores. You’ll learn a lot about the places you’ll visit on this itinerary.
You’ll reach Labuan Bajo in the afternoon, just after your last stop of the trip and a final lunch. Go check into your accommodation first. The most popular options on my boat were the two hostels: Seaesta (pretty expensive, but quite fancy) and La Boheme (my choice—not only cheaper, but really nice staff, colorful and welcoming space, and more of backpacker feel).
Then, spend the rest of your day resting from the boat trip and exploring Labuan Bajo. The marina and Puncak Waringin are both nice places to watch sunset.
And finally, enjoy some Western food for dinner, since you’re probably missing it after a few days on the boat.
You’ll also want to get your transport to Ruteng for the next day sorted out (see my tips in the transportation section above). Unless you want to travel Flores by scooter. In that case, organize a scooter or motorbike for the following day so that you don’t waste time.
After breakfast, either get on your scooter or bus and drive up to Ruteng.
Drive from Labuan Bajo to Ruteng: 127 kms (roughly 4 hours, but probably more depending on stops, traffic and road conditions)
The drive is mostly through the mountains, and you’ll have tons of stunning views. If you’re on a scooter, you’ll likely be stopping a lot for pictures. If you’re traveling by bus, get a window seat and have your camera ready.
Also, a popular stop between the two cities is Wae Rebo Village. If you have a scooter and stop here, add an extra day onto your itinerary. You have to hike to the village, and your entry into it includes accommodation.
I almost did this, but I’m glad I didn’t. It’s not cheap, and from what I heard, it’s no longer the experience it once was before it got commercialized. And, as you’ll see in this one-week itinerary through Flores, you’ll have other chances to visit a traditional village in Flores.
When you arrive in Ruteng, I recommend staying at Chacha. In fact, it’s worth visiting Ruteng just to stay at Chacha!
Chacha is a hostel in the home of the kindest family ever. The couple running it does so much to make you feel welcomed, and I’ve never felt so at home at any other hostel.
They have a restaurant out front, and the food is honestly the best I’ve had in not just Flores, but all of Indonesia. The breakfast was so filling and delicious—the chicken porridge was my favorite.
After the Komodo boat trip and the bus ride over to Ruteng, this is the perfect place to relax for the day. You’ll have either fellow travelers or the family members and their friends to chat to.
Today you’ll explore the area around Ruteng. You can get a tour arranged from Chacha (they’ll be more than happy to help you out with whatever else you might need).
Or, if you have a motorbike, or want to rent one, here’s what to visit yourself:
This traditional village is a cheaper and easier one to visit than Wae Rebo.
You are given traditional clothes worn by the village’s royal family to enter the village. Then, you attend a ceremony conducted by the village elder. It’s meant to welcome you to the village and asking the ancestors for your protection.
It feels a bit touristy, with women selling their woven wares, and the buildings are actually replicas, since they had deteriorated and were knocked down decades ago. But it’s still a village worth visiting.
Todo Village has a lot of history, and it was the most important village in Manggarai, so it’s interesting to visit this site.
The rice fields, located in Cancar, look like spiderwebs. This is because of how they were split up to separate each family’s portion of the land. You can go up to a viewpoint to see them from above, and it looks so cool!
There is a small fee to access this viewpoint, and it’s totally worth it.
It’s not easy getting to this one. A car can only go so far through the village, so you’ll have to walk quite a bit.
But it is admittedly a very impressive waterfall. It’s absolutely giant and two-tiered, and the walk to it is very beautiful. You’ll pass a rural village and impressive rice fields, with stunning, lush scenery all around.
Be prepared to climb an unstable ladder to get close to the powerful waterfall, and to pay a small fee to your local guides (mostly children).
While there isn’t a whole lot to see, this is such a fascinating place to visit, and one of the best reasons to visit Ruteng.
In 2004, archeologists discovered a yet undiscovered species of humans: Homo floresiensis. The bones found were 60,000 to 100,000 years old, and these small humans were only around 106 cm (around 3 feet) tall.
You’ll find a small museum detailing the discovery and facts about these little humans, and you can go inside the cave.
Unless you’re there during an excavation (they were halted for a few years due to Covid, but usually occur annually), all you’ll see is a (at first glance, unimpressive) cave. But it’s a place where an important scientific discovery occurred, and so it’s worth going just to soak that in!
At the end of your day trip around Ruteng, head back to Chacha for some socializing or relaxing—it’s great for both!
Today is another travel day, and it’s not an easy one. The road to get from Ruteng to Bajawa is tough. If you’re low on time or prefer to relax, you can go back to Luang Prabang today. You’ll have to skip Bajawa, but at least you got to explore the area around Ruteng (and experience a warm welcome at Chacha!).
But if you’re up for more adventure, head onwards to Bajawa.
Drive from Ruteng to Bajawa: 136 kms (roughly 4 hours, but probably more depending on stops, traffic and road conditions—it took my driver 6 hours because he was going super slow to look for more customers)
A bus leaves from Ruteng to Bajawa at 7am and 1 pm. You can buy a ticket from the Gunung Mas bus office (next door to Chacha).
If you have a motorbike or scooter, be careful on the sharp and numerous turns of the road, and enjoy the freedom.
Otherwise, you can get a taxi or shared taxi to Bajwa.
I personally enjoyed Ruteng more than Bajawa, which I didn’t find too appealing of a city. But don’t worry; there is plenty to do around Bajwa.
On your first day, I’d recommend going to Wolobobo Viewpoint. From here, you can watch sunset with a view of the volcano, Mount Inerie.
If you’re up for it, hike up Mount Inerie for sunrise. I personally didn’t do it due to a storm, but a fellow traveler highly recommended it. You’ll need a guide to hike up (no paths), but you can arrange one at your homestay.
What you shouldn’t miss while in Bajawa is Bena Village and Malanage Hot Springs.
Bena Village was my favorite traditional village in Flores. It was different from the villages in neighboring Manggarai (Bena is part of Ngada) and was fascinating to learn about. And it helps that the village is surrounded by stunning scenery (including a view of Mount Inerie).
Malanage Hot Springs is one of the most interesting hot springs I’ve ever visited, and I’ve been spoiled by Iceland. It’s a small natural pool under which two rivers meet: one hot and one cold. Because of this, one side of the pool has cold water while the other has hot water. Sitting in the middle feels so weird!
Getting back to Ruteng is tricky if you want to take the bus. There’s no Gunung Mas bus station in this city, and I was lucky to have caught it. I got the driver’s number from the office in Ruteng and had someone call him. This was the only way to see if he could take me, as Bajawa is not an official stop. I had to wait on the side of the road for almost two hours, unsure if he’d even come.
It was really stressful, so I’d recommend trying a different transportation method.
If you have a scooter, plan to have enough daylight to get back to Ruteng. And if you’re taking shared taxi, ask your accommodation (Cinnamon Guesthouse or Kristian Homestay are the most popular backpacker options) for help.
Alternatively, if you have the time, you can keep going onwards and travel the whole island. From Bajwa, it’s 3 hours up to Riung (17 Islands Park) or 5-6 hours to Ende and Moni (Kelimutu, the beautiful three colored lakes volcano), and then from there, another 3-4 hours to Maumere: the end of Flores. You can fly back to Labuan Bajo from Maumere, or fly to another Indonesia island (although tickets were cheaper from Labuan Bajo).
But it was really nice waking up in Chacha again. Because of how welcoming the hostel is, it truly felt like returning home. I was genuinely sad to leave.
I spent this morning going to a local school to speak English to the students, having gotten invited by a schoolteacher who I met at Cha Cha (he said he tries to recruit tourists staying at this hostel often). And after, I got a tour of the local market and visited this vibrant city’s many churches and cathedral.
I caught a bus back to Ruteng in the early afternoon, and then spent the evening enjoying Western food and playing pool at La Boheme.
Alternatively, you can catch a morning bus from Ruteng and fly out of Flores on Day 6.
On your final day in Flores, you may have time to explore more of this surprisingly nice city. But even if you have an early morning flight, know that you have visited a lot in just one week in Flores.
Hopefully, despite this super busy one-week itinerary traveling through Flores, you’ll get a chance to meet and befriend some of the lovely people who call this island home and learn about their culture. If nothing else, you’ll definitely be seeing the beautiful scenery Flores offers.
So while it’s not the easiest island in Indonesia to travel, it certainly is possible to travel Flores in just one week following this itinerary. There’s much more to see on Flores, but this will offer you a little taste of this island.
Some might find this one-week Flores itinerary too fast, and admittedly it did feel a bit rushed. But I don’t regret attempting it. This one week was among the highlights of my time in Indonesia, and I look forward to returning to this welcoming island one day.
Consider exploring Flores using this itinerary if you have a week to spare after arriving in Labuan Bajo after the Komodo boat trip!
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I'm in the process of planning a trip to Indonesia, so this is incredibly helpful. I had no idea Flores had so much to do, so will have to add to my itinerary!
I was surprised by how much Flores has to offer too! Enjoy your trip to Indonesia :)
You have written about some great places in Flores. I'd love to visit some day!
The spiderweb rice fields would be really cool to see/hike. I also love how colorful the cities are! Thanks for sharing this is a great post.
What a wonderful and comprehensive guide to Flores, Indonesia! I’m amazed by how much you covered in one week. Your itinerary sounds perfect for anyone who wants to experience the diversity and beauty of this island. I enjoyed reading about your adventures in the volcanoes, lakes, waterfalls, beaches and villages. Your photos are gorgeous and capture the essence of Flores.