Most people come to Flores just to see the Komodo dragons, stay in Labuan Bajo, and call it a day. But if you really want to experience Flores in the most authentic way possible, you will have to travel inland from west to east to understand why Flores is one of the most exciting destinations in Indonesia.
Within this guide, you will find all the information you need to plan the perfect trip to the wonderful island of Flores, from west to east. Without further ado, here is a complete 10-day backpacking itinerary for Flores:
Flores Itinerary Map
Quick Summary
| ☀️ Day 1: | Labuan Bajo |
|---|---|
| ☀️ Day 2: | Komodo Islands |
| ☀️ Day 3-4: | Ruteng |
| ☀️ Day 5-6: | Bajawa |
| ☀️ Day 7: | Ende |
| ☀️ Day 8: | Moni - Kelimutu |
| ☀️ Day 9-10: | Maumere |
10 Days Flores Itinerary
Day 1: Labuan Bajo (2 nights)
- 📍 Stay: Green Hill Boutique Hotel
- 🕐 Time: 2 nights
- 📖 Full Guide: A complete guide on cruising around the Komodo Islands
Labuan Bajo is a city located in the western part of Flores and is the nearest to the Komodo National Park. This will be our first exciting destination. The city itself is nothing special, with one crowded tourist street where all the travel agencies are, and a few nice waterfalls around. But that does not matter, as our goal is to explore the Komodo National Park, and this is the best place to do so.
When I traveled here, I booked a basic 2-day, 1-night Komodo cruise for around 800,000 IDR, including snorkeling gear and meals. Treat that as a record of what I paid rather than a current quote: Komodo boat prices are considerably higher today and vary widely depending on the boat, cabin, route, and group size. Park fees are also separate. In 2026, the published foreign visitor entrance rate is 250,000 IDR per person per day, with other activity, ranger, or operator charges potentially applying depending on your itinerary. Ask the boat operator for a complete breakdown of what is and is not included before paying.
Where to Stay in Labuan Bajo?
Day 2: Komodo Islands (1 night)
Once you pick the cruise, they will pick you up the next day, and you will be on a boat for the next 2 days and 1 night. You will spend some time hiking around Rinca Island and Komodo Island to track down the Komodo Dragons on your first day. It will be a pretty slow first day, but it was still very interesting to learn about this elusive animal, why they only live on these 2 islands, and whether they are dangerous (yes).
- Komodo Island Hopper (9 days)
- Discover Indonesia's Eastern Islands (12 days)
- Komodo & Flores Adventure (9 days)
You will end your first day with snorkeling at Pink Beach, which has the clearest water and the most colorful coral reefs I have ever seen, and watch the sun go down from this island.
You will also have a chance to sleep on the deck under the stars, which makes the overnight cruise worth it.
The next day, you will hike to one of the most beautiful places in the world: the viewpoint of Padar Island. This is one of the most photogenic places in the national park, best seen at sunrise when the light is at its finest. You will hike up for 30 minutes before being met with the stunning panoramic view of Padar Island.
There is no shade along the trail, so this hike is best done in the morning when the sun is not too strong. Be sure to bring enough water, as the temperature rises quickly as the sun rises. It is also less crowded in the morning before the day trippers arrive.
After reaching the island, you will be dropped off at Manta Point, where you can swim with the Manta rays. It is one of the most magical moments to witness these wonderful and intelligent animals in an intimate manner.
You will spend a few hours at Manta Point before being dropped off at Kanawa Island for snorkeling and resting until the end of the day. Then, you will be dropped off at the port. Stay one night in Labuan Bajo, and the next morning, prepare to go into the mountains of Flores, starting with Ruteng.
Day 3 - 4: Ruteng (2 nights)
- 📍 Stay: Victory Hotel
- 🕐 Time: 2 nights
Ruteng is a quiet, small town in the hills of Flores. The town has its charm, from being surrounded by the mountains to the amazing locals who are always curious about hearing where you are from. I recommend renting a scooter for a day and exploring the surrounding area. You can rent a brand new scooter from Kopi Mane Inspiration. They also have the best locally brewed coffee in town.
The spider web rice terrace is not something you will see every day, even if you have been traveling in Southeast Asia. So, be sure to ride to a small village called "Lao", a few kilometers northwest of Ruteng, and check it out.
You can also go further and visit Liang Bua or the Hobbit cave, where they recently unearthed the skeletal remains of a small humanoid dubbed Homo floresiensis. The cave and the museum itself are not big, but riding a motorbike through the beautiful rice fields around the area made it all worthwhile.
Be sure to spend the evening walking around the town itself and enjoying the company of the locals who will approach you and practice their English with you.
Where to Stay in Ruteng?
Day 5 - 6: Bajawa (2 nights)
- 📍 Stay: Bajawa-Roo Hotel
- 🕐 Time: 2 nights
Bajawa is well-known for the traditional Ngada villages scattered around the surrounding hills. The most famous is Bena, a living megalithic village at the foot of Mount Inerie. It is one of the best places around Bajawa to see traditional houses, ancestral shrines, megalithic stones, and local ikat weaving.
You can either rent your own motorbike or hire a driver to take you there as early as possible, as tourists get crowded in the afternoon. I was there by 8:30 AM, and no one was around except me and a few other tourists. It got considerably crowded after 9:30 AM.
If you have another day here, you could also hike up to the summit of the cone-shaped volcano that towers over Bajawa, the Gunung Inerie. Climbing volcanoes is always tricky; as you take one step up, you go down 2 steps, and this one is no different.
You need to be in good physical condition to attempt the 2,245 m summit. The trail is very steep, exposed, and covered with loose volcanic rock, and current hiking reports generally allow around 6 - 8 hours round trip, sometimes longer. Most hikers start well before sunrise. Because the route is not well marked and conditions can change, I recommend arranging a local guide in Bajawa and checking the latest weather and volcanic conditions before setting out.
Where to Stay in Bajawa?
Day 7: Ende (1 night)
- 📍 Stay: LCR HOTEL
- 🕐 Time: 1 night
- 📖 Full Guide: A complete guide on how to go to Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
Ende is a good place to stop for a night to break the trip into a more manageable size. It is one of the main cities in central Flores and an important transport hub, with H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport providing a convenient gateway for travelers heading to Moni and Kelimutu.
Most people skip Ende, but I found it quite interesting as it has no filters at all when it comes to seeing how locals live their lives. I also had one of the best Nasi Ayam (chicken rice) here at the Sari Rasa restaurant, owned by a fascinating and talkative man who will explain the menu and recommend the best dish for you based on where you are from. The food is super delicious, and you get to meet a very interesting local. Nothing gets better than that!
Getting from Ende to Moni
To get from Ende to Moni on a budget, you can take a public bus or shared minivan heading east along the Trans-Flores road. When I traveled this route, I used the bus terminal outside Ende and paid around 30,000 IDR. Current 2026 fares are higher, so budget roughly 60,000 - 100,000 IDR per person and around 2 - 2.5 hours, depending on the vehicle, stops, and how long it takes to fill. Ask your accommodation in Ende where the appropriate Moni-bound vehicle is departing that day, as pickup points can change.
Where to Stay in Ende?
Day 8: Moni - Kelimutu (1 night)
- 📍 Stay: The Geckos Homestay
- 🕐 Time: 1 night
From Ende, you can take a bus in the early morning to Moni and spend a relaxing day walking around this small mountain town. Grab a nice coffee at Mopi's Place, sit on the balcony, and watch the rolling clouds passing through the green mountains of Flores.
At night, be sure to come back to Mopi's Place again to enjoy the live music of a very talented local reggae band. Before you end the day, make sure to either rent a motorbike or hire a motorbike driver for a sunrise trip to the Kelimutu lakes.
The next morning, wake up at 4:30 AM, get on a motorbike, and drive for 30 minutes up the mountain to Kelimutu, the three tri-colored volcanic lakes. They are among the most beautiful lakes you can see on Flores. The lakes are best experienced during sunrise on a clear day, as you will be able to witness the shifting colors and features of the lakes.
2026 Kelimutu Info: Kelimutu National Park is currently listed as open daily from 5 AM to 5 PM. Foreign visitors pay 150,000 IDR on weekdays or 225,000 IDR on weekends and public holidays, plus a small vehicle fee. Because sunrise is usually shortly after the park opens, arrive at the gate around opening time and allow enough time to walk to the viewpoint.
After sunrise, spend a few more hours walking around the three lakes and find a quiet spot to immerse yourself in this natural beauty.
For more information on how to get to Kelimutu and what to bring for the sunrise, be sure to check out my comprehensive guide on how to get to Kelimutu lakes for more details.
Where to Stay in Moni?
Day 9 - 10: Maumere (2 nights)
- 📍 Stay: Capa Resort Maumere
- 🕐 Time: 2 nights
Photos by Sims8899
Last but not least, we visit the beach town of Maumere, where you can relax by the Ahuwair or Waiterang beaches in warm weather, a welcome change from the cooler climate in the mountains of Flores. You can also dive here if you have the certificate and a few more days to spare.
From Maumere, you can fly onward within the Wings Air/Lion Group network, including connections toward Labuan Bajo and Bali. Flight schedules on the smaller Flores routes change frequently and a Bali journey may involve a connection, so check the current routing for your travel date rather than assuming there will be a nonstop flight. From there, you can either end your Indonesia trip or continue your adventure to other islands and head over to Timor-Leste to explore the newest country in Southeast Asia.
Where to Stay in Maumere?
Indonesia Travel Video
Why Go to Flores?
Flores is an amazing island with stunning wildlife, diverse nature, and friendly people. The island can be easily reached via Denpasar, which makes it a great destination after Bali. The island is known for its proximity to the famous Komodo Islands and is the only place you can see a real living dragon. There is so much more to Flores than just the Komodo Islands.
For one, the island is almost entirely populated by Roman Catholic Christians. In contrast, most of Indonesia is Muslim, bringing different traditions, ways of life, and many other things to see. Additionally, there are the tri-colored volcanic lakes of Kelimutu, the traditional villages of Bajawa, and the spider web rice fields in Ruteng, which will keep you occupied for weeks.
When to Go to Flores?
The best time to go to Flores is from May to September, when the weather is dry and more predictable. This is essential if you want to have a great trip in Flores, especially on the Komodo Islands cruise and in the mountain region of Flores.
The temperature in cities at sea level (Labuan Bajo, Ende, and Maumere) is pretty warm, but when you head up to the mountains, the temperature will go down to a comfortable 20°C during the day and 16°C at night, so prepare accordingly.
How to Get to Flores?
For this west-to-east itinerary, the easiest starting point is usually Labuan Bajo, which has the island's best flight connections and is the gateway to Komodo National Park. Bali is a common jumping-off point, but Labuan Bajo is also connected to several other Indonesian cities. After traveling overland across Flores, you can finish in Maumere and fly onward from there.
You can also follow my itinerary in the opposite direction by flying from Bali to Maumere and traveling by land through Flores, then flying back to Bali from Labuan Bajo.
If you are looking for a flight to Bali and domestic flights to Flores, I would recommend you to compare prices either via Skyscanner or Expedia as these are the services that I found to be the easiest to use, and I always find the cheapest price from there.
How to Get Around Flores?
For traveling around cities and towns, you can easily flag down any motorcycle (o-jek), and they will take you to places like the bus station for a cheap price. Cities in Flores are pretty small, so you can also walk.
For nearby attractions, renting a motorbike is still one of the most flexible options if you are comfortable riding on steep and winding roads. When I traveled Flores, rentals and motorcycle drivers were inexpensive, at around 70,000 - 120,000 IDR rental and 150,000 IDR driver, but that was a while a go, so be sure to check first with your accommodation.
For traveling from city to city, budget travelers can still use local buses, bemos, and shared travel minivans. There is no single island-wide fare: as a rough 2026 guide, expect around 80,000 IDR from Labuan Bajo to Ruteng, 100,000 IDR from Ruteng to Bajawa, 80,000 IDR from Bajawa to Ende, and roughly 60,000 - 100,000 IDR from Ende to Moni. Shared transport is often easiest to arrange through your guesthouse the day before.
For local buses, you can ask your guesthouse where the bus station is and go there with an o-jek early in the morning (8 AM - 9 AM) to catch the early bus. The bus leaves when it is full, so it is difficult to predict when you will arrive, but the earlier you get on the bus, the better chance you will have of arriving before dark.
Daily Budget
This place is quite affordable compared to all the other countries in the world. If you are planning a trip here, you can expect to spend around $25 - $45 USD per day per person, which should include accommodation and three meals.
Please keep in mind that these are suggested daily budgets based on my own style of travel, which leans more towards the budget side of things. If you aim to stick to this budget, anticipate sleeping in dormitories, dining out only occasionally, and being comfortable with the cheapest and most convenient modes of transportation, which often involve a considerable amount of walking.
Which tourist SIM card is best for Indonesia?
Wi-Fi is available at many hotels and restaurants, but speeds can be inconsistent once you leave the larger towns, so I recommend carrying mobile data as a backup. Telkomsel is still the network I would choose for an overland trip across Flores because of its broad coverage. For foreign visitors, Telkomsel currently sells a Tourist Prepaid Card for 150,000 IDR with 25 GB of data and 25 minutes of local calls. You can pre-order it and collect it after arriving in Indonesia or buy it at selected Telkomsel outlets. Coverage can still disappear in remote mountain and marine areas, so download offline maps before traveling.
Alternatively, if your phone supports eSIMs, you can set one up before arriving and have mobile data as soon as you land. You can browse through available eSIMs here.
Tips: To stay connected with people at home, be sure that you have a VPN, such as ProtonVPN, installed before traveling. It's FREE, and you can gain access to services that may be blocked in certain countries.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. See our disclosure policy.
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29 Comments
Hi! great entry. I've been to Flores and love it so much I've been thinking about coming back here almost everyday. but i was wondering why did you not visit Waerebo. Its a village few hours from Ruteng. You should go there next time cause that place is so magical !
Thank you for the comments Farah. As for Waerebo, I simply didn't have enough time. :) Also, it was starting to rain a lot and I heard the trail gets really muddy when that happens so I decided to pass. Maybe next time. :)
Hey!! Awesome content. Awesome description. Thanks for being so thorough! Would you mind telling me which company you remember using? Cheers! xoxo
I meant for the trip to Komodo island haha sorry!
Hey Morgan, of course! I just went to Labuan Bajo and found an agency on the tourist street (Jl. Soekarno Hatta). There are hundreds of them there. If I remember correctly, I think it was with Christopher Adventure travel agency which is at the opposite side of Mutiara Restaurant in Labuan Bajo.
There's more info on my "The Backpacking Guide To Komodo Islands" article so feel free to check that out.
I hope this helps!
Thanks for this article
I would like to know how much did this itinerary cost you without the Komodo national park tour ? or in general how much would it cost for a backpacker?
I would like to visit Flores in addition to other destinations in Indonesia but i worry that might cost more than i can support
It's quite cheap in Flores especially without visiting Komodo Island as that is the priciest things you can do around there.
For a rough estimate, as it often depends on which towns you are in, the price can vary, I'd expect to pay around 30~ USD per day minimum, give or take, given you rent a motorbike/traveling by bus every day. Accommodation is 10~ USD, bus 5~ USD, motorbike 5~ USD and 3 meals 10 - 15~ USD.
Again this is a very rough estimate and it's always ideal to carry more than you need just in case things don't go as planned.
I hope this helps and good luck with your trip!
Hello, great article and photos! Do you mind sharing what lens did you to capture such wide angle shots (of the lakes). Thank you!
Thank you for the comments! I used the 12mm f2.8 Meika-equivalent lens on my Sony a6500 (APS-C Cropped sensor). Depending on if you are using cropped or full-frame, the focal length at 12mm (Cropped) or 15 - 30mm for full frame should be good to capture Kelimutu. :)
I hope this helps!
Super helpful! was wondering how many mm is wide enough, so your answer is great!