Flores, Indonesia is a long volcanic island in the Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT) province, east of Bali with Lombok and Sumbawa in between. Most trips start in Labuan Bajo, the harbour town on its western tip and the gateway to Komodo National Park, a 1-hour flight from Bali. From there you can add the highland village of Wae Rebo and, if you have the days, the three coloured lakes of Kelimutu at the far end of the island.
We live and run our boat trips in Labuan Bajo, so this guide is written from the western end of Flores looking east: what is where, how long each part takes, and how to fit it into the time you have.
Where is Flores, Indonesia?
On a map of Indonesia, find Bali, then look east past Lombok and Sumbawa. The next big island is Flores. It belongs to the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur, and its western tip, the regency of Manggarai Barat, faces the islands of Komodo National Park across the water.
Flores island is long and mountainous. Central Flores is a chain of volcanoes and serpentine mountain roads, which is why distances on the map look short and drives take all day. The Manggarai people are the indigenous group of west Flores; around Kelimutu in the centre of the island live the Lio people. Bali and Labuan Bajo share the same time zone (WITA), so there is no time difference when you fly over.
Labuan Bajo: the gateway to Flores island
Labuan Bajo is a small harbour town and the main way into Flores for most visitors. It has its own airport, Komodo Airport (LBJ), with direct flights from Bali (Denpasar), Jakarta and sometimes Surabaya. The flight from Bali takes about 1 hour, and the airport sits on a ridge just 2.5 km from the harbour.
There is also an overland route from Bali by ferry via Lombok and Sumbawa. It takes 2 to 3 days and suits travellers who want the journey itself. For flights, airlines and the ferry options, read our guide on how to get from Bali to Labuan Bajo, and for the map and the basics, where is Labuan Bajo.
The town itself is worth a day either side of your boat trip: caves, a sunset hill, the Kampung Ujung night market for grilled seafood, and the Cunca Wulang waterfall as a half day out. Our list of things to do in Labuan Bajo covers them one by one.
Komodo National Park: what Flores is known for
Komodo National Park is the reason most people come to Flores. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 1,733 km², with three large islands (Komodo, Rinca and Padar) and 26 smaller ones. There is no road into it. From Labuan Bajo, the only way in is by boat.
Komodo dragons are the largest lizard alive, and they live in only five places: Komodo, Rinca, Gili Motang, Nusa Kode, and a small population on Flores itself. The total wild population is around 3,000. You see them on a ranger-led walk inside the park.
There are two ways we take people in:
- Day trip. Our Komodo day trip visits six stops by speedboat: Padar, Pink Beach, the dragons on Komodo Island, Taka Makassar, Manta Point and Turtle Bay. Hotel pickup at 06:30, back in town between 16:15 and 17:00. From IDR 1,450,000 per person.
- Liveaboard. On the Komodo tour 3 days 2 nights you sleep on a Phinisi with 9 cabins, wake up for sunrise on Padar and reach the beaches before the day boats. From IDR 6.5M per person.
Park entrance and ranger fees are booked in advance through the park's SiOra system and paid separately. Our Komodo National Park guide has the current rules.
Wae Rebo: a village in the Manggarai highlands
Wae Rebo is a traditional Manggarai village of seven cone-shaped houses called Mbaru Niang, 1200 metres up a mountain. About 100 people live there, and the village has been in place since the late 1700s. UNESCO Asia-Pacific gave it a heritage conservation award in 2012.
From Labuan Bajo it is about 4 hours by car to the trailhead at Denge village, then a 3-hour uphill hike. You sleep in one of the two houses kept for guests, eat dinner with the community and hike back the next morning, so plan 2 days and 1 night at minimum. The village contribution is IDR 500,000 per person, including dinner, breakfast and the bed.
It is the inland trip we recommend most: cultural rather than wildlife, slow rather than action-packed. The full plan is in our Wae Rebo guide.
Pick the trip that fits
Padar, Pink Beach, dragons and Manta Point by speedboat, back before dinner.
Komodo Day Trip: Speedboat to 6 Top Destinations
Three days on a phinisi with sunrise Padar before the crowds arrive.
Komodo Tour 3 Days 2 Nights: Phinisi Open Trip
The whole boat to yourselves. Your route, your pace, your music.
Komodo 3D2N Private Charter: Whole-Boat Phinisi
Kelimutu: the three coloured lakes of central Flores
Kelimutu is a 1639-metre volcano in central Flores with three crater lakes at the top, each a different colour, side by side. The colours shift over the years as the chemistry of the volcanic water changes. The Lio people consider the lakes the resting place of departed souls.
Kelimutu is at the opposite end of Flores from Labuan Bajo. By road it takes around 10 hours to Bajawa through Ruteng, then another 6 hours to Moni, the village at the base of the volcano. A Kelimutu trip from Labuan Bajo needs at least 4 days. The faster option is to fly from Bali to Ende, which Wings Air serves daily, and drive 2 hours to Moni. The walk from the parking area to the rim is short, and sunrise is the moment to be there. The entrance fee is IDR 150,000 for foreigners (2026). Details are in our guide to Kelimutu from Labuan Bajo.
Getting around Flores
Inside Labuan Bajo, Gojek and Grab both work, mostly as motorbike rides, and a ride from the airport to town costs IDR 30,000 to 50,000. A taxi from the airport is IDR 100,000 to 150,000.
Outside town you want a car and a driver. For Wae Rebo, most travellers hire a car and driver for the day, around IDR 1.5 million round trip. For a crossing to Kelimutu, the roads east of Bajawa are challenging and we do not recommend driving yourself. We do not run the eastern half of Flores ourselves, but we have a trusted driver-guide network and can connect you.
The other way to cover the length of the island is to fly one way: land in Labuan Bajo for Komodo, travel east overland, and fly back to Bali from Ende.
How many days do you need in Flores?
It depends on how far east you go:
- 2 to 3 days: Labuan Bajo and Komodo only. A day trip plus a buffer day, or the 3 day liveaboard. With 3 days or less, skip Kelimutu.
- 4 to 5 days: Komodo plus Wae Rebo, the natural inland add-on from Labuan Bajo.
- 8 to 10 days: the full Flores itinerary. Komodo by boat, then east via Ruteng (Wae Rebo on the way) to Bajawa and Moni for the Kelimutu sunrise, and a flight back from Ende to Bali.
Timing matters too. Come between May and early October, when the sea is calm and boats run on schedule; January and February bring the west wind that keeps boats in port. Kelimutu is best from May to September, and Wae Rebo is most reliable in the dry season, April to October.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Flores, Indonesia?
Flores is in the province of Nusa Tenggara Timur, east of Bali with Lombok and Sumbawa in between. Labuan Bajo sits on its western tip, facing Komodo National Park.
How do you get to Flores?
Most people fly from Bali to Komodo Airport (LBJ) in Labuan Bajo, a flight of about 1 hour. There are also direct flights from Jakarta, and an overland ferry route from Bali via Lombok and Sumbawa that takes 2 to 3 days. If you are going straight to Kelimutu, you can fly from Bali to Ende instead.
How many days do you need in Flores?
For Komodo alone, 2 to 3 days from Labuan Bajo is enough. Add Wae Rebo and plan 4 to 5 days. To cross the island to Kelimutu as well, plan 8 to 10 days.
What is Flores known for?
Komodo dragons in Komodo National Park, the three coloured crater lakes of Kelimutu, and the cone-shaped houses of Wae Rebo. It is also where the "hobbit" Homo floresiensis fossils were found, at Liang Bua cave.
Is Flores worth visiting?
Yes, if you want more than a beach stop. In a few days you can see wild Komodo dragons, snorkel with manta rays and sleep in a traditional mountain village, all starting from Labuan Bajo.
What is the best time to visit Flores?
May to early October, in the dry season. June, July and September are the sweet spot for the boats, and Kelimutu has its clearest sunrises from May to September.
