Flores tour Itenerary -kelimutu

Day 1 - Arrival Maumere Your Kelimutu and Flores adventure starts as soon as you arrive at Maumere airport, where you’ll be collected by your driver for the winding journey across beautiful countryside and into the hills of Detusoko. You’ll stay in a convent community of Franciscan nuns, where you'll receive an incredibly warm welcome from both the nuns and the orphans living in the community’s orphanage. The nuns prepare a hot meal for you, along with a big mug of tea - perfect after a bumpy journey. You’ll stay in the convent guest quarters for one night in a basic room with two single beds, each with a mosquito net. You’ll have to make do without hot water, but it's completely worth it.

Day 2 - Maumere to Bajawa - Sunrise at Kelimutu volcano Before dawn, you’ll set off for the Kelimutu volcano to enjoy a spectacular sunrise across an equally spectacular panorama. On a clear day the Kelimutu is one of the most amazing sights in the world. The three cater lakes change colour every now and again depending on the mineral content in the water. These days they range from turquoise to black to dark green. The three lakes are compared to gemstones and were once an important place for rituals. People believed (and still believe) that the lakes were the final resting place of the dead - one lake for the elderly, another for young people and a third one for witches. The climb up to the top of the Kelimutu volcano is fairly easy and you'll do most of it by car, leaving you just a steep flight of steps up to the highest point. From here, you can look out across the three crater lakes.  Then, your Flores and Kelimutu trip continues to Bajawa. On the way, you’ll visit a small village with traditional wooden houses and high thatched reed roofs where the Ikats are made - intricately woven fabrics made up of individually dyed threads. You can take a look inside one of the houses to see if anyone’s busy weaving a piece. After the visit you’ll drive on to Bajawa, arriving in the late afternoon. You’ll stay in the best hotel in town and you’ll probably even have hot water!

Day 3 - Inerie volcano and Soa hot springs Today, you’ll walk along the foot of the Inerie volcano, visiting several small villages on the way as you walk in the shade of the towering bamboo forest. One of the most authentic Ngada villages is Bena, where the little houses with straw roofs are built in two rows along a line of megalithic stones. These stones are still used for sacrifice to the spirits. Traditional rituals are upheld here more than anywhere else on Flores and you can still witness ceremonies being carried out at the “bhaga” (ritual houses) and “ngadhu”, a carved wooden sacrifice pole, usually to honour the ancestors. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the hot springs at Soa where you can wallow in the warm water. The water from the spring is 40c and mixes with the cooler water of a mountain stream just below the waterfall - so that’s the best place to take a dip. You won’t be the only one swimming here as many locals people wash and scrub themselves in the springs. For many people, particularly the guides and drivers, this is only place on Flores where they can find hot water. Later today you’ll drive back to Bajawa, where you’ll spend another night in the basic hotel.

Day 4 - Bajawa to Ruteng Next, your Kelimutu and Flores trip continues from Bajawa to Ruteng. You’ll travel through some isolated areas on the way and if you want to see the area in more detail you can do parts of the route on foot. Your driver can drop you off and simply pick you up further down the road. You’ll travel part of the way along the south coast for example, where you can get and walk along the volcanic beach for a while. You’ll arrive in the cool town of Ruteng in the afternoon, which leaves you time to explore the town on foot and visit the lively market where you can buy colourful embroidered sarongs. You’ll stay in a simple hotel in Ruteng which - despite being one of the best in town - is still very basic.

Day 5 - Ruteng to Labuhan Bajo Today, you'll travel mainly downhill to Labuhan Bajo, a small fishing village in a beautiful bay. The sunsets are wonderful here with views across the tiny islands between Flores and Komodo. You'll stay in a charming bungalow with sea views, and there's also a swimming pool.

Day 6 - Labuhan Bajo Departure Your Kelimutu and Flores trip ends in Labuhan Bajo today. This is also the departure point for a visit to the Komodo National Park, home to the famous Komodo dragon. We offer an exciting day trip to go dragon-spotting on Komodo, as well as Rinca, where you actually have a greater chance of seeing the giant lizard than on Komodo Island. If dragons aren't your cup of tea, you can also skip Komodo and Rinca and fly direct

florest island tourist object

LABUANBAJO
A little town inhabited by fishermen, lies at the extreme western part of Flores Island. The town serves as a jumping off point for the trip to Komodo Island. It is a beautiful area for water skiing, wind surfing, fishing and many other marine activities.

Batu Cermin Cave is five kilometers from the town of Labuanbajo. It can be reached partly by car, and partly on foot. The grotto is 75 by 75 meters large, and contains stalactites and stalagmites. Some tunnels are narrow and dark but in others sunlight falls.

Mbeliling Conservation area: Mbeliling is one of Flores nature conservation area, here life some of Flores endemic birds ie: Flores Hanging-parrot Loriculus flosculus and Flores Crow Corvus florensis, and many other birds, nature pure and rain forest

Lake Sano Nggoang:
Located approximately 35 km east of Labuan Bajo, Thought to be one of the deepest volcanic crater lakes in the world, with recorded depths of 500 meter. Its waters are sulfuric and fed by numerous hot springs . Surroundings: Rural. Agricultural society. Traditional villages, rich in local culture.

Tado Community Eco-tourism: Tado is located approximately 45 km east of Labuan Bajo .Two closely –connected traditional West Manggarai villages, rich in local culture and traditions. Community-based ecotourism villages.

Wae Rebo Traditional Village:

the Authentic Housing of Manggarai, located about 1000m above sea level , in the middle of mountain.  All are traditional houses, with really high roofs and they are on 5 levels - the top four are mainly used for storage and all the living areas are on the bottom. We will stay in a house with 8 families. Here you have chance to keep in touch with the people and learnt by seeing, asking, and feeling their culture, life and activities.

R U T E NG
Ruteng is the capital of Manggarai Regency that was once ruled by the kings of Bima. The influences of Bima. The influences of Bima and Goa are evident in prevailing titles, such as Karaeng, and in the manner of dress. The shape of the roofs with the buffalo horn symbol, may be an element inherited from the Minangkabau. The cool town of Ruteng lies at the foot of a mountain. It can be reached by air from Kupang or Denpasar via Bima, or by ferry from Bima via Labuanbajo, or from eastern part via Ende and Bajawa. Beside the fame Komodo lizards, the area has many attractions to offer the tourists, such as the caci dance, a wildlife reserve, and archeological caves
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Cancar ;Golo Cara; the unique lingko rice fields, circular terraces arranged like a spider web.

Liang Bua: the place where Homo Floresiensis was founded by the archeopathology of new England university of Australia and from Indonesia. The tiny skeleton called Hobbit was discovered during a three-month excavation inside Liang Bua, Scientists believe it may represent a new human species, Homo floresiensis, The species existed alongside modern humans as recently as 13,000 years ago, yet may descend from Homo erectus, which arose some two million years ago.

BAJAWA
The capital of Ngada is Bajawa, which lies in the middle of the cool highlands. It is a pleasant little town such as is seldom found elsewhere in Flores. About 135 kilometers from Ruteng all about 5 to 7 hour - driving distance by car, Bajawa can also be reahed from Kupang by air-craft, and from Ende by car.
Abulobo and Inerie are between mountains with sharp peaks known locally as the "sky pillars", and popular among mountaineers. They are located near coast and have wonderful scenery.

B E N A
Bena is prototype of an ancient Ngada village. Such villages are found in rather great numbers in the area and can be reached by car from bajawa in about one and half hours. The way of life of the people is unique, and so are the houses and the traditional ceremonies.

R I U N G
Riung is now wellknown for its seventeen isles that makes the sea surrounding a paradise for marine lovers. Here one can dive, snorkel, and swim.
The beach is a sea-side resort with clear and calm water. There is a beautiful coral reef just off the shore.

ENDE
Ende was the site of a kingdom that existed around the end of the 1 8th century. The name today refers to the capital of the Ende regency, which includes the two autonomous territories of Lio and Ende. The people of the area therefore known as Lio Ende people. This town has for many decades been a center of government trade, education and political activity. Rebellion against the Dutch, led by a certain Nipa Do - known as the Wars of Watu Api and Mari Longa - decurred here in 1916 - 1917. And in 1934, the traditionalist leader Soekarno, who was later to become Indonesia's first president, was exiled to Ende by the Dutch colonial government.
The town Ende lies at the foot of mountains lye, lpi, Meja and Wongge. The beautiful bays of Ende, lpi, and Mbuu are favorite sites for beach-site recreation. Ende can be reached by aircraft from Kupang. And also from Denpasar via Bima, or by from Surabaya or Kupang.
The Bung Karno Museum is the old house occupied by Soekarno during his years of exile in Ende. Most of for the old furnishings are still there.
While in exile in Ende, Soekarno wrote and staged few plays, together with the Tonel Kelimutu theatre troupe. Among those plays were Rendorua Ola Nggera Nusa (Rendo That Stirred the Archipelago) and Doctor Satan, a revision on the story of Dr. Frankenstein.
Near the football field in Ende stands an old, big breadfruit tree. Under it, Soekarno often sat, working on political ideas to lead Indonesia towards independence. Those reflections presumably contributed to the opening of the Pancasila concept, which is now the state philosophy of the Indonesian Republic. Just from here was the Pancasila idea born. Today, the Pancasila Birth Monument stand on this precise spot.

KELIMUTU
East Nusa Tenggara's natural wonder and one of Indonesia's most mysterious and dramatic sights that can be found on top this mountain, some 66 kilometers from Ende, or 83 kilometers from Maumere. It has a unique and spectacular view on its three crater lakes with their respective colors. The colors, however, have changed continually since the eruption of Mount /ye in Ende in 1969.
The mountain is located at the back of Mount Kelibara, in the Wolowaru District in the Ende, Regency of Central Flores. Keli means mountain and Mutu means boiling. In short, it means volcano. To the local people, this mountain is holy, and a token of God's blessings. It provides fertility to the surrounding lands. It is both heaven and the hell to the people of Lio Ende. Many travelers and scientists, have written about Kelimutu since it was discovered by Van Suchtelen, a Ducth government officer,
in 1915
Father Bouman published an article in 1929, which made the name Kelimutu known all over the world. Since then, many researchers and tourits have come, as well as the Governor General of Batavia (Jakarta). To get to the lakes, one follows the road, from Moni, then proceed to the crater's top. Near the crater rim was a bungalow, which has now been dismantled.
The presence of the white men, or Ata Bara, was regarded disturbing to the peace of the ancestral spirits. As a result the spirits of Kelimutu disappeared. Earth quakes began rocking the land. Smoke is often released from the crater.
The eruption of 1928 caused many victims and much damage. In 1938 there was another eruption, coming from Tiwu Ata Koo Fai Noo, Ata Nuwa Muri (the Lake of Youth). The biggest took place in 1968, in which the water in the lakes was shot 10 kilometers high into the sky. The peak of Kelimutu itself is 1,690 meters high, and its lake crater I ,410. Other geological data are as follows: Tiwu Ata Polo (the Lake of Evil) has a slopping wall, 150 meters high. The lake is 380 by 280 meters large and 64 meters deep. The volume of the water is about 446,000 cubic meters.
Tiwu Ata Koo Fai Noo and Ata Nawa Muri (the Lake of Youth) has walls 128 meters high. The lake is 430 by 300 square large and 127 meters deep with a water content of about 500.000 cubic meters.
Timu Ata Bupo (the Lake of the old) has twi layers of walls, 240 meters high. The lake covers a surface of 300 by 280 meters high. The water is 67 meters deep and 345,000 cubic meters in volume. The total water content of the three lakes amounts to 1,3 million cubic meters.
In the last three ti five years, the lakes of Kelimutu have changed in color, a phenomenon caused by the geological and chemical processes in the bottom and walls of take lakes. It could also have resulted from changes in the bacteria and micro organism populations due to changes in temperature.
Another theory proposed by village elders, is that there has actually been no change at all, but that the effect is due to optical illusions. To reach Kelimutu can be done by flying to Ende or Maumere, then going by car to Kelimutu
The surrounding villages are good places serving as bases for visits to Kelimutu, particularly those who wish to have a more leisurely pace and enjoy the views along the road between Ende and maumere, or spend more time in Kelimutu. Those title villages are also known for their excellent weaving all hand made, still use natural dyes.

MAUMERE
A port town on the northeastern coast of Flores and stopover on the way to Ende or to Denpasar, and Ujungpandang, and noted for its good beaches. The bay of Maumere, Waiara, is considered the best diving spot (Flores Marine Resort) as it promise extremely rich marine life.
The resort is a paradise for all divers, underwater photographers, and for everyone interested in marone biology.
It has a beautiful sea garden filled with corals and fish. So does Koka, nearby. Accommodation and facilities for recreation are available.

Ledalero Museum at the outskirts of Maumere has an interesting collection of ethnological objects for the region. Visitors are welcome but advanced arrangements should be made. Ledalero is also a name of a major Catholic Seminary from many of Florinese priest originated.