Flores Island is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands which includes Bali, Lombok, Flores, Timor and Sumba.Administratively the island is included in the territory of the East Nusa Tenggara province along with the islands of Timor and Sumba.Over the past 10 years the island has developed into one of the tourist destinations in Indonesia. The diversity of nature and culture is the main attraction for tourists to visit this island.
Here are 10 favorite tourist destinations on the island of Flores
- Komodo Island
It is the main habitat of the Ancient Komodo Dragon (Varanus Komodoensis) and the largest island in the Komodo National Park. Every visitor is required to report to the duty officer and pay the entrance ticket.Trekking route in Komodo Island:
Short trekking : Loh Liang – Hutan Asam /1 km
Medium : Loh Liang – Bukit sulphurea /1,5 km
Long Trekking : Loh Liang – Banunggulung /2 km
Adventure : Loh Liang – Gunung Ara /6 km
Loh Liang – Sebita /6 km
During trekking visitors will be accompanied by rangers as well as a guide that explains about KN Park and beyond. During the trip visitors can see Komodo Dragons,Timor Deer,Water buffalo,Wild Pig and many kind of birds.KN Park authorities also provide some facilities for visitors such as:Accomodation,Tourist information,Café,Toilet,Souvenir and Port.Beside a trekking spot in Loh Liang,you can visit Komodo Village as well which is about 30 minutes from Loh Liang by Boat.This village is inhabited by ethnic Bajo, Bima, and Makassar with the majority of the population is Muslim and work as Fisherman.Some people have turned professions into sculptors,and they make a statue of Komodo Dragons then sell it to visitors.
- Rinca Island
It is the second entrance to Komodo National Park and also as the Habitat of the “Komodo Dragon”.This object is very interested by visitors because it takes only 2 hours from Labuan Bajo by Local Boat. Every visitor who comes will be accompanied by rangers as well as a Guide.
Trekking Route in Rinca Island:
Short Trekking : Loh Buaya – Sarang Komodo/ 1 km
Medium : Loh Buaya – Bukit Tower/ 1,5 km
Long Trekking : Loh Buaya – Wae Waso/ 4 km
Adventure : Loh Buaya – Lengkong Nggurung/ 6 km
Loh Buaya – Kampung Rinca/6 km
Before trekking visitors will be briefed by Ranger about the track and the rules that must be obeyed. Along the way we will see Komodo Dragon,Timor Deer,Wild Pig,Buffalo,Wild Horse,Monkey and many kind of Birds as well as the scenery of the savanna that stretches far and covers the steep hills.
- Padar Island
It is the third largest island after Komodo and Rinca islands. The island is about 3.5 hours from Labuan Bajo by Local Boat and has become one of the main tourism destinations in KN Park. The Visitors could trekking to the top by passing through the dusty and rocky path, but your struggle will be paid with the beauty of nature which is very spectacular. The Blue Ocean and a range of small islands around it will hypnotize every visitor.
- Pink Beach
Is one of snorkeling/diving spot which is about 30 minutes from the Loh Liang.Named Pink Beach because some of the sand is red.Reputedly, red sand is derived from broken fire coral which has been crushed by the waves for hundreds of years and mixed with white sand so it looks like a pink beach.This location is perfect for snorkeling lovers because it will be treated to views of colorful life coral as well as various types of fish.
Beside snorkeling visitors could trekking to the hill and enjoy the views of the blue ocean as well as small islands around it.In addition to the 4 objects above there are actually other objects that exist in KN Park such as Manta Point,Takat Makasar,Gili Lawa darat/laut,Sebayur Island, Kanawa,Seraya, Sabolo,Gili Motang,and Nusa Kode.
- Wae Rebo
Wae Rebo is one the Traditional Village of Manggarain ethnic, which is still original and preserves ancestral traditions from generation to generation.Wae Rebo is located in the village of Satar Lenda, Satarmese Barat Sub District, Manggarai Regency-NTT, while geographically this village is at an altitude of 1,200 masl, and surrounded by mountains with dense tropical forests. This area is quite isolated from outside life, for people’s food needs rely on rice fields and plantations which is managed manually by relying on harmony of life with God’s created. If you are tired of the busy city life take a moment to retreat in Wae Rebo village while enjoying a glass of hot coffee served by manggarai girl, breathe in the fresh morning air mixed with steaming hot coffee juice. Imagination will float through the morning mist by imagining the warmth of the community “Wae Rebo, a Village above the Cloud”
- Liang Bua Cave
Located in, Liang Bua Village, North Rahong District, Manggarai Regency, NTT around 30km from Ruteng Town,the Capital Town of Manggarai Regency. This cave is one of the prehistoric relics in Indonesia and is an important archaeological site in the World.This Cave is a silent witness to prehistoric life 13,000 years ago.In this cave where the fossils of Homo Floresiensis or Hobbit from Flores were found. This discovery is shocking the world of archaeology because it is very different from Homo Erectus which is found in Indonesia as well especially body size and brain volume.Homo Florensiensis has a height of 100 cm and weighs only 25-30 kg with a skull size and brain volume only 20% of modern humans or about the size of an orange.
The Liang Bua Cave is about 50 m long, 40 m wide and ceiling height inside 25m, with this size of the cave its ideal for prehistoric life and Modern Man (Homo Sapiens). Research and excavation in this cave and its surroundings began in the 1930s and all proceeds were brought to Leiden, Netherlands. In the 1950s research was continued by archaeologists as well as Catholic priests named Th.Verhoeven and most of the results of his research are modern human skeletons (Homo Sapiens). Finally In 2001, research was continued through collaboration between Australia and Indonesia and this team was led by RP Soejono from the Arkenas Research Center(Indonesia). Finally after passing the excavation stages, right in September 2003 this joint team managed to get findings which shocking the world,namely a human” Hobbit(Homo Florensiensis)” from Liang Bua,FLORES Island.
- Kelimutu Lake
Kelimutu Lake is one of the tourist destinations on Flores Island, the natural beauty and uniqueness has attracted the interest of tourists to visit this area. Administratively Kelimutu Lake is located in Pemo Village, Kelimutu Subdistrict ,Ende Regency,-East Nusa Tenggara province. This lake is also part of Gunung Kelimutu National Park and managed directly by the Ministry of Forestry through BKSDA (Conservation and Natural Resources).
Uniqueness
If you are on holiday in Flores Island,make sure to visit Kelimutu Lake or “Three Color Lake” as his nickname because it has 3 lakes of different colors and has changed color 44 times from 1915-2011.Kelimutu itself comes from the word “Keli” which means Mount and “Mutu” means boiling.
- Semana Santa in Larantuka
Semana Santa is an old tradition in the Catholic Church and Larantuka Town which is located in the eastern part of Flores Island inherited this tradition from portuguese missionary and carried out from generation to generation for 5 centuries and last until now. This tradition is carried out every year at Easter (reminiscing the miserable story of Jesus Christ), This celebration has become a permanent agenda to the Government of the East Flores Regency in attracting tourists, especially religious tourism,every year before Easter the city of Larantuka is crowded with visitors(Local and Foreign) to witness this holy procession.
- Rangko Cave
Located in Rangko Village and takes about 1 hour from Labuan Bajo. This cave is quite unique because visitors can swim while enjoying the view of the ceiling of the cave filled with stalagmite and stalagtites.Rangko Cave also known as the Secret Cave is the most unique cave among all the caves in NTT and not everyone knows about it. This cave has a very clean saltwater pool with a very high level of saltnitas / salinity and has a depth of about 3-4 meters so that visitors can jump off the cliffs and swim in the pool.
- Batu Cermin Cave
is one of the attractions in the city of Labuan Bajo, this cave is quite large and filled with stalagmites and stalactites and in some corners of the cave roof we can see the fossils of Turtles and Fish. This cave was first discovered by a Dutchman named Theodore Verhoven in 1951.
He is a Catholic missionary as well as an archeologist.
For more information and tour packages to Flores Island you can contact us via email komodoamazing92@gmail.com of whatsapp +6282 359 282 095.
Thank You
Writer
Gerry M
