KOMODO DRAGON ADVENTURE

7 Night Komodo Adventure: Explore the fascinating island of Flores, in Indonesia’s East Nusa Tenggara province, with its striking and diverse landscape, idyllic white-sand beaches, traditional villages and friendly people, before heading to the neighbouring islands in search of the famous Komodo Dragon.

Day 1: ARRIVAL IN ENDE - MONI

Upon arrival at Ende Airport in Flores (eg at 0845 hrs on GA7026 from Denpasar-Bali), meet with our guide for the start of your tour of the island. After about 45 minutes of driving through lush scenic countryside, you willarrive at Detusoko, a charming village surrounded by rice fields where you can see the friendly locals go about their daily activities in their farms and plantations, as well as try out the produce of the fruit market there. A traditional Indonesian lunch is provided at a local restaurant. In the afternoon, drive for about another hour to Moni, a small town located on slope of Mount Kelimutu, and check into the lodge there. Visit the nearby traditional villages of Wologai and Lio Koanara. Dinner is served at the local restaurant. L/D

Day 2: MONI → KELIMUTU → RIUNG

Wake up early this morning (around 0430 hrs) and drive up to the top of Kelimutu Mountain to see the wonderful ‘three-coloured lake’. After arriving at the parking area, you will then trek to the top, passing 275 steps. If the weather permits, you will see a fantastic sunrise from the top, with many lines of mountains in the background. Kelimutu volcano contains three striking summit crater lakes of varying colours (formed after the volcano’s 1886 eruption). The summit of the compound is 1,639 metres high. Afterwards, drive back down to Moni

for breakfast at the lodge. Relax for a while, then check out and drive back to Ende for lunch at a local restaurant. Whilst at Ende, visit Blue Stone Beach (about 1 km out of town), a natural wonder where vibrant blue stones are washed up on the beach (providing jobs for people in the area as the stones are exported to other islands). In the afternoon, drive west (approximately 3-4 hours) to the region of Riung, on Flores’ northern coast. Check into the local hotel. Dinner is provided at a local restaurant. B/L/D

Day 3: RIUNG

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a day’s cruising around Riung Marine Park, a national conservation area comprising a cluster of over 20 small islands with idyllic white-sand beaches, and home to a rich coral-reef ecosystem (it is also popularly known as “Seventeen Islands”, named by the local people in reference to the personification of a beautiful 17-year-old girl and also the Indonesian Independence Day on the 17th August). Enjoy snorkelling in the crystal-clear waters of the beautiful coral gardens off Rutong Island, followed by a picnic lunch on the beach there. Then sail to Kalong Island, where you can see myriads of bat colonies hanging over the mangrove trees. In the late afternoon sail back to Riung mainland. Dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the hotel. B/L/D

Day 4: RIUNG - BAJAWA

Breakfast at the hotel. In the morning, check out and drive south (approximately 2 hours) to Bajawa, a hill town surrounded by lush slopes and striking volcanoes. Bajawa is the largest town in the Ngada district, an area that maintains its status as the spiritual heartland of Flores, and where indigenous religions flourish and the villages maintain traditional houses, megalithic stones and interesting totemic structures. Lunch is provided en route. Check into the hotel in Bajawa. Dinner is served at a local restaurant. B/L/D

Day 5: BAJAWA - RUTENG

After breakfast at the hotel, check out and drive a short distance to Bena, another prominent village in the Ngada district, located on the eastern slope of Mount Inerie, and famous for its traditional, high thatch-roofed houses, impressive stone formations and ancestral shrines. Then continue the trip further west towards Ruteng, passing gigantic bamboo plantations and the beautiful tropical forest lake of Ranamese. Lunch is provided en-route, as well as a stop at Aimere village, where you can see the locals making palm wine. Arrive at the town of Ruteng in late afternoon and check into the hotel there. Later on proceed to a local restaurant for dinner. B/L/D

Day 6: RUTENG - LABUAN BAJO

After an early breakfast, visit the nearby traditional village of Ruteng Pu’u. At its centre is the ‘compang’, a round stone platform used as an altar for traditional ceremonies and rituals, surrounded by a circle of stones and traditional houses. Then drive a few miles to the Lembor district, where you can see the unique formation of spider-web rice fields, called ‘Lingko’ in the local language (Lingko is the typical farming land of the Manggaraian group, which was divided up among the different families into ‘segments’). In the afternoon, drive approximately 3 hours to the town of Labuan Bajo, located on the west coast of Flores island, with lunch provided en route. Check into the hotel followed by dinner at the local restaurant. B/L/D

Day 7: LABUAN BAJO → KOMODO & RINCA ISLANDS → LABUAN BAJO

Take an early-morning transfer (about 0500 hrs) to the harbour to board a motorized boat to Komodo Island (journey time approximately 4 hours) for your chance to see Komodo dragons in their natural environment, as well as other wildlife such as buffalos, deer, wild boar and various species of birds. Afterwards, return to the boat and head for Pink Beach with its wonderful coral and colourful fish, where you can spend the rest of the morning snorkelling or sun bathing. After lunch on board the boat, cruise to nearby Rinca Island, for more trekking in search of Komodo dragons. Return to Labuan Bajo and have dinner at a local restaurant.

Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is free and easy, until it is time to check out and transfer (approximately 15 minutes) to Labuan Bajo Airport in time for your onward flight.

~ END OF SERVICES ~

PRIVATE TOUR (BASED ON TWO TRAVELING - SINGLE SUPPLEMENT ON REQUEST)

Inclusions:

Tour & transfers as detailed in the itinerary, in private air-conditioned vehicle
Accommodation at the below selected hotels, including daily breakfast:

1 night at Kelimutu Crater Lakes Ecolodge, Moni (Standard Room)  2 nights at Pondok SVD, Riung (Standard Room)
1 night at Bintang Wisata, Bajawa (Standard Room)
1 night at Susteran MBC, Ruteng (Standard Room)

2 nights at Jayakarta Suites, Labuan Bajo (Deluxe Room)
Lunches and dinners where specified
English speaking tour guide
Entrance fees at venues visited
Government tax and service charge

Exclusions:

International airfares and airport departure tax
- Visa on arrival ($35 per person)
- High season hotel surcharges July-August (TBA)
- Any meals not mentioned in the above programme; alcoholic and soft drinks
- Tipping, gratuities, and other personal expenses
- Any other services not mentioned above Additional notes:
The above tour price is valid until 20th December 2015.
All prices quoted are per person in GBP and are subject to change in case of currency fluctuations.
Standard check-in is at 1500 hrs and check-out is at 1200 hrs. Should rooms be required outside of these times,

surcharges will apply.
Transfers done between 2300 hrs until 0800 hrs are subject to a 50% surcharge..
All timings are indicative and subject to local traffic and weather conditions.
The sequence of the visit might change due to logistics or other issues.
Please note that we cannot always guarantee sightings of the wildlife described in the above programme.
Other terms & conditions apply.