Day 1 Sanur (Bali)
After arrival in Denpasar a transfer follows to the hotel. The rest of the day is leisure. Take a walk on the beach in Sanur or visit the vibrant art market with various Balinese art materials and where of course you can taste the delicious Balinese cuisine.
Day 2 Sanur
This day, the authentic Bali will be explored. The journey goes to central Bali where a visit will be made to various traditional and artistic towns such as Ubud, Mas, Celuk and Tegal Lalang. Here are several artists’ galleries that exhibit the wonderful work of the local population. Enjoy the beautiful panoramic road and make use of the opportunity to walk around in the valleys of the rice fields.
Day 3 Sanur - Labuan Bajo
In the morning you will fly from Bali to Labuan Bajo, the most western city of Flores. After arriving in Labuan Bajo, a visit to the traditional market and the unique Cermin cave will be made. After some time in this cave, you will find that a mirror image of yourself is displayed in the walls. The rest of the day can be spend to explore this charming town, located on a beautiful bay with many tropical islands. This is one of the few Muslim villages in Flores. Enjoy the spectacular sunset.
Day 4 Labuan Bajo - Rinca
At dawn a boat leaves to Rinca, one of the islands of the Komodo, the home of the last dragon on Earth. Admire the last dragons on earth that are given to the island of Rinca, the Komodo dragon. The morning view is amazing, you feel like you are in a prehistoric world. Then the journey goes back to Labuan Bajo with a short stop at Bidadari Island. This is a beautiful uninhabited island ideal for snorkelling.
The Komodo Dragon is a vulnerable species and is found on the IUCN Red List. Komodo dragons were first recorded by Western scientists in 1910. There are approximately 4,000 to 5,000 living Komodo dragons in the wild. Their populations are restricted to the islands of Gili Motang, Gili Dasami, Rinca, Komodo and Flores. However, there are concerns that there may presently be only 350 breeding females. To address these concerns, the Komodo National Park was founded in 1980 to protect Komodo dragon populations on islands including Komodo, Rinca, and Padar. |
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Day 5 Labuan Bajo - Wea Liang
The western part of Flores is inhabited by a group called ethical Manggarai. Here they still have their own culture and traditions, which in some parts of the area are still very much prevalent. They are dressed in beautiful fabric called Sarong, which is woven by a special method in which yarns in bright colours are being used. Their traditional architecture is very unique, the houses are conical and can accommodate up to 100 people. But only a few of these houses remained and the purpose for this unique journey to this remote village is to visit a few of these houses that are still inhabited. This journey, because of the bad roads, will be experienced by truck. In the village Wea Liang you can relax and enjoy the harmony, present in this small and unique town.
Day 6 Wea Liang - Wea Rebo
The journey continues by truck through a beautiful landscape, repeatedly ascending or descending. Enjoy great views of the rice fields and the south coast of Flores. In the evening you will arrive at the village Wea Rebo, with several typical Manggarai communal. Experience the life of these tribes.
Day 7 Wea Rebo - Denge
You have the whole morning to look around in this unique village before continuing to the village of Denge. After arriving in Denge the rest of the day is leisure to explore and experience the area on your own.
Day 8 Denge - Ruteng
From Denge, the journey continues to Ruteng. This is the central village of the Manggarai country. Very unique is the shape of the rice fields. They are in the form of a spider's web, with each part belonging to a specific family. After arriving in the evening there is still time to visit the colorful market where typical Manggarai sarongs are sold.
Day 9 Ruteng - Bajawa
The landscape of Flores is never dull, there are rice fields, volcanoes, traditional villages, beaches and rough coastlines. On this day you will see all these different landscapes. See how the people, originally from the island Sawu, make strong liqueur of the juices of the Lontar palms by the coast. On the way to Bajawa follows a mountainous road with beautiful views of the Inerie volcano. Arrival in the evening.
Bajawa is the centre of the Ngada area. This mountainous area is still very traditional, partly because of its secluded location. Villages here consist of traditional wooden houses with specific decoration. Women and men sit on the porch, and are engaged in small craft during chewing of betel nut. Each village has a number of totems that symbolize male and female for the elderly. The scenery is beautiful, with high mountains and view over the Sawu Sea. |
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Day 10 Bajawa - Riung
In the morning, you will be transferred to the starting point of the trek. In the first part, traditional villages and amazing landscapes are passed. The walk ends in the village of Bena. You will be brought back to Bajawa and after lunch the journey continues to Riung. There is time to enjoy the springs of Soa, with the opportunity to take a bath and relax. Riung is a small fishing village and somewhat primitive. There is only electricity in the evening and many of the inhabitants still live in wooden houses.
Day 11 Riung
With a small boat, a part of the national marine park will be explored today. You sail to an uninhabited island, great for snorkelling. After lunch the boat trip continues to the mangrove forest. See many flying foxes hanging from the trees, waiting for dusk to fly away with thousands looking for fruit.
Day 12 Riung - Moni
A long but beautiful route through central Flores. After crossing the island you reach the south coast of Flores and there is the possibility to walk along the beach, partly covered by green stones. After passing rice fields and a drive through an impressive steep valley, you arrive in the village, Moni, on the slopes of the Kelimutu volcano. The environment here is known for its beautiful ikat weaving.
Day 13 Moni - Maumere
At the break of dawn you will drive and walk to the top of the Kelimutu volcano to see the sunrise at the three colour lakes: a special experience. On the way to Maumere, a stop will be made at a traditional house, especially for this area, where the women weave and decorate textiles. After arriving in Maumere, the day is free to spend.
Kelimutu
The volcano contains three striking summit crater lakes of varying colours. Tiwu Ata Mbupu (Lake of Old People) is usually blue and is the westernmost of the three lakes. The other two lakes, Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (Lake of Young Men and Maidens) and Tiwu Ata Polo (Bewitched or Enchanted Lake) are separated by a shared crater wall and are typically green or red respectively. |
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Day 14 Maumere - Kupang
Today there is a flight from Maumere to Kupang followed by a drive to the impressive 'Oenesu' waterfall. This waterfall has 4 floors and is surrounded by very old tall trees. Then a visit to the Air Nona springs is made, and finally there is the opportunity to admire the night. Meet the culture of Kupang and see how people live there.
Kupang is a regency in East Nusa Tenggara. This regency should not be confused with the city of Kupang a town council that is formed within the same province. Beside the West Timorese mainland Kupang also includes at least seven islands, of which Semau and the Savoe-islands are most known.
Air Nona is a spring that is surrounded by banyan trees in Kupang. Spring water is water that is extracted from natural or underground sources. Generally, it will be untreated, that is to say that it is pure bottled. Spring water can be either flat (non-carbonated) and sparkling (carbonated). Spring water is also used as the basis for soft drinks. |
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Day 15 Kupang - Waingapu, Sumba
You will continue this journey to the island of Sumba by taking a flight from Kupang to Waingapu in Sumba. Sumba is a unique island where people still live according to their ancient merapu religion based on the worship of the ancestors and spirits. Traditional houses with large roofs are very impressive, large hewn stones are sometimes created to honour the dead and the ikat textiles are known throughout the world. The western part of the island is more traditional but the ikat of the eastern part are more known. Not many tourists visit this island, facilities are therefore limited.
Day 16 Waingapu - Waikabubak
At sunrise you will learn about the complex process of ikat by visiting small villages where women are busy making ikat textiles. It can take years of painting, drying, weaving, etc. before a garment is finished. See how women bind the wires in patterns, how they paint with use of roots, leaves and bark and how they weave textiles. Then near Melolo follows a visit to the villages Pau and Rende. Here are anything but impressive houses and tombs and the finest ikat of the area. The weaves often show frontal images of people and trees, adorned with skulls.
Day 17 Waikabubak
A long but interesting route to the traditional western part of Sumba. Along the way Waibakul and Pasunga are passed, the place with the big and nicely decorated megaliths. From Waikabubak you will be brought to your next destination. End of this wonderful journey.
Price starting from € 1.945,- p.p.
* The arrangement as described can be booked as a private or as a group journey.
* Due to weather conditions the program can be changed
* The journey includes hotel or cottage accommodation with breakfast
* Transfer by private car
* Additional options can be arranged, such as:
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- International or Domestic flights
- Lunches and/or dinner
- Daily guide, speaking the language of your choice
- Insurances
- Entrance fees at the sites
- Any other wish to complete your journey |
