Flores 10-Day Itinerary
The Route at a Glance
Labuan Bajo → Ruteng → Wae Rebo → Bajawa → Ende → Moni → Maumere
Total distance: ~500 km overland | Exit: Maumere Airport (MOF) → Bali
Have less time? See the 7-day Flores itinerary — Komodo + Kelimutu without the detours. Have more time? See the 14-day Flores itinerary — adds Wae Rebo, Riung, and Larantuka.
Day 1: Arrive Labuan Bajo
Fly in from Bali (1 hour). Check into accommodation. The afternoon is good for orienting — walk the waterfront strip, explore the fish market, and book your Komodo trip through a local operator.
Stay: Labuan Bajo Book today: Komodo day trip or liveaboard for Days 2–3
Day 2–3: Komodo National Park (2 days)
Option A — Day trips (budget)
Two separate day trips from Labuan Bajo by speedboat:
- Day 2: Rinca Island (Komodo dragons, mangroves) + snorkeling at Manta Point
- Day 3: Komodo Island (dragons + Pulau Padar viewpoint) + Pink Beach
Cost: IDR 700K–1.2M/day per person including boat + guide + park fee
Option B — Liveaboard (recommended May–October)
Join a 2-night liveaboard. You sleep on the boat, cover more sites at dawn and dusk, and get to snorkel multiple spots that day-trip boats miss. Costs USD 150–350 for 2 nights including meals.
Stay: Labuan Bajo (Day trips) or on board (liveaboard)
Day 4: Labuan Bajo → Ruteng + Spiderweb Rice Fields
Morning: depart Labuan Bajo by private car (3 hours to Ruteng). Afternoon: visit the spider-web rice fields at Cancar, 12 km outside Ruteng. The wheel-spoke irrigation pattern is best photographed from the viewpoint above the valley. Stay for sunset.
Drive: Labuan Bajo → Ruteng, 130 km, ~3 hours Stay: Ruteng
Day 5: Ruteng → Wae Rebo Village
Early start: drive 45 km south of Ruteng to the Wae Rebo trailhead at Denge village. The trek up takes 3.5–4.5 hours through dense forest. Arrive mid-day. Wae Rebo is a traditional Manggarai village of seven conical drum houses (mbaru niang) perched at 1,200 m with mountain views on all sides.
Overnight in the village — accommodation is community-run (IDR 300K–450K/person including dinner and breakfast). Evening: village cultural performance if enough visitors.
Hike: 8 km one-way, ~650 m elevation gain Stay: Wae Rebo village
Day 6: Wae Rebo → Bajawa
Morning: hike back down (2.5–3 hours). Drive to Bajawa via the main road (3–4 hours). Afternoon arrival — explore Bajawa town briefly.
Drive: Denge → Bajawa, ~100 km, 3–4 hours after descent Stay: Bajawa
Day 7: Bajawa — Bena Village + Inerie Volcano
Full day around Bajawa:
Morning: Drive 19 km south to Bena village — the best-preserved Ngada traditional village, a UNESCO-listed living settlement with megalithic ancestor altars, ngadhu poles, and bhaga shrines in a central plaza. Hire a guide in the village (IDR 50K–80K) for context.
Afternoon: Soa hot springs (Wae Boba), 25 km north of Bajawa — natural pools at 40°C in a rice-field valley.
Alternative: If fit, climb Inerie Volcano (2,245 m) — 4–5 hours up from Bena, guide mandatory.
Stay: Bajawa
Day 8: Bajawa → Ende → Moni + Kelimutu Sunrise
Drive to Ende (3 hours), brief lunch stop, then continue to Moni (1.5 hours from Ende) — the small village at the base of Kelimutu.
Tonight: Set alarm for 3:30 AM. From Moni, take an ojek up to the Kelimutu parking area (IDR 80K–100K return, 12 km), then walk 10 minutes to the crater rim viewpoint. Watch the three-colored volcanic lakes change hue as sunrise light shifts.
Drive: Bajawa → Moni, ~165 km, ~4.5 hours Stay: Moni
Day 9: Moni → Maumere
After the Kelimutu sunrise, return to your guesthouse for breakfast. Then drive to Maumere (2 hours). Maumere has a pleasant waterfront and excellent local seafood — it’s a relaxed half-day.
Afternoon: optional visit to Sikka village (25 km south), known for traditional ikat weaving, or the Catholic cathedral at Maumere town centre.
Drive: Moni → Maumere, 95 km, ~2 hours Stay: Maumere
Day 10: Fly Maumere → Bali
Morning at leisure. Maumere Airport (MOF) is 10 minutes from town. Wings Air and TransNusa run daily flights to Bali (with stops) departing 6:00–9:00 AM. Check current schedules on Tiket.com.
Budget Estimate (per person)
| Category | 10 days |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (budget–mid) | USD 80–200 |
| Transport (shared/private split) | USD 100–180 |
| Komodo National Park (2 days) | USD 60–120 |
| Wae Rebo overnight | USD 20–30 |
| Food (3 meals/day) | USD 80–120 |
| Entrance fees + guides | USD 30–60 |
| Total | USD 370–710 |
Excludes flights. Closer to USD 370 if traveling with a group sharing car costs; closer to USD 710 if solo with private drivers every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough for Flores?
10 days covers the main highlights without rushing — Komodo National Park (2 days), western Flores (2 days), Bajawa and Ngada villages (2 days), and the Kelimutu area (2 days), with 2 travel days. For a more thorough visit including Maumere and Larantuka in eastern Flores, allow 14 days.
In what direction should I travel Flores?
West to East (Labuan Bajo → Larantuka) is the most logical direction. Fly into Labuan Bajo (LBJ), do Komodo first while you have energy, then travel overland east toward Maumere or Larantuka for your exit flight. Avoids doubling back.
Can I do Flores and Lombok together in 10 days?
Tight but possible — fly Lombok → Labuan Bajo (via Bali), do Flores in 7 days rushing the highlights, fly back from Labuan Bajo or Maumere. You'd have to skip Bajawa or Kelimutu. Better: allow 14 days total (4 days Lombok + 10 days Flores).
Do I need to book Komodo National Park in advance?
Yes — especially July–September. The park has a daily visitor cap (1,500 combined Komodo + Rinca). Book via a licensed operator in Labuan Bajo at least a few days ahead in peak season. For July–August, book weeks ahead or arrange before arriving. The park entrance fee is IDR 250,000/person (+ boat hire IDR 400K–800K/day).
What is the hardest part of this itinerary logistically?
The Wae Rebo trek (Day 4) involves a 4-hour uphill hike — physically the most demanding day. The Kelimutu sunrise (Day 8) requires a 3:30 AM start. Beyond these two, the main challenge is transport timing: shared bemos depart early and stop mid-afternoon. If using public transport, be at terminals by 7–8 AM.
Can I do this itinerary solo?
Yes, entirely. Flores is easy for solo travelers. The main advantage of a group is sharing private car costs — split between 3–4 people, a private car is barely more than public transport. Solo travelers often join up with others at guesthouses to share cars for specific days.