Quiet Flores and Komodo Island

While thinking of the islands of Indonesia, most people will straight away think of Bali, however Flores Island and Komodo Island are the next big thing in Indonesia, and it's easy to see why. Unspoiled paradise beaches, volcanoes, crater lakes, Paddy fields, sleepy villages, and Dragons.

Although the largest towns on Flores, Maumere and Ende can be found on the East Coast, many tourists head to Labuan Bajo on the West Coast. This sleepy town has small bars and restaurants and a couple of dive shops. Its location is ideal for reaching the National Park on Komodo Island.

Stunning beaches around the island are full of coral reefs, making it a spectacular place for diving and snorkelling.

Venture inland to discover traditional cultures, and mountainous rugged volcano Gunung Kelimutu within the Kelimutu National Park with its lush landscape, craggy Craters, and impressive, multi-coloured lakes, created by unique mineral structures.

At the foot of Mount Inerie, you can explore a stunning valley. Take a walk to the village of Bena, where you can learn about the fascinating culture and ways of life of the Ngada people, their local customs, colourful weaving, and fascinating tomb monuments.

Discover the giant spider’s web of rice fields in Ruteng, a vast circular field that has been sectioned equally to the community so they can grow their crops.

Hop on a boat, or charter your own for a couple of days and feel like you are stepping back millennia on Komodo Island. The island is home to the world’s largest existing lizard, the prehistoric-looking Komodo Dragon. This is the only place on earth where you can observe them in the wild. The beaches on Komodo Island are picture-perfect with their unusually beautiful, pink sands. Their colour is derived from microscopic animals that exude a red pigment which, when combined with the sand, results in a characteristically pink hue. Quite understandably this island. surrounded by coral reefs is recognised to be one of the best places in the world to dive.