13 Days Trans Flores – Wae Rebo Mountain Village – Rinca – Padar Island Tour

Pick up from your hotel to the airport then Flight to Maumere – Flore. Maumere, the capital city of the Sikka district, is a main entry point for visiting Flores. In contrast to Labuan Bajo, there are still few tourists in Maumere and has kept its charming atmosphere – a mix of a dusty, BUSY town and a coastal paradise.

Upon arrival in Maumere Flores. Pick up service by your local English Speaking Guide then Drive to Geliting local market to see the buying and selling activities of local people to fulfil their daily needs ; then the day continues to visit Watubo Art Community to Learn how to produce natural a blue dye (Indigo) and a yellow dye (turmeric) for your scarf. A technique that came from Maumere and Flores, NTT.

Did you know you can make dye solutions from many things in your house and yard? Berries, vegetables, spices, flowers, and plants can all be used to make the most beautiful hues, using just a few simple steps. The muted colors made by Mother Nature herself are so pretty and the process is really fun.

In this workshop, Rosvita (Head of Watubo) from Sikka, Flores, NTT, will be sharing some great recipes and techniques for making lovely natural tie-dye creations. Do you want to know more how you can do yours?

Watublapi is a small community in the Sikka district well known for its fine traditional ikat weaving. Whereas many other local weaving communities switched to industrially spun yarn and chemical dyes for the sake of saving time and money, the weavers of Watublapi still use the traditional, handspun yarn made out of local cotton, as well as local natural dyes.

Visitors to Watublapi who register in advance can be sure of a warm welcome by the members of Watubo Art Community with traditional dance and music performances. If you dare, you can even taste the famous sirih pinang (betel nut chew) which is part of the Sikkanese tradition for welcoming guests. Believed to strengthen the teeth and have a stimulative effect, it is very popular among elderly women. Do not worry though – the red stain on your teeth disappears within a few hours.

End of the day back to Capa Resort for free time and diner. Overnight in https://capa-resort-maumere.business.site/

Day 2. Exploring the beauty of Maumere Bay

Leave Capa resort early in the morning at 04 :30 to Mage Ramut local harbour then boat trip to Koja Besar, upon arrival you will have the trekking for around 2 hours to Koja Hill then going down to Koja Besar Village to visit local primary school and bees farming. You continue your visit to cross the stone bridge to visit natural stone, another style of ikat weaving process and recycled rubbish process – Lunch will be prepared like a picnic, then continue to Panda island for free snorkeling. End of the day back to the Koja Kecil Village and overnight with in Local Hut.

Note : You come to discover and to learn how local people live in their tradtional atmosphere so please accept all the condition that they have. Everything is in minimum standard. We are far away from every confort and luxury.

We propose you something to explore (out of the box) not classic things done by mass tourism

Day 3. Discovering the islands

The small chain of islands just off the shore of Maumere – Pulau Babi, Pangabatang, Pulau Besar, Permaan – are rich of colourful coralreefs, pristine white sandy beaches and fishervillages. Pangabatang has an magical sandbank that becomes an island of itself on hightidetide, surrounded by all nuances of turqoise-green-blue water. The beach is a perfect spot to relax, swim and grill some fish – if you meet fishermen on the way, just buy some fresh fish. The day trip offers three beautiful snorkeling spots with drop offs, turtle spots and a lot of parrotfish. If you are lucky and the season is right, you might even spot dolphins and whales (October/November).

Note : Diving trip to Pemana Island, Pasir Sari Island, Pig Island, Panda Bay and sorroundings. (You can book in capa resort upon arrival as an optional programme – specially for Diving Trip)

After your relax time for snorkeling in differents spots, you return to your hotel for free time and Overnight in https://capa-resort-maumere.business.site/

Day 4. Trek to Egon Volcano et Natural Hot Spring Blidit

Leave Hotel at 05 :00 to the east of Maumere, one’s eyes are inevitably drawn to the smoking peak that is Mount Egon, one of Flores’s most active volcanoes. Straddling the narrow strip of land between Maumere and the Larantuka peninsular, the 1,671m high summit affords spectacular views over the Flores Sea to the north and the Sawu Sea to the south.

Whilst the views are great, Egon is very much an active volcano. As well as an attractive blue crater lake, there are two craters at the top, one formed during an eruption in 2004 and the other during the most recent eruption in 2008. Standing amidst orange-brown stained rubble eyeing the craters whilst Egon rumbles and roars and hisses around you and sulphurous fumes fill your nostrils is both intimidating and thrilling for those who dare to make the trek to the summit.

The trek is popular and do-able for anyone of reasonable fitness level, taking about 4-5 hours depending on how long you linger at the top. Commencing with a relatively easy walk through open woodlands, it’s not until the trail emerges above the tree line at about the halfway mark that the climb becomes a little more challenging with some steep, loose rocky sections beneath the lava domes to negotiate. These same sections should be treated with equal care on the way back down.

At the top, most of the lake crater rim can be easily traversed with the exception of the final 100m scramble to the highest point of the summit. This section is very steep and crumbly with near vertical drops on either side and is best left to experienced, well equipped rock climbers.

Blidit Hotsprings and Lunch

Those who managed the hike up and down Mount Egon might be longing for some muscle relaxation and wellness. Along the road back down (from Egon) to the trans-flores-highway you can find a small path that will lead you to the hot springs. It’s close to the village of Blidit. For those who did not hike up Egon but who will want to visit the hotsprings coming from the trans-flores-highway – all you need to find is the village Waigete and then the way up to Blidit.

After a short climby trek though the forest you will reach a small river with several pools of different sizes. Each pool holds water with a different temperature so you can always chose which one suits you best. The hotsprings are completely natural, so actually you take a bath in the forest – it’s beautiful! Best time to go is the afternoon, but make sure to walk back before sunset. Usually you will have the pools all for yourselves. Overnight in https://capa-resort-maumere.business.site/

Day 5. Maumere – Moni

Pick –up at 09.00 at your hotel then drive to Pasar Alok – local market in Maumere city

You can find almost anything on the big Maumere Market. Litterally ANYTHING. Fruits, Veggies, Fish, Meat, alive chicken, household stuff, palmleaf-boxes, Flores Ikat (the traditional woven fabric), clothing, spices (huuuuge cinnamon! perfect souvenir): cloves, vanilla, coffee (not roasted yet), ginger, kurkuma, salt …. anything that you can do from the coconut fruit or -tree: like containers, rope from coconutfibre and a lot more delicious, weird and beautiful stuff.

Then you continue to Visit Wuring Village

Wuring, a small fishing village, with impressive Mt Egon volcano in the background, is located on the main road about four kilometers west of Maumere. It is home to Bugis and Bajo people who live in traditionally constructed stilt houses. As Wuring was massively hit by the tsunami in 1992, many people moved to the neighboring village of Nangahure. However, Wuring is still their homeland where they carry on their tradition as tenacious Bugis fishermen.

Some of the villagers build boats, but not the big phinisi-schooners which the Buginese people are famed for. Women from nearby inland villages often come to Wuring to sell their agricultural produce for local fresh fish or salted fish which is a popular product in Sikkanese markets.

The Wuring people are friendly and open to visitors. Taking pictures usually is not a problem to them. The local children are especially fond of guests and are happy to accompany you in high numbers on your stroll through their village.

Then continue Koka Beach

This beautiful bay on the south coast of the Sikka district is a favorite place for locals to relax or go fishing in their jukung outriggers. The long and wide white-sand beach is also popular among foreign visitors to pause, have a picnic, and for a swim.

The tall, black rocks interspersed with bright sand provide a very contrasting scene and are ideal objects for photography. Lunch will be provided in Local restaurant. After Lunch and Relax time your continue to Kelimutu Ecolodge Moni

Day 6. Kelimutu Colours Lake – Blue Stone Beach – Riung Marine Park

In the early morning driver to Mount Kelimutu, with its tri-colored crater lakes, is probably the most amazing natural phenomenon in Flores. Beyond that, the ‘steaming mountain’ is also the island’s most famous tempat angker, or mystical, haunted place.

Scientific explanations aside, there are many myths about the origin of Kelimutu. This is one of the reasons why Mount Kelimutu was, and still is a sacred place for the local people. Over the years, the three crater lakes have often changed color. At present, one of the lakes is black-brown, one is green, and one is currently changing from green to a reddish color. A reason may be the varying mineral contents of the water. Another explanation suggests that the changing colors are caused by the neglected ancestral souls.

The first lake is named Tiwu Ata Mbupu (lake of the ancestors’ souls ); the second is named Tiwu Nuwa Muri Koo Fai (lake of young people’s souls); and the third is called Tiwu Ata Polo (lake of evil spirits). The first and second lakes are situated close together; while the third lake is about 1.5km to the west. Kelimutu is a beautiful place at any time of the day. However, the best time to enjoy this magical place is in the early morning when the clouds haven’t yet covered the view. Many visitors prefer to see the sunrise. Back to your hotel for Breakfast then drive to Blue Stone Beach on the central south coast of Flores is both gorgeous and a geological oddity.

This black volcanic sand beach is strewn with blue, green, red and yellow stones as far as the eye can see. The source of the rocks is the adjacent cliffs and although we haven’t been able to find any definitive geological explanation for this phenomenon, the origin is undoubtedly volcanic. Common volcanic minerals such as sulphides and rock-forming feldspar can both lead to blue, green, red or bronze colouration. We were also intrigued to see fine blue crystalline material present in the black volcanic sand.

Stones are collected and sorted according to size at Blue Stone Beach, Flores, Indonesia

In recent years, the local villages have begun collecting and selling the attractive stones. The stones are collected, graded according to size, colour and shape and sold to traders. We were told most of the stones end up in craft or landscaping projects in Indonesia and overseas.

Watching the local collectors and sorters at work on the beach and adjacent humpies definitely gives one a new appreciation for the landscaping supplies we buy so easily from our local hardware store.

Lunch will bea on local restaurant around Ende then continue to drive to Riung Marin Park. The coast and the surrounding area of the town of Riung have become a national conservation area, and were even given the status of a national park and named Pulau Tujuh Belas, or ‘Seventeen Islands’. In fact, the national park consists of more than 20 small and larger islands. The local people, though, have named the area ‘Riung Seventeen Islands’, a label that is easy to remember as it refers to the personification of a beautiful 17-year-old girl and also Indonesian Independence Day on the 17th of August. Arrived in riung. Transfer to Del Mar Homestay for free diner and overnight

Day 7. Riung Marine Park

Breakfast at the hotel then going to the island to explore Island Life. The marine park status has been established to preserve the area’s underwater world. The Seventeen Islands area encompasses a rich coral-reef ecosystem where you can count up to 27 different species of coral. The Riung waters are home to plenty of exciting animals, ranging from marine mammals such as dolphins and whales to various colorful fish. The crystal-clear water makes it a perfect place for swimming, snorkeling, and underwater photography.

The biggest island is the hilly Ontoloe, which is covered with short grass and a few trees, as well as fringed with mangroves. On the north coast of Ontoloe, you can observe the famous large fruit bats, called ‘flying foxes’, flying over the mangrove trees.

A visit to Kalong, the ‘Flying Fox Island’, gives you the opportunity to see these fascinating animals as they fly into the sunset. The island of Bampa Barat is a temporary home to several fishermen, who sometimes sell their catch of the day directly from the boat. Enjoy your time around Riung Marine Park. End of the day back to Del Mar Homestay for free diner and overnight

Day 8. Riung – Bajawa

Breakfast in your hotel the at 09.00 drive to Bajawa. Visiting at least one or two traditional villages and the highlands town of Bajawa, the largest in the Ngada district has some of the most interesting and accessible villages on its doorstep, with the added bonus of volcanoes, beautiful farmlands and lush forest thrown into the mix.

Ngada traditional culture is still very much alive throughout the district. Villagers still live in their ancestral homes and practise indigenous animist religion, in many cases right alongside the Catholic faith introduced a century and a half ago by Portuguese missionaries. At first glance, the rows of high roof traditional huts are the most striking feature of the villages, followed by megalithic stone altars used as a means to connect with the supernatural realm and to communicate with the ancestors, often by animal sacrifice. Other flat stone structures, called lenggi, represent a court where different clans of the village settle their legal disputes. Totem poles and male and female ceremonial houses called ngadhu (male) and bhaga (female) are adorned with intricate carvings and the blood of sacrificial animals. In fact, most of the houses are adorned with skulls and horns of water buffaloes and pig jaws to attest to sacrifices made by the household at various ceremonies.

Aside from the fascinating architecture and religious aspects, visiting a traditional village offers a glimpse into the everyday life of the Ngada people. It’s quite probable you will witness weaving traditional ikat or drying and processing of crops such as cocoa, coffee or candlenut. Don’t be surprised if you’re offered some betelnut, the natural drug of choice, to chew on.

It is a fascinating culture and the only way to truly appreciate it is to see it for yourself. Fortunately, there are several Ngada villages within easy reach of Bajawa that welcome visitors and the opportunity to share their culture. Important ceremonies such as weddings, plantings and harvesting are carried out semi-regularly so depending on your timing you may have the opportunity to witness one for yourself. A good guide should be able to ask around and find out if there’s one happening whilst you’re in the area. A word of warning though, ceremonies usually involve an animal sacrifice, usually water buffalo or pig, and may not be for the faint-hearted. End of the day you continue your journey to Manulalu Hotel or Similaire in Ngada. Overnight around Bajawa.

Day 9: Bajawa – Ruteng

Breakfast at the hotel then drive to Labuan Bajo with some stops in around Sopi and Aimere

Eastern Indonesian society has a habit of drinking Sopi. For you who have never heard the word Sopi, this is liquor that tastes delicious Eastern origin.

Sopi comes from Dutch, Zoopje, which means a liquid alcohol. At no point producing Aimere traditionally Sopi. Sopi were from Lontar trees and palm trees. Sopi is in Aimere of Lontar tree.

It feels a bit smoky and the cook twice. The first cooking process produces an equivalent Sopi flavors Wine, low alcohol. For the cooking process both times Sopi the resulting higher alcohol and the surrounding community call with the nickname BM (Bakar Menyala/ Fuel Burning).

Drinking Sopi arguably has become a culture Eastern societies. Sopi not only personal consumption. He often giving ritual in traditional ceremonies, or gifts to the host when visiting. There was the customary ritual begins with a drink event.

Continue to visit RANAMESE LAKE

Ranamese, a mountainous natural reserve (Taman Wisata Alam), impresses with its dense forests and a 21-meter-deep crater lake at an altitude of 1220m. Ranamese is ideal for those who want to explore the Florinese highlands by trekking. It is also a perfect place for bird watchers.

Ranamese Lake is situated in the middle of forest, surrounded by a lush vegetation of mosses, scrubs, tropical woods, and water plants. The climate is comfortably fresh. Its calm and clear water makes it easy to spot freshwater fish. Other prominent animals around the lake are the wild macaques. After some pictures around the lake, you continue driving to Spring Hill Bungalow for overnight and free time.

Day 10. Ruteng – Waerebo

Early breakfast at hotel – drive to Cancar Village to see “Lodok” the huge round Rice Fields that looks like Giant Spider’s Web – The distinctive spider web shaped rice fields called “Lingko” are a legacy of traditional Manggarai culture going back thousands of years. Lingko was a way of allocating village owned lands among individual family groups or clans. Essentially, the bigger a family the more pieces of the lingko pie “moso” they were allocated to cultivate.

Even so, moso were not conceived of as private property. Traditionally, linkgo were cultivated on a rotational basis. After two or three years, lingko’s were left to fallow and the community members moved on to a new lingko.

Every element of lingko management – establishing new lingko, rotation, moso allocation, planting and harvesting – was determined by an arbitrator called a “tua batu” and carried out in accordance with traditional adat. Important occasions such as planting, harvesting or the establishment of a new lingko were marked by rituals and ceremonies carried out at the “lodok,” the centre of the lingko. Even the timing of planting was dictated by celestial observation then continue drive to Denge Village ‘south coast Manggarai region’ via Narang Village – heading to Denge village – start trekking up from Denge to the impressive and unique traditional village of Wae Rebo for 3 hours. Wae Rebo is a small, very out of the way village. Situated on around 1,100 meters above sea level and approximately 3 - 4 hour travel by foot from Denge Village.

Wae Rebo is completely surrounded by panoramic mountains and the dense Todo forest. This tropical forest is rich in vegetation, where you will find orchids, different types of ferns and hear the chirping of many songbirds. There is also no mobile coverage in this village, and the electricity is only available from 6 to 10 pm. The air is relatively cold, especially in the dry season, so don’t forget to bring your jacket if you’re planning to visit the village.

Founder of the village and, therefore, their main ancestor who built the village some 100 years ago, was a man called Empu Maro. Today, the inhabitants are his 18th generation descendants.

Wae Rebo’s main characteristics are their unique houses, which they call Mbaru Niang that are tall and conical in shape and are completely covered in lontar thatch from its rooftop down to the ground. It appears that at one time such kind of houses were quite common to the region. But today, it is only this village that continues to maintain the typical Manggarai traditional house, without which these unique houses would have been completely fazed out.

The house has five levels, each level designated for a specific purpose. The first level , called lutur or tent, are the living quarters of the extended family. The second level, called lobo, or attic, is set aside to store food and goods, the third level called lentar is to store seeds for the next harvest, the fourth level called lempa rae is reserved for food stocks in case of draught, and the fifth and top level, called hekang kode, which is held most sacred, is to place offerings for the ancestors.

One special ceremonial house is the community building where members of the entire clan gather for ceremonies and rituals. They are predominantly Catholic but still adhere to old beliefs. In this house are stored the sacred heirloom of drums and gongs.

Overnight at Wae Rebo Village in the Guest House.

Day 11. Waerebo – Labuan Bajo

Breakfast at Wae Rebo village – see and enjoy the Wae Rebo village, by interacting with the local community to learn about their way of life and their unique culture – trek down back to Denge Village to catch a car – drive to Labuan Bajo via Lembor Village.

Possibility to visit and have a swimming in natural pool of the impressive Cunca Rami waterfall, with its many pretty pools that offer a refreshing, natural swimming experience, makes a fantastic day trip. It takes you about a 1½ hour scenic walk through an area which seems to be relatively untouched by modern civilization. Hiking through small villages and agricultural land, this walk is also a lesson in culture and agriculture. You are with a local guide, So it is it easy for you to get involved in conversations with villagers and farmers along the way. The trail leads you across various villages before it stretches out into open farmlands with water buffaloes, pigs, and goats grazing freely in the fields.

You can observe the various stages of rice cultivation and the traditional drying methods throughout the trail. Keep an eye out for banana, cacao, vanilla, and avocado plantations – it is amazing how everything grows and prospers seemingly effortless in this fertile area. Your local guide will help you to identify the different plants that line the walk through this Eden-like setting. In line with tradition, the farming huts and village houses are made out of bamboo: a very durable and renewable material that is also used in many other Southeast Asian communities. Lunch will be prepared in local atmosphere. After relaxing time then you continue your journey heading to labuan Bajo when your boat waiting your for Rinca and Komodo National Park. Arrive in Labuan Bajo, transfer directly to your boat then navigation to Kalong Island for Overnight On Board.

Day 12 : Rinca – Padar National Park

Breakfast on board then you start your day for snorkeling around Kelor Island then treks on Rinca Island start from the ticket office at Loh Buaya. You also have the option to choose between three trails. The shortest trek takes 30 minutes. It is an easy, shaded walk that passes an artificial waterhole before ascending to a small hill with a view over the bay. The one-hour medium trek winds between dragon nests and out into the sunshine across an exposed savannah that is studded with lontar palms. For the best opportunity to see dragons and their prey, choose the two-hour trek past a permanent waterhole and across steep, exposed slopes that offer breathtaking views. After you navigate to Pink beaches. Padar Island features a natural phenomenon that you should not miss: a pink beach. This peculiar beach gets its color from red coral fragments. It is definitely a great place to spend some time by just laying back or enjoying the underwater world with your snorkeling equipment.

Another pink beach smaller in size can be found on Padar Island as well. The shallow reef begins just in front of the beach. Being deep enough to snorkel at low tide and not too deep at high tide, it is one of the best snorkeling spots in the park. If the weather is quite good then you can continue to Manta Point for another snorkeling then navigate to Kanawa Island.

The island of Kanawa has two bulging hills with fantastic panorama from its hilltop. Covering only 32-hectare or less than 80-acre land, the island is a hideout from the hidden, yet so close to the burgeoning harbor of Labuan Bajo.

Amongst sparse beach vegetation that grows between a rocky hill and turquoise water, the eco-friendly property is a delightful ambush. People do not wish to leave too soon. It’s a seamless haven. There are also diving enthusiasts who love to share their latest engagement with the mantas, the wobbegongs, the whale sharks, or the pigmy seahorse found in the diving spots around the island. The music usually turns to become lively during the evening after a time-lapsing moment passing the unworldly episode of a golden sunset. Overnight On Board

Day 13: Kanawa Island - Labuan Bajo – Flight Back to Bali

Breakfast in on boat then time for swimming and relax. Then navigate to Labuan Bajo. Lunch will be provided in Local restaurant then transfer to the airport to catch your flight Back to Bali. Arrive in Bali. Pick service for your hotel for free time by your own. END OF SERVICE

Our Services Include:

All the Airports transfer in Bali and Flores

Return Flight Ticket Bali – Flores

Baggage allowance 15kg / pax

Hotel accommodation in half-twin/double room with daily breakfast.

Tours and transfers by private air-conditioned vehicles with cold water and towel provided.

Service of English or Italian speaking local guide.

Full Board Accommodation on Boat for Rinca – Komodo National Park

All entrance fees and tours as indicated in itinerary.