Holiday in Flores

Island in Indonesia — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇮🇩

Country

Indonesia

Type

Island

Best time to travel

April to November (dry season, 27-33 °C). June-September ideal for Komodo tours. December-March rainy season with limited travel.

Budget/day

50-130 €

Getting there from Germany

Flight to Labuan Bajo (LBJ, approx. 16-18 h with 2 layovers via Jakarta/Bali). Or flight to Bali + domestic flight (1.5 h). Visa on Arrival (35 $, 30 days).

About Flores

Flores is one of the most fascinating and least visited islands in Indonesia — a 360-kilometer long, mountainous strip of volcanic earth east of Bali that feels like a continent in miniature. The island is the gateway to Komodo National Park with its legendary dragons, but also offers unforgettable experiences away from the dragons. The Kelimutu volcano is Flores' natural wonder number one: three crater lakes on a single peak that shimmer in different colors — turquoise, emerald green, and dark red. The colors change regularly due to volcanic minerals and gas reactions, so no visit is the same as another. The sunrise over the three colored lakes is one of the most unforgettable natural spectacles in Southeast Asia. The Trans-Flores Highway connects Labuan Bajo in the west with Maumere in the east and leads through breathtaking landscapes: volcanic cones, rice terraces, traditional villages of Manggarai and Ngada, spider web rice fields near Ruteng, and the massive canyon of Cunca Wulang with its turquoise natural pools. Labuan Bajo is the starting point for Komodo boat tours: multi-day liveaboard trips lead to the Komodo dragons, the pink beaches, Manta Point (with giant mantas), and some of the best dive spots in Indonesia. Flores itself is predominantly Catholic — a unique legacy of the Portuguese colonial era that is reflected in churches, processions, and a different atmosphere than the rest of Muslim Indonesia.

Nature
95
Adventure
90
Winter
70
Culture
60
Food
55

Top 6 highlights in Flores

The places you absolutely must not miss.

1

Kelimutu Crater Lakes

Three lakes in different colors on a volcano: turquoise, green, and red — the sunrise here is unforgettable.

2

Komodo National Park

By boat from Labuan Bajo: Komodo dragons, Pink Beach, Manta Point, and world-class diving in a UNESCO World Heritage site.

3

Spider Web Rice Fields

Near Ruteng: circular rice terraces in a spider web pattern — a unique landscape of Manggarai culture.

4

Trans-Flores Highway

360 km adventure road across the island: volcanoes, rice terraces, traditional villages, and waterfalls.

5

Cunca Wulang Canyon

Hidden canyon with turquoise natural pools: climbing, swimming, and canyoning through limestone rocks.

6

Bena Village

Traditional Ngada village with megalithic stone altars: vibrant ancestor worship at the foot of a volcano.

Hotels in Flores

Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.

Über 700.000 Hotels
Kostenlose Stornierung
Bestpreis-Garantie
Hotels in Flores vergleichen

* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.

Reise-SIM für Flores

Günstig surfen im Urlaub mit travSIM

Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen

Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie

Best time to travel for Flores

Recommended travel time

April to November (dry season, 27-33 °C). June-September ideal for Komodo tours. December-March rainy season with limited travel.

Summer

27-34 °C, hot and dry with clear visibility, perfect for diving and tours

Winter

25-32 °C, rainy season with heavy showers, roads partially difficult to pass

How much does a holiday in Flores cost?

Average costs per person per day

🎒

Budget

20-40 €

Hostel, Street food, Public transport

🏨

Mid-range

50-130 €

Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions

🌟

Luxury

150-500 €

Boutique hotel, Fine dining

Book a package holiday to Flores

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5 travel tips for Flores

Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.

Visa on Arrival — 35 $ (30 days). 7-14 days are sufficient for Flores to see the main attractions. Book domestic flights early!

Komodo National Park fee — since 2023 approx. 150,000-300,000 IDR (approx. 10-20 €). Liveaboard tours (2-3 days) from approx. 150 € are the best experience.

Kelimutu — set off at 4 a.m. for the sunrise. Bring warm clothing, it is cool at 1,600 m. Entrance approx. 3 €.

Trans-Flores — the road is winding and partially poor. 360 km takes 2-3 days. Rental car with driver recommended (approx. 40-50 €/day).

Cash — hardly any ATMs outside of Labuan Bajo. Withdraw enough cash in Labuan Bajo or Bali. Many accommodations only accept cash.

Food & drink in Flores

These specialties you must try!

Se'i Babi — smoked pork Flores style: spicy and tender, typical for the Catholic regions of Eastern Indonesia.
Ikan Kuah Asam — fish in sour tamarind broth: Flores' version of Indonesian fish soup, spicy and aromatic.
Jagung Bose — corn and bean stew: a traditional staple of the Manggarai, simple and nutritious.
Kopi Flores — Flores coffee from the highlands: Bajawa and Manggarai produce some of the best single-origin coffees in Indonesia.
Moke — palm wine of Ngada: freshly tapped from the palm tree, sweet-bitter and slightly alcoholic — the traditional drink at ceremonies.
Suitable for:KomodoVolcanoDivingAdventureIslandIndonesiaCulture

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