Are you planning a trip to the Komodo Islands and wondering what to do in Flores Indonesia before your boat tour? You have come to the right place! In this guide, I will share how to spend some adventurous time on the island before heading off to the epic Komodo National Park. Everything from strolling the local seafood market to hiking to an unforgettable view fo the sunset! Here is what you need to know when planning your Flores Indonesia itinerary.
Village Children in Flores Indonesia
How to Get There
Booking a flight to Flores was a tad difficult for me at first. Typically I use Skyscanner to book a majority of my flights because the prices as unbeatable, however when doing some research I found that it was more cost-effective to book directly with Air Asia. Whether you’re flying from Kuala Lumpur or Denpasar you will land in Labuan Bajo on the northwest side of Flores! It cost us about $86 USD for our flight from Kuala Lumpur. Traveling from the airport to a hotel or hostel will take about 10-minutes depending on traffic. You can easily grab a taxi as many locals wait outside the airport offering their services. We paid Rp 50,000 to travel about 10- minutes.
Blue Water | Flores Indonesia
Where to Stay
Depending on your budget and the vibe you are going for I recommend two places. The first being Seaesta Hotel + Hostel and the second La Boheme.
Seaesta Hotel + Hostel
Seaesta Hotel + Hostel is one of the BEST hostels I have ever stayed in. Not only is it the nicest in Southeast Asia, but it is also affordable if you need a place to stay for a few days. The food is yummy, the view is great and the staff is extremely friendly. Because there is a hotel on one of the floors of the building the service and attention to detail in the hostel dorms is a serious 10/10. If you can afford about $14 USD/ night this is the spot to be! Seaesta is also a great place to watch the sunset and sip on a cold drink.
La Boheme Hostel
If you are looking for something a bit more budget-friendly than La Boheme is a good option. The building colorfully painted and the staff sport big welcoming smiles. There was AC in our norm along with towels provided for showers! This option is around $6 USD/ night.
Pink Pier | Flores Indonesia
Explore by Scooter
In order to see as much of the island as you can, rent a scooter so you are able to freely explore with the time you have! Labuan Bajo is fairly small, making it easy to walk anywhere to rent a scooter. The staff at Seaesta recommended Perama which was about a 20-minute walk. We rented for Rp 75,000/ a day. Make sure to bring your passport as they will need to keep that during your rental.
Local Villages
Now that we were on two wheels, I wanted to explore beyond the typical harbor must-sees. We needed east and found ourselves driving through a local village! TONS of colorfully dressed children greeted us with the warmest welcome and insisted on a mini photoshoot. This is just one example of how inviting the local people of Flores Indonesia are!
Village Children | Flores Indonesia
Lunch at Mohini Hotel
After an afternoon of exploring on scooters, we found our belly growling and ready for lunch. Lucky for us Mohini Resort was the cure to our hangry fix. We stumbled upon this gem and are so happy we did. With an incredible view of the water and a pool cascading over the whitewashed stone building, Mohini is a tranquil lunch spot. Although we didn’t stay at this resort, the staff was super friendly and let me snap some pictures poolside!
Mohini Komodo Resort
Best Sunset Spots
Seeking the sunset is one of the best things to do on the island! The reason being is that the sunsets will be some of the best you’ve ever seen. Vibrant pink and orange contrasted with the colorful boats and volcanic islands leave a permanent picture developed in your memory. Here are some of my favorite spots on the island to enjoy the sunset.
Sunset Hill
Sunset hill is an ever-popular hilltop spot to soak in the views of the sunset. A 5-minute hike up the hill will bring you to the top! Make sure to bring your camera to snap a few pics before relaxing as the sky changes colors.
Sunset Hill | Flores Indonesia
Pink Pier
Just steps away from La Boheme Hostel, this bubble gum pink painted pier perfectly compliments the cotton candy skies. As you walk through along the harbor, locals and their small children will happily wave and smile! The warmness you can feel from everyone you encounter is completely infectious.
Pink Pier | Flores Indonesia
Bajo Night Market
Showcasing the catch of the day is the street long Bajo Night Market. With local vendors lined up with their seafood on display and dishes on the grill, this night market is a seafood lover’s dream. Make sure to bring your camera because it also makes for colorful photos and videos!
Bajo Night Market | Flores Indonesia
