Top Things to Do in the Flores | Must-See Attractions & Experiences

Plan Your Travel To Flores

Places To Visit In Flores

Danau Kelimutu

Mount Kelimutu is located in Flores near a small town called Moni. This mountain has three volcanic lakes called Danau Kelimutu which means ‘the boiling lake’. Each of these three lakes has its own colors that keep changing and has a local name and all these lakes are believed to be the resting place of departed souls. The deepest one is called Tiwu Nua Muri Koo Fai, which the locals believe it’s a lake for the young and women. At the southeast, there’s another lake called Tiwu Ata Polo which means “fascinating lake”. The third one is Tiwu Ata Mbupu or the lake for the elders.The locals consider this place sacred and that is why there are no modern buildings around the site. The colors of the lake keep changing occasionally and there’s no set pattern of the change. The lakes are sometimes green, blue, red, and even black! Read More

Kelimutu is a small volcano located in Flores near a small town called Moni. The summit of this mountain has volcanic crates that have three lakes that keep changing colors. These lakes are considered sacred and are believed to be resting place of the departed souls. The trek up is considered to be fairly easy and the trail is well marked. The lakes and volcanoes make up for a mesmerizing view and it is thronged by nature lovers, tourists, and photographers.You can rent a motorbike or a jeep with a driver form Moni to get to Kelimutu. Read More

Labuan Bajo is also known as the City of Sunsets is a large town located on the westernmost tip of the Island of Flores. This town is famous for the Komodo dragons that reside in the Komodo National Park that was listed as UNESCO’s World Heritage Site in 1991. It is also a popular diving and snorkelling spot. Some places to explore around Labuan Bao are Mirror Cave, Cunca Rami, Cunca Wulang canyon waterfall, Padar island, Rinca Island, Pink Beach, Gili Lawa. Visit Rangko Cave which is a unique cave-lake, you could go for a swim there. Bukit Cinta, Puncak Amelia, and Puncak Silvia are all vantage points around the town from where you can enjoy some spectacular view of the island and the open sea at sunset. Read More

Larantuka is a coastal town that is the capital of Flores Timur. This town was formerly a naval base for trade and a central point for colonialization and clerical activities in Eastern Indonesia. Even today Larantuka is an important connecting port to the neighboring islands and the center of economic activities in the Flores Timur district. Larantuka has rich Catholic history and is home to the famous Katedral Reinha Rosari which is also known as the Church of Iron. This cathedral along with the other two well-known chapels Kapela Tua Ana and Kapela Tuan Ma are centers of activity during the famous Larantuka Easter procession. During Easter, this laid-back city turns into a busy and lively place bursting with pilgrims from all over the world. Read More

One of the most famous prehistoric relics, Liang Bua cave is one of Indonesia’s limestone (karst) caves. It is located in the Manggarai districts on Flores Island in Indonesia. It is an important excavation site and world-renowned archaeological site. It is allegedly the discovery site of a new species called the ‘homo floresiensis’, popularly known as the ‘hobbit’ in media. The cave also has a history of being a place of worship and of being a school due to its massive size. The cave is 50 metres deep, 40 metres wide and 15 metres high. The cave would also be an ideal spot for history, botany and anthropology enthusiasts. The excavations in the cave also included stone tools and fossil fuels of Komodo dragons and small stegodons. The floor of the cave has volcanic ash and mud, like other places in Indonesia due to the belt of volcanoes present in the country. Liang Bua also translates to ‘cold cave’ or ‘cool hole’ in the local Manggarai language. The cave has a half opening that faces a river valley. In recent years, the place has gained the attention of travellers looking to explore beyond the regular beaches that Indonesia has to offer. This has also led to an increase in guided tours around the caves, for anyone looking for an adventure. Read More

Maumere is the capital of the Sikka Regency and is the largest town in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara of Indonesia. Maumere being located at the narrowest section of this long island, when one stands at Koting village near the town of Nita, which gives it a vantage view to as far as the Flores Sea to the north and the Savu Sea by the Indian Ocean in its southern horizon. The town has a picturesque landscape of hills and mountain and crystal clear ocean. Places to visit around Maumere are Waiara Beach, the Kambing Island, Pangabatang Island and Waiterang Beach. Waiterang Beach is popular among divers and also has the certified PADI diving course. It is also the hopping off point to climb to the tri-Coloured Lakes on Mt. Kelimutu located on the route to Ende. Read More

Moni is a small village town in the Flores island of Indonesia. It is located on the base of the volcano mountain Kelimutu. The best time to visit Moni is during July- August as it is Indonesia’s dry season to better explore the town. The Rasta community of the town are very friendly with the travellers and often invite them for small communal music performances. The most visited and well-known place in Moni are the Kelimutu Lakes. These are a group of three tri-coloured cratered lakes, collectively known as ‘the boiling lake’. The mineral-based lakes are a worldwide attraction for they often change shades throughout the day and changes colour several years. The lakes give the city of Moni a very high aesthetic value. Moreover, the lakes also have a cultural significance and are considered a resting place for the departed souls. Read More

One of the most visually stunning beaches in all of the world, Pink Beach in Labuan Bajo is one of the most Instagrammed beaches. The beach’s characteristic pink colour comes from the red coral and calcium carbonate that has been broken up to form the sand on the beach through erosion.

Pulau Bidadari formerly known as Pulau Sakit is located 15kms from the capital city, which is approximately 20 minutes away by speedboat. This beautiful island is spread across six hectares and is also known as the Island of Angels. It is one of the many charming islands in the Kepulauan Seribu Marine National Park in the Bay of Jakarta, which also comprises Pulau Tidung and Pulau Pramuka. The beaches of Pulau Bidadari have crystal clear water and beautiful white sand. Half of this island is covered in lush green forests which you can explore by walking around. The forests are covered with several rare and exotic plants such as the tree of peace (Baringtonia Exelsa), Willows, Pempis Acidula, Ebony trees (Diospyros Maritama), and Glodokan trees. You can spot monitor lizards resting on tree branches here, some of them grow as long as 2 meters. Read More

Riung is one of the smallest fishing based villages, located on the northern coast of Flores of Indonesia. It is one of the gems that has been left unexplored by tourists. The place is mainly known and visited for the ‘17 Island National Park’. Riung also has friendly locals, who can help you traverse through its streets. The village is minimalist but will keep you engaged with the marine and coral life to see in the National Park. The ‘17 Island National Park’, though named so has over 20 islands within the park. Each island has its unique quality. The untouched beaches also showcase marine life at its best and greatest. There are no infrastructures on the beach, making the experience here very organic and untainted. Some of the popular beaches and islands that people visit are Watulajar Beach, Tiga Island. The Rutong island is known for its beautiful white-sand beaches and turquoise water while the Pulao Ontole island is home to Mangroves, Flying Foxes and Komodo Dragons. Read More