Essential Nusa Tenggara - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Tambolaka, Sumba, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel in the beautiful, rural Lamboya region.

Head into Waikabubak, the small capital of West Sumba, to gain deeper insight into the tribal traditions and ancient beliefs of this unique culture. On the outskirts of the expanding city are the twin villages of Tarung and Waitabar, full of examples of typical Sumba three storey houses topped with high, thatched roofs. After lunch continue to Anakalang, known for its abundance of ancestral burial tombs. The Royal Tomb complex in Pasunga is particularly impressive, featuring a huge vertical stone slab carved with images of the chief and his wife. Drive on to the picturesque village of Praiijing to chat with some of the villagers and further explore how ancient traditions remain part of everyday life.

Drive north to Waikabubak to visit the bustling local market and shops selling Sumba’s famous ikat weavings. Continue to the Kodi region, in the north-west of the island; a stronghold of traditional Merapu culture, rich in traditional villages and funeral sites, within a landscape of cassava fields, cashew nut plantations and pristine beaches. Picnic beside the sands at Mandorak house, a relief project that supports the Kodi tribe, and take the opportunity to swim and relax in beautiful surroundings. Go on to nearby Wainyapu, a village in a dramatic clifftop setting overlooking the Indian Ocean, where traditional houses with extended thatched roofs surround imposing ancestral tombs and spirit stones.

Transfer to Tambolaka airport in time for your mid-afternoon flight to Ende on the island of Flores where you will be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your hotel in Moni.

Set out at 4am to drive to Kelimutu National Park and embark on a short trek up the slopes of Mount Kelimutu, reaching the peak just in time to witness sunrise over the park below. From your vantage point, watch the sun’s first rays illuminate the three individually coloured crater lakes as they shift from blue to green, red to black, depending on the mineral content... although local legend states that the colours reflect the shifting moods of ancestral spirits. Drive on to Ende via Nduria’s bustling fruit & veg market and the traditional Lionese village of Saga, then continue west to Bajawa, stopping en-route to stretch your legs along the unique blue pebble beach near Nanga Panda, and to visit the traditional Ngada village of Wogo.

Explore the region around Bajawa and learn about traditional Ngada culture. Visit a bamboo plantation, and gaze at the scenic views of Gunung Inerie: Flores’ gigantic volcanic pyramid. Continue to Luba, a village at the foot of Mount Inerie where animist traditions still thrive, and the ancient megalithic tombs and ancestral shrines dotted throughout the village form an integral part of daily life. From Luba, take a 15 minute walk to Bena, where traditional thatch-roof houses frame the central square. In the afternoon continue west to Paukate for a scenic walk through bamboo forests and dry savannah, with beautiful views over the Sewu Sea. Stop at Belaraghi to mingle with the villagers and participate in the ‘ti’i ka ebu nusi’ welcome ceremony (roughly translated as ‘give food to the ancestors’), and enjoy a traditional dinner with your village hosts before spending the night in a thatch-roofed homestay.

Your morning will be at leisure to explore Belaraghi village, talking with the villagers and learning about their unique lifestyle. After lunch, drive south to the coast, stopping in the village of Aimere to visit an arak factory and learn how this local alcoholic drink is made, before continuing on to the coast close to Waelengga. Check in to your Mbolata Beach resort and take the remainder of your day at leisure to swim and relax on the beach.

Head inland to the western district of Manggarai, an agricultural region key to Flores’ rice and coffee production. Stop at the large crater lake of Ranamese, believed to be the home of lost spirits, and continue on to the higher altitude of Ruteng in the volcanic highlands. It was from here that a Catholic mission spread across the island, and tiny Ruteng is home to over 50 churches. With a nod to the town’s Catholic heritage, spend a night in a convent, making sure to be back from dinner in town by the 9pm curfew!

Set out early from the convent to visit Ruteng Pu’u: one of the few Manggarai villages to have kept traditional tall houses with their typical spiked roofs. Your guide will point out the all-important ‘compang’ - a round, stone platform used as an altar. Continue west to Labuan Bajo, stopping en-route at Cancar village where a 20 minute walk leads to a hilltop offering views over the amazing ‘lingko’: symmetrical, spiders web-shaped rice fields. Arrive at Labuan Bajo, the westernmost tip of Flores, in the afternoon, enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the harbour, and settle in to enjoy the remainder of your day at leisure.

Transfer to Labuan Bajo harbour where your luxury Plataran boat will be waiting moored to a private jetty. The crew will welcome you aboard the traditional wooden phinisi - your home for the next couple of nights - before setting sail towards your first stop at Rinca Island. Meet your ranger and start your trek through the island’s parched grasslands, which affords little camouflage for the Komodo Dragon so there is a good chance of an encounter. Continue your cruise to Kalong Island where you will moor for the night. Also known as ‘Flying Fox Island’, Kalong is home to a large bat population that you’ll see glide out of the forest every evening in search of food. Enjoy a shared dinner on deck before turning in for the evening.

Breakfast on board as the Plataran sets sail for Komodo Island: the largest in the National Park. Walk through the prehistoric landscape with a ranger by your side, to Banunggulung where there is another chance of spotting Komodo dragons, as well as wild deer, wild boar and numerous indigenous birds. In the afternoon, set sail for Manta Point - a small island, popular as a dive and snorkelling site, where manta rays fly beneath the waves alongside turtles, white-tip shark, giant trevallies, huge clams and cuttlefish. Enjoy sunset drinks back on board before dinner is served.

Spend your final morning in Komodo National Park exploring the awesome underwater world, with snorkelling stops around the islands of Kanawa and Sabolon. Back on board, sail back towards Labuan Bajo arriving into the harbour around midday. Having disembarked, bid farewell to the Plataran crew and transfer to Labuan Bajo airport in time for your onward flight.