If you happen to visit Indonesia, don’t forget to land your feet on the island of Flores. It is one of the Lesser Sunda Islands on the east of Sumbawa and Komodo islands, west of Lembata island and Alor Archipelago. Don’t be fooled by the title ‘island’ because Flores is the 10th most populous island in Indonesia with about 1,9 million residents.
Flores may not be as well-known as Bali, but the island has been a booming tourist town in recent years. The best thing about new tourist destination is that it won’t be as crowded as long-time popular destinations, yet are not so treacherous or difficult access as remote and yet-to-be-discovered places. So, if you’re planning to visit Flores, make sure these spots and activities are on your list!
1.. Labuan Bajo
On the west of the island, there’s a famous tropical beauty of Labuan Bajo. Usually, tourists make it as a base to visit neighbouring islands of Komodo and Rinca. But now, Labuan Bajo also attracts scuba divers for whale sharks inhabit the waters around it. Also, if you had seen pink beaches on Instagram… well, that’s the Pink Beach in Labuan Bajo. You can also snorkel around the waters or have some land scenic trips along the hills or to the Mirror Cave.
2. Volcanic park
Standing 1,639 meters high, the volcanic mount of Kelimutu is famous with its beautiful crater lakes. These lakes are fed by a volcanic gas source and are located in the caldera of a volcano, which resulted in highly acidic water. The colours of the lakes change irregularly as it oxidises from the exotic bright red to cooling green and blue.
3. Sacred rituals
There are many ancient rituals still performed in Flores as the inhabitants are mostly still strongly attached to their ancestral beliefs. One of the famous rituals is the thanksgiving ritual of Penti. It celebrates the past year’s harvest and prayers for prosperous year. The celebration involves a whole village and is considered very important that even those outside of the village can join the ritual. It is a series of rituals from the entrance to closing and a fascinating performance of Caci, the traditional martial art from Manggarai, a region in Flores.
4. Local villages
A famous local village that is open for tourists is the Wae Rebo Village. It has received Top Award of Excellence from 2012 UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards. Wae Rebo is famous for their unique conical shaped houses called Mbaru Niang. The houses were completely covered in lontar thatch from roof to ground. The village itself is small with only 7 houses and 1,200 inhabitants. Recently, it has attracted many ecotourism enthusiasts, as it is locally managed, and the villagers are welcoming for visitors who wish to see and experience their simple traditional life.
5. Find the hidden gems
The island is not as developed or thoroughly searched as Bali (even parts of Bali are still considered remote), so it’s always a nice surprise to discover hidden waterfalls, hot springs or beaches. If you’re not comfortable traveling solo, get a local guide and ask your guide to show you a glimpse of the “hidden treasures”.