TRANSPORT       AIR-ROAD-SEA

BY AIR

 

Flores has 6 airports: Bajawa, Ende, Labuan Bajo, Larantuka, Maumere and Ruteng .
There are international flights between Labuan Bajo and Kuala Lumpur and Labuan Bajo and Singapore and domestic flights to Bali, Java, Lombok, Sulawesi, Sumba and Timor plus flights within Flores itself.
All airports, except Bajawa are within a few kilometres from the towncentre. Getting transport into town is easy with always cars and ojek at the terminal waiting for passengers. 

 

Connections:

 

-Bajawa
Kupang, Labuan Bajo, daily

Wings Air

 

-Ende
Kupang, Labuan Bajo, daily
Wings Air

 

-Labuan Bajo
Denpasar, Jakarta and Kupang daily, Surabaya (5x week), Maumere (3x week)
Kuala Lumpur (daily), Singapore (4x week)
Air Asia, Batik Air, Citilink, Garuda, Scoot, Super Air Jet, Wings Air
 

-Larantuka
Kupang, daily

Wings Air

 

-Maumere
Kupang, daily, Labuan Bajo (3x week), Makassar (3x week)
NamAir, Wings Air

 

-Ruteng
Kupang (Wings Air)
 

Domestic flights best to book via local/regional providers like Nusatrip.com, Tiket.com, Traveloka.com and Trip.com

Note:

Keep in mind that companies, routes and schedules often change. Therefore bookings best can be made no longer than 2 months in advance (holidays like Idul Fitri, Christmas and New Year) and 1 month before the travelling date outside these periods.
Flights are not cheaper when you book 6 months before or so.

Update May 2026
Because of the oilcrisis due the the situatie in the Middle East flights have become more expensive in the last couple of months.

Flights to/from/on Flores are often delayed or canceled.
Flores is extremely mountainous, more than any other island and all airports are between mountains. Plus a lot of active volcano's (Lewotobi laki2 volcano has caused many cancellations since December 2023, the volcano is back to level 3 again since May 12). And also because of the unpredictable weather often in combination with small airplanes.
My advise: be flexible when traveling to Flores and ad another extra day or two to your schedule.
Also when you wants to do an ocverland trip and Flores is you final destination before flying back home or you don't intend to fly further east then best to fly first to Larantuka, Maumere or Ende, then do the overlandtrip to Labuan Bajo and fly out from there since there are more flights from Labuan Bajo.

BY ROAD

 

The Trans Flores Road (made by the Dutch, August 1925) runs from east to west, from Larantuka to Labuan Bajo and is around 660 kilometers long. In May 2016 for the first time Flores was blessed with the Tour de Flores for which the mainroad was prepared to be in super condition like never before. But, this was in May 2016 :-)  Only one landslide and you will definitely come across some potholes causing delays. Many roads, off the Trans Flores Road are still in bad condition so when travelling more off the beaten track you will find yourself in a real adventure best to handle with a motorcycle or 4wd-car.

 

Check also stories (Take It Easy).

 

 

More detailed maps:

http://www.florestourism.com/gallery/maps

 

The Trans Flores Road running from Larantuka to Labuan Bajo was in good condition in May 2016; however in the meantime some parts are affected now and then due to regular landslides and there projects.

 

Warning:

Travel by road on Flores is slow, the average speed on the main road is around 35 km/hour as the road bends all the way (660 kilometers of asphalt is needed for the actual 375).  I have checked some stretches via Google Maps myself. All them are only real in ideal circumstances which is almost never. The roads inland or off the Trans Flores can hardly be calculated with Googlemaps.

Some examples: travel times claimed by Google Maps to Denge (for Wae Rebo) or the northern route from Riung to Reo are not realistic. You can easily multiply them due to the condition of these roads.

The good news is that except a few kilometers around the small towns there is hardly any traffic. However, sometimes you have to be patient when a loaded truck crawls up the mountain road and it can take some time before it is safe enough to pass the vehicle.

Distances and travel times (more realistic/non stop=without stop for lunch, taking photo's, let alone visit tourist objects) on the main road, the Trans Flores Road between the towns in alfabetical order are approximately:

 

• Aimere-Bajawa, 40 km, 1 hour 15 minutes
• Aimere-Labuan Bajo, 220 km, 7 hours
• Aimere-Moni, 215 km, 7 hours
• Bajawa-Aimere, 40 km, 1 hour 15 minutes
• Bajawa-Ende, 125 km, 4 hours
• Bajawa-Labuan Bajo, 265 km, 8 hours
• Bajawa-Maumere, 270 km, 8,5 hours
• Bajawa-Riung, 70 km, 2,5 hours
• Bajawa-Ruteng, 135 km, 4 hours
• Ende-Bajawa, 125 km, 4 hours
• Ende-Maumere, 140 km, 4,5 hours
• Ende-Riung, 130 km, 3,5 to 4 hours
• Labuan Bajo-Bajawa, 265 km, 8 hours
• Labuan Bajo-Ruteng, 120 km, 4 hours
• Larantuka-Maumere, 140 km, 4 hours
  
• Maumere-Bajawa, 270 km 8,5 hours
• Maumere-Ende, 140 km, 4,5 hours
• Maumere-Larantuka, 140 km, 4 hours
• Maumere-Moni, 90 km, 3 hours
• Moni-Aimere, 215 km. 7 hours
• Moni-Bajawa, 175km, 5,5 hours
• Moni-Ende, 50 km, 1,5 hours
• Moni-Maumere, 90 km, 3 hours

• Moni-Riung, 180 km, 5,5 hours
• Riung-Bajawa, 70 km, 2,5 hours
• Riung-Ende, 130 km, 3,5 to 4 hours

• Ruteng-Bajawa, 135 km, 4 hours

• Ruteng-Labuan Bajo, 120 km, 4 hours
  

http://www.distancesfrom.com/

 

Other roads (updated March 2026)

Please note that road conditions on Flores change all of the time. Today the road is ok but tomorrow we just don't know. The structure/thickness of the roads is often not strong enough to handle heavy traffic (not the many vehicles but transportation by trucks) plus the floods and landslides in particular the smaller roads. Sometimes it can take some time before they repair the road and not every pothole is repaired immediately. This might last up to months, even years.

• Aegela-Mbay is ok (renovated in June 2017)
  
• Bajawa-Riung was renovated in 2019 but in 2025 partly potholed again
• Boawae-Mauponggo (west from Ebulobo) is partly potholed
• Boawae-Mauponggo via Mulakoli is partly potholed

• Boawae-Mbay is partly potholed
  
• Boawae-Soa is a bit potholed (and beautiful) road
  
• Culu-Sano Nggoang is potholed and not a good idea with a car except 4wd
• Detusoko-Maurole is acceptable
• Junction to Todo-Wae Rebo. From the junction on the mainroad to Todo is small but ok, drivingtime 40 minutes. Todo to Dintor is a disaster.
• Labuan Bajo-Golomori, a brandnew road and good (no traffic)
• Labuan Bajo-Rangko, a new and good sealed road north of Labuan Bajo which offers great views
• Labuan Bajo-Terang is more or less ok
• Labuan Bajo-Warloka. There is a new road to Benteng. Just drive the road which leads to Pede Beach from where the road goes inland then further on south east. Then turn to the right to reach Warloka fishingvillage which takes around 35 minutes from town.
• Larantuka-Tanjung Bunga, small and reasoable
• Lembor-Denge via Nangalili (south coast), acceptable.
• Maumbawa-Mataloko is acceptable
• Maumere-Magepanda is ok (February 2025)
• Maurole-Maumere with a few adventurous stretches
  

• Mbay-Riung is ok
• Mbay-Maurole is potholed/partly dirt road
• Nangehala-Pruda is partly potholed (2017)
• Nangalili-Dintor, not in the best condition because of broken bridges
• Nggorang-Tobedo and further on to Terang is reasonable but with one big (and dangerous)
• Nobo-Boru, the road around Lewotobi is ok and a nice but slow detour on your way back to Maumere
• Pamakoe-Wajo is partly potholed
• Reo-Pota is acceptable, with an option to travel via the north coast
• Reo-Lemarang is ok.... untill the once used to be bridge which has collapsed. Only passable for motorbikes (via a rickety bamboo bridge)

• Riung-Bajawa is renovated in 2019 but partly potholed again (March 2026)
• Riung-Pota-Reo after 2024 the road had become bad again after a few years reasonable. Also the heavy rains and landslides of March 2026 didn't make it better so if you are traveling with a car this might be currently not a good idea.  
• Ruteng-Denge via Iteng, potholed at some places
• Ruteng-Iteng is partly potholed
• Ruteng-Liang Bua (homo florienses), 45 minutes and reasonable

• Ruteng-Reo has badly suffered from heavy rains and landslides (March 2026)
• Ruteng-Tangkulese is partly potholed, 1,5 hours
• Ruteng-any road west or east of Ruteng is reasonable
• Tobedo-Buleng: dirt road (or mud after rain)
• Wailolong-Ile Padung is acceptable
• Wologai-Maurole, a good part is badly potholed

Almost every road leading to a waterfall takes a long time as many of them are in the rainforest.

Car with driver

 

First of all, unless you are used to drive in Indonesia; better hire a car with driver!
Although roads are almost empty on Flores, most of them, including the Trans Flores Road is full of bends with only a few straight stretches and/or small. Many western people are not used to drive on the left side and if in case of an accident you will regret for the rest of your life you ever intended to drive yourself. Hiring a car with driver is about the same price as hiring the same car without one, but overall the latter isn't even possible. There are no rentals for foreigners unless you have a KITAS or KITAP (residence permit for Indonesia). I check this frequently, in particular in Labuan Bajo but there are no rentals for foreigners. 
As a passenger you don’ t have to take care of the traffic but only enjoy the beauty of Flores and therefore more relaxed.

 

As about 95% of the mails and apps I receive is about finding a car with driver here below some extra information.

 

How to... where can I find... how much...

Please read this if you want to hire a car with driver

 

 

Arriving at the airport you can easily get a car with driver. You don’t need to look for them, they will find yóu. Sometimes prices can be steep on airports, specially if you don't have a good plan. Prices range from 800k up to 1,2 million and even higher prices are not uncommon so it depends on business logic, common sense and your nego skills to get a fair price. There isn't such a thing as a fixed price in Indonesia. However booking in advance is advisable. Your driver will await you at the airport. You don't have to spend precious time to find a driver or bargain plus your driver is prepared for the (long) trip together with you which feels good on both sides. Rates depend on where you want to go to, like within town (seldom done by travelers) but cars and drivers are mainly booked for an overland trip.

For an overland trip count on an average rate of Rp 900.000 per day. This price includes car, driver, fuel and costs for the driver during the trip (accomodation/meals) and based on normal routes like Labuan Bajo to Ruteng, Ruteng to Bajawa etc.

Drivers have various systems, some of them count a minimum of 5 days, in case of a one way trip an empty run is usually added (drivers need to end or start with an empty run). If you want to travel quick but long stretches, for example Labuan Bajo to Bajawa or similar in one day the dayprice might be higher. Prices higher than the average rate are sometimes negotiable in the low season but during the high season not sure.

Many tourists come from Bali to Flores and will be disappointed by the somewhat high(er) prices for hiring a car with driver. So, maybe some explanation is needed.
First of all the living standard on Flores is higher than on Jawa or Bali since almost everything needs to be imported from elsewhere.

Maintenance and replacing spare parts is more expensive as well as there isn't always decent stock. Bad roads means that maintenance is more needed. On top of that the tourism on Flores is not yet a fulltime business like on Bali for example.

 

For hiring a car with driver (and/or guide) there are many possibilities.

Many people start in Maumere or Ende and travel overland to Labuan Bajo or the other way around. Sometimes in 3 days (yes, there are) and sometimes in 2 to even 3 weeks and anything in between. Drivers can take you from place to place but some of them can also guide you with (sometimes) extra costs. Also drivers have various systems. Sorry, a lot of "sometimes" :-)
In general with an overland trip with a minimum of 5 days count on a minimum price with an average of Rp 900.000 per day. Plus almost always an empty run. This price is based on an overland trip and includes car, driver, fuel, costs for driver (place to sleep/meals) with normal stretches/distances for example Labuan Bajo to Ruteng, Ruteng to Bajawa etc.
If you want to travel double stretches like Labuan Bajo to Bajawa you need to count on a higher dayprice. It doesn't work to hire a car for 1 or 2 days from A to B and for example again after a few days as this will turn out to become expensive. You will lose a lot of money as an additional charge, a higher day price and/or empty leg will be charged.

 

I work together with around 20 drivers on Flores whom I all know myself. Some of them speak very good English, others basic only which doesn't have to be a problem. All of them are reliable and safe drivers. 

You can contact me to find you a reliable, English speaking driver with a fair price. If that case please send an email to [email protected] (English, Nederlands, bahasa Indonesia) and let me know your plans and information as much as possible

- date of arrival/start of the trip (when already known)

- how many days (if you already have an idea)

- how many people (adults/children)

- how much luggage weight/volume

- all other relevant information like your plans before and after Flores.

Once I have found a driver for you, you receive name and telephonenumber and you can communicate directly with the driver. Usually a deposit isn't necessary or asked. The drivers I work with can be booked on base of a gentlemen's agreement. 

Some drivers ask an operational amount of 1 or 2 million or maybe half of the total price at the start of the trip, others don't and the remaining amount can be paid at the end of the trip. Further details like payment you need to discuss with the driver yourself however the norm is payment in cash and in Indonesian Rupiah. Very few drivers work with Wise, none of them with creditcard.
Again, I am not an agent, so the drivers price is your price. My assistance is for free.

 

Since the months July and August are peak season and getting more and more busy I advise to book early in the year or as soon as you have a concrete plan. For the rest of the year 1 or 2 months in advance is ok.

 

A car rental for one day has to be arranged on the spot or maybe one or two days before. In that case you can contact me via WhatsApp. I cannot help you with a one day rental in high season months before, as drivers won't accept a booking as there is a good chance they can get an overland booking which they cannot accept otherwise. Or your booking is accepted but they might change drivers. Tourism is not a year round business yet and locals working in the tourism business depend on high season so they have to make as much as possible out of it.

 

Again, like said on the first page of this website and over and over (I still get messages people thinking I am an agent); there are no profits for me, no fee, no commission. The drivers price is the real price, is your price. No deposit, everything is on a base of a gentlemen's agreement.

Also check the Q&A section Car & Driver

Bus

 

Long distance buses run between the bigger towns like Larantuka, Maumere, Ende, Mbay, Riung, Bajawa, Reo, Ruteng and Labuan Bajo, usually there is one early morning around 7 or 8 am and sometimes early afternoon like 1 or 2 pm. There are no fixed schedules. Buses are small and simple and you will travel together with the locals and everything they carry (including chicken, freezers, huge baskets with eggs… well fill in yourself). If you are (un)lucky (part of the adventure?) a tire has to be changed on route. There are no big airconditioned touringcars on Flores.
You can't book a bus online!

Outside the main route you can travel to more (remote) destinations but schedules of bemo/angkot are unreliable while other bad roads only can be handled by public trucks. Both bemo/angkot and trucks are very few. To reach these areas it is best to hire a fwd or at least a suv with a motorcycle as an alternative.
Examples of busprices and traveling times (note that travelingtimes with a bus are longer than with a travel or private transport).
Labuan Bajo-Bajawa vv Rp 150.000 (count on 10 hours)*

Ruteng-Bajawa vv Rp 100.000 (4 to 5 hours)*
Bajawa-Riung vv Rp 80.000 (3 to 4 hours)*

Bajawa-Moni vv Rp 120.000 (6 hours)*
Riung-Ende vv Rp 80.000 (3 to 4 hours)*. In Ende bus departs from Ndao "terminal" which is along the Trans Flores road just west of town.
* you should view these prices as a guideline

For those who don't want to fly domestic on Flores.
Due to the increased prices for domestic flights (worldwide oil crisis because of the situation in the Middle East since March 2026) it seems more people consider to travel overland. That's understandable however bear in mind that traveling on Flores is slow. There are no overnight buses and if you intend to travel overland to Ende, Moni or Maumere for example bear in mind that you can't manage this in one day only. There are no overnightbuses and from Labuan Bajo you only can get as far as Bajawa, overnight, then continue the next morning.

Bemo -Angkot

 

Within town run minibuses (bemo or angkot) which is always the cheapest way in town. Count on Rp 3000 within town.

 Bicycle

 

Flores is very mountainous and getting around by bicycle can be a physical challenge. However there are still some parts where the area is rather flat like around Ruteng and Bajawa.
Ofcourse you can bring your own bike, but hiring one is a problem.
In Ruteng is an agent who organizes cyclingtours but I am not sure you can hire a bike without a guide.
https://florescyclingtours.com/
In case there is any news about rentals I will update here ofcourse. 

Grab and Maxim

 

Grab is available in Ende, Labuan Bajo, Maumere and Ruteng however in Labuan Bajo you only can book a Grab ojek (=motorcycle taxi), there are no cars available.
Maxim, both motorcycle and car is available in Bajawa, Ende, Maumere, Mbay and Ruteng. However the Maxim carservice in Bajawa is still very low so please don't use it if you are in a hurry or you have an appointmen. They also charge a minimum of 25k for a ride although this is not clear on the app.

Motorbike (ojek)

 

Sometimes a motorcycle (ojek) is (more) convenient (than a car or angkot). Count on Rp 3000 - Rp 20.000 depending on distance and your negotiationskills. In Labuan Bajo they often try to rip off tourists. 

Motorbike selfdrive

You can also rent a motorbike in Moni, Bajawa or Labuan Bajo. In Labuan Bajo you can hire a motorbike from agents from Rp 75.000 and up. In other places Rp 100.000 is the standard and Rp 150.000 for a bigger motorbike, however no real agents but usually just direct from someone who owns one (...). 
You also can hire a motorbike for a one way overlandtrip like Labuan Bajo to Ende or Maumere. Usually they add an extra charge for sending the motorbike back to Labuan Bajo. Up to Rp 250.000 is reasonable to my opinion.

As far as I know there is one professional company where you can hire a motorbike one way from Labuan Bajo to Maumere or the other way around.
This is Motor Adventure Bali with offices in Labuan Bajo and Maumere.
https://www.motor-adventure-bali.com/
[email protected]

Tel. +62 811399795
Tel. +62 82144666186

They offer various kinds of motorbikes for rent including assurance and many additional options. There are also branches on Java, Bali and Lombok. These prices are much higher than the regular ones in Labuan Bajo or in other towns but you will get new motorbike with safe tyres. 

Bear in mind that you formally need an international motor drivers license. "Formally" as I know almost nobody will ask you. Many tourists rent a motorbike just with a copy of their passport or their car drivers license, or even nothing at all.

Without one your travel- or health insurance won't cover any costs caused by an incident or accident.
However, I do not recommend to go by motorbike overland unless you are very experienced. Labuan Bajo to Maumere is quite a distance, maybe not in kilometers/miles but in time. The Trans Flores road is winding almost all of the time with sometimes steep bends and when it rains it can be rather dangerous to travel by motorbike. One of the tricky problems can be the sudden rainfall when the asphalt becomes slippery and the road is one bend after another. For non experienced travelers It is more wise to do the long hauls by bus, car of travel (shared "taxi") and  hire a motorbike for shorter distances around town like in Bajawa, Labuan Bajo, Bajawa, Moni and Ruteng. 

If everything goes smoothly, no problem but if you are involved in an accident you will have a big problem no matter it is your fault or not.
But, one still needs an international motor driving license!

For fuel (bensin) stop at one of the Pertamina stations where you can buy Pertalite or Pertamax for Rp 10.000/Rp 12.600 per litre. Please note that there are many types of fuel and sometimes you have to deal with the available one, eg sometimes more expensive. Also note that the Pertamina stations are often run out of petrol (…) and cars and motorcycles need to queue up (sometimes for hours!) but you always can fill up along the roadside where you can buy the fuel in Coca Cola or Aquabottles... :-)

Taxi

 

There are no metered taxi’s on Flores. You can take a car from the airport, ferrylanding or busterminal and sometimes from hotels but rates are much higher than the “real” taxi’s you find on Java of Bali for example.

Airport "taxi's" in Bajawa, Ende, Labuan Bajo, Larantuka and Maumere will charge between Rp 60.000 and Rp 150.000 depending on town and distance.
See also Grab and Maxim

Travel (shared "taxi")

 

A travel is a shared "taxi" which is usually a big car or a minibus that runs door to door and is a good alternative for a bus. They usually run faster than buses and costs are still low enough. Sometimes they run on schedule and sometimes when (almost) full. Costs depends on distance, between Rp 100.000 and Rp 250.000

 

Gunung Mas is a well known travelcompany on Flores.

Schedules/prices

• Labuan Bajo - Ruteng vv
  4 hours
  departure every hour starting 07:00 am in the morning until 17:00 in the afternoon
  Ticket: Rp 120.000 - Rp 160.000 pp (2025)
  
• Ruteng - Ende
  8 hours
  departure 07:00 am and 14:00 pm
  Ticket: Rp 150.000 pp  (2022)             
  

• Ruteng - Maumere
  12 hours
  departure 07:00 am
  Ticket: Rp 280.000 pp (2024)
  
• Bajawa - Ende*
  4 hours
  departure 11:00 am and 18:00 pm (note: you have to wait at the junction on the mainroad Aimere to Ende; the bus don't drive into town)
  Ticket: Rp 150.000 pp (2022)
  

• Bajawa - Maumere*
  8 hours
  

  departure 11:00 am (note: you have to wait at the junction on the mainroad Aimere to Ende; the bus don't drive into town)

  Ticket: Rp 200.000 pp (2022)
  

* for Moni you can take the travel to Ende and change to a normal bus or the travel to Maumere from the junction near Bajawa. Bajawa to Moni is around 6 hours.

 

Contact

• Ende
  Tel +62 8523 9339933 (mobile)

• Labuan Bajo
  Tel +62 852 39322000 (mobile) +62 38541899 (landline)
• Maumere

  Tel +62 812 3795666 and +62 852 39322000 +62 852 39998999,(mobiles)
  Tel +62 38721283 (landline)

• Ruteng
  Tel +62 812 36633333 +62 813 39380830, +62 813 39150257 (mobiles).
  Tel +62 385 1407 (landline)

Please be aware that telephonenumbers in Indonesia change from time to time.
There is no office in Bajawa or Moni.

 

Other companies are Puspa Sari and Virgo Travel.
There are also many private travels. Your hotel or guesthouse can help you to find one. Cars are typically a Toyota Avanza, sometimes Suzuki APV
See below for a bunch of possibilities, the bold written are most compatible for tourists.
Bajawa-Labuan Bajo usually in the morning between 9 and 11 am

Bajawa-Mbay
Bajawa-Maumere 

Bajawa-Riung 13:00 pm well thats the plan (...) 100k pp. Sometimes they ask 125k 🤷🏼‍♀️
Bajawa-Ruteng usually morning and afternoon

Ende-Aimere

Ende-Bajawa usually morning and early afternoon

Ende-Larantuka

Ende-Maumere 

Ende-Ruteng

Labuan Bajo-Bajawa usually in the morning between 9 and 11 am

Labuan Bajo-Ruteng very frequently thnroughout the day

Larantuka-Ende

Larantuka-Maumere

Maumere-Bajawa

Maumere-Ende (compatible for Moni)
Maumere-Larantuka

Maumere-Mbay

Riung-Bajawa 6:00 am 100 pp, please be carefull if you need to catch the afternoon flight to Labuan Bajo or Kupang.

Ruteng-Bajawa usually morning and afternoon

Ruteng-Ende

Ruteng-Labuan Bajo very frequently throughout the day

 

Costs are between Rp 125.000 to Rp 150.000 or Rp 250.000 to Rp 300.00 for a double stretch for example (Labuan Bajo to Bajawa)

BY SEA 

 

There are boats in shapes and sizes on Flores.

Long distance journeys are from Larantuka, Maumere, Ende, Aimere, Reo and Labuan Bajo. Pelni is the national company with passengersboats connecting harbours of the whole country. Most Pelniships have a 2 or 4 week schedule and are not always on time. Don’t plan too tight. Pelni

Another boat company is Dharma Rucitra, the VII sails between Maumere and Labuan Bajo and the VIII sails between Ende and Labuan Bajo and both continue on to Surabaya.
Please check their schedules (be patient, loading is very, very slow)

 

ASDP are small ferries which connect Flores with Sumbawa, Lembata, Sumba and Timor. Wooden boats sail between Larantuka and Solor, Adonara and Lembata.

Speedboats run between Labuan Bajo and Sape.  
Check the ASDP website for schedules https://www.asdp.id/ 
In Indonesian only. 

Keep in mind that routes and schedules often change and crossing times depend also on weatherconditions. 

You also can rent a boat (speed or perahu motor). When heading for Komodo NP and you want to visit islands as far as Rinca/Padar/Komodo always look for a boat with at least two engines. Also check the boat on safetyfacilities and that you can communicate with your captain (English, if you don’t speak Indonesian). Boatrental is  vague on Flores with sometimes “fantasy”prices. Prices have increased the last 5 years, especially in Labuan Bajo. If you are in doubt you also can book on a seat-in tour together with other tourists. A private boat for about 10 passengers depending on distance, destination (the seas between Labuan Bajo and Komodo can be very rough from time to time, see also stories) and extra’s (meals, water etc) will start around 3 million Rupiah per day but many of them af far more expensive.
Shop around before you agree and also check the weather forecast for the day of your trip. Therefore it is best to book one day before.

Also check section Renting a boat for Komodo National Park

BY TRAIN

 

Sorry, no railways on Flores 🤷🏼‍♀️

 

GUIDING

 

For guests who want to explore Flores with public transport and/or want to go to some particular areas, want to climb a mountain or want a trekking it is wise to hire a guide.

 

Al local guide can help you to find your way (climbing, trekking, for example climbing volcanos, trekking to remote villages) and/or is able to understand local tradition and can speak the local language. Depending on their skills (climbing, local tradition and language, English) fees for guides range from Rp 100.000 to Rp 700.000 depending on skills, specialism, how long or overland.

At some POI's a guide is mandatory, like for example in Todo village, Cunca Wulang, Cunca Plias. Note that some drivers also add a fee for guiding but keep in mind that this is not always necessary depending on the route, where you want to stop, what to see. There is a huge difference in guiding. A guide who take you to the top of the Inerie volcano is not the same as a guide who takes you to Koka Beach for example.

See also "Car with driver" and "How to..." here above.

When you need a guide, also when only 1 or 2 days during your trip I can help you with that as well.

Photo's

Anne Mieke - AM PHOTONESIA©-