Everything that Bali can offer is here to make your stay pleasant and enjoyable. Being the most developed island, the landscape is completely diverse with lush green rice paddies, a volcano and beaches. We discovered it was easy to escape the crowds and the scenery here still makes it worthwhile to go.
Our final stop on the island was Labuan Bajo; a coastal town with a harbour now popular with tourists to visit the nearby islands that make up the Komodo National Park. The main draw here is to see the world’s largest lizards – the Komodo Dragon. Labuan Bajo town is quiet large, with more expensive hotels taking the prime positions and a variety of restaurants and tour operators that line its busy main street. After 330 miles travelling from Maumere, over a two week trip through windy mountain roads – it was nice to arrive.
Following from Part 1 of our Flores adventure, Part 2 covers our journey from central Flores to the West. We visit traditional villages scattered across volcanic plains and dense forests. We see amazing rice fields grown in a spider web pattern and we get an unexpected tour offered by local school students.
Beyond Bali and Lombok towards the east lies Flores, a long island named by the Portuguese colonists who arrived here in 16th Century. The island is an adventure playground; filled with active volcanoes, stunning lakes and hidden beaches. Dotted with traditional villages, interesting cultures and the mysterious Komodo Dragons to the far west, Flores offers you an alternative Indonesian escape with fewer tourists.
Sharing the same name as it’s Bali counterpart, Kuta in Lombok is the complete opposite. A long stretch of rugged coastline in the south of the island – with numerous beaches and coves to explore. Kuta is becoming a popular destination for surfers, with some of the best surf breaks in Indonesia. The beaches here are beautiful, uncrowded, and it feels undiscovered and low key – with none of the tacky beachside shops or resorts to spoil the natural splendour of this part of Lombok.
The scenic village of Senaru is one of the gateways to climb the mighty, Mt. Rinjani – Lombok’s tallest volcano peak. After a relaxing stay on the Gili Islands, Jimmy decided it was time for something a little more energetic and to do some trekking.
Around 22 miles (35km) east of Bali lie three small islands that make up the Gilis. Fringed with white sand beaches, surrounded by clear blue waters and beautiful sunsets with two distinct volcanoes in the horizon – there is something for everyone in the Gilis, each island offering its own charm and appeal.
