For a long time, Flores Island has been on my bucket list. I am curious about what this peninsula has to offer, especially related to the Komodo National Park. I plan my tour in this tourism destination based on the information I gather from the internet. Useful tips from my friends who once explored the place also helped me a lot.
While making the travel agenda, I consider several key factors. They include budgeting, trip duration, transportation, and accommodation. I plan to go alone to Flores during its favourable season between May and September. In these months, the sun shines almost every day; thus, I won’t have to carry an umbrella or wear a jacket.
How long should I spend in Flores?
I should spend three days enjoying the island. This travel duration is ideal to quench my thirst for landscape explorations, both marine and land. I must first arrive in Labuan Bajo to enjoy the natural views within such a short period of time. Deciding on the trip duration becomes the key to plan my tour.
My primary tourist attractions are Komodo National Park, Padar Island, and Manta Point. Directly observing rare Komodo dragons has been my dream vacation since I was a little child. Their populations are shrinking to around 3,000 globally. Most of them now live in the Komodo, Rinca, and Padar Islands of Flores.
I want to plan my tour around enjoying the sunrise on Padar Island. I don’t mind hiking for around 40 minutes so that I can enjoy the sky turning orange, pink, and gold. Swimming with a giant manta ray is next on my list. These unique fish can only be found in deep and crystal-clear waters on Manta Point.
All steps to plan my tour regarding budgeting
As I travel on a limited budget, I do extensive research so I won’t break my bank account. I consider aspects such as plane ticketing, accommodation, transportation, eating, and travel activities. I collect as many insights as possible for each of these elements, so I will obtain low prices without reducing the quality.
Plenty of choices are available on Flores Island. In terms of accommodation, I can stay in a guesthouse with a lower fee per night. This plan my tour scheme allows me to eat at local food stalls. In addition to the cheap food prices, I can taste the authentic local cuisine. Here is what I do in detail!
Booking early flights
The first step is comparing flight tickets to Labuan Bajo from several travel websites, such as Skyscanner and Google Flights. I booked one month before my departure. This way, I save a lot of money. I intentionally avoid flying at weekends because the tickets must be very expensive.
Staying in a guesthouse
Choosing the proper accommodation is crucial in how I plan my tour. Again, since I travel alone, I must ensure the guesthouse is safe and clean. I end up staying in a comfortable room for just US$21 per night. Although the rate is low, the management provides the guests with free breakfast.
Eating at a local and small food store
I don’t eat at a Western restaurant because it is expensive. Instead, I choose a domestic food store, which offers very cheap yet yummy foods. Each meal can be as low as US$2! How I plan my tour hugely depends on this factor. Without these low-priced foods, I don’t have the energy to explore the island.
Planning my tour for budget-friendly activities
To anticipate the tight budget, I decided to join a group tour. I save a lot of money compared to renting a private boat. With this boat, I reach Komodo National Park and Padar Island. As I wrote before, these attractions are the main reasons why I saved a lot in the past few years.
Besides visiting the Komodo dragons, I snorkel and enjoy the beautiful scenery in the surrounding areas. Here are the highlights on how I plan my tour for this aspect:
- Average cost: US$21 to US$36 for a full-day trip
- Included spots: Padar Island viewpoint, Pink Beach, snorkelling
- Tips: Bringing personal snorkelling gear helps cut the overall cost
For hiking Padar Island, I am thankful that the ticket to the National Park includes this peninsula. Thus, I won’t have to pay again. After I enjoy the sunrise, I am curious about the nearby waterfalls, such as Cunca Wulang or Cunca Rami. To get inside, I pay around US$1. I rented a scooter for US$4.8; that is enough to get me around the waterfall site for one day. Yet, I have to return to the guesthouse on the same day!
Conclusion
In my effort to plan my tour, I set aside plenty of time to do online and offline research. The goal is to obtain comprehensive information for each trip element, such as accommodation and plane ticketing. This strategy is worth the time and energy because my travel experience in Flores is satisfying.
If one day I arrive there again, I want to partner with a local, trustworthy tour agency. I once heard the name Christoper Komodo Tour. Some of my friends suggested this travel agency because its tour guides are friendly and professional. They offer travel tips that I may not find on the Internet. Can’t wait to work with them in the near future!