A Wilder Side of Indonesia on the Island of Flores

A trip to Indonesia usually means vacationing in Bali, but there are over 17,000 other islands that make up this richly diverse country. Flores is a rugged island that finds the happy medium between remoteness and accessibility. With unmapped hiking trails and virgin beaches, it still feels very off-the-beaten-path, but as one of Indonesia’s most populated islands, it also has airports with flights to major hubs around the country.

The main attractions on Flores are the two national parks within its territory. Kelimutu National Park on the eastern side of the island is centered around the eponymous volcano and its famous technicolor lakes. At the western extreme of Flores is Komodo National Park, home to the world’s only living dragons.

In three lakes located on the crest of Mount Kelimutu, an active volcano on the Indonesian island of Flores, a strange phenomenon takes place. Not only does each of the lakes sport its own distinctive hue—ranging from green to blue and red—but these colors are also constantly changing.

Local lore attributes these changes to the moods of the enchanted souls who are said to inhabit the lakes. A less poetic but more scientific explanation is that the colors are determined by the amount of rainfall and the balance of volcanic gases seeping in from below. Either way, the spectacle is mesmerizing and no two visits are ever the same.

Elsewhere on the island, dragons roam. The west coast of Flores is part of Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is one of the few places in the world where the Komodo dragon can be found in the wild. This giant species of lizard, the largest in existence, can grow up to 10 feet long and weigh a staggering 150 pounds. Seeing these fabled beasts in the wild is an unbelievable experience, just make sure to keep a safe distance.

Talk to one of our travel experts today to explore a wilder side of Indonesia.