Summary
Komodo National Park is one of the 5 most visited National Parks, also one of the 5 oldest National Parks in Indonesia. The National Park is famous for its living legend Komodo Dragon, and its beautiful underwater sites. To visit the national park, travelers should fly to Flores island and come to the national park via Labuan Bajo, a small tourist town in the western part of the island. So, when we talk about Komodo we talk about Flores too and vice versa.
Key Birds For Komodo and Flores
Yellow-crested Cockatoo, Flores Hawk-eagle, Flores Monarch, Moluccan Scops-owl, Wallace’s Scops-owl, Flores Scops-owl, Tenggara Whistler, Bare-throated Whistler, White-rumped Kingfisher, Lesser Sunda Goshawk, Flores Leafwarbler, Thick-billed Heleia, Crested Heleia, Wallace’s Heleia, Flores Shortwing, Blood-breasted (Flores) Flowerpecker, Five-colored Munia, Leaf Lorikeet, Wallace’s (Flores) Hanging parrot, Banded Fruit-dove, Flores Crow, Tenggara Oriole, Spotted Kestrel, Five-colored Munia, Lesser Sunda Zebra Finch, Flores Grees Pigeon
Itinerary
Day 1: Denpasar – Labuan Bajo – Komodo National Park
On arrival time, the guide and driver will pick up you at Komodo Airport in Labuan Bajo, then directly drive to the port to get the boat to Komodo National Park. Stop at Manjarite for swimming and snorkeling, then birding at the shore. This time for having lunch too.
From here sail to Komodo island. Stay overnight on the boat, at the front of Komodo island.
Day 2: Birding on Komodo Island – back to Labuan Bajo
Start trekking on the island of Komodo at 06:00 am. Focused to find Komodo Dragon dan key birds of the island. This is the only chance to see Yellow-crested Cockatoo here. Birding finishes at 10:00 am, back to the boat then continue sail to Pink beach. Snorkeling and swimming here, while waiting for the boat crew preparing lunch. After lunch, sail back to Labuan Bajo.
Dinner and stay overnight at Puri Sari Beach Hotel or similar.
Day 3: Labuan Bajo – Birding at Puarlolo – Ruteng
Depart at 06:00 am from hotel, directly drive to Puarlolo forest. Birding along the bird-watching trail till 10:00 am. The breakfast box will be prepared by the hotel staff.
Drive to Lembor, and stop for lunch at a local restaurant here. After lunch drive to Ruteng. A shortstop at Nteer, to see Flores Lorikeets at the Eucalyptus trees. The next stop is in Cancar, to visit Lingko Meler, spiderweb ricefields.
Dinner at a local restaurant in Ruteng, stay overnight at Ara Garden Inn or similar.
Day 4: Birding at Ruteng Nature Reserve
Depart at 04:00 am to visit Ranamese forest. Start with owling to find Flores Scops-owl, then continue birding around the lake till midday. Back to Ruteng for lunch. Afternoon birding at Golo Lusang, another section of Ruteng Nature reserve.
Dinner at a local restaurant, stay overnight at Ara Garden Inn or similar.
Day 5: Birding at Pagal – back to Labuan Bajo.
Morning birding at Pagal till midday. Back to Ruteng for lunch. After lunch, drive back to Labuan Bajo
Dinner at a local restaurant, Stay overnight at Puri Sari Beach Hotel or similar.
Day 6: Labuan Bajo – Denpasar
Free program in the morning, or a city tour to visit Batu Cermin cave and Bukit Silvia before going to the airport.
