17 Day Guided Motorcycle Tour Expedition from Bali on the Sunda Islands to Flores, Indonesia

Overview

When hearing about Indonesia, one often thinks only about the Hindu enclave in the Muslim-dominated archipelago. However, the whole breathtaking diversity of the Indonesian archipelago is displayed only to those travelers who visit also the other islands such as the fertile central island of Java or the Lesser Sunda Islands east of Bali where their flora and fauna are already almost similar to nearby Australia. The islands are of volcanic origin and are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire.

Highlights

• Starts in Seminyak, Bali and ends in Labuan Bajo, NTT
• A trip to the unique Komodo Islands with their giant monitor lizards
• A perfect blend of culture, magnificent scenery, and great adventures
• Lonely beaches, tropical jungle peppered with volcanoes, and pristine wildlife
• Enjoy rural Flores with its typical mountain and valley landscape
• The volcano Tambora is always in sight
• 16 nights accommodation

Itinerary

1. Day 0: Briefing - equipment - motorcycles

   Arrival in Bali a day before, you will support with accomodation and airport transfer. In the afternoon, you will meet for the tour briefing, the motorcycles are handed over and adjusted with the necessary equipment.

2. Day 1: Seminyak/Bali - Kuta/Lombok

   Early in the morning at 5 o'clock you leave already for Padang Bai in the east of Bali. it is the first ferry port of your tour. You have to pass the busiest part of the whole trip, the island's capital Denpasar. At this time of the day there is only little traffic. After you have passed some temples along the east coast you reach the port. The crossing to Lombok by ferry takes about 5 hours. On Lombok it gets immediately very rural - Although you still travel in Indonesia, you experience a completely different world than it was in Bali. Small country roads and light off-road passages lead you

3. Day 2: Kuta/Lombok - Sekongkang/Sumbawa

   From Southern Kuta, you travel to the east coast of Lombok and take a short ferry ride of about two hours to Sumbawa. It is an island that is quite unaffected by tourism. Exceptions are some surf places. You will experience the real life of Indonesian villages. You head south overnight at one of the surf beaches in a surf camp. You will enjoy a colorful sunset and get a feeling of an "Endless Summer". White long beaches invite you to stay and relax or to stroll.

4. Day 3: Sekonkang - Sumbawa Besar/Sumbawa

   You have to leave early in the morning to cover this day's stage. Through dense forest and along deserted beaches and rivers winds your trail. You drive in the south of the island towards Lunyuk, the only locality after 80 kilometers off and on-road. Graveled roads with partly slight sandy layers have to be mastered and also some easy river crossings. Wonderful lonely beaches, tropical jungle peppered with volcanoes, and pristine wildlife. Certainly, you will experience some surprises here. Lunyuk is a very traditional place and would invite you for a longer stay with the friendly inhabitants.

5. Day 4: Sumbawa Besar - Calabai

   Today you travel on the main island road to cover the long distance and to continue further into the eastern part. Your final destination for the day is Calabai situated on the foot of the volcano Tambora which has a special history. After you leave the main route to the north, you drive on good gravel roads and over pastures with free-ranging horses and cattle. Water buffalos with huge horns enjoy their bath in waterholes. The volcano Tambora is always in sight.

6. Day 5: Calabai - Hu\`u

   On gravel roads, over wooden bridges, and some river crossings, you get around Tambora. On one side the beaches and the blue sea on the other one your view sweeps to the mountain. You can find here only a few people and settlements. Enduro riding, scenery, and pure nature until you arrive at Bima overnight.

7. Day 6: Hu\`u - Sape

   You drive on the winding paved road to Sape in the most eastern part of Sumbawa. Sape is a typical small Indonesian town. You need to stay here one night before you enter the ferry early the next morning.

8. Day 7: Sape - Labuan Bajo

   Around 8:00 o'clock in the morning, the ferry leaves the port towards Labuan Bajo. The crossing takes about seven to eight hours. Time to relax and to watch the Komodo islands with their unique giant lizard from a far distance. After being in Bali, Lombok, and Sumbawa on Flores await you a totally different religion and different people with their customs and cultures. The afternoon is for leisure. You explore the small former fishermen's village on your own. In the evening, you will hold a tour briefing for the next days.

9. Day 8: Komodo National Park - Rinca

   After, you took your snorkeling gear at the reception, you walk to the port of Labuan Bajo and board the local, wooden Buginese boat. You head along the coastline to the island of Rinca in the Komodo National Park. Many picturesque small islands with white sandy beaches cross your path. On Rinca, the Ranger is already waiting for you. He accompanies you during the walk on the island and explains all about the life and behavior of the Komodo Dragon. Then you take a short break at the National Park headquarters before you continue your way back to Labuan Bajo. Of course, you stop at some snorkel

10. Day 9: Labuan Bajo - Ruteng - Mbolata Beach

    You leave Labuan Bajo and travel on a winding mountain road to Ruteng. The rural Flores with its typical mountain and valley landscape invites you for a few photo stops. In Cancar, you visit the spiderweb rice fields. A unicum that only can be found in this small area in the world. Ruteng is a small town in the mountains with moderate temperatures. If the weather allows, you travel to Golo Curu, the "Welcome Hill" of Ruteng. It is a beautiful vista point from which you have a spectacular view of Ruteng, the mountain scenery, and thousands of green rice terraces. The local cathedral invites you

11. Day 10: Mbolata - Bajawa

    Your day today is full of variety. The travel distances are somewhat shorter. You are in the middle of an area with many cultural highlights. You leave Mbolata and drive over a small path steeply into the mountains to Belaraghi, a small traditional village. There is so much to see and discover. Back on the coastline you drive through the fisher village of Aimere and follow the winding road up to 1200 meters towards Bajawa. On the way, you can catch sight of spectacular views to the volcanic scenery and the Sawu Sea with its wild beaches. Bajawa, your final destination for today, is a small and

12. Day 11: Bajawa

    In the morning you drive towards the southern coast. On the way to the unique and certainly best preserved megalithic village Bena you see already a lot of more or less intact traditional villages. You approach the volcano Inerie. Directly in front of you, almost close enough to touch, it reaches with its steep, barren flanks high to the sky. A photo in a geological schoolbook could not show it better. Bena lies on the foot of this impressive volcano. People here still hold to their traditions and customs, although they have already been opened to tourism. You take plenty of time to experience

13. Day 12: Bajawa - Moni

    Well relaxed, you continue your adventurous tour in the direction of Moni, your next highlight. Your tour on the panoramic road on the plateau of Bajawa. In "Little Switzerland" of South East Asia, you make your first break and visit the magnificent recreational seminar center and the baroque-like garden of the Catholic priest's municipality of Flores. Head is still Father Kurt, an elderly and wise gentleman, who has really much experience with Flores. Shortly in front of the city Ende you stop at probably one of the unique beaches with blue-green pebbles of all sizes. One can find this type o

14. Day 13: Moni - Kelimutu

    Early morning at four o'clock - or even later depending on the weather - you drive up to the parking lot of the Kelimutu volcano from where you hike approximately thirty minutes to the viewpoint of the Three Crater Lakes. You climb 127 steps and if the weather permits during this time of the year, you will see the lakes in their most beautiful colors: emerald milky green, dark green, and sometimes Oker-red and light black. The sunrise is a truly lasting impression. After breakfast, you set out on a small tour through endless curves back down to the sea to the supposedly most beautiful beach of

15. Day 14: Moni - Maurole - Riung

    After almost two weeks of heading eastwards, you have reached the turning point of your journey, but you haven't still seen everything Flores has to offer. Just for a few kilometers, you drive the island's main road towards Ende. Always downhill accompanied by forest and deep gorges, Then you turn northward and later westwards to reach the 17 Islands, National Park. Your bikes get a little bit more stressed on this and the next day's way. You drive through the driest part of the island of Flores. A wide, slightly hilly grassland with occasional settlements. If you did not know that you would b

16. Day 15: Riung 17 islands Boat trip

    Today you have a nonriding but relaxing day on a small hidden paradise island. The islands in front of Riung are uninhabited with white sandy beaches. Time for swimming and possibly for snorkeling and exploring the underwater world. On one of these wonderful Robinson Crusoe Islands, you go ashore, stroll along the beach and explore the island. Ypur crew will prepare a tasty fish BBQ for your lunch. The afternoon you will spend in the hammock in the shadow of the palm trees. In the late afternoon, you are back in Riung. You drive back only 5 min to your accommodation on a majestic avenue of coc

17. Day 16: Riung - Ruteng (North Coast) - Labuan Bajo

    Initially, you go on a dirt road always along the coast to the west. You have views to the sea and of the small islands of the National Park. The landscape becomes more mountainous and the vegetation denser and greener. You pass some small villages which are predominantly Muslim. During your breaks, you will be warmly welcomed by local people. Indonesia is a very open-minded and hospitable country. From Ruteng to Labuan Bajo you have to take the already well-known route because there is a lack of alternative ways. To the west, this way is not at all boring. Bends and turns await us in the moun

Ride Details

Terrain

asphalt, gravel, dirt roads

Bike

rental bike (Versys Tourer, KLX 250 / CRF Rally, KLX 150 / CB 150, Scooter)

Mileage

2800 kilometers / 1740 miles

Daily rides

90 - 380 kilometers / 55 - 236 miles

Riding gear

included: luggage bags or hard cases waterproof and rainwear

Meals

daily breakfast and lunch

Accommodation

Local country typical hotels and guest houses, some good standard, some simple.

Getting There

You are going to enjoy a Komodo boat trip to the unique dragons, Kelimutu Volcano sunrise; color lakes, 17th islands - Paradise, Megalithic Village Flores, Coca Beach, Kuta Lombok with amazing beaches, etc. [+](https://www.tripaneer.com/motor-adventure-bali/17-day-guided-motorcycle-tour-expedition-from-bali-on-the-sunda-islands-to-flores-indonesia# "Zoom in") [−](https://www.tripaneer.com/motor-ad