- Visiting Flores -

A getaway from Bali

Meet the Komodo Dragon

Bali if with out a doubt one of the most popular tourist destination in the world and with good reason. This place is just breathtaking in every single way. Here you will find spectacular waterfalls, volcanos, temples, pretty beaches all with a unique cultural experience. With so many unique spots located on the same destination it is bound to get very busy. This guide will give you insight into spots you can easily access if you are thinking about heading to Bali and want to get away from the crowds and experience something unique.

Visiting Bali

Bali is located in the heart of Indonesia and is the most popular tourist destination in Indonesia. While Bali is the main island in the province, it is actually made out of a handful of smaller islands, Nusa Lemongan, Ceningan and Penida being some of them.

April to October is the best time to visit as there is little rain and lots of sun. High season in Bali is July and august. At this time the prices will get higher and it will get crowded on the island.

Where to stay:

Depending on your budget and purpose of travel, some of the most popular areas to stay in is:

Uluwatu(south), Canggu(Middle, by the coast) and Ubud(Middle, in the jungle). After multiple visits to Bali I have found these 3 areas to be the best.

If you are heading to Canggu I highly recommend staying at the Eastin Ashta Resortas the location and value for money is great on this resort. With a huge swimming pool, a gym and just a short walk from the beach. Perfect for couples or friends wanting to relax.

If you are in Bali to explore and create content like myself, the Hustlers Villain Ubud is the place you want to stay. The hustlers Villa is a co-livin' space that are all about creating a community of likeminded people. This is the place to connect and collaborate with other people as they also host weekly seminars. Equipped with fast wifi and a great workspace covered in the green lush colors Bali are know for, not to mention serving some of the best food in Bali, this is the place to stay, work, connect and relax or maybe plan your next adventure. Traveling here with a group is also great as they offer dorms with huge 120cm beds!

How to get there

When planning your trip to Asia the most convenient is to fly. If you are flying I always choose Thai Airways as it makes me feel like I am already in Asia once stepping on the plane. A great feeling especially when the flights are 11 hours to Bangkok from Norway.

Thai Airways also flies directly to Bali every single day! Click HEREto get a special offer from Thai Airways.

Planning your trip

Planning your trip around Bali can be confusing. There are so many spots to visit and if you are like me, you want to be avoiding the crowded places that can easily ruin your experience. As I mention this guide will be a get away from the crowded Bali. That means leaving the main island of Bali. Even though you are leaving Bali you wont be gone for very long, so don’t worry, you wont miss it! (This of course depends on how long you are planning to stay). With two weeks or more in Bali, this guide will be perfect.

In this guide I will cover a get away to:

Komodo National Park, Flores is another perfect getaway from Bali. Different from the other trip, this is the place to go is you like to be in the water. With an impressive underwater life, this is a dream destination for those who like to get wet. With beautiful surroundings you will get to sail across the Flores sea in a pirate ship, and if you are lucky you will get a close encounter with a Komodo Dragon! It doesn’t get much cooler than that! Getting here will require you to book a two way ticket to Lebuan Bajo, Flores.

East Java. Getting picked up at your hotel this is a easy way to see more of Indonesia. From breathing volcanoes to unbelievable waterfalls this will a definitely be a trip of a lifetime. Depending on how you schedule your trip you will most likely be jumping on a cheap flight back to Bali from either Surabaya or Yogyakarta depending on how far you go.

CLICK HERE FOR A GUIDE TO EAST JAVA !

Exploring Flores

Flores is just a dream destination. With the bluest waters, the most beautiful landscapes, underwater life that will take your breath away and of course the famous Komodo DRAGON! Real Dragons right there!!! This is some of what you get visiting when visiting Flores!

Depending on which company you choose to go for, you will most likely be jumping on a flight to Labuan Bajo. To visit the beautiful area of Flores you will have to get on a boat. Since parts of the area is in a national park you will have to go with a tour company.

I choose to go with the Eco friendly XP PIRATE DIVE CAMP. They offer boat trips around Komodo as well a cool dive camp located on one of the Islands. They where easy to communicate with and ended up being the best option. Having english a speaking tour guides the whole trip who are willing to do what it takes for you to feel comfortable is essential.

Down bellow I've listed some my favorite spots in Flores.

# Hiking on Padar Island

# Visiting the Pink Beach

# Snorkling/Diving at Batu Bolong

# Swim at Manta Point

# Enjoy the sandbar Taka Makassar

# Meet the dragons on Komodo Island

... and just spending time on the boat was incredible!

One of the many island around Flores

- PADAR ISLAND -

There are so many beautiful islands located around Flores. A favorite amongst a lot of people is Padar Island, and it is easy to understand why. After a 20 minute hike up the mountain you will have an incredible view over the island and the sea of Flores! The view is spectacular any time of day but as always sunrise or sunset is the best time if you ask me! This is a favorite amongst instagrammers all over the world! Which brings me to the next location ...

- Visit the Pink Beach -

A cool place to stop is the Pink beach. It is a nice beach with some beautiful red coral reefs just few meters out. That is the reason the color of the beach is Pink! It is a cool place to hang out and just relax. The Pink Beach is a favorite amongst instagrammers from across the world.

- Dive/Snorkle at Batu Bolong -

Rated one of the top 10 dive spots in the world, this place is just breathtaking! It is hands down the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen underwater, EVER! This place is FULL OF LIFE!! Millions on millions of fish in every color you can ever imagine. Could it be any better that this? Just take a look at the photo down bellow.

- MANTA POINT -

Visiting the Manta Point was one of the coolest experiences on my trip to Flores. Even though we did not see any Manta Rays on the day of the visit, the current of the water made my visit fun. The boat will drop you off in the water for you to drift away. ( Dont worry the boat will follow you ) The speed you are drifting is incredibly fast and you won’t really understand how fast it is until you look down to see the sea floor pass by you. In matter of minutes we drifted hundreds of meeter out to sea! At some spots it is more shallow and the coral reefs will come really close. A lot of fun!

- The amazing Taka Makassar -

There is nothing like a good sandbar. The sandbar Taka Makassar is simply an amazing sandbar. Located in the middle of the ocean surrounded by beautifully blue water, this place is paradise! You ship will anchor up and you will have to swim or join the small boat over the island. Once on the island, there is nothing to do except to enjoy enjoy enjoy!

- MEET THE KOMODO DRAGON -

The highlight of your trip to Flores is seeing the Komodo Dragons. That is the main reason why people choose to travel out to Flores. And now that I've seen them, I have to say, they are spectacular!! Arriving on the island felt like walking into Jurassic Park. Once on the island you will have to hire a guide to show you around the island. You have the option of choosing one out for four routes. Easy, medium and hard and extreme. You guide will let you know which of the routes that will have the highest possibility of seeing the Komodo Dragon. We went for the medium route which took us around one hour to finish and we got to see 4 huge dragons and a lot of other wildlife! It was simply incredible. The dragons are HUGE and scary looking! If they bite you, you will die so be careful! ( don’t worry, your guide will keep you safe )

# Ready for More?

Planning your trip around Bali can be confusing. There are so many spots to visit and if you are like me, you want to be avoiding the crowded places that can easily ruin your experience. As I mention this guide will be a get away from the crowded Bali. That means leaving the main island of Bali. Even though you are leaving Bali you wont be gone for very long, so don’t worry, you wont miss it!