City: East Nusa Tenggara
Top Things to do in East Nusa Tenggara
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What to do and see in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia: The Best Things to do Good for Big Groups
East Nusa Tenggara (Indonesian: Nusa Tenggara Timur – NTT) is the southernmost province of Indonesia. It is located in the eastern part of the Lesser Sunda Islands and includes West Timor. It has a total area of 47,245.82 km, and the population at the 2010 Census was 4,683,827; the latest official estimate in January 2014 was 5,070,746. The provincial capital is Kupang on West Timor.
Restaurants in East Nusa Tenggara
1. Padar Island
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1,193 reviews
Reviewed By SusanW4197 - Kiama, Australia
To get there it is boat ride from Labuan Bajo - day trip possible but most go for a few days. Most boats aim to get to Padar for sunrise or sunset so it's busy. Ours arrived early and it was still hot so we climbed to summit earlier than most and then went down and climbed the other summit - which is a very narrow slippery treacherous track (which guides discourage) But, we did it discretely and were alone on this summit for sunset and avoided crowds at the top. Generally hot in middle of day and climbing summit would be very hard - so avoid unless cooler.
2. Mount Kelimutu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 611 reviews
Reviewed By davidsA803EE - Sebastopol, United States
Kelimutu volcano is located 50 km east of Ende, central Flores on a road that climbs through several small villages and rice terraces into a dense rainforest near the summit. The volcano is in a national park, and there is a fee to enter: not much for locals and foreign Indonesian work visa holders, and more for tourists (about US$15). From a parking area a few hiking trails go up to the summit, which features 3 steep-sided craters with actively roiling multi-colored lakes. On a clear day you can see gases bubbling to the surface and a sulfide scum on the surface of the first two lakes. The local lake names are Tiwu Ata Bupu (Lake of Old People - blue), and the other two lakes, Tiwu Ko'o Fai Nuwa Muri (Lake of Young Men and Maidens - bluish-green) and Tiwu Ata Polo ("Villany" Lake - red) are separated by a shared crater wall. The lake colors are attributed to gas & steam vents on the bottom of two of the crater lakes that discharge CO2 and H2S gases from a magma chamber deep beneath the mountain. The lake colors change throughout the year due to different chemical oxidation and reduction reactions between rain water, ground water, the amount and composition of the rising volcanic gases, and the abundance of iron and manganese. The colors in the lakes change independently from each other, suggesting that each crater lake has its own unique connectivity to the underlying magma chamber.
3. Komodo Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 923 reviews
Reviewed By ochassot - Santa Ana, Costa Rica
A trip to Komodo National Park and World Heritage Site is a must for any trip to Indonesia. The scenery from the boat trip from Labuan Bajo is stunning, and watching the dragons in Komodo a must. There are short, medium and long hikes available on the island (hiring a park ranger is affordable and also mandatory), all worthwhile. Most visitors come to Komodo on a day trip and spend an hour or two. If you have time, consider staying overnight, you'll have the island to yourself!
4. Bena Traditional Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 409 reviews
Reviewed By pan613 - Melbourne, Australia
A beautiful village to wander around and admire the traditional architecture of the buildings and smile and chat with the local ladies and see the exquisite weaving that they produce by hand. You can purchase these as well from the local ladies. Very laid back and peaceful. Thanks to my guide Elvis +6285238587238 who gave me a great explanation and history lesson of the village and it’s people. Well worth the visit if you are staying in Bajawa.
5. Komodo National Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 794 reviews
Reviewed By Helen_JannesonBense - Perth, Australia
Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine a place so otherworldly like Komodo Islands. Accompanied by a wonderful group of bloggers, members of Indonesian tourism, experienced local boat crew, we set sail for 3 days to explore the islands. We set off from the main hub of Labuan Bajo, the westernmost tip of the Flores island. Our first stop was Kelor Island. I was first struck by the multiple shades of turquoise water and the breathtaking landscape. As I looked closer, I saw local children playing soccer with an old plastic water bottle. I soon realised that the rubbish that lined the shores at Labuan Bajo, was also making its way to this once pristine island paradise. We climbed the many steps to the top and were rewarded with grand views of the surrounding islands and ocean. It was an easy climb, however I would recommend good shoes and a beginner-moderate fitness level to get to the top and back down again. From here we set sail to Kalong island to settle in for the night and watch the sunset while the bats took off into the night sky. It was such a sight to see! For over 15 minutes, hundreds upon hundreds of bats flew from the mangroves across the sunset sky, some with a wingspan of up to 1.5m! We had a 4.30am wake up to hike to the top of Padar Island for sunrise. This hike was probably one of the more challenging I’ve done. It feels like a million steps to get to the top, though it’s roughly 700 steps. I would suggest a moderate fitness level for this one, good hiking shoes, sunscreen, setting off as early as you can, and taking lots of water because it gets very hot. It’s about a 2 hour boat trip from Labuan Bajo if you don’t want to go for sunrise or sleep overnight on a boat. For me, it really was worth it to watch the sunrise over the water and light everything up. I watched the pastel colours changing with the light over the majestic island landscape. With black, white and pink sand beaches, Padar island is one for the adventure bucket list for sure. Next we headed to Pantai Merah, also known as Pink beach. A microorganism, known as Foraminifera, produces the pinkish red colour pigment on nearby coral reefs that makes the sand pink. The intensity of the pink colour varies due to the amount of coral found in the sand. It’s worth mentioning that even though you might not see Komodo dragons here, they are known to live on the island and they are also very good swimmers, going from one island to another within Komodo National Park. I didn’t realise this while I was having a relaxing float in the water by myself that Komodo dragons could be swimming by me! The next part of our journey was to Komodo Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to see the Komodo dragons up close and personal and meet the locals in Komodo Village. I was once again stunned by the amount of plastic rubbish along the shores. We met some local children from the village who were playing here with these mounds of plastic junk. The strong currents are constantly bringing more and more rubbish to the shores, killing marine life along the way. We must be mindful of plastic use and disposal during our visit to places where proper waste disposal systems are not in place. Your best option is to bring your own reusables and choose eco tours. If you do use plastic, please collect all your rubbish and take it home with you to recycle properly. Placing it in a local bin means it will most likely end up in the ocean. Komodo island had a very eerie feel to it. I’m not sure if it was because I knew that deadly Komodo dragons were here in their natural habitat and I felt like the intruder. As I took part in the very touristy experience walking along with a guide, and stopping for a very staged photo op with a Komodo dragon, I started to feel uneasy about this entire experience. It didn’t sit right for me. I really didn’t want to take a photo. I soon learnt Komodo dragon numbers are in the decline. The over polluting, the poaching, burning of their habitat, relocating, climate change (rising temperature impacts on the survival and sex of their offspring), and over tourism (feeding the dragons, affecting their mating habits) has endangered the species. Concerns have arisen that Komodo dragons could be extinct within 50-100 years. In 2019 the Indonesian government had called for a closure of the island for 1 year to help replenish numbers and then back flipped on that move. As much as I loved learning about Komodo dragons, I also feel like there are parts of this world that I’d rather not be able to see, knowing that my lack of presence will work towards protecting these species. My hope is that a sustainable eco-tourism approach will be maintained moving forward. After this wild adventure with the dragons, we set sail for one of my favourite spots of this entire trip – Taka Makassar; a sandbank island amidst the archipelago. I watched the sunrise from the top of the boat with 360 degree ocean views. After breakfast we set off in a smaller boat to Taka Makassar for some snorkelling and swimming in crystalline blue waters. It’s a tiny sandbank that gets very busy, so it’s best to visit early in the morning. We experienced some of the cleanest waters I’ve seen. It reminded me of the Maldives. From here we took our small boat to Manta Point to snorkel with the Manta rays. I was amazed at how many there were as soon as I dove into the water. Snorkelling in and around this area was absolutely amazing with so much biodiversity. For the afternoon we visited Kanawa Island. Another fabulous snorkelling spot with crystal clear turquoise waters. When you head back to Labuan Bajo, make sure to visit Melo village to experience the mesmerising Tetek Alu and Caci dance with the local tribe. These dances are an important part of their cultural identity and ceremonial life. The ocean vista from high in the mountains is breathtaking. Supporting locals is an important part of sustainable tourism. Make sure you buy your art and treasures directly from the locals too and always show respect for their customs and cultural protocols. Modest clothing is recommended for Labuan Bajo. These islands are definitely a must visit for the ocean lovers. It was actual mermaid heaven and one of my favourite trips ever!
6. Wae Rebo Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 286 reviews
Reviewed By helenkV8278JR
Worth staying overnight here, spending time to get to know the people and the environment. Especially those who like photography so much. Lots of things that can be photographed here. It’s such an amazing place. I love it.
7. Pink Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 305 reviews
Reviewed By TravelinMomOhio
It really does have pink sand. And wonderful snorkeling in clear warm turquoise waters. We arranged with Komodo Eco Tours to take us to the beach after a short trek to see the Komodo dragons.
8. Sano Nggoang Crater Lake
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 15 reviews
Reviewed By Myx2017 - Antwerp, Belgium
Getting to the lake I read some bad reviews for getting to the lake before I went there, I think they are exagerrated, it’s not that bad. When you leave the Trans Flores Highway in Bambor, it’s a 10km ride to Werung. The road is bumpy and the asfalt is in pretty bad shape at some places, but it’s a regular “Flores sideroad” I would say. We did it by motorbike (scooter 150cc - 2 persons on it) in approximatively one hour. The second part, from Werung to the lake village is another 10km, but the road is somewhat better and you need to cover less altitude. 30-45mins tops. So it should take you about 1h45 from Bambor to the lake if you’re good driver and if you don’t mind being tossed around a bit. Reward: a stunning, peaceful, truly of the beaten track experience. Make sure you arrive before sunset. Note that except hiking the nearest mountain, there’s nothing really to do over there, it’s just about enjoying a quiet time in a very nice and peaceful touristless environment. Petrus and Sicilia guesthouse We couldn’t be more enthousiastic about them and their place. Situated at 20m from the lake with a nice garden and a pond (when you arrive at the T-junction at the lake, turn left to go to the village), is the right place to enjoy the lake views (go on the balcony of the guesthouse to watch the sunset). Petrus and Sicilia are the perfect hosts, they’re adorable and love to receive guests. Petrus speaks English and it’s easy to communicate with him. He invited us to dine with him and his wife Sicilia at their place. As I said, off the beaten track. A room for 2 is roughly 300k IDR meals exlcuded. Anyway, we would have stayed longer if our timing would have allowed it.
9. Kelimutu Lake (Tri-Color Lake)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 349 reviews
Reviewed By Davidpollo
Pretty awesome. Took one of the best pictures ever. Worth it. Btw if you go early before 4 you can skip the entrance fee and see the sunrise which was amazing... (and i hate waking up early)
10. Kalong (Flying Foxes) Island
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 326 reviews
Pulau Koaba, which is also known as Kalong Island (Fruit Bat Island), is a low-lying circular island measuring 500 metres across and appearing to comprise a core of taller trees surrounded by dense mangrove. At dusk, the sight of thousands of bats leaving their roost and heading for their feeding grounds is a magnificent spectacle.
Reviewed By jodiebS6662AZ
Unbelievable Sunset on the water, exciting and interesting watching the thousands of flying foxes come out of the mangroves and fly overhead. Good experience!
