Self-Launched Bali, Flores & Komodo Islands: Rice Terraces, Volcano Villages and Dragons
12 days · Bali, Flores & Komodo Islands, Indonesia
Explore! charges £2,720
No-markup version: ~£725 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 12-day self-launched version of Explore!'s "Discover Bali, Flores and Komodo Islands" trip, running from the rice terraces of Belimbing through Ubud's temples, across the Ngada highlands of Flores and out to Komodo National Park by liveaboard boat. Instead of a guided group tour you'll string together local bemos and private drivers, a domestic flight to Bajawa, tourist shuttle buses across Flores, and a two-day Komodo open-trip boat — booking each activity yourself via GetYourGuide, Klook or directly with local operators and homestays. Costs are approximate backpacker/budget-traveller estimates in GBP and assume shared rooms and local eats.
Day-by-day
Arrive Bali & transfer to Belimbing
Belimbing, Bali
Land at Denpasar (DPS), sort a local SIM (Telkomsel, ~£8 for 20GB) and take a Grab/Gojek or pre-booked airport transfer west to Belimbing at the foot of Mount Batukaru (~2-2.5 hrs, £15-20 by car). Check into a family-run guesthouse amid the rice terraces, then ease in with a wander through the paddies and dinner at a local warung — try babi guling or nasi campur for £2-3.
🚌Airport transfer by Grab/pre-booked car ~£15-20 (split if sharing)
🛏Belimbing homestay/guesthouse (private or double room, ~£12-16)
- →Settle in and explore Belimbing rice terraces on foot
- →Dinner at a local warung
Rice terrace hike & Tanah Lot sunset
Belimbing - Tanah Lot
Self-navigate the Belimbing rice terrace loop on foot (roughly 5 km, 3 hrs, mostly flat/downhill) — free aside from donations at small temples. In the afternoon hire a scooter or private driver to reach Tanah Lot Temple (~1.5 hrs), timing arrival for low tide and sunset. Entry to Tanah Lot is ~£3. Return to Belimbing for the night.
🚌Scooter hire ~£4/day or private car to Tanah Lot return ~£20
🛏Belimbing homestay/guesthouse (~£12-16)
- →Self-guided Belimbing rice terrace hike
- →Tanah Lot Temple at sunset (£3 entry)
Belimbing to Ubud via Tirta Empul & Gunung Kawi
Ubud, Bali
Hire a driver for the day (or take a bemo to Tabanan then onward transport — a driver is simpler and not much more at ~£30 split). Stop at the Tirta Empul holy spring temple for the purification ritual (~£3 entry + sarong hire), climb the ~300 steps down to the 11th-century rock-cut tombs at Gunung Kawi (~£3), and finish in Ubud. If you want to support a community project like the tour does, look up Bali-based projects (e.g. Fair Future Foundation or local children's foundations) and donate or volunteer a few hours directly. Overnight in a Ubud guesthouse.
🚌Private driver for the day ~£30 (split between travellers)
🛏Ubud guesthouse/budget boutique hotel (~£15-20)
- →Tirta Empul purification ritual (£3)
- →Gunung Kawi royal tombs (£3)
- →Optional community project support/donation
Ubud: Monkey Forest, countryside cycling and Kecak dance
Ubud, Bali
Rent a bicycle or scooter and ride the back lanes toward Sayan and the rice paddies, stopping at family compounds and warungs. Visit the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (~£5) and, in the evening, catch a Kecak and fire dance at one of Ubud's temples (~£8-10, book via GetYourGuide or at the gate).
🚌Bicycle hire ~£3/day or scooter ~£4/day; Kecak walkable/taxi ~£2
🛏Ubud guesthouse/budget boutique hotel (~£15-20)
- →Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary (£5)
- →Countryside cycling
- →Kecak and fire dance show (£8-10)
Fly to Flores & Soa Hot Spring
Bajawa, Flores
Fly from Denpasar to Bajawa (Bajawa Soa Airport, ~1-1.5 hrs direct with Wings Air/Nam Air, ~£45-70 booked ahead on Traveloka/Tiket.com). Arrange a driver from the airport to visit Soa Hot Spring (warm sulphur pools, ~£2 entry) en route, then continue into Bajawa town. Settle into a simple hotel and eat at a local warung.
🚌Domestic flight DPS-Bajawa ~£45-70; airport driver ~£15
🛏Bajawa guesthouse/hotel (~£12-16)
- →Soa Hot Spring soak
Ngada villages hike & bamboo workshop
Bajawa, Flores
Do the classic Bajawa village walk self-launched: start early from Bena or Luba and walk the traditional Ngada villages loop (roughly 8 km, 4 hrs, with climbs but manageable on mixed trails). Hire a local guide at the trailhead in Bena (~£12-15 for the day) — it supports the community and helps with direction. Visit a bamboo craft workshop in Ngada and buy directly from the makers. Views of Inerie and Ebulobo volcanoes all day.
🚌Ojek/motorbike taxi to Bena ~£3 each way
🛏Bajawa guesthouse/hotel (~£12-16)
- →Ngada villages hike (Bena, Luba) with local guide (~£13)
- →Bamboo workshop visit
- →Volcano viewpoints
Bajawa to Ruteng: arak, coffee and mountain roads
Ruteng, Flores
Take a Flores tourist shuttle or shared car south to Ruteng (~4-5 hrs, ~£10-15), which is the same route the tour drives and passes through arak-making villages and highland coffee country. Ask your driver to stop at a home-scale arak distillery and a coffee cooperative (many are run by local nuns and welcome visitors; a small purchase or donation is polite). Arrive Ruteng and overnight.
🚌Tourist shuttle/shared car Bajawa-Ruteng ~£10-15
🛏Ruteng guesthouse/hotel (~£12-16)
- →Arak distillery stop
- →Highland coffee tasting
Ruteng to Labuan Bajo via Liang Bua & Cancar
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Continue by shuttle or hired car to Labuan Bajo (~3-4 hrs, ~£10-15), detouring to Liang Bua Cave (the 'Hobbit Cave', ~£3 with local guide) and the spiderweb rice fields of Cancar (small donation). Arrive in Labuan Bajo in the afternoon, book tomorrow's Komodo trip, and eat fresh fish at the SO Bajo night market grill for ~£5-8.
🚌Shuttle/private car Ruteng-Labuan Bajo ~£10-15; local driver detours ~£10
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse/budget hotel (~£18-25)
- →Liang Bua Cave with local guide (£3)
- →Cancar spiderweb rice fields
- →SO Bajo night market fish dinner (£6-8)
Komodo open trip: Rinca & Padar Island
Komodo National Park
Join a two-day/one-night Komodo open-trip boat (book direct with a Labuan Bajo operator or via Klook/GetYourGuide, ~£130-160 including meals, park fees and snorkel gear — shared cabin). Cruise to Rinca Island for a ranger-led Komodo dragon trek (~5 km, 2 hrs), then to Padar Island for the famous ridge hike (~800 steps). Sleep aboard the boat at anchor.
🚌Komodo open-trip boat (overnight) ~£130-160 all-in
🛏Overnight on Komodo open-trip boat, shared cabin (~included in trip price)
- →Rinca Island Komodo dragon walk with rangers
- →Padar Island viewpoint hike
- →Sunset on deck
Komodo Island, Pink Beach & Manta Point
Komodo National Park - Labuan Bajo
Morning ranger-led walk on Komodo Island itself, then snorkelling at Pink Beach and a stop at Manta Point to swim with manta rays (conditions permitting). Cruise back to Labuan Bajo in the afternoon. Use the boat's return to sort tomorrow's flight, and spend a relaxed evening in town.
🚌Boat included; port transfers ~£2
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse/budget hotel (~£18-25)
- →Komodo Island dragon walk
- →Pink Beach snorkelling
- →Manta Point swim
Fly to Bali & Jimbaran Beach
Jimbaran, Bali
Fly Labuan Bajo to Denpasar (~1.5 hrs, ~£45-70 with Wings Air/Nam Air). Take a Grab or metered taxi south to Jimbaran Beach (~£8-10) and check into a budget beach hotel. Optional farewell dinner on the sand at a Jimbaran seafood grill (a shared platter works out around £10-15 per person, though prices are higher than the west-coast warungs).
🚌Domestic flight LBJ-DPS ~£45-70; airport taxi to Jimbaran ~£8-10
🛏Jimbaran budget hotel (~£20-28)
- →Jimbaran Beach sunset
- →Optional beachfront seafood dinner
Jimbaran & departure
Jimbaran, Bali
Slow morning on Jimbaran Beach or a swim at a nearby café-backed stretch of sand, then transfer to Denpasar airport for your onward flight (Grab ~£5-8). If you have a late flight, leave bags at the hotel and spend the afternoon at the fish market or a spa.
🚌Grab/taxi to Denpasar airport ~£5-8
🛏—
- →Beach morning
- →Local fish market visit
Self-launched vs. Explore!
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Explore! | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£725 | £2,720 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,995 per person (73%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Explore!-style trips? Check them out here.~£725
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Self-Launched Bali, Flores & Komodo Islands: Rice Terraces, Volcano Villages and Dragons cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £725 per person for 12 days in Bali, Flores & Komodo Islands, Indonesia. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Explore!?+
Yes — Explore! charges around £2,720 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £725 — a saving of roughly £1,995 (73%) per person.
How long is the Bali, Flores & Komodo Islands, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Bali, Flores & Komodo Islands, Indonesia.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Bali, Flores & Komodo Islands, Indonesia, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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