Lombok to Flores: The Hidden Path (Self-Launched)
15 days · Lombok & Flores, Indonesia
G Adventures charges £1,728
No-markup version: ~£657 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, independent version of G Adventures' 'Lombok to Flores: The Hidden Path' — 15 days trading polished resorts for rice-terrace trails, a foot-only mountain village, volcano swims, the Gili Islands, and a Komodo National Park phinisi boat trip. Same route, same experiences, booked yourself via local hosts, GetYourGuide/Klook, and Indonesia's excellent budget bus/boat/flight network. All costs are approximate per-person estimates in GBP.
Day-by-day
Arrive Lombok — settle into Tempasan
Tempasan, Lombok
Fly into Lombok International Airport (LOP) and make your own way to Tempasan village in East Lombok — pre-book a private car (~£15-20) or take a local bemo/DAMRI shared minibus via Selong for a couple of pounds. Check into a village homestay, then spend the evening meeting your host family and eating a home-cooked Sasak dinner with live music. Sort out your cash (ATMs are sparse out here) and pick up a local SIM before you leave the airport area.
🚌Private car or shared DAMRI/bemo from LOP (~£2-20)
🛏Family-run village homestay, Tempasan (~£10-14/night)
- →Arrival transfer to Tempasan
- →Village welcome dinner with live music
Rice terrace trek & weaving demonstration
Tempasan, Lombok
The signature day: walk the village rice-terrace paths with a local guide the way residents do, learn about farming and plantation life, and sample fresh fruit along the way. Join local women for a hands-on traditional Sasak weaving session, then share a home-cooked lunch. Afternoon free — join an optional local cooking class (~£8), rent a bike (~£3/day), or find a village yoga session.
🚌Walking
🛏Family-run village homestay, Tempasan (~£10-14/night)
- →Guided rice terrace village walk
- →Sasak weaving demonstration
- →Village lunch
- →Optional cooking class or yoga
Free day — waterfalls, monkeys & snorkelling
Tempasan / East Lombok
Your day to pick your adventure. Popular picks: a motorbike or ojek hop to Benang Stokel & Benang Kelambu waterfalls (~£8 with local guide), chasing monkeys around the Tetebatu forest trails, or arranging a boat snorkel trip off the east coast. Book through your homestay or get a local driver for the day (~£20 split between 2-3 people).
🚌Rented motorbike/ojek or shared local driver
🛏Family-run village homestay, Tempasan (~£10-14/night)
- →Benang Stokel & Benang Kelambu waterfalls
- →Tetebatu forest & monkey trails
- →Optional snorkelling trip
Travel to the Gili Islands
Gili Trawangan
Head to Bangsal or Teluk Nare harbour and catch a public fast boat across to the Gilis (~£10-14, 20-40 min). On Gili Trawangan, check into a hostel or budget bungalow — there are no cars here, so it's bicycles and cidomo horse carts only. Spend the afternoon beach-hopping, watching the sunset at the west-side swings, and eating cheap warung nasi campur.
🚌Local fast boat from Bangsal/Teluk Nare (~£10-14)
🛏Gili Trawangan hostel/bungalow (~£12-18/night)
- →Public fast boat to Gili Trawangan
- →Sunset beach walk
- →Gili night market dinner
Three-island Gili snorkel trip
Gili Trawangan, Meno & Air
Book the classic three-island snorkel day trip at any Gili T dive shop or via Klook/GetYourGuide (~£15-22 including gear and lunch). You'll hit Turtle Point off Gili T, the calm waters of Gili Meno (and its underwater statues if the operator includes them), and the coral reefs of Gili Air before returning. Sunscreen, reef-safe if possible — the UV here is brutal.
🚌Shared snorkel boat
🛏Gili Trawangan hostel/bungalow (~£12-18/night)
- →Three-island snorkel trip (Turtle Point, Gili Meno, Gili Air)
- →Coral reef snorkelling
Fly to Labuan Bajo, Flores
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Catch a short flight from Lombok to Labuan Bajo (LOP-DPS-LBJ via Bali, or direct charters when running; budget ~£55-90 booked in advance). Settle into a Labuan Bajo guesthouse, watch the sunset from the waterfront, and stock up on snacks and cash for the Komodo boat trip ahead. Book your Komodo tour tonight if you haven't already.
🚌Domestic flight Lombok to Labuan Bajo (~£55-90)
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse (~£15-22/night)
- →Flight to Labuan Bajo
- →Waterfront sunset at Labuan Bajo
- →Book Komodo phinisi trip
Overland toward the highlands — Wae Rebo foothills
Dintor / Wae Rebo trailhead area
Take a shared car or public bus from Labuan Bajo east toward Dintor/Denge (~£10-15, 4-6 hrs on winding roads). Overnight in a basic guesthouse or homestay near the trailhead so you're fresh for the trek. Eat simple local food and get an early night — tomorrow starts early.
🚌Shared car or public bus Labuan Bajo–Dintor (~£10-15)
🛏Basic guesthouse/homestay near Dintor (~£10-15/night)
- →Scenic overland drive through Flores highlands
- →Guesthouse overnight near trailhead
Trek to Wae Rebo village
Wae Rebo, Flores
Hike the ~2-3 hour jungle trail up to Wae Rebo, the remote cone-shaped mbaru niang village reachable only on foot. Expect mist, coffee plants, and real Manggarai hospitality. You'll sleep in one of the communal cone huts and share dinner with the village — one of the most authentic nights on the whole route.
🚌Walking (overnight bags carried by porters if arranged)
🛏Mbaru niang village homestay, Wae Rebo (~£15 incl. meals)
- →Jungle trek to Wae Rebo
- →Overnight in a mbaru niang cone hut
- →Community dinner
Wae Rebo village life & coffee garden
Wae Rebo, Flores
Spend the day immersed in village life: join a local for a coffee-garden tour and go through the whole process, from harvesting the cherry to skinning the bean with traditional tools and roasting it before you taste it. Longer walks around the terraces and plenty of downtime with the community.
🚌Walking
🛏Mbaru niang village homestay, Wae Rebo (~£15 incl. meals)
- →Waerebo coffee experience
- →Village life and terraced farming walk
Descend and head to Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Trek back down to Dintor and arrange onward transport to Labuan Bajo (~£10-15, several hours). Back on the coast, check into a guesthouse, get laundry done, and eat a proper seafood dinner on the waterfront. Confirm your Komodo boat departure time for tomorrow.
🚌Shared car/boat combination to Labuan Bajo (~£10-15)
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse (~£15-22/night)
- →Trek down from Wae Rebo
- →Return transfer to Labuan Bajo
- →Waterfront seafood dinner
Komodo National Park — day 1 on the phinisi
Komodo National Park
Board a shared phinisi liveaboard (book direct with a Labuan Bajo operator or via Klook; a 2-night shared trip runs roughly £130-200 all-in with meals). Day one: trek Kelor Island for the viewpoint, snorkel at Strawberry Rock, hike Rinca Island in search of Komodo dragons with a ranger, then watch thousands of flying foxes stream off Kalong Island at dusk. Anchor overnight on deck.
🚌Phinisi boat
🛏Shared phinisi boat, deck cabin (included in trip price)
- →Kelor Island viewpoint trek
- →Snorkel Strawberry Rock
- →Rinca Island Komodo dragon trek with ranger
- →Kalong Island flying fox sunset
Padar Island sunrise & Komodo day 2
Komodo National Park / Labuan Bajo
Hike Padar Island for sunrise — the famous three-bays panorama. Then snorkel at Manta Point (mantas are common on the right current) and Pink Beach before cruising back to Labuan Bajo in the afternoon. Grab a beach bar in town with your new boat-mates for a night out.
🚌Phinisi boat back to Labuan Bajo
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse (~£15-22/night)
- →Padar Island sunrise hike
- →Manta Point snorkelling
- →Pink Beach stop
- →Big night out in Labuan Bajo
Cunca Wulang canyon & Rangko Cave
Labuan Bajo surrounds, Flores
Use today for the lesser-known Flores gems: swim in the turquoise pools and slot canyon of Cunca Wulang waterfall (~£12 with a local driver split between a few of you), or boat over to Rangko Cave for a swim in its hidden saltwater pool. Back to town for a final Labuan Bajo sunset.
🚌Shared local driver/motorbike
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse (~£15-22/night)
- →Cunca Wulang canyon swim
- →Rangko Cave swim
- →Optional local warung food crawl
Free day in Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo, Flores
A loose day to fill however you like: a second Komodo day trip, a dive course intro, or simply café-hopping and souvenir shopping around the harbour. In the evening, hit a beach bar with whoever you've met on the road for a proper send-off night.
🚌Walking/local taxi
🛏Labuan Bajo guesthouse (~£15-22/night)
- →Optional second Komodo dive/snorkel trip
- →Labuan Bajo cafés and market
- →Farewell night out
Depart from Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Fly out from Komodo Airport (LBJ) back to Bali, Lombok, or onward. Budget for a departure transfer to the airport (~£3-5). If you're routing onward internationally, most connections go via Denpasar (DPS).
🚌Local taxi to Labuan Bajo airport (~£3-5)
🛏N/A — departure day
- →Airport transfer and departure
Self-launched vs. G Adventures
| This itinerary (self-launched) | G Adventures | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£657 | £1,728 |
| Duration | 15 days | 15 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,071 per person (62%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more G Adventures-style trips? Check them out here.~£657
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 Lombok to Flores: The Hidden Path (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £657 per person for 15 days in Lombok & Flores, 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 G Adventures?+
Yes — G Adventures charges around £1,728 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £657 — a saving of roughly £1,071 (62%) per person.
How long is the Lombok & Flores, Indonesia trip?+
This itinerary runs 15 days, covering 15 day-by-day stops through Lombok & Flores, 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, beaches trip through Lombok & Flores, 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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