WITH PUBLIC TRANSPORT

When using public transport you need more time than with your own wheels. To travel around Flores with public transport apart from the mainroad can be quite a challenge and in some parts not even possible.

The Trans Flores Road is more or less divided in equal distances and travelingtimes between the main towns. The route Larantuka-Maumere-Ende-Bajawa-Ruteng-Labuan Bajo is around 4 hours for each stretch but local buses will take (a lot) longer.

Buses run on the Trans Flores Road between Labuan Bajo and Larantuka plus a few other routes. The buses are small, are often delayed and take far much longer than actually needed as they drive around first looking for passengers and often stop on the way.

Below the most important stretches for travelers when using public transport plus the approximate traveling times. 

Route                                                Hours

Another option is to use a travel which is a kind of shared minibus or taxi sometimes with a fixed schedule, sometimes upon request. A long term company on Flores is Gunung Mas that runs between Labuan Bajo and Maumere. The adventage of travels that they always pick you up and drop you off at your accomodation. When you use a local bus then you need to go tot he busstation which is often far from the towncentre.

For shorter distances around 10 to 20 kilometers small angkots (minibus) can be used. 

Towns and villages far from the mainroad except for a few exceptions are served by

passenger trucks and sometimes a minibus with a very flexible schedule.

As many of the attractions are on the way from A to B the only option is to travel to

the next destination first and hire a car with driver or motorbike to explore the area.

However bear in mind that some attractions are (too) far away.

Also bear in mind that there are hardly any real and legal rentals for motorbikes

(Labuan Bajo and Maumere only) and if you rent a motorbike elswhere it is actually

loaning (from someone of the guesthouse) and not renting.

Plus officially an international driving license is mandatory; probably nobody will ask you but when you are in trouble your health- or travelinsurance may reject your claim.  

Please realize that in case of an accident you have a serious problem. 

See also the transport section here

To get an idea check the routes in the section with car and driver

There is no or very few public transport on most routes off the Trans Flores Road. A few examples:
Larantuka to Tanjung Bunga
Maumere to Mbay
Riung to Reo
Reo to Ruteng
Ruteng to Iteng
Ruteng to Dintor
Dintor to Lembor

So the only option is with car and driver or by motorbike.

Photo's

Anne Mieke  -AM PHOTONESIA©-