1 independent reviews for Komodo and Flores holiday in Indonesia
Reviews for Komodo and Flores holiday in Indonesia
Clive Porter review 26 Oct 2018
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The trip upriver on the house boat in Tanjung Puting NP, Kalimantan, was extremely comfortable and enjoyable. There were lots of orangutan sightings at the feeding stations. The fireflies in the nipa palms on the river banks are fabulous. The reefs in the Komodos Islands are simply some of the most stunning in the world and the variety of corals and sealife is prolific for the snorkeller including: manta rays, stingrays, turtles and reef sharks. The exodus of fruit bats from the mangrove island at sunset is spectacular. Indonesia is an extremely safe and secure place and the people are incredibly welcoming, friendly and helpful. Air travel is very efficient and easy. The road infrastructure is generally well developed although a 4wd is highly desirable on Flores.2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Be prepared for extreme heat - the level of humidity exacerbates the impact. Mosquito repellent and light clothing plus antimalarials are essential. Do not expect lots of wild orangutang sightings - they are very solitary and the jungle in Tanjung Puting is largely inaccessible. The village visits on Flores are interesting but only the most remote ones provide a truly authentic insight into traditional culture and lifestyle. Most of those visited are contemporary adaptions of lifestyle. Much of the Flores section of the trip is spent on winding mountain roads and there is a problem with litter at the roadside and on some beaches in Flores. The Komodos Islands can be exposed to strong breezes at certain times of year which can make the seas very choppy, particularly in the afternoon, restricting travel and making it quite uncomfortable for some. Komodo dragons are very lethargic, particularly when they have fed and in the afternoons, visit them in the morning if at all possible.3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?
Many parts of the trip had addressed sustainability (eg reusable water bottles, solar power, recycling and waste disposal initiatives). However diesel generators were in use for a/c at night, without which it might have been very uncomfortable, however this needs addressing. Although local communities benefit indirectly through employment and tourist purchases, there was no obvious community-owned accommodation as in other countries (some was Indonesian owned). There are plenty of opportunities to purchase weavings and carvings directly from the villagers.4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
This was not the most dramatic or remote adventure that we have experienced, which was a surprise but everything went to plan and the Indonesians are extremely friendly - and the food is plentiful and excellent, with no health worries.Read the operator's response here:
We have found that staying on the klotok boats in Kalimantan gives a better experience than staying in the lodge option and we are proud to be supporting local people through employing them to build/maintain/staff the boats for our clients. The diesel generator is certainly a downside and we are in discussion with our local partners to seek a greener alternative if possible.
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