This is a general sample route, not firsthand notes yet. Treat it as a starting sketch — I'll sharpen the specifics as I add my own trip notes, and every route still gets adjusted to your dates, pace, and budget.
Labuan Bajo
Start at the western tip of Flores, the same gateway town as Komodo trips.
Ruteng and the spider-web rice fields
Head inland and up in elevation to the cool highlands around Ruteng, known for their radial "spider-web" rice paddies.
Bajawa and the Ngada villages
Traditional thatched-roof villages around Bajawa, with megalithic ancestor shrines still actively used.
Kelimutu at sunrise
The tri-colored crater lakes of Kelimutu, which shift color over months and years — an early start is essential for clear views.
Moni to Maumere
Wind back down toward the north coast, through smaller villages rarely visited by the tour-bus circuit.
Fly out from Maumere or Ende
Onward flight from one of Flores's eastern airports, or continue further east toward Larantuka.