A Flores overland package is a multi-day private car charter that runs east along the Trans-Flores Highway from Labuan Bajo through Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, Kelimutu and on to Maumere — one vehicle, one driver, one continuous booking. Komodo Airport Car Rental starts these packages at Komodo International Airport (LBJ) or your Labuan Bajo hotel, using SUVs and Toyota HiAce vans, and quotes in US dollars per vehicle rather than per seat. Most travellers take three, four or five days, and a one-way finish at Ende or Maumere airport means you never have to drive the same road twice.
What is actually included in a Flores overland package by car?
You book a vehicle and a professional driver for a set number of consecutive days, with the eastward routing agreed in advance and the daily rhythm left to you. Standard inclusions, as of 2026:
- Vehicle plus driver for the full duration, including his meals and overnight accommodation
- Fuel and road costs along the agreed Trans-Flores routing
- Airport meet at Komodo Airport (LBJ) on day one, or a hotel pickup anywhere in Labuan Bajo
- Luggage handling, drinking water on board, and re-planning if weather or road works interfere
- Parking and driver overnight costs in Ruteng, Bajawa, Moni or Maumere
Not included: your hotels and meals, village and park entrance donations (Wae Rebo, Bena, Kelimutu), local guide fees, and the flight home from Ende or Maumere. We state this plainly so the quote matches what you pay.
Which route does the overland journey follow?
The spine is the Trans-Flores Highway: sealed for almost its full length, but mountainous and relentlessly winding, so real average speeds sit far below what map distance suggests — plan on roughly 35 to 40 km/h. Approximate legs:
| Leg | Distance (approx.) | Driving time | Typical stops |
|---|---|---|---|
| Labuan Bajo → Ruteng | 125 km | 4–5 hours | Cancar spider-web rice fields, Ranamese lake |
| Ruteng → Bajawa | 130 km | 4–5 hours | Aimere coastline, Inerie volcano viewpoints |
| Bajawa → Ende | 120 km | 4–5 hours | Bena megalithic village, Blue Stone Beach at Penggajawa |
| Ende → Moni (Kelimutu) | 50 km | 1.5–2 hours | Soekarno exile house in Ende town |
| Moni → Maumere | 95 km | 3 hours | Kelimutu crater lakes at sunrise, Sikka ikat weaving, Koka Beach |
For that first day in detail, see Labuan Bajo to Ruteng. Wae Rebo can be inserted before Ruteng, but be realistic: the car reaches Denge, and the village itself is a trek of roughly three hours each way on foot. Give it a full extra day.
Which vehicle suits a multi-day Flores overland package?
Two body types dominate here. A high-clearance SUV — Fortuner, Pajero Sport, or an Innova for lighter loads — handles the mountain camber well and suits two to four passengers with luggage. For five to twelve travellers, a Toyota HiAce gives far more legroom and cargo space, at the cost of slower climbs around Ruteng and Bajawa. Every package comes with a driver rather than self-drive: this is not a road to meet for the first time in the rain.
What do sample 3, 4 and 5-day itineraries look like?
3-day overland loop (return to Labuan Bajo)
Day one, airport pickup and the drive to Ruteng via Cancar. Day two, Ruteng to Bajawa, afternoon at Bena village and the Malanage hot springs. Day three, back west to Labuan Bajo. This suits travellers with a Komodo boat trip or an outbound LBJ flight who cannot commit to a one-way finish.
4-day overland to Kelimutu
Labuan Bajo to Ruteng to Bajawa to Moni, with a pre-dawn ascent of Kelimutu on the final morning and a drop at Maumere or Ende airport. The most-requested version: it captures the two headline sights, Bena and Kelimutu, without feeling rushed.
5-day overland, unhurried
The same eastward line with an extra night in Bajawa or Moni, room for Wae Rebo or Riung’s seventeen islands, and a relaxed last afternoon on the Maumere coast. Five days is what we suggest for photographers and for anyone travelling with children or older parents.
Can you finish one-way at Ende or Maumere?
Yes — the one-way drop is the point of an overland package. You fly out of Frans Seda Airport in Maumere (MOF) or H. Hasan Aroeboesman Airport in Ende (ENE) and never retrace the highway. Because the vehicle and driver still have to return west, a repositioning surcharge applies; it appears as a separate line on your quote before you commit, never as a surprise at the end.
How much does a Flores overland package cost in 2026?
| Package | Routing | Indicative from (per vehicle) |
|---|---|---|
| 3-day loop | LBJ → Ruteng → Bajawa → LBJ | from USD 340 |
| 4-day one-way | LBJ → Ruteng → Bajawa → Moni/Kelimutu → Maumere | from USD 450 |
| 5-day one-way | As above, plus one extra night and a side trip | from USD 560 |
| One-way repositioning | Finish at Ende or Maumere | from USD 90 |
Price disclaimer: the figures above are indicative starting points per vehicle as of 2026, not fixed tariffs. Your final number depends on vehicle class, passenger count, routing, season and added days, and is confirmed in writing on WhatsApp before you pay anything. We publish USD figures deliberately: results for multi-day Flores driving are dominated by international resellers whose listings show four-figure totals with no breakdown.
How do you book an overland package?
- Message us on WhatsApp with your arrival date at Komodo Airport, passenger count, luggage and finish point
- We reply with a written fixed quote: vehicle, days, inclusions, exclusions, and the one-way surcharge if it applies
- Confirm, and we send the driver’s name and vehicle plate the day before pickup
- Settle in cash or by transfer as agreed — nothing is collected before you hold the quote
Frequently asked questions
Is the Trans-Flores Highway safe to drive?
It is sealed and used daily by local traffic, but narrow, steep and heavily curved, with landslide repairs in the rainy season. That is why every overland package comes with a driver who runs this route regularly, not as self-drive.
Can I change the itinerary once we have started?
Within reason, yes. Swapping a stop, adding a viewpoint or shifting a departure time costs nothing. Adding a whole day or changing the finishing airport changes the quote, and we give you the new figure before it takes effect.
When is the best time of year to go overland in Flores?
The dry months, roughly April to October, give the most reliable road conditions and the clearest Kelimutu sunrises. Overland runs year-round, but in the wet season we add buffer time and may reroute around repairs.
Can you arrange the airport pickup and a Komodo boat trip too?
Yes. Komodo Airport Car Rental is operated under Komodo Luxury, which has run Komodo boats since 2015, so an overland drive can follow a liveaboard or day cruise without coordinating two suppliers.
Ready to plan your Flores overland package?
Send your dates and we will map the drive properly: realistic daily distances, the right vehicle, and one written USD price with the one-way drop stated clearly rather than buried. Message us on WhatsApp +62 811-3810-5742 or email sales@komodoluxury.com. Komodo Airport Car Rental is operated under Komodo Luxury, part of Juara Holding Group — operating from Bali across Indonesia since 2015.