Discover East Nusa Tenggara

East Nusa Tenggara offers a range of options for planning your trip: islands and crater landscapes, wildlife, and villages and museums with their own cultural themes. The following places show the different ways to experience nature and culture in the region.

Islands, Wildlife and Crater Lakes

Komodo National Park consists of the three main islands of Rinca, Komodo and Padar, as well as numerous smaller islands of volcanic origin. The park is home to Komodo dragons of the species Varanus komodoensis, which are found nowhere else in the world. On Padar, visitors can see an iconic panorama while hiking: green hills rising from the blue sea. Those interested in wildlife or island views will find two distinct aspects of the same national park here.

Kelimutu offers a different natural spectacle: it consists of three crater lakes whose colors change over time. Kelimutu National Park also protects 19 endemic and endangered animal species. Moni is the nearest small town at the foot of Mount Kelimutu and the gateway to Lake Kelimutu. This destination therefore centers on the crater lakes and the wildlife of the protected area.

Villages, Museums and Regional History

Bena Village in Ngada Regency is a megalithic settlement on a hill opposite Mount Inerie. It has existed for about 1,200 years. Visitors can also see traditional ceremonies there. The site’s long history and the opportunity to experience ceremonies give Bena a cultural focus distinct from the region’s museums.

Bikon Blewut Museum in Sikka Regency is an educational tourism destination focused on the prehistoric history and culture of the people of Flores. Its collection includes, among other things, a fossil of Stegodon florensisStegodon florensis, a species estimated to have lived around 300,000 BC. The museum thus offers a perspective ranging from early history to the culture of Flores.

In Alor Regency, the 1000 Moko Museum serves as an educational center and a cultural tourism destination. Its focus is the preservation and display of bronze Moko objects. These objects have symbolic, social and cultural significance for the people of Alor. Among the Takpala in North Central Alor, cultural heritage is also reflected in the construction of traditional houses: they have a pyramid-like shape, roofs made of coconut leaves, walls woven from bamboo, and four main pillars.

Regional Cuisine and Travel Information

Kolo is another part of East Nusa Tenggara’s cultural heritage. Visitors can try this traditional dish, made by placing rice inside bamboo and roasting it over hot coals. Its preparation makes Kolo a distinctive culinary experience, different from the region’s nature and museum themes.

For travel to Alor, there is a flight from Kupang to Mali Airport in Kalabahi, Alor’s main town. Flight routes and schedules can change, so check this information before your trip.

Search for Hotels by Travel Theme

This lets you narrow your options to your preferred destination and the focus of your trip before comparing hotel offers.

Discover more destinations: Labuhanbajo, Kupang, Maumere, Ende, Rote Ndao, Nggaha Ori Angu, Loura, Ende Island, Kelimutu, North Ende, Kalabahi, Waingapu, Komodo, Kodi, Tenau, Larantuka, Kota Komba, Waigete, Kota Soe, Noemuti Timur, Taebenu, Langke Rembong, Adonara Barat.

See the main travel overview: Indonesia.