The enticing idea of going somewhere remote, far deep from the beaten path, get disconnected from the rest of the world, and get the chance to enjoy tropical idyll in nature’s finest setting are what drive many of us to book a Komodo tour. Everything on Komodo, Flores, seems like straight from the wilderness. Journey to Komodo offers breathtaking experiences that would be difficult to refuse; an opportunity to have direct encounter with the last dragon of the earth—the Komodo dragon, endless exploration on vast savannah fields, observing wildlife animals interaction in their natural habitat, and the joy of finding beautiful hidden spot all for yourself. However, some people are just born with insatiable crave for extra dosage of adventure—and here’s some simple way to quench the thirst.
Embark on Solo Travel
If you are constantly seeking for challenges and unexpected adventure, brace yourself to embark solo. There are many Komodo tour who are selling for solo slots—which goes more popular by “Open Trip”. In this kind of trip, you gonna buy a slot on the liveaboard for yourself, get set up with random cabin mates for the whole voyage, and exposed to exciting ideas that might be coming from your travel companions. Say yes to every possible ideas and let the whims of newly-found friends open the gate to unexpected escapades!
Bring Tent or Hammock Along!
Make your bag as your compact home. Never settle in one hotel unless you want to shut the door to adventure. Set aside some time for further Flores exploration after the Komodo tour with liveaboard ended. There are still so much things to see in the mainland Flores beyond the national park! Take time to get deep into the Cunca Rami Waterfall, Rangko cave, Cunca Wulang canyon, and the majestic Kelimutu mountain. When you are in Flores, sign up for hostel-hopping (give you varied experience), road tripping, and of course, tent camping (or hammock camping). Spend at least one of the night under the bare, luminous night sky. In a land as pure as Flores, that experience would feel almost magical.
Find the Alternatives from the Mainstream Travel
Komodo tour is hardly possible to do without making arrangements with the boat tour operator. Well, unless you are willing to charter a whole boat for yourself (super expensive) or rent small fishing boat and sail it yourself (not really comfortable nor recommended). In the other hand, many tour operators has fixed, mainstream itinerary on their hands—which means you are having no option than following the mainstream paths to visit the “must sees”. If possible, look for Komodo operators who lets you personalised the itinerary, suggest lesser-known islands other than the famous Padar or Rinca, or hire professional local guides who know a lot of special places that’s still hidden from mainstream tourists.
Happy wandering, dear WanderLust!