A Flores overland package by car is a multi-day private drive that starts in Labuan Bajo and crosses the island east along the Trans-Flores highway — Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, Kelimutu, Maumere — using one SUV or HiAce with a dedicated driver for the whole route. Car Rental Labuan Bajo runs it as a one-way product: you never backtrack, and you fly out from Ende or Maumere at the end. Pricing is quote-based in USD per day, with driver meals and lodging stated openly before you confirm.
What is actually included in a Flores overland package by car?
The package is a vehicle-and-driver charter, not a group tour. As of 2026 the standard inclusion set is: the vehicle for the full number of days, fuel for the planned route, a Flores-experienced driver who speaks working English, tolls and parking, and drinking water on board. Driver meals and accommodation along the route are either included in the day rate or itemised separately — we tell you which before you pay, never after.
Not included, and we say so plainly: your hotels, your meals, park and village entrance contributions (Kelimutu, Bena and similar are collected on site and change from time to time), local guides at traditional villages, and flights out of Ende or Maumere. If you would rather stay near town and run day trips instead, our car rental with driver in Labuan Bajo covers that shorter format.
What do the 3-day, 4-day and 5-day splits look like?
Flores driving is slow — switchbacks, ridge roads, roadworks. These splits use realistic hours, not optimistic ones.
3-day split — Labuan Bajo to Ende (the fast crossing)
- Day 1: Labuan Bajo to Ruteng, roughly 4 to 5 hours, stopping at the Cancar spiderweb rice fields and for coffee in the Manggarai highlands. Overnight Ruteng.
- Day 2: Ruteng to Bajawa, around 4 to 5 hours, passing Ranamese crater lake and the Aimere arak distilleries. Afternoon at Bena megalithic village. Overnight Bajawa.
- Day 3: Bajawa to Ende, 4 to 5 hours, with Blue Stone Beach at Penggajawa on the way in. Drop at Ende airport or hotel.
Honest trade-off: this version does not include Kelimutu. Choose it only if you are short on time.
4-day split — Labuan Bajo to Kelimutu and Ende
- Day 1: Labuan Bajo to Ruteng, 4 to 5 hours, Cancar spiderweb.
- Day 2: Ruteng to Bajawa, 4 to 5 hours, Ranamese and Bena.
- Day 3: Bajawa to Moni, 5 to 6 hours, stopping at Wologai traditional village and Blue Stone Beach. Overnight Moni, the village at the base of Kelimutu.
- Day 4: Pre-dawn drive to the Kelimutu tri-coloured crater lakes — about 30 minutes driving plus a 20 to 30 minute walk to the viewpoint — then down to Ende, roughly 2 hours. Fly out of Ende.
Most travellers choose this split: the headline sights without a punishing daily average.
5-day split — Labuan Bajo all the way to Maumere
Days 1 to 3 match the 4-day itinerary. Day 4 is sunrise at Kelimutu, breakfast back in Moni, then Moni to Maumere, roughly 3 to 3.5 hours, with an optional detour to Koka Beach. Day 5 is a flexible morning in the Sikka area — ikat weaving villages, the old coastal churches — before the airport drop at Maumere. Total distance from Labuan Bajo is on the order of 650 km.
SUV or HiAce — which vehicle suits the Trans-Flores road?
An SUV in the Fortuner or Innova Reborn class suits two to four passengers with normal luggage. It handles mountain camber better, parks easily in village lanes, and is more comfortable on the hairpins around Ruteng and Bajawa. Specifications are on our SUV rental in Labuan Bajo page.
A Toyota HiAce makes sense from five passengers upward, or for families who want luggage separated from legroom. It is a big vehicle for narrow village roads, so we plan drop-off points differently. Details sit on the HiAce rental in Labuan Bajo page. If you are unsure, send us your headcount and bag count and we will recommend one rather than upsell you.
How does the one-way drop and fly-out work?
Because the vehicle and driver finish 650 km from home, a one-way overland always carries a repositioning element — the car drives back empty, or gets routed onto another job. We build that into the quote instead of hiding it as a surprise line item. Ende and Maumere both have scheduled domestic flights, so most guests fly onward from there. Book that flight after your itinerary is confirmed, not before.
How much does a Flores overland package by car cost in 2026?
Figures below are indicative USD per day, for planning only. Final pricing is quote-based and depends on season, vehicle class, route and driving days.
| Component | Indicative (USD) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| SUV + driver + fuel | around 90 to 130 per day | 2 to 4 passengers |
| HiAce + driver + fuel | around 125 to 170 per day | 5 to 10 passengers |
| Driver meals and lodging | around 12 to 20 per day | Stated separately or bundled — your choice |
| One-way repositioning to Ende or Maumere | around 110 to 190 one-off | Distance-dependent |
Entrance contributions, local guides and your hotels sit outside these numbers. Rates move with fuel prices and peak season, so treat the table as a budgeting range, not a fixed promise.
How do you book a Flores overland package?
Message us on WhatsApp with four things: travel dates, passenger and luggage count, whether you want to finish at Ende or Maumere, and your preferred number of days. We reply with a written itinerary, a per-day quote in USD, and the exact treatment of driver costs. Confirmation is by deposit; the balance settles at the end of the trip. Changes en route — an extra night in Bajawa, skipping Koka Beach — go directly through your driver. Arrival logistics are covered by our Labuan Bajo airport transfer service.
Is one driver enough for five days of mountain driving?
Yes, provided daily hours stay inside the splits above. That is why we cap driving at roughly 5 to 6 hours per day and decline compressed itineraries that would put a tired driver on the Ruteng switchbacks after dark.
Can we start the overland in Maumere and finish in Labuan Bajo?
Yes. The westbound direction works identically, including the repositioning element. Kelimutu sunrise timing is easier on the eastbound version, so we usually suggest that unless your flights dictate otherwise.
Are the roads sealed the whole way?
The Trans-Flores highway is sealed for the great majority of the route, but it is narrow, winding and subject to landslide repairs in the rainy season. We check conditions before departure and reroute rather than gamble.
Can we add Wae Rebo or a Komodo boat day?
Wae Rebo can be added as an extra night out of Ruteng — it involves a trek, so it needs its own day. A Komodo boat day is easiest before the overland begins, while you are still based in Labuan Bajo.
Plan your Flores crossing
Send your dates and we return a route, day count and USD quote you can budget against. WhatsApp +62 811-3810-5742 or email sales@komodoluxury.com — Car Rental Labuan Bajo, operated under Komodo Luxury since 2015 and part of Juara Holding Group, operating from Bali across Indonesia since 2015.