Upd. 26/04/25

Epic Motorcycle Journey Across Indonesia: Bali to Flores and Back

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Traveling from Bali to Flores and back on a motorcycle turned out to be one of the most incredible adventures we've ever experienced. Yes, flying would have been easier — but this trip wasn’t about reaching the destination. It was about the journey itself!

Here’s how it went, day by day:

Day 1: Bali – Lombok – Sumbawa

Ferry from Padangbai (Bali) to Lembar (Lombok)

Departs every hour
Travel time: ~6 hours
Cost: 121,000 IDR (bike + 2 passengers)

We didn’t linger in Lombok. Instead, we crossed the island directly to Pelabuhan Labuhan Lombok (88 km, about 2.5 hours by bike).

Ferry from Labuhan Lombok to Poto Tano (Sumbawa)

Departs every hour
Travel time: ~2 hours
Cost: 54,000 IDR (bike + 2 passengers)

We arrived in Sumbawa at 2 AM and stayed at Kencana Beach Hotel (300,000 IDR — standard room with A/C, no hot water, but good Wi-Fi, breakfast included). The hotel had a large pool, gardens, and a restaurant — a rare find for these islands!

Day 2: Sumbawa – Sape Port

In the morning, we rode 300 km across Sumbawa to Sape (around 6 hours, longer with stops).

Since the ferry to Flores runs just once daily, we stayed overnight at the port in Mutiara Hotel (350,000 IDR — basic double room with A/C, no Wi-Fi, no hot water, no breakfast).

Food tip: Restaurants with quality food are rare on Sumbawa. We relied on fruits and snacks instead.

Day 3: Sumbawa – Flores

Ferry from Sape to Labuan Bajo (Flores)

Supposed to depart at 8 AM, but actually left at 11:20 AM (after full loading)
Cost: 180,000 IDR (bike + driver) + 60,000 IDR (passenger)
First-class hall seats (optional): 25,000 IDR/person
Travel time: ~6 hours

We arrived in Labuan Bajo by sunset — a charming town filled with dive centers, tourists, and lively restaurants.

We stayed at the newly opened Spring Hill Hotel (350,000 IDR, discounted to 300,000 IDR for multiple nights).

Double room with A/C, clean European-style bathroom, breakfast included.
No hot water or Wi-Fi, but excellent 3G coverage.

Highly recommended: Cozy, clean, and excellent value. The staff were incredibly kind and caring, especially when my partner fell ill.

Days 4–5: Exploring Rinca, Komodo, and Kanawa Islands

We joined a two-day boat tour to visit the islands:

Cost: 850,000 IDR/person (meals included, unlimited tea and coffee)
Separate fee for Komodo National Park: 250,000 IDR/person

Highlights:

Visiting Rinca and Komodo islands, seeing Komodo dragons up close
Snorkeling at Manta Point — although mantas are swift and I mostly saw them from the boat
Discovering a massive (80 cm!) bivalve shell, gifted to locals afterward
Camping overnight on an uninhabited island (with a small boat transfer for 100,000 IDR)

On the second day, we snorkeled around Kanawa Island — a peaceful paradise with stunning underwater scenery.

Day 6: Rest Day in Labuan Bajo

We recharged. I worked, while my partner researched routes and diving options for the next adventure.

Day 7: Diving with Mantas

We booked dives with Divers Paradise Komodo:

For beginners: 1,200,000 IDR for 2 dives + instructor
For experienced divers: 1,080,000 IDR for 3 dives

Prices included equipment, guides, and lunch (entrance to Komodo National Park still 250,000 IDR). Underwater with giant mantas — it was breathtaking and totally worth it!

Day 8: Flores – Sumbawa

We decided Flores deserves a separate, dedicated trip. It’s stunning even during the dry season — but probably best visited in May after the rains.

We retraced our route:

Ferry from Labuan Bajo to Sape (departing around 9:20 AM despite an 8 AM schedule)
On Sumbawa, near Dompu, we had a minor scooter accident (nothing serious, just some scratches).

Stayed in Dompu (hotel name forgotten) — 250,000 IDR for a VIP room with A/C.

Day 9: Sumbawa – Lombok

Early departure from Dompu to Poto Tano Port (270 km, ~4.5 hours ride).

Ferry back to Lombok (every hour, 2-hour ride)

After arriving at Lembar Port, we continued to Senggigi Beach (~100 km, about 3 hours through busy villages).

Stayed overnight in a basic guesthouse (200,000 IDR).

Personal note: I found Kuta Beach in Lombok much more beautiful and peaceful than Senggigi — but to each their own!

Day 10: Lombok – Bali

After lunch, we left Senggigi for Lembar Port (~40 km, about 1 hour).

Ferry back to Padang Bai, Bali (every hour, ~6 hours crossing)

By evening, we were finally home! Mission accomplished!

Final Thoughts and Practical Tips

Road Conditions: Roads across all islands were generally excellent, with long stretches of winding mountain roads and occasional high-speed sections.

Fuel: Plenty of Pertamina stations available; fuel shortages were never an issue.

Navigation and Internet: Google Maps + Telkomsel 3G (SimPATI) worked perfectly throughout the trip.

Average Speeds:

~55 km/h on winding roads
~90 km/h on straight sections
We hit a top speed of 126 km/h in some places (briefly 😅)

Hope our report inspires your own epic adventure! ✈️🏍️🏝️

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