Lesser Sunda Islands

The island chain east of Bali: Lombok and the Gili Islands, Komodo dragons and Padar Island, Flores's three-colored lakes, and Sumba through to Timor.

The Lesser Sunda Islands (Nusa Tenggara) are a chain of volcanic islands stretching east from Bali to Timor, belonging to the Indonesian provinces of Bali, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara, as well as Timor-Leste; they do not correspond to any single administrative region. Bali is the gateway and the most developed tourist island. Heading east, Lombok has Mount Rinjani and bays on its south coast, while the three Gili Islands off the northwest have no motor vehicles and are known for snorkeling with turtles and for partying; Sumbawa is famed for surfing. Labuan Bajo on western Flores is the gateway to Komodo National Park (a World Heritage site), where you can take a boat to see Komodo dragons, climb Padar Island for views over its three-colored bays, and snorkel at Pink Beach and manta ray sites. In the middle of the island, the summit of Mount Kelimutu has three-colored crater lakes; Sumba preserves megalithic tombs and traditional horse culture; and at the far east, Timor-Leste's capital Dili and Atauro Island are emerging dive destinations. The classic itinerary is 4–5 days in Bali, 3 days in the Gilis and Lombok, and 2–3 days on a liveaboard from Labuan Bajo, about two weeks in total. Islands are linked by budget airlines and fast boats; for Komodo, choose a reputable liveaboard operator. Timor-Leste requires a separate visa.

Destinations

Itineraries