Riung 17 Islands is a protected marine park on the quiet north coast of Flores, best reached overland from Bajawa in about three hours by private car. A full boat day loops past a handful of the islets for snorkelling, calm beaches, and the flying-fox colony at Ontoloe. It is the detour that breaks up a long Trans-Flores drive.
What Riung Actually Is
Riung 17 Islands Marine Park (Taman Wisata Alam Tujuh Belas Pulau) is a cluster of small islands, mangrove islets, and coral reefs scattered off the fishing town of Riung, in the Ngada regency. The “17” is a local nickname for the view from the shore, not an exact count — there are more than twenty named islets in the bay.
What makes riung flores different from the rest of the island is the mood. You spend most of a Flores overland trip in cool, misty highlands — volcanoes, rice terraces, cone-shaped villages. Riung is the opposite: dry savanna hills dropping straight into a warm turquoise bay. The riung marine park has healthy reefs, white-sand islets, and, on Ontoloe island, a resident colony of fruit bats plus monitor lizards that are cousins of the Komodo dragon. For most travellers it is the one properly relaxed, sea-level day on an otherwise mountainous route.
Getting There Overland (from Bajawa or Ende)
Riung is a detour off the main Trans-Flores spine. You leave the highway in the Bajawa area and drop down a winding side road to the coast — there is no way to reach it “on the way” without deliberately turning north. That is exactly why we bring our own car: the road is quiet, the descent is long, and a driver-guide who knows it makes the difference.
| Route | Distance | Driving time | Road notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bajawa → Riung | ~70 km | 2.5–3 hours | Winding descent, mostly paved with rough patches |
| Ende → Riung | approx. 120 km | 4–4.5 hours | Via the Bajawa road; longer and more tiring |
The short answer to how to get to riung: come from Bajawa. The bajawa to riung leg is the natural one — do it as a day trip if you are based in Bajawa, or better, drive down in the afternoon and stay overnight so you catch the morning boat. Coming riung from bajawa also lets you pair it with the Bena and Luba villages the day before. From Ende it is a longer haul and usually only makes sense if you are looping the north coast on purpose.
Our fleet handles either approach: a Toyota Innova for one to four travellers or a Hiace for larger groups, both with an English-speaking driver-guide and fuel included. See the full published rates for every car and route.
The Boat Day: Islands & Snorkel Stops
The riung 17 islands boat trip is the whole point of coming. Boats leave from the town jetty in the morning, usually around 8:30–9:00, and a standard day visits about four to five stops rather than a full circuit of every island. It is unhurried island hopping, not a race.
A typical riung boat tour loop includes:
- Pulau Rutong & Pulau Tiga — the main riung snorkeling reefs, with easy coral gardens straight off the beach.
- Pulau Bampa (Pau) and Pulau Taor — quiet white-sand islets, good for a swim and a lunch stop.
- A grilled-fish lunch cooked by the boat crew on one of the beaches.
- Pulau Ontoloe — timed near the end of the day for the flying foxes (below).
Snorkelling masks and fins are normally carried on the boat, but the gear is basic — if you have your own mask, bring it. The riung island hopping water is calm and shallow in the dry season, which makes it one of the friendliest snorkel days in all of Flores for beginners and families. A relaxed riung day trip on the water runs roughly six to seven hours door to door.
Flying Fox Colony at Ontoloe
Ontoloe is the largest island in the bay, and its mangroves shelter thousands of kalong — fruit bats, or flying foxes, with wingspans over a metre. Through the heat of the day they hang in the trees; toward late afternoon they start to stir, and near sunset they lift off in dark ribbons to feed on the mainland. It is a genuinely striking sight and the reason most boats save Ontoloe for last.
The same island is home to a population of monitor lizards, close relatives of the Komodo dragon, though you are far more likely to see the bats. The best time to catch the flying foxes is the golden hour before dusk, so plan the boat day to finish here rather than start.
Costs: Car, Boat & Fees
We publish what we control — the car — and are honest about the parts that are paid locally in Riung. No “price on request.”
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Innova + driver-guide | IDR 1,500,000 / day | 1–4 pax, fuel + driver-guide included |
| Toyota Hiace + driver-guide | IDR 2,500,000 / day | 5–14 pax, same inclusions |
| Boat charter (whole boat, full day) | approx. IDR 600,000–1,000,000 | Arranged at Riung harbour; one boat holds ~10–15 |
| Marine park / conservation entry | Official tickets at the gate | Paid per person at the park post on the day |
| Homestay in Riung | Paid locally | Simple rooms, booked on arrival or ahead in peak |
The car is the fixed, published cost; the riung 17 island tour boat is a whole-boat charter, so the more people share it, the less each pays. Conservation and jetty fees are modest and collected on the spot — we will tell you the current amounts before you go rather than pad them into a package. For a package covering the whole overland trip with Riung built in, we send a tailored quote within 24 hours. Everything we charge is on the rates page.
Adding Riung to a 6–8 Day Route
Riung is not a highlight you build a whole trip around — it is a day that makes a longer Trans-Flores overland feel complete. It slots in most naturally right after Bajawa. A common riung itinerary shape:
- Day 3: Bajawa — Bena and Luba villages, hot springs, then drive down to Riung and overnight.
- Day 4: Morning 17 Islands boat trip, late-afternoon flying foxes, second night in Riung (or drive back up).
- Day 5: Continue east to Ende and Moni to stage for Kelimutu sunrise.
That is why Riung belongs on a six-, seven-, or eight-day plan rather than a rushed five. If you are weighing durations, our 7-day Trans-Flores itinerary shows where a Riung overnight fits without breaking the rhythm, and the overland tours hub compares every route side by side.
Where to Stay in Riung
Accommodation in Riung is simple — family-run homestays and a few small guesthouses near the harbour and town centre, not resorts. Expect clean but basic rooms, intermittent power and limited Wi-Fi, and warm local hosts. That is part of the charm; Riung is a working fishing town, not a beach strip.
We strongly recommend an overnight rather than a long day trip. Staying in a riung homestay means you catch the calm morning water for snorkelling and are already in town for the sunset bats, instead of watching the clock for the drive back to Bajawa. In the July–September peak it is worth having your driver-guide call ahead; the rest of the year you can usually arrange a room on arrival. The best months to visit are the dry season, roughly April to October, when the sea is calmest and snorkelling visibility is at its best.
Riung 17 Islands FAQ
How do you get to Riung?
Overland by car. From Bajawa it is about 70 km and 2.5–3 hours down a winding coastal road; from Ende it is roughly 4–4.5 hours. There is no airport at Riung, so a private car with a driver-guide is the most comfortable way in.
How much is a 17 Islands boat trip?
A whole-boat full-day charter is typically around IDR 600,000–1,000,000, and one boat holds about 10–15 people, so groups split the cost. Marine park entry is paid separately at the gate. Your car and driver-guide are published separately on our rates page.
How many islands does the tour actually visit?
About four to five stops, not all seventeen. A standard day mixes snorkelling reefs like Pulau Rutong and Pulau Tiga, a beach lunch, and the Ontoloe bat island toward sunset.
When is the best time to see the flying foxes at Ontoloe?
Late afternoon into sunset, when thousands of fruit bats leave the mangroves to feed. Plan the boat day so Ontoloe is your final stop.
Can you do Riung as a day trip from Bajawa?
Yes, but it is a long day — three hours down, a full boat trip, three hours back. We recommend driving down in the afternoon and staying one night so you get the calm morning sea and the sunset bats without rushing.
Is Riung good for snorkelling beginners?
Very. The bay is shallow and calm in the dry season, with coral straight off the beach, which makes it one of the easiest snorkel days in Flores for first-timers and families.
What is the best season to visit Riung?
April to October, the dry season, with July to September the most reliable window for calm water and clear visibility. The wet months can mean choppier boat days and lower visibility.
Plan Your Riung Detour
Tell us your dates and where Riung fits in your Flores plan, and we will build the drive, the overnight, and the boat day around it. Message us on WhatsApp at +62 811 3823 875 or email [email protected] — one team drives you from the airport across the whole island.
floresoverland.com is the overland & transport desk of Juara Holding Group (est. 2015), operating alongside Komodo Luxury and Flores Luxury.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get to Riung?
Overland by car. From Bajawa it is about 70 km and 2.5-3 hours down a winding coastal road; from Ende it is roughly 4-4.5 hours. There is no airport at Riung, so a private car with a driver-guide is the most comfortable way in.
How much is a 17 Islands boat trip?
A whole-boat full-day charter is typically around IDR 600,000-1,000,000, and one boat holds about 10-15 people, so groups split the cost. Marine park entry is paid separately at the gate, and your car and driver-guide are published separately on our rates page (Innova IDR 1,500,000/day, Hiace IDR 2,500,000/day).
How many islands does the tour actually visit?
About four to five stops, not all seventeen. A standard day mixes snorkelling reefs like Pulau Rutong and Pulau Tiga, a beach lunch, and the Ontoloe bat island toward sunset.
When is the best time to see the flying foxes at Ontoloe?
Late afternoon into sunset, when thousands of fruit bats (kalong) leave the mangroves to feed on the mainland. Plan the boat day so Ontoloe is your final stop.
Can you do Riung as a day trip from Bajawa?
Yes, but it is a long day – about three hours down, a full boat trip, and three hours back. We recommend driving down in the afternoon and staying one night so you get the calm morning sea and the sunset bats without rushing.
Is Riung good for snorkelling beginners?
Very. The bay is shallow and calm in the dry season, with coral straight off the beach, which makes it one of the easiest snorkel days in Flores for first-timers and families.
What is the best season to visit Riung?
April to October, the dry season, with July to September the most reliable window for calm water and clear visibility. The wet months (November-March) can mean choppier boat days and lower underwater visibility.