Nusa Tenggara
Nusa Tenggara is a chain of islands east of Bali, known for Komodo dragons, Flores crater lakes, Lombok's Mount Rinjani and Sumba's traditional villages.
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Nusa Tenggara is the chain of islands east of Bali, running from Lombok and Sumbawa across Flores and Sumba to West Timor. Most travelers come for Komodo National Park, off the western tip of Flores, where the Komodo dragon, the largest lizard alive, lives in the wild. Its waters are a stop for divers and snorkelers. On Flores, Kelimutu is a volcano whose crater holds three lakes in different colors.
Lombok, the island closest to Bali, is known for Mount Rinjani, a volcano climbed over several days, and for the Gili islands off its northwest coast. Sumba is quieter, with traditional villages and stone tombs. Travel between islands is slow: overland trips can take days, so most people fly. Pick two or three islands rather than trying to cover all of them. The dry season, roughly April to October, is the usual time to go.
Nusa Tenggara in five
- Pick two or three islands, not sixDistances are big and connections are thin. Lombok plus Komodo is a trip; Lombok, Sumbawa, Flores and Sumba is a month. Fewer islands means fewer missed flights and boats.Lombok
- Fly Lombok to Labuan Bajo instead of overlandThe overland route crosses Sumbawa by bus and ferry over several days. Flights and liveaboards link the two ends faster, and flights run through the dry season.Labuan Bajo
- Book Komodo boats from May to SeptemberDay boats and multi-day liveaboards fill in the dry season. Check the park's current ticket and ranger rules with your operator, and go early to avoid the heat.Komodo National Park
- Go to Sumba for villages, not beachesSumba has traditional villages, weaving and wild coast, with few facilities. Hire a driver, bring cash, and respect village customs when you visit.Sumba
- Check onward time zones and flight daysThe islands use the central time zone, one hour ahead of Java. Some routes fly only a few days a week, so confirm days before you fix hotel dates.
Things to do in Nusa Tenggara
See all attractions in Nusa Tenggara
Need to know
- Airport
- Lombok (LOP), Labuan Bajo (LBJ) and Bali (DPS) as gateways
- Getting there
- Fly via Bali, or fast boat and ferry from Bali to Lombok
- Getting around
- Flights, ferries and boats; overland is slow
- Best base
- Lombok and Labuan Bajo; Sumba for villages
- Time needed
- 10–14 days for Lombok to Flores
Weather by month
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryWet season
- FebruaryWet season
- MarchWet, humid
- AprilDrying out
- MayDry, calm
- JuneDry, clear
- JulyDry, windy
- AugustDry, peak
- SeptemberDry, clear
- OctoberHot, dry
- NovemberRains begin
- DecemberWet season
Right now in Nusa Tenggara
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
28
- Feels like
- 31°
- Humidity
- 83%
- Wind
- 21 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 2%
Nusa Tenggara
04:41 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today28°27°2%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed28°27°4%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Thu28°27°0%Thursday: Cloudy. High 28°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri28°27°4%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 28°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Sat29°27°8%Saturday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 27°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Sun29°28°27%Sunday: Drizzle. High 29°, Low 28°. Chance of rain 27%.
Updated 01:25 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Lombokshort flight or boat from BaliThe easiest first stop, with Rinjani, beaches and the Gilis.Read the guide
- Labuan Bajoflight or multi-day boat from LombokThe base for Komodo and Rinca day boats and liveaboards.Read the guide
- Sumbashort flight from BaliTraditional villages and a quiet coast; plan with a driver.Read the guide
Before you go to Nusa Tenggara
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Rules for Nusa Tenggara, checked
- Check Indonesia's visa rules on the Directorate General of Immigration site before you fly. Many nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa.
- Komodo National Park charges a visitor fee. Check the current payment method and rules with the park authority or your tour operator before you travel.
- Customs rules limit what you can bring in. Check the Directorate General of Customs and Excise site before you pack, especially for medicines and food.
- Cover shoulders and knees at temples, and cover your head and remove your shoes at mosques. Some temples also ask visitors to wear a sarong.
Plan around Nusa Tenggara
Entry, regions and island routes across the country
Read the guideLombokRinjani, the Gilis and southern beaches
Read the guideKomodo National ParkDragons, pink sand and dive sites
Read the guideLabuan BajoThe harbor town for Komodo and Flores
Read the guideFloresKelimutu, villages and the Trans-Flores road
Read the guideSumbaVillages, weaving and wild beaches
Read the guideNusa Tenggara FAQ
What is Nusa Tenggara?
The chain of islands east of Bali, split into West Nusa Tenggara (Lombok, Sumbawa) and East Nusa Tenggara (Komodo, Flores, Sumba, West Timor). It is also called the Lesser Sunda Islands.
How many days do you need in Nusa Tenggara?
Ten to fourteen days for Lombok through Labuan Bajo and Flores; a week for Lombok plus Komodo. Adding Sumba or Timor needs extra days for flights.
How do you get from Lombok to Flores?
By flight, a multi-day liveaboard boat, or several days overland across Sumbawa by bus and ferry. Flights are the fastest, and boats combine travel with snorkeling.
When is the best time to visit Nusa Tenggara?
May to October is dry across most of the chain, with calmer seas for Komodo boats. December to March is wetter, and some roads and boats are disrupted.
Is Nusa Tenggara cheaper than Bali?
Usually, outside Komodo and Labuan Bajo, where boat tours cost more. Remote islands have fewer options, so budget for flights and private transport between them.