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Overview

JOIN OUR Komodo Dragons and East Timor Tour
Komodo, Kec. Komodo, Kabupaten Manggarai Barat, Nusa Tenggara Tim., Indonesia
Aug 23 - 30, 2026
John Ward image
John Ward
$2,699
Deposit: $300

About your trip

Come see the Komodo dragons, then visit South East Asia's least visited country, East Timor. Not only that, help us restock a kids library en route, to get us started. 


Back in 2019 we built a whole library in Bali for an impoverished community in the north, with my Mudita Adventures foundation. And this time, we're going back to Indonesia to help again, in the remote outback of Kupang and Komodo.


This whole trip is not just another Southeast Asia tour This is impact travel, dragons in the wild, and one of the least known countries on Earth, East Timor. Seven days. 4 islands. 3 flights. One 12-hour border-crossing road mission. And a library restock project that means more than any photo ever could. This is your invitation to be part of it. JOIN US IN AUGUST 2026. 

Responsible Tourism

Back in 2019, we partnered with Al Ibrayr in rural Northern Bali and built a proper library for the kids there. Real books, real shelves, real change. It wasn’t a token visit. It was something that lasted.


Now we’re shifting the focus to Kupang. Different island, different need. This time it’s water. Clean, reliable access to something most of us don’t even think about when we turn on a tap. We’re not going to pose for photos. We’re going to help build infrastructure that stays long after we leave.


If you’ve ever wondered how to combine travel with actual, tangible, life-changing impact, this is it. And that’s just Day Two.

What's included

All accommodation

All 3 & 4-star+ accommodation (twin-share)

Domestic flights

All land transport

(including the 12hr border drive)

Komodo Dragon Expedition

Entry to Komodo National Park + full island hopping tour

Charity donation

Library donation logistics, or similar (and a whole bunch of books)

2 Countries + tours

Guided city tours in Dili (East Timor) and Komodo (Indonesia)

All breakfasts

Western Guide throughout

Josh, or me (or both)

What's not included

International Airfare

Get yourself to Labuan Bajo (via Bali), and leave from Dilli

Travel insurance

It's mandatory

Tips

For our local team (not compulsory)

Lunches and dinners

(and booze)

Day 1

Day 1 image

Arrive in Labuan Bajo anytime

You'll get yourself to Bali first, super easy. From there, domestic flights to Labuan Bajo are 10 a penny. We can help if you're confused, but it's easy. Once you land in Labuan Bajo, it's dinner and drinks to welcome you to paradise.


🏨 Sleep: Labuan Bajo (3 or 4-star guesthouse, poolside)

Day 2

Day 2 image

Charity Project;

This is what makes this trip different. We’re heading deep to rural Flores, to help with a local NGO.


Right now, they're requesting help with a water project, but as things come up, this can change. Either way, we'll visit the project, lend a hand and see where our donations go;.


Then we head back to base for a chilled afternoon. Beach time, local eats, and a sunset cocktail if that’s your style.


🏨 Sleep: Labuan Bajo

Day 3

Day 3 image

Komodo Dragon time!

We're at the jumping-off point to Komodo National Park.


Labuan Bajo is a fishing town turned adventure hub. There’s a buzz here, boats heading out to the islands, dive shops prepping gear, travellers swapping tales of dragon encounters. You’ll feel it the second we land. We’ll grab lunch by the harbour, check in to our hotel, and prep for the dragon hunt begins!


🏨 Sleep: Labuan Bajo

DAY 4

DAY 4 image

Off the beaten track; Fly to West Timor

This is where things get interesting.


We take a domestic flight from Labuan Bajo to Kupang, the capital of West Timor. Most routes connect via Bali, but Wings Abadi occasionally flies direct. If that’s running, we’ll snag it. Otherwise, we'll be connecting, and connecting, but we'll get there. 


Kupang is rugged and real. You’re off the tourist track now. No smoothie bowls, no surf bros, just local markets and raw coastal energy.

We overnight here before the next day’s border-breaking road trip.


🏨 Sleep: Kupang

DAY 5

DAY 5 image

Kupang Day Tour

Explore Kupang, an area where most can't put on a map let alone visit! Today's undoubted highlight is the Clear blue underground pool - aka Goa Kristal. Cool, shaded, dramatic. About 30–40 mins from town. This is the standout.

Sunset dinner and drinks in Kupang town, where we overnight.

DAY 6

DAY 6 image

Overland Border Crossing into East Timor

Get ready. This is the longest day on the road. But easily one of the most memorable.


We drive 12 hours from Kupang through the Indonesian side of Timor Island, through tiny mountain villages and rice paddies, dodging goats an


d motorbikes, and finally hit the Batugade border into East Timor (Timor-Leste).

You’ll watch the flags change, the language switch, and the vibe shift entirely. 

East Timor is one of the world’s youngest nations (the 2nd youngest after South Sudan) independent since 2002, and barely scratched by mass tourism. This is travel most people never even imagine.


We roll into Dili, the capital, in the evening. It’s gritty, beautiful, and totally unique.


🏨 Sleep: Dili

DAY 7

DAY 7 image

Dilli City Tour

We explore Dili today.  A city with layers. Portuguese colonial architecture meets UN compounds. Mountains crash into the sea. Resistance history is etched into the walls, and there’s a quiet pride in every street.


We’ll visit the Santa Cruz cemetery, the Independence Memorial, and Cristo Rei statue. Walk the waterfront. Hit the market. Maybe end with a sunset beer looking out at Atauro Island.


🏨 Sleep: Dili

DAY 8

DAY 8 image

Home Time

That's a wrap folks. From Dili airport, you can head to Australia, or back to Bali, or wherever your heart desires. See you on the next one!

About your organizer

JW
John Ward
Irish blogger @ onestep4ward.com. Every country in the world, 7 summits, North and South Pole. Now helping some crazy friends go to places they probably shouldn't.

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