Kelor Island

Kelor Island is often the first stop on a boat charter, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. It's a small, uninhabited island you can walk across in minutes — stripped back, dry, and quietly striking. Being so close to Labuan Bajo, it eases you into the archipelago before the real wildness begins. There are no dragons here, which means you can wander freely across the ochre hills and down to the bays below without a ranger in sight.

The main draw is the trek to the summit, which is a bit of a scramble. The trail is short but incredibly steep, with a 45-degree incline over loose soil and dry grass. You definitely want proper shoes for this one, as flip-flops will likely lead to a slide. At the top, the view opens up without warning — a white sand spit cutting through turquoise water, with the silhouettes of Flores and the surrounding islands fading into the hazy distance. One of the most photographed views in the entire park, and for good reason.

Down at the base, the beach is calm and sheltered from the heavy currents found further out in the park, making it an easy spot for a swim or some light snorkeling. Visibility is usually excellent — small reef fish and coral formations are visible right off the shore. Kelor doesn't try to impress. It just does.