The island of Alor might well be among the best-kept secrets of East Indonesia for those looking for quiet and adventure.

Indonesia is a remarkable chain of more than 17000 islands. A lot of tourists see only Bali, but the country is blessed with several awesome beaches, an abundance of wildlife, and a rich culture for all who explore deeper.

Located east of Flores. Alor gets few foreign visitors, but it is loaded with sights and activities, hospitable locals. It is only two flights away from Bali, but it does feel like the end of the world.

Getting to Alor

Firstly, you must fly to Kupang which has direct flights from Bali and Jakarta. There are direct flights to Alor from there once daily with LionAir. That’s your only option, and it isn’t all that reliable, so be prepared for delays and don’t book international flights with a short connection.

They only allow 10kg of luggage, but an extra 10kg should cost about 10 USD per flight. Also, bear in mind that they didn’t weigh our carryon.

The flight view is beautiful, so try to get a window seat. When you arrive, it’s an hour’s drive to La Ptite Kepa, the simple guesthouse located on Alor Kecil, where we stayed a week. The guesthouse can help you organize the transfers.

On returning, it is advisable that you get to the airport at least an hour early, as the flights normally leave earlier than the scheduled times. Our flight was 30 minutes early.

Click here for a stopover suggestion in Kupang.

Visiting Alor

It is an undeveloped island, and so you shouldn’t be expecting a 5-star accommodation, but warm locals, gorgeous beaches and landscapes free of tourists – those you should expect. There is so much to do in Alor. There’s something for everybody. Wildlife enthusiasts can observe Dugong in Mali, close to the airport.

Lovers of culture can hike towards the village of Bompalola “Kampung Lama,” which has a rich history and traditional ceremonial houses known as “Rumah Adat.” Some of the villagers also specialize in making ikat. If you love museums, there is a museum and a market in Kalabahi.

There are several beaches for beach-lovers to explore, from Kepala Burung to Mangrove Beach at Pantai Deere, and you’ll most likely be the only tourist there. Before you go for a swim, make sure to check the tides with the locals, as the currents can come on really strong and may not be seen from the beach.

For nature-lovers, the geysers in Tutu Adagai on the north coast and the waterfalls will be sure to interest you.

All this said, the real jewels of Alor lie below the surface and attract divers and snorkelers from around the world. It cant remain a “secret” destination for too long.

Diving in Alor

Please visit my diving in Alor post here.

Review of La Ptite Kepa in Alor

While in Alor, we stayed at La Ptite Kepa which is in one of the best diving locations. It is located on Alor Kecil, a small paradise-like island with loads of bare beaches.

What it lacks in luxury, it makes up in friendliness and good vibe. Be ready to live off the grid while there as there is no electricity or running water. Every morning, water is brought by boat from the mainland and put in buckets for baths. There are solar panels for lights and recharging of devices at night.

The food is very modest, but quite tasty with rice, vegetables, and fresh fish daily. Meals are served at a communal table where guests share the day’s adventures. During our stay, most of the guests were from Europe, but there were also a few Asians and North Americans, which made for a truly global crowd.

The resort consists of ten bungalows. Some of them have shared bathrooms while others have private ones. There are two exclusive beachfront bungalows which are by far the best. They both have alluring patios, private bathrooms, and showers with running water, a true luxury! They also have their own charging stations which make recharging your devices easier. They are highly sought after, and so you should book months in advance.

You can see below a video of the view from the balcony

Otherwise, the standard bungalows with private bathrooms are also somewhat comfortable but have bucket-style showers.

We took a break from diving to snorkel one day. We snorkeled that morning off the beach facing the exclusive cottages and encountered more than ten sharks! That afternoon, we also snorkeled in the channel with a family of dolphins. Watch out for the current, though. I was almost swept away, and a boat had to come to my rescue.

Practical tips:

Take some mosquito repellent along. You can get the Autan brand in Indonesia.. I found it to be mild on the skin.

Get a Telekomcel SIM card with a good data package. Telekomcel is the telecoms service provider with the best coverage in the remotest areas in Most places in Alor and Timor don’t have internet (including La Ptite Kepa), and so the SIM card will help you stay connected and use Google Maps to get around.

For more information on diving in Alor, click here.