If you are creative in any medium, do not miss this opportunity to see and record one of the most spectacularly beautiful and interesting parts of Indonesia.

An experience you won’t forget!

This is a wonderful opportunity to discover your inner artist and see and record one of the most spectacular natural sights in Indonesia – the Three Coloured Lakes of Kelimutu, Moni, Flores. As well as sketching and painting the lakes we will explore amazing local villages where we will be welcomed to discover ancient dyeing and weaving traditions as well as the villages unique architecture and carving. The trip will include learning sketching, painting and drawing techniques to help you record your experiences. Additional workshops will include learning simple printmaking techniques, including lino cuts and mono printing. No prior experience is necessary and those with previous experience are welcome to join the trip. Some materials will be provided and participants will be provided with list of those materials they will need to bring – details below. The area also has great vistas, many beautiful birds and good hiking terrain.

The trip will be led by British artist Alexandra Robb accompanied by Meryl Wilson, a Founder Member of Ecolodgesindonesia and a specialist in water color paintings of Butterflies.  Tuesday and Wednesday will have morning activities, returning to the Lodge for lunch with afternoon working towards possible prints or in other mediums. Thursday and Friday will be a full days with a picnic lunch.

Day 01 Sunday May 26^th

Arrival at Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, picked by our staff and transported to The Udayana Kingfisher Eco Lodge – welcome and briefing of the Tour by The Tours Leaders. Depending on arrival times, guests will either relax in the gardens of the lodge or be offered a tour to The Uluwatu Temple (one of the six main temples of Bali) with stunning views of the Indian Ocean and you will attend the Famous Kecak (or Monkey) dance. Return to the Lodge for dinner to meet all the tour participants.

Day 02 Monday May 27th

After a relaxing breakfast, participants will leave for the flight to Ende via Labuan Bajo (both on the island of Flores) arriving at midday. Lunch will be at a local restaurant in Ende following by a 90 minute drive into the mountains through spectacular scenery to the Kelimutu Crater Lakes Eco Lodge. After checking in and a time for relaxation, there will be a Workshop entitled “Introduction to the weeks activities and mediums we will work including printing techniques.

Day 03 Tuesday May 28^th Sketching and Printmaking

After breakfast, participants will visit the village of Moni, the main centre of the Lio people. You will visit a local market and view traditional houses and sketching of subjects will be encouraged. After dinner there will be an evening Printmaking workshop.

Day 04 Wednesday May 29^th Dawn at The Kelimutu Lakes, Painting and Sketching

This is a special day starting very early at 0430 with a cup of tea or coffee and  then the 17km run to the Lakes getting to them by dawn – a special experience as this place is the spiritual home of the Lio people. There will be breakfast at the Lakes and participants will spend the morning and afternoon sketching and painting, then back to the Lodge. There will be an evening Printmaking workshop

Day 05 Thursday May 30^th  Traditional village and Ikat weaving

This is a full day with a picnic lunch. Particpants will visit a small weaving village, supported by the Lodge, where they will view all the stages of ikat weaving and be able to sketch. In the evening there will be another Printmaking workshop.

Day 06 Friday May 31^th Traditional village of Ngela, evening ot traditional music and dance

Another full day out with a picnic lunch when participants will visit another different village where sketching can be undertaken in a relaxed atmosphere. There will be an evening program of traditional music and dance.

Day 07 Saturday Jun 1st Return to Bali

Return to Ende to catch the plane to Bali

COST: Includes workshop fee (includes stool, table, umbrella and work board), accommodation at Udayana Kingfisher Eco Lodge (first night) and he Kelimutu Crater Lakes Eco Lodge (five nights), airfares Denpasar – Ende – Denpasar, all local transport, full board and visit to The Uluwatu Temple.  Cost excludes Airport taxes, drinks, laundry and any personal expenses.   The cost (in US$) assumes twin share and a minimum of four persons in the group.

Normally this tour is undertaken en route to Ende airport for an afternoon flight to Labuan Bajo or Denpasar. You leave at 0800.  First a visit to a hilltop traditional village, then further onto a village where there is 60 year old mummified body in a case. The man was famous because his hair and skin would not burn when set alight by officers during the war for independence. You then continue to Ende, driving down the spectacular coast with its black beaches to an impregnable traditional house in a village, Wonotobo, high above the ocean. Arriving in Ende, you visit the house of exile of Sukarno, Indonesia’s first President. Lunch, then go to airport. During this tour you will get a feeling for the remoteness of some villages in the mountains, the beauty of Flores and study a bit of Indonesian history.

Day 01 THE LAKES AT DAWN, HIKING and MONI VILLAGE

One of the main aims of this tour is to see the Kelimutu Lakes at dawn, a magic experience. You start very early at 0400 and after a cup of tea or coffee, drive, with your guide, to the crater lakes (around 19km) through the base of the Kelimutu National Park. You then walk to the lakes through woodland where hopefully you will hear the beautiful song of The Bare Throated Whistler, arriving at the top just before dawn. See the sunrise, at the top site with a coffee, see the lakes (a magic moment) and just enjoy the whole scene and environment after walking to view all the three lakes. You then return to the Lodge for a late “Pancake breakfast” (our chef Min is renowned for his pancakes). After breakfast, you are taken into the village of Moni to view the market and local agriculture. After lunch and a short siesta, you are taken to see a local village supported by the lodge where you can see how people live; back to the lodge for dinner

Day 02 TREKKING, BIRDING, VILLAGES, CULTURE and PEOPLE

After breakfast at 0800. This all day trip takes you to Ngela traditional village and its Ikat weavers and dyers, with a magnificent view overlooking the ocean. You will learn about local weaving practices, the, meaning of motifs in the culture and many other facts about village life of the Lio people, After a picnic lunch, you will either go to the large village of Wolowaru, with an interesting visit to a small Keshew processing business, where you can buy organic Keshews or take a gentle escorted walk for around three hours before meeting the car and returning via Wolowaru to the Lodge. This tour will give you a good understanding of the problems and lives of the Lio people.

Day 03 VILLAGES and ENDE TOWN

This tour is undertaken en route to Ende airport for an afternoon flight to Labuan Bajo or Denpasar. You leave at 0800 after breakfast. First a visit a hilltop traditional village of then further on a village where there is 60 years old mummified body in a case. The man was famous because his hair and skin would not burn when set alight by officers during the war for independence. You then continue to Ende, driving down the spectacular coast with its black beaches to an impregnable traditional house in a village, Wonotobo, high above its ocean. Arriving in Ende, you visit the house of exile of Sukarno, Indonesia’s first President. Lunch, then go to airport. During this tour you will get a feeling for the remoteness of some villages in the mountains, the beauty of Flores and study a bit of Indonesian history.

Cost per person twin share including transfers to and from Ende airport, accommodation, all meals, tours, park and guide fees.

Day 01

Picked up from the afternoon flight from Ende airport by one of our managers and then taken through the mountains and valleys to the village of Moni (around 90 minutes) below the fabled Mount Kelimutu, the spiritual home of the Leo people. Then on to The Kelimutu Crater Lakes eco Lodge for dinner and a welcome by our staff.

Day 02

THE LAKES AT DAWN, HIKING and MONI VILLAGE One of the main aims of this tour is to see the Kelimutu Lakes at dawn, a magic experience. You start very early at 0400 and after a cup of tea or coffee, drive, with your guide, to the crater lakes (around 19km) through the base of the Kelimutu National Park. You then walk to the lakes through woodland where hopefully you will hear the beautiful song of The Bare Throated Whistler, arriving at the top just before dawn. See the sunrise, at the top site with a coffee, see the lakes (a magic moment) and just enjoy the whole scene and environment after walking to view all the three lakes. You then return to the Lodge for a late “Pancake breakfast” (our chef Min is renowned for his pancakes). After breakfast, you are taken into the village of Moni to view the market and local agriculture. After lunch and a short siesta, you are taken to see a local village where weavers prepare ikats using centuries old techniques; back to the lodge for dinner

Day 03 

VILLAGES and ENDE TOWN This tour is undertaken en route to Ende airport for an afternoon flight to Labuan Bajo or Denpasar. You leave at 0800 after breakfast. First a visit a hilltop traditional village of then further on a village where there is 60 years old mummified body in a case. The man was famous because his hair and skin would not burn when set alight by officers during the war for independence. You then continue to Ende, driving down the spectacular coast with its black beaches to an impregnable traditional house in a village, Wonotobo, high above its ocean. Arriving in Ende, you visit the house of exile of Sukarno, Indonesia’s first President. Lunch, then go to airport. During this tour you will get a feeling for the remoteness of some villages in the mountains, the beauty of Flores and study a bit of Indonesian history.

Cost per person twin share including transfers to and from Ende, accommodation, all meals, tours, park and guide fees.