Larantuka to Kalabahi (Indonesia)
 

Hi there!

I'm putting together my route plan for a Bali to Dili ride later this year.

There are multiple options for the last major crossing from the island of Flores to Timor. I prefer to ride the longest possible length.

I've confirmed there are ferries from both Larantuka and Kalabahi. The Larantuka option is straightforward, it is obviously reachable by road. However, Kalabahi involves two more very short island hops.

I have two big "unknowns" and I'm hoping to get them cleared up:

1. Are the last two small hops serviced by vehicle ferries?

2. Is the big crossing from Kalabahi to Kupang a vehicle ferry, or just a passenger ferry?

thanks you ... Colin

G'day Colin

What sort /size bike will you be riding?

See, back in September 2011, I ferried across, from Larantuka, to the outlying island of Solor.

I was riding a 650 Transalp at the time, which was considered much too big to manhandle up /down the ferry's embarkation gang-plank. Instead, I was kindly loaned a smaller local bike - one of 4 little Yamaha YT115s - for the trip to Solor.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Au...030983-2-M.jpg

https://photos.smugmug.com/Travel/Au...140871-4-M.jpg

Having said that, they're a resourceful lot out there in East Nusa Tenggara - they have to be - and had I insisted on taking my 650, then I'm sure the ferry skipper would have found a way .. especially if I had flashed enough rupiah at the time!

I would imagine that the ferry used to cross the Savu Sea from Kalabahi to Kupang would need to be a larger, more robust & seaworthy vessel; and thus more likely to have a usable roll-on roll-off facility, as opposed to a basic quayside gang-plank. But I don't know for sure.

I also imagine the Kalabahi-Kupang ferry regularly transports goods and livestock, as well as passengers. It should, therefore, at least have a derrick of some sort for loading /off-loading such cargo. If so, then your bike could be craned on & off and lashed-down somewhere in/around the ferry decks.

I suggest you track down a local 'in the know'. Ideally someone in the more cosmopolitan city of Kupang would likely be your best bet. Communications with anyone in remote Kalabahi, who speaks sufficiently good English to answer your questions, might be a bit more difficult.

Best of luck. It's a fab region of Indonesia. :thumbup1:

Hi Keith,

Thanks for update :)

I'm hoping to see pics of the Kalabahi to Kupang ferry - that will give me a clue about whether it's worth pursuing. Plus I can't afford time to track down possible services between the other two islands when I'm there - unfortunately I always travel on a tight schedule.

Looks like your big ride is progressing nicely - congratulations!

cheers
Colin

Update - riding east of Larantuka
 

I have just returned and wanted to update the information about riding between Larantuka and Alor.

1. There are ferries all day long from Larantuka to multiple locations on Adonara (the closest island). I caught a larger ferry from the main dock in the middle of town - it would hold at least 10 bikes. It travels to a point further south, taking maybe 20 minutes.

On the return I caught a smaller long-boat style, which can only carry 1 bike at a time. This shuttles between a small jetty further north on Adonara and a matching jetty at Larantuka (or just manhandle the bike onto the sand in my case). This jetty is quite hard to find when leaving Adonara, you have to take an anonymous alley off the main road and ride past a few backyards.

You would be unlucky to have to wait more than 10 minutes for the small boats. The crossing takes about 10 minutes and they run all daylight hours.

There are bigger boats again that depart from Larantuka, and go to the only large town, which is on the Southern side of Adonara (sorry, can't remember the name).

It takes maybe 2 hours to ride across the island to this port - I did this across the middle, which is a very rough road that's not on Open Streets. There's a road around the coast that seems to be much better. I did not see any hotels on Adonara and my local contact did not know of any.

2. From Adonara, the larger boats continue on to Solar, the next island. This information was specific and reliable.

3. I was told that the larger boats also continue on from Solar to Alor / Kalabahi, but that information was a but hazy and only came from one person, so for now I don't regard it is as reliable. But it seems logical. The boats probably shuttle Larantuka - Adonara - Solar - Alor / Kalabahi.