#Travel: First and only luxury Five-Star Hotel opens in Komodo

The first and only luxury five-star hotel in Komodo opened its doors to their exotic island escape in September. Just a one-hour flight from the beautiful island of Bali, in West Flores, lies the scenic oasis of Labuan Bajo.

Set in one of the most rugged and beautiful islands of the Indonesian Archipelago, there is an extraordinary diversity of religions, languages, and landscapes – alongside crystal blue waters and pristine white sand beaches. The name Flores is derived from the Portuguese for “flowers” and this tropical paradise is overflowing with mesmerizing flora that extends from waterfalls to jagged dramatic mountain tops and vibrant sunsets overlooking Komodo National Park.

Komodo National Park, which was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, comprises many small islands, with the largest being Komodo, Rinca and Padar. Labuan Bajo is also considered the ‘launching point’ for impressive trips to the home of the famous Komodo Dragon; the world’s largest species of lizard with a population of around 5,700. These spectacular creatures, known for their deadly bite and speed of around 30 kilometers per hour, cannot be found anywhere else in the world.

Beyond the land and dragons, the Indian Ocean is an aqua playground for intrepid divers. There is a year round scuba season and in 2017, Indonesia was voted among the world’s most popular dive destinations by Dive Magazine.

Like Bali, the island’s local culture is hospitable and filled with natural warmth. Religions remain mixed, but unlike many of the neighboring archipelago, Labuan Bajo is considered to be mainly Catholic since 16th century.

The newly opened AYANA Komodo Resort, Waecicu Beach will be the first and only five-star resort on the exquisite Labuan Bajo, Waecicu Beach.

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