Fodor's Expert Review Island Treks
Several trails thread around the island to secluded beaches, mountaintop lookouts, and Kampung Komodo. English-speaking guides who know the routes and are well-versed on island flora and fauna can be hired at the park office. Day treks to the summits of Gunung Ara and Gunung Satalibo can be challenging given the rugged uphill paths through muddy, open woodlands and steep savannas. The rewards, however, are magnificent views all the way across the island and Indian Ocean to Lombok, Flores, and Sumba, as well as sightings of deer, wild pigs, buffalo, and the occasional Komodo dragon along the way. Be sure to have comfortable clothes, adequate sunscreen, and plenty of bottled water.