FLORES TRAVEL: LE PIRATE EXPERIENCE
Living in Bali had many perks, and one of them was the fact that it is one tiny island amongst over 17,000 others in Indonesia - meaning I had the perfect playground to explore at weekends. Bali is beautiful and does boast some stunning beaches [mainly down in Uluwatu as the beaches in hotspots Canggu and Seminyak actually have black sand], but if you are after that true paradise experience you need to visit one of the neighbouring islands. Flores is just a short domestic flight away, and believe me is worth the couple hours trip it will take you from Bali.
When you arrive in Labuan Bajo you might not be too blown away, and I’ll admit that the mainland isn’t all that pretty. It is still a fairly undiscovered island, so you won’t find any fancy beach clubs, vegan cafes, and hipster hotels here - Flores is an off the beaten track kinda experience. What they do have though is sparkling turquoise water, white sandy beaches, and the Le Pirate experience, and this is what you need to book onto!
Le Pirate is a company that’s been running for years now, with successful hotels on Gili Trawagan and Nusa Ceningan. Their branding is very insta friendly - whites and blues, with a back drop of paradise views, and their soundtracks are the perfect blend of chilled, beach vibes [you can listen here on Spotify].
The view from your cabin at sunrise
Flores is their newest addition of destinations, and they offer an unforgettable experience that I definitely recommend. The Le Pirate Boatel is a floating hotel - essentially, a boat that you sleep on which is moored in the mainland’s harbour. You have your own cabin, it has a bar and restaurant on the top deck, and activities such as paddle boards and snorkels to keep you busy during the day. They also offer daily water taxis to get you to and from the mainland, but let’s be honest - once you are onboard I’ll doubt you’ll want to leave. You’ll be woken up at 5:30am every morning, but sit up in bed and open your curtain and the view you’ll get will be pretty hard to beat…
They also have a Le Pirate Island, which you can arrange to go to from the Boatel as a day trip or an overnight trip. The island is a couple of hours boat trip from the mainland, in the middle of absolutely nowhere. One tiny paradise island in the middle of stunning blue ocean. Spend the day drinking coconuts, kayaking around the island, and snorkelling. As the island’s name says, this is Paradise Found!
I spent a total of 3 days on the Boatel, which was the perfect amount of time [allowing me a day at the Le Pirate Island, a day exploring the Pink Beach and Komodo Island, and a day to chill on the boat]. If you are coming to Bali for a few weeks holiday, I really recommend visiting this stunning island [including exploring Komodo Island].