FAQ

From Alor airport to Alor Kecil village (1 hour), we can book a taxi for our guests. The price for 1 passenger is Rp 150.000, Rp 200.000 for 2, 3 or 4. Arriving in Alor Kecil village, the trip across the strait (5 min) is organized by the local community with their small boat with long-tail engine. The price set by local government is Rp 20.000/person. Try to have flip-flops/sandals, you will have to walk a couple of steps in the sea!

In this area the cell-phone coverage is provided by TELKOMSEL only. We can’t provide free Wi-Fi anymore, but with a SIM-Card bought to this operator (Rp20.000-30.000) and +/- Rp.100.000 you will have access to phone call, including cheap code for international and 3G/4G internet connection packages (NB: when you buy a package, take care the « data » are usable in NTT province and not only « data lokal » valid in the province where you buy. The ones valid everywhere are named « data flash »).

It is a long way to Alor, it worth enjoying it! By controlling the technique, you will be free for watching what our guides show… We like the divers to be able to check their air by themselves, to follow dive profiles at +/-25 m or to control enough their buoyancy in order to drift if necessary, but also to not touch the corals and to stay above the sand in muck-dive sites to not disturb UW life. For all these reasons, we recommend to have a minimum of 50 dives experience.

We serve Indonesian style meals we elaborate with local and healthy products: a rice base, accompanied by fish (occasionally eggs, chicken, or meat), but also 2 to 4 vegetarian dishes like vegetables, local beans, tempe or toffu, as well as fruits (although Alor is not an area very rich in fruit…) or salad. Vegetarians are usually happy here!

Lucky us, there is no sand-fly in Kepa island! and really few mosquitoes for a tropical area, due to the long droughts and the lack of water source nearby. However some mosquitoes can fly around at the end of afternoon, especially a few days after some rain (raining season last until end of March, but some storms occasionally occur until May generally).

The whole region from Lombok to Far East Indonesia is registered as Malaria endemic, so it is normal to be aware. Although cases of Malaria have dropped in the villages around for several years, and the mosquito activity is quite low in Kepa, it would be improper to affirm there is no risk. Usual prevention consists in sleeping under a bed-net (provided in our bungalows) because Malaria mosquitoes are active during the night, and using repellent. Prophylaxis treatment is an individual choice you might discuss with your doctor. If you decide to take some, Malarone is one you can dive with (Lhariam is outcast while scuba-diving). Dengue Fever used to occur mainly in Bali, Java… but the last year, some cases have been registered in Alor region too. It is carried on by daily mosquitoes, so repellent is recommended by afternoon.

Between Alor (Kalabahi) to east Flores (Larantuka) by the sea, there are diferent possibilities:

• normal ferry (iron ship ASDP) : +/-15 hours with 1 stop in Baranusa (West Pantar) and 1 stop in Lewoleba (Lembata). Once a week : on FRIDAY from Kalabahi, at 8AM, on WEDNESDAY noon from LARANTUKA.
• woodden small ferries/bus hops : Kalabahi-Baranusa (4h) everyday + Baranusa-Wairiang on east Lembata (3h) every thursday or by chartering+ Lewoleba-Wairiang 5h by bus + from Lewoleba to Larantuka by boateveryday (4h). Let say feasible in 2-3 days generally, eventually 4…
• PELNI ferry (big iron ships): the ones named AWU offer usually a very fast 8-10h trip from LARANTUKA to KALABAHI. Schedule is usually online (www.pelni.co.id, works fairly well!), but it does the route every 2 weeks only.

For a faster and more comfortable journey, the only way at the moment is to fly via Kupang. The 2 companies Nam Air/Sriwijaya and Wings Air offer connections to Maumere, Ende, Ruteng or Labuan Bajo… in one day or with overnight in Kupang.