Rutong
A climbable grass hill with a 360-degree view over the whole archipelago, and a small white beach below for the swim afterwards.
North coast · Ngada regency
A marine park almost nobody sails
Empty islets, a climbable grass hill with a 360-degree view, a sandbar that surfaces at low tide, and a flying-fox colony that lifts off at dusk.
Plan a boat dayIn short
Riung is a small north-coast town whose 17 Islands Marine Park is visited by private boat — coral gardens, sandbars and mangrove channels, with almost no other traffic.
- A boat day covers four or five stops
- 2.5–3 hours by road from Bajawa
- Day 3 of the six-day Trans-Flores route
- The flying foxes leave Ontoloe at dusk
On the water
What's actually out there
The park is named for seventeen islands and the count is generous. What matters is that five stops make a full, unhurried day.
Pulau Tiga
Coral gardens on the sheltered side — usually the day's main snorkelling stop.
Ontoloe
The largest island in the park: mangrove channels, sea eagles, and the flying-fox colony.
The sandbar
A bare white crescent that surfaces at lower tides — the classic lunch-and-swim stop.
Tembang & the outer islets
Quieter reefs your boatman picks by the day's wind and current.
Dusk at Ontoloe
Thousands of flying foxes lifting off the mangroves as the light goes. Worth timing the day to end here.
Why it stays quiet
Riung is nobody's destination. It is two and a half hours down from Bajawa on a winding descent, and 224 km from Labuan Bajo — a full day, which is why it belongs inside a multi-day route rather than on its own.
That awkwardness is the whole appeal. On most days your boat is the only one at the sandbar, and the coral gardens off Pulau Tiga see a fraction of the traffic Komodo does.
Boats are simple local craft rather than charter yachts. The private version means the boat is yours for the day, with your guide setting the order of stops around the tide.
Getting to Riung
Bajawa
- Road distance & time
- ±70 km, 2.5–3 hours
- Notes
- The usual approach — a winding descent from the highlands
Ende
- Road distance & time
- ±130 km, 3.5–4 hours
- Notes
- Along the north coast via Mbay
Labuan Bajo
- Road distance & time
- ±224 km, a full day
- Notes
- Broken at Ruteng or Bajawa — this is why Riung belongs inside a route
Formats
Three ways to do it
Day trip from Bajawa
1 day
Boat day and return to Bajawa. For travellers based in the highlands who want the sea without moving hotels.
Day 3 of the Trans-Flores route
1 boat day
inside 6 days
The natural way to see Riung, and how most guests do — the boat day is built into the crossing.
Riung overnight
2D1N
For snorkellers who want the islands at first light, before any other boat is out.
The private boat day, snorkelling equipment and the park fees are built into the Trans-Flores journey rather than bought at the jetty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Take the boat out
Tell us where you are coming from and whether this is a day trip or part of a longer crossing. A planner replies within 24 hours.