Alor

Healthy abundant coral reef home to innumerable species; from macro critters and big pelagic alike, combined with unforgettable cultural experience.

Why Visit Alor?

If you dream of remote islands, healthy, abundant coral reefs teeming with innumerable species, from macro critters to big pelagic fish, combined with an unforgettable cultural experience, then Alor should be at the top of your destination list to visit!

The good news is that there are still plenty of dive sites where you can avoid the crowds! And the best part? In Alor, you can dive into world-class dive sites surrounding the islands with your diving group as the only company!

A hidden gem, tucked away in the eastern part of Indonesia's magnificent archipelago, just waiting to be discovered! Alor is fast becoming a must-visit destination for diving enthusiasts from all over the globe thanks to its absolutely stunning coral gardens, incredible marine life and fascinating cultural heritage. Join us on an incredible journey as we explore the underwater realm of Alor, where vibrant coral reefs, exhilarating dive sites, and astonishing biodiversity await!

The archipelago has everything on every diver's wish list! From pristine coral reefs and marine life as rich as in Raja Ampat, to encounters with dugong, mola-mola, thresher and hammerhead sharks, and world-class macro dive sites in Lembeh, Alor has it all!

Glide alongside majestic sea turtles as they gracefully navigate the currents, and witness schools of vibrant tropical fish darting through the corals. Every dive in Alor offers an enchanting and unforgettable experience!

Destination Highlights

Alor Archipelago can be found on the map on the most eastern part of Lesser Sunda Island after Bali, Komodo, and Flores islands. It is part of East Nusa Tenggara province and consists of 20 islands with Alor and Pantar as the biggest islands.

The native population consists of Papuan people whose primary income comes from agriculture and fishing. Popular pictures of Alor that you may have encountered are: the locals doing free diving while fishing with spear and a traditional fish trap made of bamboo. We would wish the rest of the world to do traditional fishing and take care of coral reefs like the people of Alor. They do sustainable fishing that keeps the coral all over the archipelago healthy and pristine, which become home for countless marine life

Thanks to some NGOs and tourism development works in the area, the villagers of some of its islands start to move from its whale an rays fishing tradition by understanding these creatures actually worth more alive!

Indonesia is known for being diving paradise last frontier; and Alor will be among its last ones to have the crowd. The reason is, as the rest
part of East Nusa Tenggara Province, it still has lack infrastructure development. Despite recent tourism development opened easier access to many Indonesian destinations, there is still slight challenge to get to Alor. But this could be the main reason for some of you to visit.

quick access

diving highlights

Alor has more than 50 dive sites that offer world class diving. So you can easily spend 10 diving days without dive the same dive sites repeatedly.

The dive sites spread out in two main sites: Kalabahi bay and Pantar Strait. While Kalabahi bay offers most of the macro dives, in Pantar strait and some small islands in it (Buaya, Kepa, Pura and Ternate) offer diving with pristine coral and big pelagic encounters.

What to expect:

Healthy and rich coral reef gardens that heavily cover island slopes with giant sponge barrels,. swarming by fish.
Macro: blennie, frogfish, ghostpipefish, nudibranch, clown fish, seahorses, variety of shrimp and crab
Wide Angle: cuttle fish, Napoleon fish, turtles, lion fish, giant trevallies, dolphins, shark & rays.

Special Encounters

Hammerhead sharks, mola-mola, pilot whales rhinopias and recent research shows Alor is also home to Thresher Sharks.
Snorkeling with Dugong can also be arranged with land based resort as well as some liveaboards.
Omura and Blue Whale

Type Of Diving

slope, wall, muck & drift dives.

Diver Level

There are loads of dive sites in Alor, some of which are suitable for beginners. The currents on most of the sites in Pantar Strait are pretty strong, so we'd recommend them for experienced divers.
It's a good idea to check the dive sites with your dive guide early in the morning or the night before.

Water Temperature

Average water temperature is between 25 – 30°C (77-86°F). But there are few dive sites where you will experience thermocline, and the water temperature can drop below 20°C (68°F).

Visibility

Visibility underwater pantar straight can be more than 25 meters (82 feet). While in Kalabahi bay is around 10 meters (32 feet).

Things to do in Alor

Aside from diving, we highly recommend visiting a traditional village during your trip to Alor. Not only will you get to see the beautiful traditional houses, but you'll also be able to witness a dance and ceremony performance preserved for hundreds of years. This ceremony must be pre-booked in advance as it involves the whole local community. Most liveaboards include this as part of their itinerary and visit to Alor region.

After the performance, you can also try the Alor traditional and war costumes and take a picture using them. The cloth and material were hand-made by the local ladies and made of natural fabric material, so they only have natural colour.

SCUBA Diving and Snorkeling
Cultural Tour

Best Time to Visit Alor

You can dive Alor all year round.
The best time to dive in Alor, Indonesia is from April to November. During these months the weather is dry, visibility is excellent and the waters are calm, making for ideal diving conditions. June to September in particular offer cooler water temperatures that attract large fish such as hammerhead sharks and sunfish, a favorite of advanced divers.

How to get to Alor

If Alor is your only holiday destination to visit and you will stay on a land based resort or hotel we would recommend you to take flight from Jakarta (CGK) as there is daily flight via Kupang (KOE) to Alor (ARD) and return.

But if you are joining Liveaboard, you will need to check where is the cruise embarkation and disembarkation points. The reason is most operator combine Alor with other destination, so it is common to embark/disembark from different island.

Choose your holiday style....

There are several options of staying in Alor: resorts, hotel and liveaboards.

Land based accommodation gives you option to choose the number of diving you want to do. It also gives you freedom to choose your check in and check out dates. Most resorts located in remote area so they include full board (breakfast, lunch, dinner) in their accommodation rate. While if you stay at hotel and booked your dives with dive center, you will need to check what meals are included in your booking.

Most Liveaboards offer all inclusive package including airport transfer, full board and all diving.

If privacy and laid back holiday is your holiday priority, then resort would be the best accommodation for you. While liveaboard is always the best option for those who love cruising as well maximum number of diving during holiday

Tips for Exploring Alor Responsibly

When planning a trip to Alor, it's important to consider how you can explore this beautiful destination responsibly. One crucial aspect of responsible travel is choosing the right place to stay. Here are four tips for finding the best accommodations in Alor:

Look for eco-friendly options: There are many eco-resorts and lodges in Alor that prioritize sustainability and conservation. These properties often use renewable energy sources, minimize waste, and support local communities.
Choose locally-owned accommodations: By staying at locally-owned properties, you can support the local economy and get a more authentic experience of Alor.
Consider homestays: Homestays are a great way to experience local culture and support local families. Many homestays in Alor offer basic accommodations, but they provide a unique opportunity to connect with the local community. By following these tips, you can ensure that your trip to Alor is not only enjoyable but also responsible and sustainable.