Solo cycling Lombok – Alor (Indonesia) in September – advice for eastern Islands beyond Flores?

Hi everyone,

I’m planning a solo cycling trip in eastern Indonesia starting in September and would really appreciate advice from people with local knowledge or firsthand experience.

I have a slightly unusual goal: I want to bring my bicycle to a friend in Alor, so I’m planning to ride from Lombok to Alor, using ferries between the islands. I’ll be traveling alone, carrying my gear, and staying mostly in guesthouses or homestays (no tent).

Planned route (flexible):

Lombok → Sumbawa → Flores → Adonara → Lembata → Pantar → Alor

I’m not trying to ride huge distances every day. My plan is to go at a conservative pace, avoid the worst heat, and leave room for delays — I know things don’t always go as planned in this region.

My biggest questions are about the islands east of Flores:

• Is this route realistic for a solo female cyclist?

• How difficult is cycling on Adonara, Lembata and Pantar?

• How hard is it to find accommodation there?

• Are ferries/boats between these islands reasonably reliable?

• Are there sections where taking a bus or boat instead of cycling would be smarter?

• Anything safety-related I should be aware of as a woman traveling alone?

I’ve done long rides before, but not in eastern Indonesia.

Any experiences, tips, or things you wish you had known would be greatly appreciated 😊