Located at the eastern end of the Lesser Sunda Islands, that run along the southern edge of Indonesia, where it meets the Indian Ocean, Alor is the largest island in the Alor Archipelago. To north lies the open expanse of the Banda Sea, to the south Timor and East Timor, to the east Witar, to the west Pantar - and beyond that the larger island of Flores.
Alor covers an area of approximately 1000 sq miles and has just one town, Kalabahi with a population of about 60,000 out of a total island population of 170,000; some 125,000 of this population are Protestant Christians, the remainder being either Muslim or Catholic. Despite this, however, traditional and animistic rituals are still widely practiced.
Traditional farming methods are extensively used for the production of foodstuffs. Local villages grow vanilla, almonds, tamarind and other spices and exotic foodstuffs, and sandalwood is cut from the remaining forests. Recent geological exploration has discovered large deposits of gypsum, oil, natural gas and precious metals.
Alor is volcanic in origin and has very rugged terrain. The climate is, in marked contrast to many parts of Indonesia, surprisingly dry, and whilst there is a distinct dry season from May to September the rainfall is in general lower than that further west and to the east. Don’t expect lush rainforests here – it’s rocky, scrubby and dry, except where the occasional permanent water source allows a few larger plants to eke out a delicate existence. The coastline of Alor dominated by rock formations and there are only limited beaches, these usually being of black coral sand, with the notable exception of the far north-east and north-west corners of the island.
Alor offers an incrfedible diversity of diving, from fabulous critters and stunning reefs to - a rarity in many parts of Indonesia - big fish action including schooling hammerhead sharks.
We offer one resort in Alor, Alor Divers, and the occsional liveaboard ventures to this remote area. Please click the relevant liniks above for more information.
