Travellers race to a tiny fishing village that looks straight out of Santorini – but you’ll never guess how close it is to Australia
- Travellers are flocking to a tiny fishing town called Labuan Bajo in Indonesia
- The Loccal Collection Hotel looks like it could be based in Santorini, Greece
- There are white stone walls in the village and plenty of infinity pools
- It is famed for its golden sunset which sees many take photos on their balcony
A tiny fishing village in Indonesia is being mistaken for the tourist hotspot Santorini because of its likeness to the idyllic Greek island – and travellers can’t get enough of the sunset views and white stone walls.
Labuan Bajo is a small town located at the western end of the large island of Flores in the Nusa Tenggara region of east Indonesia.
The centre of life in the town of Labuan Bajo is the port area with its popular fish market and the constant coming and going of fishermen and traders.
Labuan Bajo is a small town located at the western end of the large island of Flores in the Nusa Tenggara region of east Indonesia
The centre of life in the town of Labuan Bajo is the port area with its popular fish market and the constant coming and going of fishermen and traders
While its famous for being the gateway to the Komodo National Park there are plenty of jetsetters heading there to take in the expansive cave-like hotels and rooftop bars.
Those that post photos to social media are often met with the remark that it looks uncannily similar to the whitewashed, cubiform houses of Santorini, set high into the clifftops.
‘So beautiful! Thought for a second you flew off to Santorini! How wonderful it’s a tad closer,’ one comment read.
There are direct flights from Sydney to the fishing village itself with Singapore Airlines, but expect to pay more during the summer and school holiday season.
Those that post photos to social media are often met with the remark that it looks uncannily similar to the whitewashed, cubiform houses of Santorini, set high into the clifftops
The four-star Loccal Collection Hotel is a highlight on the island, with villas strategically overlooking the waterfront
The four-star Loccal Collection Hotel is a highlight on the island, with villas strategically overlooking the waterfront.
It has an indoor pool, Wi-Fi in every room, 24-hour check in and airport transfers, with some rooms even offering guests their own plunge pool.
‘Have travelled to many parts of the world and I must say Labuan Bajo in Indonesia is one of the few which I really enjoyed very much,’ one woman wrote on TripAdvisor.
‘A good mix of adventure, beach, hikes, sea trips and a relaxing stay in nice lodgings. Its pristine sea, amazing sunsets and the warmth in most if its people all set in a rather laidback and rustic part of Indonesia, gave a very special ‘back to nature” feel in a less commercialised part of Indonesia.’
Blogger Annabel Symonds, who runs the successful Londoner In Sydney website, recently visited the small town and stayed at the Loccal Collection Hotel.
‘As soon as we saw the hotel online, we knew we had to book it. We had spent a couple of amazing days in Santorini back in May and loved it so much, we couldn’t pass up an opportunity to visit a slice of it again in Indonesia while we were visiting the Komodo islands,’ she told FEMAIL.
‘When we arrived, everything was so similar to Santorini, from the infinity pool, the cave plunge pools and the architecture. If it wasn’t for the Indonesian menu and slightly different views, we could have been back in Greece.’