The group of islands east of Bali, extending from Lombok to West Timor, are called Nusa Tenggara, meaning the "south-eastern islands", for geographers known as Lesser Sundas. Nusa Tenggara is divided into two provinces: West Nusa Tenggara ( comprising Lombok and Sumbawa ) and East Nusa Tenggara ( comprising of Sumba, Flores, West Timor and the neighbouring small islands ). Lesser Sundas stretch 1,300 km from east to west, there are around 600 islands, of which 42 are inhabited. The islands are blessed with pristine white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and stunning coral reefs. There are three coloured crater lakes of Keli Mutu on Flores; Komodo, home of the largest monitor lizard; Pasola festival in Sumba; mighty Mount Rinjani and Segara Anak Lake in Lombok; there are a dozen other places worth of visit. In Nusa Tenggara, Lombok and Sumbawa in the west are predominantly Muslim. There is a Christian majority on the islands of Flores, Roti and Timor. Sumba and Savu are still strongholds of local ancestral beliefs.

LOMBOK
Lombok it is a natural collection of contrasts and diversity, there are mountains, stunning coastline, traditional villages, charming people, and the incredible underwater world. As a tourist destination, Lombok is different from Bali, and is unique in itself. In Lombok one can find aspects of Balinese life but not vice-versa in the case of Bali. In the western part of Lombok, Hinduism and Islam co-exist. The natives of Lombok, the Sasaks, are Muslim, and their art and religious life are quite different from those of their Hindu neighbours. The name "Lombok" is said to come from a fiery red chilli pepper, used as condiment in Indonesia. The Sasaks call their island Bumi Gora, which means "The Dry Farmland", or Selaparang, which is the name of an old East Lombok kingdom. The island measures about 80 km north to south and about 70 km east to west. There are several cluster of small islands off Lombok's coast, all called "Gili" from the Sasak word for island. Some are inhabited by fisherman and stray cattle, and the best-known - Gili Air, Gili Meno, and Gili Trawangan, off the northwest coast - host hordes of tourists. The Gilis have a lot of coral, that's why they have so much fish, and their blue coral is famous in its own right. Lombok is dominated by 3,726-metre Gunung Rinjani, Indonesia's highest volcano and one of the highest points in the archipelago. Rinjani crowns a group of mountains that dominate the north-central section of the island. Lombok has a large array of beautiful beaches. Kuta Beach ( also known as Putri Nyale Beach ), is on the south cost of Central Lombok, it is one of the most scenic and unspoilt beaches on the island, and the sea is safe for bathing and swimming. Each year, on the 19th day of the tenth month of the Sasak lunar calendar, when the Nyale fish come to the sea surface, Kuta Beach hosts the famous Nyale Festival. But Lombok's chief resort is Senggigi beach, offering a range of accommodation, with the best hotels on the island situated here. Lombok is where the transition towards Eastern Indonesia begins, both naturally and culturally. The northern part of Lombok is mountainous and verdant with tall trees and shrubs covering the land. One finds none of large Asian mammals. The western part of the island is the greenest and most humid. As one moves east, the dry season becomes more pronounced, and in many areas corn and sogo, instead of rice, are the staple foods.

SUMBAWA
Sumabawa is divided into three administrative regencies that act in response roughly to the former sultanates: Sumbawa Besar in the west; Bima in the east and Dompu, the home of Gunung Tambora in the centre. It was Tambora that cut off the people of the west from the people in the east for centuries. The two parts of the island are separated in nature and by language, that spoken by Sumbawanese is like more Sasak; that spoken by the Bimanese being more like the languages of Flores and Sumba. Approximately 800,000 people are farmers and fisherman. Some 85 % of the land is jagged and mountainous, not applicable for agriculture, but the rich volcanic soil of the river valley yields plentiful crops. These valleys were the site of many states, the island's first political states.

FLORES & KOMODO
Flores, the biggest island in the East Nusa Tenggara, is a long narrow rocky island with spectacular volcanoes, stunning mountain lakes and lush savannah. Island, 360 kilometres long and 12 to 70 kilometres wide, is inhabited by approximately 1.4 million people, of which almost 85% are Roman Catholic. The church has put serious stress on recovering the living conditions through its range of programs. The clergy in Flores is aware of many traditional believes but they do not trying to abolish them; the survived ancient traditions make up much of the island's attractions. Flores is very diverse ethnographically, the mixed population comprise of Bimanese, Bugis, Makassarese, Solorese, Savunese and ethnic Florinese: Lio, Ngadham Sikka, Soa and other.

SOLOR & ALOR
East of Flores lies the archipelagos of Solor ( containing of Solor, Adonara and Lembata ) and Alor ( with Pantar and Alor ). Inhabitants have remained relatively cut off from the rest of the world, the present urban world has little respect here, and the islanders spend their days fishing, growing manioc and corn, weaving and time to time celebrating the rituals of their traditional religions.

SUMBA
Sumba was identified for centuries as a source of sandalwood, slaves, and horses as well as a land of cannibal tribes, today is renowned for its sculptured megalithic tombs, war game rituals and intricate textiles. Sumba is approximately 300 km long and 80 wide, the island is divided politically and climatically into two parts. West Sumba is more wealthy half, higher and so lush and green during the rainy season. It is also more culturally varied, with separate linguistic groups. People of West Sumba live in huts with picked roofs. Agricultural communities thrive and ancestral and land worship are still strong. East Sumba is dry and rocky and mountainous, with the highest peak, Wangga Meti, t 1,225 metres. Most of people live in close proximity to or on the coastline, and extensive hand-loom industry has flourished for several centuries, producing characteristic woven ikat. In spite of modernization, the old traditions remain and the social organization in Sumba is ordered according to customary law, the main aim of traditional Sumbanese religion is to maintain a undisturbed relationship with ancestral spirits. The most impressive ceremony on Sumba is the Pasola, a ritual battle with spears featuring hundred of horsemen.

ROTI & SAVU
Small isolated islands of Roti, Savu, Raijua and Ndao offer much for those interested in traditional culture. These islands are unusual for their people's extensive use of the lontar palm tree. With little rainwater, people depend on a drought-resistant lontar, for nutrition when there was no other food available. Lontar is also used for building materials and for clothing. On Savu, the customary faith and customs are maintained despite professed Christianity. Cultural and religious life, based on the lunar calendar, is rich and varied, including rites of passage, sea-worm festivals, harvest festivals and violent battles with stones. Adherence to the old customs is even stronger on Raijua Island, which is considered the source of animist beliefs of the Savu island. The island Roti is stunning, with transparent water, rock formations and offshore islands with white beaches. The majority of inhabitants are farmers, cultivating rice, corn, sorghum and mung beans. The island offers a diversity of landscapes, even though it is only 1,280 km2 of land. The soil varies from black to rust to pale white, the islands has also several, not deep lakes. The island of Ndao is famed for its travelling jewellers. During the dry season they travel to Roti, Savu, Sumba or Flores, there they make jewellery for which they exchange in rice and small animals.

TIMOR
Timor island is the largest ( 34,200 km2 ) and easternmost of the Lesser Sundas. Timor is divided politically between Indonesia and East Timor ( Timor-Leste ). The island is long, narrow, and almost wholly mountainous. Rice, coconuts, and coffee are grown, and stretch of grassland support cattle. Timor is the principal island in the province Nusa Tenggara, and it is here that the provincial capital of Kupang is located. Timor is wealthy in culture, stunning scenery, and superb wildlife.