Kelimutu Volcano Hike (What to expect)

Kelimutu Volcano Lakes

The Kelimutu volcano located on the island of Flores in Indonesia is a must-see attraction if you've decided to explore the island. It sits frustratingly right in the middle of the island and so isn't as easy to reach as other well-known attractions. In this guide I'll take you through our hike up the Kelimutu volcano and give you an idea of what to expect on a hike of your own! See our full video here!

How to get there Even though Kelimutu is right in the middle of the island and a full 12 hour drive from the biggest tourist attracted in East Nusa Tengarra (the Komodos) there are still a few options to get there. check out our travel guide for all the prices we paid! The long way: Exploring for a few weeks may entail making stops on the way and using shared transport around the island. We did just that, taking a shared bus from Labuan Bajo, stopping in Ruteng for a few nights before continuing on to Moni, which is situated at the mountain's foot. We arranged the transfers by asking our hotel and connecting with a bus driver through WhatsApp.

Freedom is king: For those unafraid of riding two-wheeled vehicles, renting a motorbike is a popular choice on the island. This option not only allows you to travel to the town before your hike but also takes you all the way up to the carpark where the hike begins.

Spending Money:

Short on time but long on money? Consider flying! Smaller airlines fly across Indonesia at reasonable prices, but be aware that flight cancellations and rescheduling are common. Check diligently, as airport signs may not reflect this. Fly into Maumere (MOF) or Ende (ENE) airports, and then travel to Moni, approximately 3 hours from Maumere and 1 hour from Ende by car. Arrange transport at the airport or spend a night in Ende or Maumere for a cheaper, pre-arranged car service to Moni from your hotel.

Where to stay Moni Moni is the go-to place for a Kelimutu hike, despite its one-street, small-town feel and lack of AC and Wi-Fi in 90% of accommodations. However, its location near the mountain offers the advantage of witnessing the sunrise hike at the summit of the active volcano, a breathtaking sight. You can arrange for a private car to take you halfway up the mountain to the hiking trail's start, where a 15-minute hike can turn into a 90-minute trek with stops. Alternatively, comfortable motorbike riders can drive to the trailhead. We stayed at the gecko Homestay. It was a beautuful place which included breakfast and was on the cheap(ish) side for the area. We were able to easily organise transport through the host!

Gecko homestay hut

Ende Another popular option is to stay in Ende and drive one hour to Kelimutu on the day of the hike. You can book group packages online or through travel agents or arrange for transport with your hotel. Staying in Ende offers relative luxury, fast Wi-Fi, and air conditioning, however all but sacrifices the sunrise hike. Nonetheless, hiking during the day is still an incredible experience. In Ende, we stayed at LCR, a modern, comfortable hotel a bit far from the main town, but with local shops within walking distance. The hike itself (Spoilers)

Kelimutu volcano crater lake

We began our hike in the late morning, driving through some beautiful green fields worked on by locals with big smiles on their faces. We paid and went through the entrance gate and drove all the way up to the start of the trail. There's an option to park and hike from the gate, but it's a bit far.

At the start of the hike, there's an information center with some cool info about the volcano, the lakes, and the local beliefs. The pathway starts in a thick forest full of noisy animals and bugs. After a while, you reach a clearing and a bigger road for vehicles that leads to various lookout spots.

Finally, you reach the first lookout, which is the best one in our opinion. It's close to the most striking blue lake, and you can see the green lake on the other side of a crater wall. There are small signs with interesting facts and info about the craters all along the hike.

The path gets steeper until you reach the summit. From there, you can see all three lakes and how different each color is! But be careful, because there are lots of monkeys up there. They're really interested in stealing people's food and might even cling onto you if you've fed them before.

The hike down is easy and peaceful, but watch out for the sulfur smell. It can make you cough if you're not ready for it!