Asik OriginalFrom
$94
Labengki, Southeast Sulawesi
Labengki & Sombori 2 Days 1 Night
New experience
2 DaysSmall groups
Short, sweaty scramble to the classic Sombori overlook of karst islets and blue channels.
Puncak Kayangan is the photo everyone comes to Sombori for. From a wooden jetty, you climb a steep little trail of roots and sharp limestone for roughly five to ten minutes, and the reward is a wide view over dozens of green karst islets sitting in pale turquoise water. People compare it to Wayag in Raja Ampat, and the resemblance is fair.
There are actually two summits, often labelled Puncak Kayangan 1 and Puncak Kayangan 2, each giving a slightly different angle on the maze of rocks and channels below.
The rock is sharp and the last few metres need both hands, so it feels more like a quick scramble than a hike. Go up, take your photos, and let the next group have the small ledge at the top.
Getting there
It is reached only by boat as part of a Labengki and Sombori trip. Most trips run from Kendari (a 45 minute to one hour drive to the harbour on the Tapuemea or Molore side, then one hour by speedboat or about three hours by wooden boat), while some run from the Morowali and Bungku side; either way it is several hours by boat. From your base, Puncak Kayangan is a short hop over to the Sombori islets.
Best time
Aim for early morning, both for softer light over the islets and to beat the heat and the crowds on the small summit. The dry season, roughly April to November, gives the calmest seas for the boat ride.
Good to know
Wear proper shoes with grip, not flip-flops, because the limestone is sharp and the trail is steep. A drone gets the full heart of the view, but check with your guide first, and carry water since there is no shade at the top.
It is short, only about five to ten minutes, but steep and rocky with a hands-on scramble near the top. Most reasonably fit people manage it fine in decent footwear.
They are two separate viewpoints a short distance apart, each looking out over the islets from a slightly different angle. Many trips climb one, and keen photographers do both.
Usually yes, and it is the best way to capture the scale of the karst maze. Ask your guide, as conditions and any local rules can change.
Add it to a route across Indonesia and we will work out the travel time and cost between every stop.
Build your tripKolam Bidadari (Berry's Pool)
