Asik OriginalFrom
$6,742
Labuan Bajo, Flores
Komodo 3D2N Private Charter: Whole-Boat Phinisi
New experience
3 Days / 2 Nights (or 2D1N)Small groups
A volcano crowned by three crater lakes that shift between turquoise, green and black, reached on a short dawn hike from the village of Moni. The colors change with the lakes' minerals.
8.77°S 121.82°E
June to September
2 nights
ENE
$12/night
Kelimutu is a volcano in central Flores crowned by three crater lakes that sit side by side and, remarkably, hold different colours, often turquoise, green, and dark brown-red. The shades come from dissolved minerals and volcanic gases, and they shift over time, so nobody can promise which colours you will get. Local Lio belief holds that the lakes are where souls go after death, which gives the misty summit a quiet power at dawn.
This is a low-effort reward by Flores standards: a short, paved walk from the car park to the viewpoint, not a hard climb. The catch is the journey to get here and an early start to beat the cloud that often hides the lakes by mid-morning. It suits travellers crossing Flores overland who want a striking stop, paired with the village of Moni at its foot.
The park gate opens around 4 AM, and most people leave Moni by 4:30 to 5 AM to walk up in time. From the top platform you look over all three lakes as low-angle light brings out their colours before cloud rolls in. Bring a warm layer and a headtorch, because the pre-dawn summit is cold and dark.
Short paved paths and steps connect the viewpoints, so you can see the twin lakes that share a crater wall and, separately, the darker third lake. The whole loop takes well under an hour at an easy pace. Stay behind the railings, as the crater edges are steep and unstable.
Moni is the small, friendly base at the foot of the mountain, with guesthouses, a few warungs and a relaxed pace. Spending the night means a short pre-dawn transfer instead of a brutal long drive. It is also a pleasant place to simply slow down for a day.
Near Moni there is a small hot spring and the Murundao (Kelimutu) waterfall, both an easy walk or short ride from the village. They make a good way to fill the afternoon after an early summit. Ask your guesthouse for current directions, as paths can change after rains.
Getting there
The nearest airport is Ende (ENE), about 1.5 hours by road from Moni, the village at the base of Kelimutu; Maumere airport is the other option, roughly 3 to 4 hours away. Most travellers reach Flores by flying into Ende, Maumere or Labuan Bajo (often via Bali) and then crossing the island overland, with Kelimutu a natural stop on the cross-Flores route. From Moni you take an ojek, a guesthouse shuttle truck or a hired car up to the park gate for the dawn visit.
Best time to visit
June to September, the dry season, gives the clearest mornings and the best odds of cloud-free lakes at sunrise. Avoid the wettest months around December to February, when the summit is often socked in with cloud and the colours are hard to see. Weekday visits are cheaper than Sundays and public holidays.
Where to stay
Moni village at the foot of the mountain is the obvious base, with simple guesthouses and homestays from roughly 12 to 35 USD and a handful of nicer eco-lodges a little out of the centre. Staying in Moni rather than Ende makes the pre-dawn start far easier.
Impossible to promise. The three lakes change colour over time with their mineral and gas content, ranging through turquoise, green, black and dark red. Recent reports help, but you take what you get on the day.
No. From the car park it is a short walk on paved paths and steps to the viewpoints, suitable for most fitness levels. The effort is really the early start and the overland journey to reach Moni in the first place.
It is strongly recommended. Cloud frequently covers the summit by mid to late morning, so the early light gives both the clearest view and the best colour. Daytime visits are possible but riskier for visibility.
Build a route across Indonesia in minutes. We work out the travel time and cost between every stop, then a local turns it into a trip.
Build your tripThe drive across this part of Flores passes traditional Lio and Ngada villages with distinctive thatched houses and weaving. Some welcome respectful visitors and sell handwoven ikat cloth. A local driver or guide can arrange a brief, low-key stop on the way through.
If clouds hide the lakes at first light, do not rush off. Gaps often open up through the early morning, and the colours read differently as the sun climbs. A flask of coffee and some patience are rewarded more often than not.
