Kelimutu National Park is one of the most beautiful travel gems in Eastern Indonesia. Its majestic crater lakes are situated on an active volcano, which means you need this Kelimutu National Park travel guide before finding your way around. The beautiful three-colored lakes and their surrounding mountain terrain will satisfy your adventurous soul. Find out more about everything you need to know before visiting!
Kelimutu National Park Location
Kelimutu National Park is situated in the eastern part of Flores Island, a part of Ende Regency in East Nusa Tenggara Province. The area consists of several mountains and hills, with Mount Kelimutu as the most famous spot. It has three crater lakes with different colors that periodically change due to the mineral composition. The native Lio people consider these lakes sacred, adding cultural importance to this area.
The lakes are located 1,639 meters above sea level. Visitors can hike to enjoy the view using a series of long steps with railing built on the safe walking path. The walking trip from the base of the trail to the peak is about 15 minutes. The most coveted spot to enjoy the scenery is Inspiration Point, where you can clearly see all the three crater lakes.
Route to Kelimutu National Park
Kelimutu National Park travel guide requires you to take multiple trips to the major airports in Flores Island. However, the popularity of Kelimutu gives travelers several routes to reach it. Here are the most popular ones.
From Labuan Bajo
Labuan Bajo is the main town of Flores Island and the capital city of Manggarai Regency. It is a popular starting point for travelers exploring Flores Island. You can depart from here to explore other destinations like Komodo Island National Park. The trip from Labuan Bajo to Kelimutu National Park takes around 12 hours.
From Ende
Ende is the capital town of Ende Regency, where Kelimutu National Park is situated. This is the most straightforward route to go to Kelimutu. After landing at Ende Airport, travelers must continue with a two-hour road trip to Moni Village, the final stop before you can enter the Kelimutu area.
From Maumere
Maumere is the second largest town in Flores Island, situated in Sikka Regency. If you look for a slightly longer but cheap route to Kelimutu National Park, you can travel from Maumere Airport. The road trip to Moni Village from Maumere takes around three hours.
Amenities
As a popular travel destination, Kelimutu National Park has several amenities to cater to visitors. It has a parking lot, toilets, and gazebos for visitors to sit and do sightseeing. You can also find various food and beverage sellers around the area, including those who sell hot instant coffee.
Travelers who stay in Labuan Bajo or Ende can find numerous hotels, motels, and guesthouses. There are options for low-range, mid-range, and luxurious places to sleep, with standard hotel amenities. If you stay in Moni, you can find guesthouses run by locals or low-range and mid-range homestays.
Recently, the management has installed 12 spots around the park’s area to scan a QR code. It will give visitors a digital Kelimutu National Park travel guide, giving visitors information about the history, geology, and various cultural and historical aspects of the area. This way, you can find information about this national park while exploring it in real-time.
When to Visit
The best thing about Mount Kelimutu is its majestic terrain, especially when you witness the view during sunrise. The dry season is the best time to visit Kelimutu since the sky will be relatively clear. Indonesia experiences a dry season from May to September, making it an ideal time to visit.
Aside from the clear view and sky, the dry season makes your hiking adventure in Kelumutu safer. However, you probably have to deal with a few extra crowds, especially during major holidays.
How to Get-Go
You can start your trip from Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali to Komodo International Airport in Labuan Bajo. You can also book flights to Ende Airport or Maumere Airport for shorter trips to Kelimutu National Park. Ngurah Rai International Airport has regular flights that serve the routes to Ende and Maumere. However, these flights still have stopovers at Komodo International Airport.
The flight from Bali to Ende or Maumere takes around one hour. Once you land at both airports, you can book a shared shuttle van, taxi, or rental car to Moni Village. The trip from Ende takes around two hours, while the one from Maumere takes about three hours.
From Moni Village, you can take a rental car or motorcycle to reach Kelimutu. The trip usually takes around 30 minutes. Many locals offer to take tourists to Kelimutu using their rental vehicles. You can use their services for convenience, especially if you need to go early to catch the sunrise.
Other Things to Know
This additional information will make your trip to Kelimutu National Park more enjoyable!
Admission Fees
Admission fees for international travelers at Kelimutu National Park are cheaper on weekdays, around USD11. If you visit during weekends and public holidays, you have to pay around USD18.
Transportation Costs
Aside from plane tickets, you can use several types of land transportations in Flores with cheap fares. Shared vans are available at Ende Maumere Airports, and they cost around USD3 to USD5 for a trip to Moni.
If you have extra time, you can use buses to reach Moni. They are slow and sometimes unreliable, but you only need to pay around USD2 per trip. The cheapest options are bemos, small vans used as public transportations. They are quite slow, but you only need to pay USD1.5 per trip.
In Moni, locals offer motorbike rides to take travelers to the Kelimutu National Park entrance. The fares are usually around USD8 to USD17, and you can negotiate with the riders, so they will wait up for you until you finish. Many adventurous travelers even choose to have a one-way ride and walk back to Moni to save money. The walk takes up around three hours.
Accommodation in Moni
Since Moni is a small village, many travelers do not make reservations to stay at one of the guesthouses. The popularity of Kelimutu National Park encourages many locals to open guesthouses, and you can just ask around to find one. Common rates for guesthouses next to the main road are between USD30 and USD45 per night, with meals.
There are exceptions if you come during public holidays or other peak seasons. Since guesthouses are filled up quickly during these times, you can contact your travel agent to have them book a guesthouse. Many locals also open their houses for travelers who cannot find guesthouses, and you can negotiate the prices directly with them.
Things to Pack
Kelimutu National Park challenges travelers with rough terrain and cold weather. Make sure you pack a fleece jacket, a windbreaker jacket, long-sleeved shirts or sweaters, wool caps or beanies, hiking pants, waterproof rain pants, long socks, gloves, sunglasses, insulated water bottle, flashlight, and batteries. Wear sturdy shoes suitable for hiking.
If you plan to stay in Flores for a while, you will have to walk around a lot. Make sure to bring comfortable t-shirts, shorts or other types of comfortable walking pants, light shoes, and a daypack. A ziploc bag is important to keep your important things safe from humidity and tropical rain, which can sometimes fall without warning due to Indonesia’s climate.
Moni Village does not have internet access, and blackout is frequent. Make sure to pack a power bank, portable charger, external hard drive, and universal adapter. You probably have to make do with no internet during your stay in Moni. However, if you need one, you can buy one of various popular mobile data packages sold in Flores, such as Telkomsel and XL.
What to Eat
There are several roadside restaurants alongside Ende-Maumere Road; many of them cater to tourists traveling to Moni. Most of them serve variations of rice with side dishes, such as fried chicken, grilled fish, stir-fry dishes, vegetables, and such. Several café-type establishments serve desserts and café drinks.
Once you reach Moni Village, options are usually limited to rice dishes served at humble food stalls. However, they are quite fulfilling and can energize you for your walking trip to Kelimutu. Guesthouses and local homeowners also cook these types of dishes for their guests. You can also bring cup noodles and other instant food packs and ask for hot water for an easy meal.
Safety Tips
Always stay on the designated walking path. The loose scree around the craters is dangerous to walk on, and careless travelers can fall from the edge. If the Inspiration Point is too crowded for your taste, walk along the guarded path to find a quieter spot that is still safe.
Keep your travel plan flexible when visiting Kelimutu, especially during the rainy season. You may have to return to Moni and attempt another hike if your view is obscured. Having a flexible schedule also keeps you from hiking when the path is too wet and slippery to walk on.
Visiting Kelimutu is a great challenge, but the price is beautiful. Use this Kelimutu National Park travel guide to plan your trip and enjoy the magnificent view of these crater lakes while staying safe.
