ID · East Nusa Tenggara · 8.77°S 121.82°E

kelimutu

Volcano with three crater lakes that change colour over the years.

Best time
The drier months, roughly May to October, give the best chance of clear views. In the wet season, cloud and mist can hide the lakes for days.
How long
1–2 days
Getting there
Fly from KL to Bali, about 3 hours, then take a domestic flight to Ende or Maumere on Flores. Moni is about 2 hours' drive from Ende, or about 3 hours from Maumere.
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ID · East Nusa Tenggarakelimutu8.77°S 121.82°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Volcano with three crater lakes that change colour over the years.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingKelimutuID, East Nusa Tenggara
KLkelimutu
≈ 2,595 km from KL, as the crow flies
Picture of Crater Lake taken from Kelimutu Summit

Photo: LukeTriton · CC BY-SA 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A volcano in central Flores with three crater lakes, each a different colour that shifts over time as the volcano's chemistry changes. Most people stay in the village of Moni below and drive up before dawn to watch the sun rise over the lakes. It's often one stop on a longer road trip across Flores.

Makan

  1. Flores coffeeArabica from the Flores highlands, strong and often served sweet.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Sunrise at the lakesDrive up from Moni in the dark, then walk the short path from the car park to the viewpoints.Map ↗
  2. The top lookoutClimb the steps to the highest viewpoint for the widest view over the lakes and the hills of Flores.Map ↗
  3. MoniA quiet village of rice fields and small guesthouses, good for an afternoon walk.Map ↗
  4. Ikat weaving villagesVillages around Moni and Ende still weave ikat cloth by hand.Map ↗
  5. EndeThe coastal town where Sukarno lived in exile in the 1930s. His house is now a small museum.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Bring a warm layer for sunrise. It's chilly at over 1,600 metres.
  • The lake colours change over the years, so don't count on the exact shades you've seen in photos.
  • Cloud often rolls in by mid-morning, so go early.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.