Major city · Indonesia
Kelimutu
Sleep one night in Moni, see the three crater lakes at sunrise, then leave: two nights only if you add hot springs or a village walk.
Kelimutu is a volcano in central Flores with three summit crater lakes that change colour with the volcano's activity. The base is Moni, a village on the main road about 13 km from the lakes, where guesthouses line a 2 km stretch. Almost everyone comes for one sunrise, walks back down, and moves on to Ende or Maumere. Transport is shared cars, bemos and ojeks; there is no airport and no train. Bring a warm layer: at 1,600 m the pre-dawn air is cold and blankets are thin.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- IDR
- Best months
- May–Sep (dry season, clearer dawns)
- avoid Jan–Feb (heavy rain, clouded crater views)
- Airports
- MOF · ENE
- Nights
- 1–2
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Indonesia ↗Buy the visa on arrival or e-visa only on the official Immigration portal; lookalike sites charge extra.
- Indonesia ↗Complete the All Indonesia digital arrival and customs form before landing; it is free.
- Indonesia ↗Foreign visitors to Bali pay a one-off tourist levy; keep the payment proof on your phone.
- Indonesia ↗Riding a motorbike needs a valid licence that covers motorbikes (an international permit alongside your own) and a helmet; check your insurance covers it.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Kelimutu112 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Kelimutu, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.Indonesia-wide
- SIM or eSIMcheckTelkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.Indonesia-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.Indonesia-wide
- TippingRestaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.Indonesia-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets C/F. US/Canada (A/B): adapter · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 230 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Indonesia-wide
- SafetyKelimutu is a small, low-crime village area; the real risks are cold pre-dawn weather, winding mountain roads…
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.Indonesia-wide
- Emergency numbers112 General emergency (Indonesia) · 110 police · 118 ambulance (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysBali shuts completely for Nyepi; government offices close Friday midday for prayer; Lebaran slows the country for two weeks.Indonesia-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportcheckMOF Frans Xavier Seda, Maumere (About 3–4 h by road to Moni; limited flights from Denpasar (check schedules)).
- Getting aroundNo public transport inside the village area.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee or tea at a guesthouseRp 15,000–30,000
- Sit-down mealGuesthouse dinner (local or western menu)Rp 60,000–120,000
- BeerBeer at a Moni restaurantRp 40,000–70,000
- Budget bedDorm bed, a night, per personRp50,000
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomRp300,000
- High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per roomRp500,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget Rp300,000 · Mid Rp600,000 · High Rp1,200,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- MOF Frans Xavier Seda, Maumere (About 3–4 h by road to Moni; limited flights from Denpasar (check schedules)) · ENE H. Hasan Aroeboesman, Ende (About 2 h by road to Moni; limited flights from Denpasar (check schedules))
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Feb
Avoid
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Mar
not flagged
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Apr
not flagged
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
May
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Jun
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Jul
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Aug
Best
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
Sep
Best
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Oct
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Nov
not flagged
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
Dec
not flagged
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
Best: May–Sep. Avoid: Jan–Feb. Month by month →
Warmest Oct (26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)), coolest Jul (13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C) low), wettest Jan (22 rain days), driest Aug (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Kelimutu: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
22 rd
Feb
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
19 rd
Mar
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
16 rd
Apr
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
11 rd
May
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8 rd
Jun
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
6 rd
Jul
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
5 rd
Aug
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
4 rd
Sep
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
5 rd
Oct
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
15°C (59°F)59°F (15°C)
8 rd
Nov
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
14 rd
Dec
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
20 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
No public transport inside the village area. Ojeks run to the crater gate for sunrise (about Rp 25,000–35,000 one way, check) and many people walk back down. Motorbikes rent locally for about Rp 100,000 a day (check). Cars with yellow plates are the licensed public transport; shared cars and bemos link Moni with Ende and Maumere.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: 2–2.5 h
Shared car or bemo from the main road, about 2 h
Ende has the airport, food and the road onward to Bajawa.
Maumere
goDoor to door: 3–4 h
Shared car or bus from the main road, about 3–4 h
Airport town with the better flight options; go in daylight.
Bajawa
overnightDoor to door: 3–4 h
Bus toward Bajawa, about 3–4 h
Too far for a return day; sleep in Bajawa and continue the Flores route.
Riung
overnightDoor to door: 5 h+
Bus to Ende first, then onward transport to Riung
Plan it as a separate stop, not a day trip.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Moni main road
Guesthouses spread over about 2 km (1.2 mi); walkable, but the crater gate is a further 13 km (8.1 mi) uphill.Guesthouses spread over about 1.2 mi (2 km); walkable, but the crater gate is a further 8.1 mi (13 km) uphill.
Near the national park gate
Fewer beds, shorter pre-dawn ride; check availability before you commit.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- Rp 250,000–450,000 excl. bed
- Mid
- Rp 450,000–900,000 excl. bed
- High
- Rp 900,000+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Guesthouse double room1 × 1 night × Rp300,000 | Rp300,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × Rp600,000 | Rp1,200,000 |
| Kelimutu national park entry2 × Rp150,000 | Rp300,000 |
| Ojek to the crater gate, one way2 × Rp30,000 | Rp60,000 |
| Motorbike rental, one day2 × Rp100,000 | Rp200,000 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × Rp150,000 | Rp300,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | Rp236,000 |
| Trip total≈ Rp1,298,000 per person per day, bed included | Rp2,596,000≈ US$160 |
2026 estimate in rupiah; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee or tea at a guesthouse | Rp 15,000–30,000 |
| Bakso or soto ayam at a warung | Rp 25,000–50,000 |
| Guesthouse dinner (local or western menu) | Rp 60,000–120,000 |
| Beer at a Moni restaurant | Rp 40,000–70,000 |
| Ikat sarong or scarfNatural-dye pieces cost more than chemical-dye ones. | Rp 100,000–400,000 |
| Shared car Moni → Ende | Rp 40,000–50,000 |
| Bemo Moni → Ende | Rp 20,000–30,000 |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Pre-dawn temperatures at the crater rim are cold and windy: carry a jacket and long trousers.
- The lakes' colours change with volcanic activity; you may not get the postcard three-colour view.
- Wild monkeys near the feeding ground can bite or scratch: keep food out of reach.
- Guesthouse blankets are often thin; ask for an extra or bring a sleeping layer.
- Card payment is unreliable in Moni: carry enough rupiah cash for beds, entry and meals.
- Roads from Ende and Maumere are winding mountain roads; travel in daylight.
Emergency numbers
- General emergency (Indonesia)
- 112
- Police
- 110
- Ambulance
- 118
- Fire
- 113
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
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KelimutuKelimutu
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
Ke alamat ini, yaTo this address, please
Emergency
- General emergency112
- Police110
- Ambulance118
Embassy
No embassies in Moni or Ende; the nearest consulates are in Bali (Denpasar) and the embassies are in Jakarta.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Ojek Moni → crater gate: Rp 25,000–35,000 one way, about 20–30 min
- Shared car Moni → Ende: Rp 40,000–50,000, about 2 h
- Bus Moni → Maumere: Rp 30,000–50,000, about 3–4 h
- Kelimutu national park entry: Rp 150,000
Say or show
- Permisi / Maaf — Excuse me / Sorry (per-mee-see / ma-af)
- Terima kasih — Thank you (te-ree-ma ka-see)
- Berapa harganya? — How much is it? (be-ra-pa har-ga-nya)
- Di mana toilet? — Where is the toilet? (dee ma-na toy-let)
- Saya mau ke Kelimutu — I want to go to Kelimutu (sa-ya mau ke ke-lee-moo-too)
- Bisa bayar pakai kartu? — Can I pay by card? (bee-sa ba-yar pa-kai kar-too)
Carry cash: ATMs are scarce in Moni and card payment is unreliable.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Kelimutu. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: May–Sep (dry season, clearer dawns) · avoid Jan–Feb (heavy rain, clouded crater views) · month by month →
- 2 airports and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 6 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for MOF and ENE: last shared-car departures, daylight-only road rule, overnight rung in Moni.
- Two walking clusters with rescue anchors: Moni main road guesthouses, and the crater gate with hot springs below.
- Place pages with verified cutoffs (crater gate, hot springs, waterfall path, market) and eat pages with last orders.
- Golden and hostile arrival fixtures so gates A–D can go green.