Labengki and Sombori

Labengki and Sombori are adjoining groups of limestone karst islands in the sea between South East Sulawesi and Morowali in Central Sulawesi - steep forested pinnacles rising straight out of clear water, with hidden lagoons reached through gaps in the rock, caves, sandbars and villages of Bajo sea people. The comparison to Raja Ampat is made constantly and is fair in landform if not in reef quality. Labengki has a colony of giant clams, Tridacna, including individuals of a size that has made them a local attraction, protected after earlier harvesting. Sombori has karst viewpoints reached by scrambling, and caves with burials in them. Everything is done by chartered boat over several hours from Kendari or Morowali, and accommodation is homestays or camping.

What's there

• Karst pinnacles from clear water - the Raja Ampat comparison in landform.
• Hidden lagoons - reached through gaps and tunnels in the rock.
• Giant clams at Labengki - the protected Tridacna colony.
• Bajo villages and burial caves - the sea people's settlements and karst caves.

When to go

April to October. Three days.

What to expect

There is no scheduled transport - everything is chartered and costs are shared, so solo travel is expensive. Reef quality does not match the landscape. Facilities are homestays or camping.

Nearby

Kendari is south-west; Morowali and the Sulawesi mainland are north.