Banggai ArchipelagoThe Banggai Islands, off eastern Central Sulawesi: Lake Paisupok on Peleng Island, reef diving, and the Banggai cardinalfish, native only to these islands.Read more
BangkaBangka Island, off the northern tip of North Sulawesi: soft coral pinnacles and quiet dive resorts, reached by boat from Likupang.Read more
BiraTanjung Bira, at the southern tip of South Sulawesi: white sand beaches, clear water for snorkelling, and the pinisi boatyards of Tana Beru nearby.Read more
Sulawesi Travel Guide: Plan Your Trip by Region and SeasonPlan a Sulawesi trip in one place: the six regions and what each is known for, when to go, the two gateways, sample routes, visa, money and safety.Read more- How to Get to Sulawesi: Flights, Ferries and Entry PointsFly to Makassar (UPG) or Manado (MDC), Sulawesi's two international gateways with visa on arrival. Flights, Pelni ships and entry points, October 2026.Read more
- Things to Do in Sulawesi: Diving, Wildlife, Culture and IslandsDiving at Bunaken, Lembeh and Wakatobi, tarsiers at Tangkoko and the tongkonan of Tana Toraja: 21 things to do in Sulawesi, by region and best month.Read more
- Sulawesi Cave Art: The World's Oldest Dated Rock Art and How to Visit
- Pinisi Shipbuilding at Tana Beru: Inside the Bugis Boatyard
- Attending a Toraja Rambu Solo' funeral
- The Bajau at Mola, in the present tense
- Reading a tongkonan: the carvings at Ke'te Kesu'
- Understanding Rambu Solo': The Torajan Funeral Ceremony
- All
- How to Get to Sulawesi: Flights, Ferries and Entry Points
- Is Sulawesi Safe? Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Sea, Roads and Official Advice
- Manado to Bunaken Ferry: Public Boat or Resort Transfer
- Surviving a Pelni ferry, two nights at sea
- Driving the Trans-Sulawesi, what to expect
- Getting Around Sulawesi: Flights, Buses, and Ferries Explained
- All
2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping TourJourney from Makassar into the cool highlands of Malino for a 2-day trekking adventure through mountain streams and pine forests to Lembah Ramma. Camp overnight in a tranquil valley beneath the shadows of Mount Bawakaraeng, surrounded by lush meadows and dramatic rock wallsRead more
2D1N Tangkoko Nature Reserve Overnight Wildlife SafariExperience Tangkoko Nature Reserve across two distinct wildlife activity windows on an overnight safari. Track troops of Sulawesi black crested macaques, bear cuscus, and nocturnal tarsiers at dusk, then wake for an early-morning canopy trek to spot rare endemic birds and early-rising primatesRead more
3D2N Manado Highland & Island EscapeDiscover the cool Minahasa Highlands and historic landmarks before venturing out on a boat excursion across Bunaken Marine Park and Nain Island. Wrap up your journey with local culinary experiences and a quick city shopping tour of ManadoRead more
- 2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping Tour
- 2D1N Tangkoko Nature Reserve Overnight Wildlife Safari
- 3D2N Manado Highland & Island Escape
- 3-Day Toraja Cultural Immersion & Traditional Villagestay
- 7-Day Mount Gandang Dewata Remote Peak Traverse
- 5-Day Babirusa & Nantu Forest Expedition
- 14-Day Grand South & West Sulawesi Cultural Grand Overland Expedition
- All Trek tours
- 2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping Tour
- 3D2N Manado Highland & Island Escape
- 3D2N Makassar & Maros Highlights Tour
- 2-Day Bulukumba & Ammatoa Kajang Indigenous Village Cultural Tour
- 3-Day Toraja Cultural Immersion & Traditional Villagestay
- 7-Day Mount Gandang Dewata Remote Peak Traverse
- 7-Day Banggai Islands Expedition Cruise
- 5-Day Babirusa & Nantu Forest Expedition
- 8-Day Togean Islands Cruise & Beach Hopper Adventure
- 14-Day Grand South & West Sulawesi Cultural Grand Overland Expedition
- All Culture tours
- 2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping Tour
- 2D1N Tangkoko Nature Reserve Overnight Wildlife Safari
- 3D2N Manado Highland & Island Escape
- 3D2N Makassar & Maros Highlights Tour
- Bunaken & North Sulawesi Flexible Dive Resort Escape
- 3-Day Toraja Cultural Immersion & Traditional Villagestay
- 7-Day Mount Gandang Dewata Remote Peak Traverse
- 7-Day Banggai Islands Expedition Cruise
- 5-Day Babirusa & Nantu Forest Expedition
- All Wildlife & Birding tours
Private car with driverDoor to door across Sulawesi, with a local driver. Send us your route, and we reply with a price.Ask for a price- Road routes27 routes between the towns of Sulawesi, each with its distance and drive time.All land routes
- Tours with transport includedTours put the driving, the stops and the nights together into one trip.See the tours
CENTRAL SULAWESI
Sombori Island
KARST ISLANDS & GREEN LAGOONS
Sombori Island
On Sombori, in Central Sulawesi, limestone cliffs rise above calm green lagoons and coral reefs. Most travellers reach it from Kendari, the capital of Southeast Sulawesi.
The lagoons are calmer than the open sea. Out at sea, the calmest months are November to January. From June to August, waves reach 1.25 m up to 5% of the time. That is the height at which BMKG, Indonesia's weather agency, warns small boats.
The sea is 27 to 30°C all year. Daytime highs average 28 to 30°C.
Kendari is also the gateway to Wakatobi. One trip from Kendari can include both.
Sombori Island in pictures
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Sombori Island, in Morowali, Central Sulawesi: limestone islands over calm green lagoons, with reefs to snorkel and a viewpoint over the islands.
When to go and how to get there
Rain in Sombori Island, month by month, and the journey in from the nearest airport.
Driest months
Aug – Nov
October is the driest month, with 103 mm of rain on average. May is the wettest, with 384 mm. Every month here averages more than 100 mm of rain.
- Driest months
- In between
- Wettest months
January: 236 mm, February: 268 mm, March: 296 mm, April: 328 mm, May: 384 mm, June: 341 mm, July: 216 mm, August: 142 mm, September: 112 mm, October: 103 mm, November: 172 mm, December: 225 mm
Rain: CHIRPS v2.0, Climate Hazards Center, UC Santa Barbara, average of 1991-2020. See the weather in Sulawesi by month
Getting there
01 · Fly
To Kendari (KDI)
Daily flights from Makassar, about 75 min, and Jakarta, about 2 h 45. The airport is 26 km west of the city.
02 · Boat
Kendari → Sombori
The last part of the trip is by boat. Ask your stay or tour operator where it leaves from and how long it takes.
Sombori Island weather by month
The average rain, temperatures and sea of each month, measured over many years.
| Month | Rain (mm) | High / low (°C) | Sea (°C) | Rough for small boats (% of time) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 236 | 30 / 26 | 29.6 | 0 |
| February | 268 | 30 / 26 | 29.6 | 0 |
| March | 296 | 30 / 26 | 29.5 | 0 |
| April | 328 | 29 / 26 | 29.6 | 0 |
| May | 384 | 29 / 26 | 29.2 | 0 |
| June | 341 | 28 / 25 | 28.4 | 3 |
| July | 216 | 28 / 24 | 27.6 | 5 |
| August | 142 | 28 / 24 | 27.3 | 2 |
| September | 112 | 29 / 25 | 27.7 | 1 |
| October | 103 | 30 / 25 | 28.6 | 0 |
| November | 172 | 30 / 26 | 29.5 | 0 |
| December | 225 | 30 / 26 | 29.7 | 0 |
Rain: CHIRPS, 1991-2020. Temperatures: NASA POWER, 2001-2025. Sea temperature: NOAA Coral Reef Watch, 1991-2020. Waves: NOAA WAVEWATCH III, 2017-2026, in the open sea about 14 km away. Bays and straits are calmer. Rough means waves of 1.25 m or more, BMKG's warning level for small boats.
Sombori Island travel guides
The Sulawesi.com guides that cover Sombori Island.
Tours that go to Sombori Island
Every published trip that reaches this part of the island.
Experiences in Sombori Island
Day trips and activities in and around Sombori Island. Each one has its own page.
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