The "Raja Ampat of Sulawesi": karst islets, hidden lagoons, sea caves, and Bajo sea-nomad villages.
Why go
Reached by boat from Kendari, this is limestone-tower scenery with hidden pools, giant clams, and Bajo stilt villages, at a fraction of the cost and effort of Raja Ampat itself.
Best for
Photographers and snorkellers who want dramatic karst seascapes far from any tour-bus circuit.
Planning note
Overnight on or near the islands rather than rushing a long day trip from Kendari; the light at dawn is the whole show.
The sights worth building a day around. Open any one for a full guide.
natureA quiet saltwater pool tucked behind the rocks, away from the open sea.
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snorkel siteCalm lagoon by a Bajo village where a conservation reef shelters huge Tridacna clams.
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islandA small white-sand islet for a swim and a break between the karst viewpoints.
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snorkel siteEasy drop-in snorkelling off the Mbokita jetty and the reefs around Sombori.
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viewpointShort, sweaty scramble to the classic Sombori overlook of karst islets and blue channels.
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viewpointA lagoon that reads as a heart shape when you climb the rock above it.
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