The island of Labengki (and its exotic neighbor Sombori) could be one of the best-kept secrets in Indonesia. This pristine tropical paradise of Sulawesi is incredibly beautiful. It is one of the most enchanting places we have visited during our travels.
Here you can see all kinds of things, including heart-shaped lakes, green lagoons, a red-orange beach, a lighthouse, and many white sandy beaches. There are also great things to see in nearby Sombori.
English documentaries for these places still practically do not exist on the Internet, and we half expected to see dinosaurs as we explored these islands.
In this guide, you will learn how to get to Labengki, where to stay, what to do there, and everything you need to know to discover this gem of Indonesia for yourself!
Where is the Island of Labengki located?
Labengki is located in the southeast of Sulawesi, Indonesia.
There are two islands: Labengki Kecil (small) and Labengki Besar (large). Most of the population lives in a fishing village in Kecil.
The main tourist sites of Labengki are located in Besar, but it is a mountainous island with cliffs, so it is practically impossible to settle down (see the image below)!
Tours to Labengki also include time at Sombori, a group of nearby islands and lagoons with some of the same spectacular scenery.
Sombori is located on the outskirts of the central province of Sulawesi, but it can be visited quite easily on a day trip from Labengki.
Labengki Island: what to expect
The most popular way to visit Labengki and Sombori is a package tour that includes food, accommodation and a boat. You can try to arrange them separately, but the price does not really change.
This place is quite expensive for Indonesia, but most of the cost is due to private boat rental and gasoline. There is very little room for maneuver because it is such a remote area and it is difficult to bring supplies of any kind. My wife is Indonesian and tried to negotiate. A security deposit is also required as you will have to buy food and fuel before leaving.
The final price depends on the length of your stay, the type of boat you are using (wooden motorboat or speedboat) and the place where you are staying (host family, beach huts or resort). If you are participating in an open trip (shared trip), they are also inexpensiveer, but can still be difficult to find.
The best things to do in Labengki
Labengki Kecil
This island is the smaller of the two Labengki islands. It has a fishing village with a population of about 500 people and an increasing number of inexpensive host families for tourists (more on this after).
Even if you are not staying in Labengki Kecil, there are cool places to explore, such as an old rejected lighthouse, a few beaches and a small limestone cave called Gua Kolam Renang (pool cave).
Long Sandy Beach (pantai Pasir Panjang)
This is the longest beach in Labengki, hence its name. It is a perfect white sandy beach with a palm forest and calm blue waters.
If you stay in the beach huts of Labengki, you can reach this beach in just 5 or 10 minutes by climbing limestone cliffs!
Love Bay (Teluk Cinta)
This is the most famous heart-shaped bay in Labengki that you may have seen on Instagram. Teluk Cinta is Indonesian for Love Bay and is close to Labengki Nirvana Resort.
You can enjoy great views here by climbing Kimaboe Hill, but to really see the shape of the heart, you will need a drone.
