Sombori Island is another hidden paradise in Indonesia located in Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi Province. However, the nearest access which is more easily reached by tourists can be through Kendari City in Southeast Sulawesi Province.
While Sombori itself is a conservation area consisting of group of beautiful coral islands. It is located in the southern part of Tolo Bay, Morowali Regency, between two sub-districts, which are the South Bungku and Menui Islands.
Similar to other amazing islands in Indonesia which have their own nicknames, Sombori Island also has one. The Office of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DKP) and the Culture and Tourism Office (Disbudpar) of Morowali Regency, refer to Sombori as “A Piece of Heaven Falling in the Ocean of Morowali Earth”.
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Clusters of coral islands overgrown with lush trees on this island will remind you of Raja Ampat in Papua. Even though it is known for its miniature, the beauty of Sombori Island is almost the same to Raja Ampat.
Khayangan Peak is the main destination of Sombori Island. To feel the atmosphere like in Misool Raja Ampat, you can go to the top of Khayangan cliff to enjoy panoramic views of Sombori and take photos of rocky cliffs adorned with clear water mixed with green and blue color.
It’s not easy to get to Khayangan cliff, because tourists have to climb steep cliffs which are granite and coral rocks. There is no flat land just to stand on so tourists have to aware of this condition.
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From the Khayangan cliff, you can go to Dua Darat Island and Dua Laut Island. Dua Laut Island has the best diving point called “the Aquarium Point” where divers can see coral reefs and colorful fish up close.
If you want to relax and enjoy the atmosphere of the beach, you can go to Koko Island, where you can see the swaying coconut trees. The water on Koko Island is also very clear, so you can see clearly small fishes swimming around.
The Bajau, Indonesia Sea Gypsies Tribe residents also become an attraction when traveling to Sombori. Tourists can see the daily life of this tribe which is well known as tough sailors. You can even learn to swim with Bajau people who can dive freely.
Besides being dubbed as the miniature Raja Ampat, Sombori is also known as the Indonesian version of Phi Phi Island. The beautiful Phi Phi Islands are located in Thailand, between the islands of Phuket and Thailand mainland. The color of the water which is tosca and the surrounding coral islands make Sombori Island called the Indonesian version of Phi Phi Island.
The Path to Sombori Island
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When entering the Sombori area, tourists will be welcomed with amazing natural landscape. High cliffs and rocks stand on the left and right sides of the island. And the expanse of clear turquoise sea water.
For tourists who want to go to the Sombori area, the route can be taken through Kendari City, Southeast Sulawesi. Furthermore, tourists can choose to travel by land or sea.
If you choose the land route, it will take about 6 hours to reach the Lafeu Harbor, Bungku Pesisir District. The route terrain is also quite challenging to pass. Arriving at the harbor, tourists can continue their journey through the sea for about one hour to the location.
Meanwhile, if you travel by sea, it will take around half a day using commercial boat. But if using a speedboat, the trip can be taken around 4-5 hours.
The Sombori Waters Conservation Area in Morowali is currently being predicted to become the next Raja Ampat of Central Sulawesi. In the future, the popularity of Sombori Island will attract more tourists.
