Climbing Mount Inerie Volcano In Flores, Indonesia

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Mount Inerie is the tallest volcano on the island of Flores, and it would simply be probably the most symmetrical volcanoes on the earth. At dawn, it casts an ideal shadow like a pure pyramid.

I hiked Inerie just lately and it was an superior expertise. There’s loads of problem, however anybody who’s a match hiker can do it.

I’d suggest hiring an area information like I did, as a result of the trail to the highest will be onerous to comply with, and folks often begin at the hours of darkness so as to see dawn on the summit.

This information will clarify tips on how to hike Inerie, and every thing it is advisable to know earlier than you go!

Quick Stats*

• Distance: 6.5 kilometers (4 mi) spherical journey
• Elevation Gain: 1,100 meters (3,600 ft)
• Max Altitude: 2,245 meters (7,365 ft)
• Duration: 5 – 7 hours
• Difficulty: Hard

*These are approximate stats and should fluctuate relying in your route

 

My Trekking Guide: Alfredo Sua

I did the Inerie hike with Alfredo Sua, an area information from Bajawa, and I extremely suggest going with him to your personal hike.

He picked me up from Bajawa by bike and introduced all of the gear I would want for the hike: headlight, gloves, and strolling stick.

He speaks good English and he’s very aware of the route on Inerie, even when it appears complicated. We received to the highest in time for dawn and he waited for me fortunately whereas I flew the drone and took a number of images.

His costs are aggressive, and he requested for lower than one other information in Bajawa that I had contacted earlier.

You can message Fredo by WhatsApp at ☎ +62 877-6825-1093.

 

Trailhead: How To Get There

Mount Inerie is situated close to the city of Bajawa, in central Flores.

Here’s a Google Maps pin for the beginning location. It’s solely a 30 minute drive from city, and in case you rent a trekking information they’ll often choose you up from city and drop you off there afterwards.

Bajawa is an effective base for the hike. It has loads of resorts and eating places, and its personal little airport.

You can fly there from Labuan Bajo (the gateway to the Komodo islands), or do an overland street journey via Flores and hit this volcano alongside the best way.

There are a bunch of cool issues to see and do close to Bajawa as properly, so I’d suggest staying not less than a pair days.

 

What To Expect: Hiking Mount Inerie

The Inerie hike begins out fairly tame. For the primary hour or so, you’re strolling via a forest and savanna with out a lot of an incline.

Things begin to get steeper whenever you attain the volcanic rocks. It turns into scrambling, free rocks, and infrequently deep ravines that it’s important to hike via or bypass with care. The path will get difficult to comply with.

It continues like this till you attain the crater. At that time, you’re simply Half-hour from the summit. Keep going! It will get very windy close to the highest, however the remainder of the path is straightforward to comply with.

We took about 3 hours and quarter-hour to achieve the highest, however we had been transferring slightly on the gradual facet. I’d say 3 hours is common.

The summit has superb views of the entire space. On a transparent day, you possibly can see Bajawa city, the Savu Sea, and the solar rising within the distance behind Mount Ebu Lobo, an lively volcano that’s often puffing out smoke.

Going again, my information gave me two choices: we might go down the identical approach we got here, or we might ‘surf’ down volcanic grime and gravel in one of many ravines.

I made a decision to surf. It appeared like a simple selection on the time, however finally I’m not so positive it made issues any simpler.

My footwear stored filling with rocks and grime, and we had been falling in all places attempting to surf down the gravel. We needed to take our footwear off a number of occasions simply to get all of the rocks out!

In any case, it was enjoyable and it most likely shaved a while off of our return hike. Going again took us about 2.5 hours.

 

Is It Safe?

Yes, the Inerie hike is protected. I used to be slightly scared by descriptions I had learn on different journey blogs, however it’s actually not that dangerous.

Even although it’s steep and strenuous, often the one hazard is falling in your butt. I’d nonetheless suggest hiring a information, as a result of it’s simple to lose the trail and it might be harmful in case you get off monitor at the hours of darkness.

Inerie is taken into account an lively volcano, however the final time it was seen smoking was in 1911. It hasn’t erupted at any time in trendy historical past.

You can examine the Smithsonian Volcanism web site for any reviews of latest exercise, however typically there’s nothing to fret about.

 

What To Bring

• Hiking Shoes. Don’t attempt to do that hike with out sturdy, grippy climbing footwear. Plenty of the time you’re strolling on free gravel and steep inclines.
• Gloves. The volcanic rocks will be sharp, so a pair of gloves helps for the scrambling sections. That approach in case you slip and seize a rock, you gained’t lower up your arms.
• Jacket. The summit will be windy and chilly, so it’s good to have a lightweight jacket. I didn’t carry one, and I used to be completely freezing whereas ready for the dawn.
• Headlight. It’s essential to have the ability to see the place you’re strolling on this hike. The guides will often carry an additional headlight for you, however they are typically cheapo. Better to carry your individual. I like to make use of a Bushnell or Streamlight.
• Water. Pack not less than 2 liters. That’s how a lot I introduced, and it was sufficient, however simply barely. I drank all of it by the point we received again to the trailhead.

 

Best Time To Hike

The finest time of yr to climb Inerie is within the dry season, particularly from May to October. I went in the course of May and the climate was flawless regardless that the forecast seemed cloudy.

Your expertise may fluctuate, however I might keep away from climbing from December to March as a result of there’s a good likelihood you may get rained out.

The finest time of day to start out the hike is early within the morning, that approach you possibly can see the dawn and in addition the ‘pyramid’ shadow. This methodology helps you to beat the noon warmth too.

Unfortunately meaning you’ll need to get up very early. My information and I left Bajawa at 1:45 AM and reached the trailhead at like 2:15 AM. With a reasonable climbing tempo, we reached the summit at 5:30 AM.

The finest views of the dawn took place 15-Half-hour later, so we had sufficient time to get settled and catch our breath earlier than the solar popped out of the horizon.

This is Inerie at its finest. The mountain tends to be lined with thick clouds throughout the day, so a later begin may imply you miss all the finest views.

 

Extra: Watu Nari Wowo Viewpoint

If you possibly can’t do the complete Inerie trek, there’s additionally a viewpoint simply quarter-hour from city that offers you unbelievable views of the volcano up shut.

It’s referred to as Avatar Hill or ‘Watu Nari Wowo’ and you’ll attain the highest of the perspective in solely 15-Half-hour of climbing.

This is likely one of the finest views I’ve seen wherever in Indonesia!

 

More Indonesia Travel Guides

Thanks for wanting! I hope you loved this information for climbing the Mount Inerie volcano in Flores.

Don’t overlook to take a look at my different Indonesia journey guides for extra suggestions, information, and images!
 

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