Egon

In Moni [village at the base of Kelimutu], we found some advertisement for a mountain bike adventure on the Egon volcano. We call Frid, the organizer and then join him at Lena's house, his beach lodge/basecamp  on the TransFlores highway, 25km East of Maumere.

At 6am, the following day, we took a small truck carrying the bikes up the road for 45min. We stopped at a turn of the road after the village of Blidit at 800m elevation. Blidit is known in the area for its hot springs.  

With Frid as a guide, the hike is easy at first, but got steeper and hotter as we reach the rim of the crater at 1600m after more than 2h climb. Its spectacular as we can see both side of Flores North and South Coasts as well as the inside of the crater with its small lake, its sulfur fumes and the volcanic ridges.

The descent is also 2h by the same way, there' s no other option. The bikes are ready for the steep descent to Blidit (20min),we keep the bikes to take the flat dust road on the left, leading to the hot spring after 2km, after relaxing hot, warm and cold baths, we are ready for the descent back to Frid house, where his mother cooked a well deserved meal washed with arak. It's 3pm when we are back with relief at Lena's house, totally exhausted by our exhilarating day. Recommended. Be firm with Frid, and pay him half first and half at the end to avoid issues.