Sulawesi Adventure

Sunday, 02 April 2023

Fly to Makassar

Depart in the evening on the overnight flight to Makassar.

 

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Monday, 03 April 2023

Arrive in Makassar

After arriving early morning, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the Melia Hotel for a 2-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. This is also the opportunity for our guide to provide you with expert local advice, explain your programme and answer any questions you may have. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax at your hotel. 

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Tuesday, 04 April 2023

At leisure

A day to relax at your hotel or explore Makassar independently.

Wednesday, 05 April 2023

Makassar city tour and travel to Sengkang

After breakfast, enjoy a half day tour of Makassar, visiting the bustling fish market, walk through local streets to arrive at Paotere harbour to learn about the famed Bugis Phinisi Schooner shipbuilders of the region. Continue to Fort Rotterdam, one of the best preserved Dutch forts in Indonesia. We also visit La Galigo Museum.

An included lunch is served at local restaurant in Maros from where we drive to Sengkang and check into your hotel for a 1-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis.

Thursday, 06 April 2023

Sunrise on Lake Tempe and Rantepeo

Up early this morning to observe the picturesque scene across the Lake Tempe.  The Bugis people have a unique housing style where their traditional houses float on the lake. Travel on a local longboat to enjoy the Bugis hospitality with a cup of tea or coffee, and maybe some fried banana (a favourite snack in Indonesia).

Brunch is included at a local restaurant.

We then drive to Rantepao, the small capital of Tana Toraja, with an estimated population of around 450,000. The Toraja ethnic group is renowned for their elaborate funeral rites, traditional houses and spectacular carving and dancing. You will spend the next two days exploring the Toraja villages and learning about their unique culture.

Check into your hotel for a 3-night stay on a breakfast and dinner basis.

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Friday, 07 April 2023

Exploring South Toraja

This morning, immerse yourself in the bustling life of the Torajan’s with a visit to their traditional Buffalo market in Bolu.

Then explore the south of Toraja and visit two traditional villages and their surroundings. Begin with a drive to Lemo, Suaya and Kenbira villages which are enveloped  by cliffs pierced with graves and tau tau (hanging effigies) of deceased noblility. These cliffs are also referred to as the ‘death balconies’ due to their perilious location.

Lunch is included in a traditional ‘LiongTongkonan’ (local name for housing structure) where you can hear about the spiritual elements of ancestral Torajan architecture. 

In the afternoon, visit Londa village where wooden coffins are suspended by ropes and poles extending from the cliffs. We also visit the unique village of KeteKesu which has one of the finest ensembles of Tongkonan (Toraja traditional houses) in Sulawesi. These boat-shaped houses have tall roofs made of slender bristles and create strange silhouettes in the sky.

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Saturday, 08 April 2023

Northern Toraja

This morning, visit Palawa, a typical Toraja village, and the highlands of Batutumonga for stunning views across the Toraja valley and the megalithic stone monuments of Bori.

After an included lunch, enjoy a trek through the villages of Lempo and Tinongbayo where you will meet the locals and observe their traditional lifestyle and customs. These two villages have ancestral stone circles, part of the local lore of the Toraja people, with each stone representing an important noble who has passed away. They also feature impressive Tongkonan houses. 

Return to Rantepao with a stop at a Todi weaving factory where the ancient technique and motifs for Torajans textile known as Ikat’s are preserved. 

 

Sunday, 09 April 2023

Travel to Makassar

Drive to Makassar and check into the Melia Hotel for a 1-night stay on a bed and breakfast basis. Rest of the day is at leisure.

Monday, 10 April 2023

Travel to Tangkoko Rainforest

Transfer to Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar for a domestic flight to Manado. On arrival in Manado, transfer to Tangkoko rainforest and check in to the Tangkoko Hill Cottages for a 2-night stay on a full board basis. Please note the accommodation in the rainforest is quite basic.

 

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Tuesday, 11 April 2023

Exploring Tangkoko National Park

Wake up early to explore Tangkoko National Park with a relaxed walk in the deep, lush forest in search of the  endemic wildlife including the famous Celebes Crested Macaque and the cute Tarsier. There are 127 mammal, 233 bird and 104 reptile and amphibian species, among them also the Sulawesi bear and dwarf cuscus and birds such as the knobbed hornbill, Sulawesi hornbill and maleo.

A highlight is an encounter with the Celebes Crested Macaque or Black Creseted Macaque, locally known as Yaki or Wolai. It has an "apelike" appearance and resembles a miniature “King Kong”. 

After lunch at the lodge, return to the forest where towards the end of the day, you may spot the Tarsius spectrum waking from its day-long sleep. Look out of its tree holes with its huge and faithful eyes. 

Wednesday, 12 April 2023

Travel to Tomohon

Transfer the small town of Tomohon in the Minahasa Highlands. Here, we stay in the private home of the Minahasan politician, journalist, teacher and Indonesian independence hero Sam Ratulangi, who is well known in the county for his saying “man lives to help others live”.  The national hero’s son and his wife have been receiving international guests on a regular basis, and since many of them commented on the beauty of their residence and surrounding gardens, established a small boutique hotel on the Highlands’s hills, overlooking the majestic and active Lokon volcano. 

We also visit Ekayana Pagoda. While North Sulawesi is mainly Christian, of course there are also other religions such as Buddhism, Islam and Hinduism present in this part of the diverse and multi-religious archipelago nation. On the path to the main building 18 gold-colored so called Lohan statues are lining the way, and depict sinners who returned to the right path. 

We stay 2-nights at the comfortable Gardenia County Inn on a bed and breakfast basis.

 

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Thursday, 13 April 2023

Minahasa Highlands

Discover the Minahasa Highlands today, visiting Tomohon market, taking a cycling tour along the shores of Tondano Lake, the largest lake of North Sulawesi. 

Enjoy an included typical Sulawesian lunch and continue to Pulutan, a pottery village, where nearly every household is involved in pottery. Apart from the local families involved in the production of pottery, a training centre provides the community with the respective skills and ideas for new shapes and means of production.

We visit Linow Lake with its fascinating turquoise surface reflecting its volcanic origin. Enjoy a local specialty which is typical for Indonesia: fried banana. However, here in North Sulawesi, fried banana is not enjoyed with honey or sweet dips, but comes with spicy chili sauce. Relax with a cup of tea or coffee by the lake shore. On the way back to Tomohon we stop by Pinaras Waterfall for a short trek to experience the spray of the 40 meter high waterfall.

Friday, 14 April 2023

Mount Lokon and Bunaken Island

Wake early this morning to depart to nearby Mount Lokon. Start your trek before the first sunlight and witness the sunrise over the highlands with stunning panoramic views.

Check-out of the hotel and drive to Manado Port. From here, travel by local boat to Bunaken Island where we stay for 3-nights on a full board basis at the well regarded Bunaken Oasis Resort.

 

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Saturday, 15 April 2023

At leisure

At leisure relaxing at your hotel or on the beach.

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Sunday, 16 April 2023

At leisure

At leisure at your hotel, or enjoy the beautiful remote beaches.

Monday, 17 April 2023

Departure for return flight

Take the boat back to the mainland for a domestic flight to Manado to connect with your onward International flight home, arriving in the UK later the same day.