Highlands & Islands of Sulawesi (19 days)
The bizarrely shaped Sulawesi is Indonesia's fourth largest island, with a remote location in the north east of the archipelago, which served as a dominant spice trading centre for the Portuguese in the 16th Century. The island is a magnet for those seeking off-the-beaten-track adventures, a rich tapestry of cultural heritage and a seemingly endless coastline to explore. Mountain ranges and thick jungle dominate the island's interior, which have provided safe havens for several distinct ethnic groups to flourish over the centuries.
This exciting tour takes you from the ancient port of Makassar to the Toraja heartland in the southern highlands to discover a unique cultural heritage linked to the locals' elaborate funeral ceremonies. Continue to Barru, spending a night in an ecolodge with stunning views, before you fly north to Manado and head to the Minahasa Highlands to visit the exotic local market in Tomohon, and explore a dramatic landscape dominated by volcanoes, rice paddies, sulphur lakes and hot springs. Following this, trek in the remote Tangkoko Nature Park with a wildlife guide before the trip finishes in true style at a barefoot luxury resort on the small island of Siladen off the northern tip of Sulawesi, part of a dreamy archipelago with pristine white sand beaches and warm, crystal clear water.
Guide Price
From £5,450 per person based on a double room for departures in June.
Day by Day Itinerary
Click on each day to expand the itinerary detail. Or click on the print itinerary button above to preview the tour in full.
Flight: SQ317 London Heathrow - Singapore 10.40 - 07.50 (overnight)
Private transfer: On arrival in Singapore, you will be welcomed to Singapore and driven to the Park Regis for a two-night stay.
At leisure: Once arrived and checked in, the remainder of the day is at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore Singapore independently.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Park Regis Singapore (Park Room)
Merlion & Marina Bay Sands, SingaporeAt leisure: Today is at leisure to relax at your hotel or explore Singapore independently.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Park Regis Singapore (Park Room)
Meals: Breakfast
Chinese shophouses, SingaporePrivate transfer: Early this morning, you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Singapore Airport for your flight to Makassar.
Flight: SQ8472 Singapore - Makassar 05.55 - 09.05
Private transfer: On arrival in Makassar, you will be welcomed to Indonesia by your local guide and transferred to the Melia Makassar Hotel.
Dinner: Enjoy dinner at a well-respected seafood restaurant.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Melia Makassar Hotel (Junior Suite)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Makassar, SulawesiMakassar city tour: Today you will be taken on a tour of Makassar City, starting with a visit to a bustling market, continuing onto Paotere - the old harbour of Makassar - where you can see the world famous “Phinisi” or Bugis schooners, and finishing up at the impressive 99 Dome Mosque.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Melia Makassar Hotel (Junior Suite)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Mosque, MakassarPrivate transfer: You will be collected from the Melia Makassar Hotel and transferred to Hasanudin Airport for your flight to Palopo.
Flight: IW1350 Makassar - Palopo 08.10 - 09.05
Road journey from Palopo to Toraja: Set off west from Palopo to Toraja, taking approximately 2 hours.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Santai Toraja (Deluxe Room with Ricefield View)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Full day tour of Toraja villages & countryside: Today you will be taken on a full day excursion in Toraja. Start with a visit to the village of Lemo to see rows of Tau-Tau and the hanging graves. Continue to Sangalla to visit royal graves of Sangalla kingdom at Suaya. After lunch in a local restaurant in Rantepao visit the traditional Torajan village of Kete-Kesu, famous for its woodcarving, to see the Tongkonan and the old rice-barns. The final stop of the day will be made at Londa which has an ancient natural grave where the deceased are entombed during extravagant ceremonies.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Santai Toraja (Deluxe Room with Ricefield View)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Kete Kesu, RantepaoFull day tour of Toraja villages & countryside: After breakfast, set off for Bori to see megalithic stones and graves of babies. From here climb up Batutumonga Hill to enjoy spectacular views over Rantepao and the surrounding valleys. Continue to villages of Bori and Palawa and then enjoy lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon visit Marante to see hanging graves and statues.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Santai Toraja (Deluxe Room with Ricefield View)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Lempo Village, RantepaoRoad journey from Toraja to Barru: After an early breakfast, travel by road to Barru, a journey time of around 6 hours. Along the way you'll stop for coffee at Puncak Lakawan and the Erotic Mountain, and take a boat trip on Lake Tempe, the second largest lake in Sulawesi.
Afternoon hike: On arrival, embark on a two-hour hike alongside rice-paddies with a stunning mountainous backdrop.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Pekkae Eco Lodge (Bungalow)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Road journey from Barru to Makassar: Travel by road to Makassar, stopping along the way at Rammang Rammang for a boat trip through the breathtaking karst scenery. The journey time is approximately 2 hours.
Afternoon walk: On arrival, take a walk along the vibrant Losari Boulevard with its scenic ocean view.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Melia Makassar Hotel (Junior Suite)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Private transfer: You will be collected from the Melia Makassar Hotel and transferred to Hasanudin Airport for your flight to Manado.
Flight: JT742 Makassar - Manado 09.10 - 10.45
Road journey from Manado to the Minahasa Highlands: Set off south from Manado to Tomhon in the Minahasa Highlands, a journey time of approximately 1 hour.
Afternoon sightseeing: After checking in to your accommodation, explore the surrounding highlands with your guide.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Gardenia Country Inn (Bungalow)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Sulphuric lake, MinahasaMorning ascent of Gunung Mahawu: After an early breakfast drive towards Gunung Mahawu and embark on a short hike to the crater rim for sunrise on the top of the volcano. This is a spectacular vantage point from where you can see Bunaken National Marine Park, the Tua Islands and the Bay of Manado. At the bottom of the crater there is a steaming lake, and you will smell the sulfur from the bubbling pools.
For a more challenging trek this morning we can arrange a trek to the summit of Mount Lokon as an alternative to Gunung Mahawu.
Afternoon tour of the Minahasa Highlands: Continue by road to Lake Tondano, the largest lake in the region, where you will have lunch at a shore-side restaurant. Fertile rice paddies lead towards the lake’s edge and numerous fish restaurants are dotted upon the lakeside where you can sample baked ikan mas (koi fish) served with fresh water spinach. Don’t forget to try the fiery dabu dabu, a local accompaniment to the fish consisting of chopped chillies, tomatoes and spring onions. After lunch visit the Toraget hot springs for an optional bathe in the natural open-air pools. Finish the tour with a trip to Lake Linow, a highly sulphurous lake with constantly changing colours depending on the light and viewing perspective.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Gardenia Country Inn (Bungalow)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Gunung Mahawu, MinahasaRoad journey from the Minahasa Highlands to the Tangkoko Nature Reserve: Today, you have a road journey northeast to the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, taking approximately 2 hours.
Afternoon exploration: Spend the afternoon in the nature reserve with your guide, known for Celebes crested macaque, bear cuscus and dwarf cuscus, as well as a huge variety of birds.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Tangkoko Sanctuary Villa (Garden View Villa)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Morning exploration: Spend the morning in the nature reserve with your wildlife guide.
Road journey from the Tangkoko Nature Reserve to Manado Marina: Travel by road to the Manado Marina, taking approximately 90 minutes.
Shared boat journey from Manado to the Bunaken Marine Park: Board a shared speedboat for the trip to your resort on Siladen Island, a journey of approximately 45 minutes.
Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Siladen Resort (Garden View Villa)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Siladen IslandDays at leisure: Free days to relax at your hotel, or explore the Marine Park independently.
Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Siladen Resort (Garden View Bungalow)
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Turtle and diver, Bunaken Marine ParkBoat & road journey to Manado airport: Today, return on a shared speedboat to the mainland, and travel on to the airport in a private car. The total journey time is approximately 1.5 hours.
Flight: SQ8561 Manado - Singapore 19.15 - 23.00
Meals: Breakfast
Flight: SQ306 Singapore - London Heathrow 01.10 - 07.45
