TRANS SULAWESI TOURS

DESCRIPTION
The Sulawesi peninsula is spread out from South – North about 2.750 Km. Along the distance there are tribes, etnic, who does exist on their nature and culture.

Makassar is a largest city in Sulawesi Island and within a few flights directly from abroad such as : Air Asia – Kuala Lumpur, Silk air – Singapore, Garuda Indonesia Airlines – Singapore. Or you can fly to Manado – North Sulawesi, Denpasar – Bali or Jakarta – West Java, then connected by the domestic flights to Makassar.

Nowadays, Trans Sulawesi tours is easier and going smoothly then 5 – 10 years ago, due to the road condition is wider and good quality of asphalt. From Makassar to Tana Toraja can take about 08 – 10 hours drive includes some stop over for lunch, photo point, coffee break etc.

Two days in Tana Toraja can cover the highlights of North Toraja such as : Traditional village in Palawa, 16 rice barn in Sangala, Traditional buffalo market in Bulo, Batutumonga in Mt. Sesean, Tinimbayo hills in Lempo, Lokomata stone grave, Bori megalithics in Parinding etc.

South Toraja tour covering : Lemo burial cliff, Londa burial cave, Kete’kesu hanging grave, Kambira Baby grave, Suaya royal tombs, etc. Of course the funeral ceremony localy named Rambu Solo. Plenty people, huge arena, colorfull accesories interior and exterior, and animal on sacrifices day. And also buffalo fighting, can be showed at this ceremony.

After this all things shows in Tana Toraja, we depart to Tentena, a small town about 09 hours to go at Poso lakeside. Not much things to do at this places besides visiting Saluopa Waterfalls, or crossing Poso lake from Pendolo by charter boat to Tentena within stop at Bancea for the wild life on the lake side. For traveller this town is a transit point, to enter the remotes of Bada valley in Lorelindu National Park.

The park is located between Poso and Palu city, about 5 hours by car through the bumpy and mud road before, but nowadays it’s alot better. We can use the reguler cars. In the park, tour participants can see how do the Bada tribes survive their life in a limited of facilities. It’s really life in megalithic era, and most of attraction in the park is birdwatching, hiking, giant megalithic stone, and also visiting a traditional villages near by. About 02 – 03 days is enough time to cover the tour area.

After Tentena city, then the next day after, by car transfer to Ampana port, for 06 hours to get the charter boat or public ferry to across Tomini Gulf for Togian Archipelago. Island hop is a best way to explore the archipelago where you can start the tour from Ampana then stop for snorkeling at some spots on the way and end up in Bomba Island. 

A few days explore the island of Togean Marine park, within snorkeling or diving, sunbath, begin from Poyalisa island, Kadidiri island, Wakai island, Retreat island, Bolilanga island, Una una island, Pahepa island, etc. From here by ferry or charter boat we are crossing the Tomini gulf.

Via Gorontalo, we will going to visit Kotamobagu within Bogani Nani wartabone national park.

and Tomohon city is a cool breeze town in North Sulawesi, about 650 M above sea level made the temperature is warmest for 22 degrees and early in the morning dawn to 18 celcius.

Fertile area due to the two of volcanic material is become a fertilizer in every of eruption. Mahawu volcano ( 980 m ) to the crater, and Lokon volcano ( 1.580 m ) is a most popular for the volcano trekkers.

There are also Ranolewo natural hot spring, Linow lake, Tondano lake, Wooden traditional houses in Woloan, Pagoda Tower in Kakaskasen, Bukit doa, Kelong and hiking at rice field near Wailan.

Tangkoko Natural reserve is a sanctuary of Sulawesi Flora and Fauna and some of them are endemic such as : Smallest Primate famous for Tarsius spectrum, big eyes, wide ear, hairy, long tales, big head, 200 gr, 15 cm heights. Horn bill birds, many kinds of king fisher, owl, black macaque nigra, and also quality of wood as teak, ebony, iron and many others.

Bunaken National Marine Park, is a must to visits in North Sulawesi. Diving and snorkeling is amaze at this sites. 03 days – 02 nights at this national park, is made you can covering at least : Bunaken Timur 01, Bunaken Timur 02, Muka Kampung, Pangalisang house reef, and might be Siladen Island and a day of dolphin adventure.

At the end, transfer the tour particpants to Sam Ratulangi international airport for your next destination, such as Singapore, Jakarta, Makassar, Surabaya, Kalimantan, Sorong (Direct flights) or Denpasar, Bali , Ambon, Ternate, Palu, Gorontalo, Lombok, Flores ( Transit )

In Togian Island, there are some favorite island such as Poyalisa – Kadidiri – Malenge – Ketupat – Bolilanga, in every island there are some of Bajau communities where people can interact with locals. Togian Island also has a beauty white sandy beaches where people can do sunbath, also spectaculer of coral formation like attol, slopes, barier which is good to explore by snorkeling or diving.

The next destination is Gorontalo province, a transit point of the charter boat or ferry boat from Togean Island. At this program, the tour partcipants is using charter boat and crossing to Gorontalo for 07 hours then by car for 3,5 hours to hotel. The next day continue the trip to Tomohon for 05 – 06 hours driving.