Journey Itinerary

From Makassar and the highlands of Malino to Tana Toraja, Lake Poso and the tropical Togian Islands, this itinerary combines cultural discovery, scenic overland travel and time to experience Sulawesi at a relaxed pace.

Airport Arrival & Makassar

Arrive at Makassar Airport and meet our representative, who will escort you to the hotel for check-in. The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore the city. In the evening, you may experience Makassar's lively boulevard, where numerous food stalls offer a variety of local dishes, including fresh seafood.

Makassar City Tour & Coral Island

After breakfast, begin with a boat trip to a coral island before continuing with a city tour. Visit Paotere Harbour, where traditional wooden Phinisi sailing ships have been built and operated for generations. Continue to Fort Rotterdam, an important reminder of Makassar's historical past, before returning to the hotel.

Maros Limestone Landscapes & Malino

Travel via Maros towards the Malino highlands. Explore the limestone landscapes of Bantimurung–Bulusaraung National Park and hike through rice fields, passing traditional Buginese houses and limestone formations on the way to a cave with prehistoric images. Enjoy tea in a traditional house before travelling by canoe through a narrow river. Continue to Malino and check in to your accommodation among the rice fields.

Malino Highlands Walking Tour

Hike through rice fields and local kampungs before continuing towards the waterfalls of Malino. Located on the lower slopes of Mount Bawakaraeng, the highlands offer cool mountain air, forests and green rice terraces. Along the way, experience everyday village life and encounters with local residents.

Phinisi Boat Building & Bira

Continue towards Bira after breakfast. Before reaching the coast, stop at Marumasa or Tanaberu, where large traditional wooden Phinisi boats are built by Buginese craftsmen. Observe the boat-building process and traditional Buginese houses along the route. Upon arrival in Bira, check in to your accommodation.

Liukang Bira Island & Beach

Take a morning boat to Liukang Bira, a small island known for its beautiful beach and clear waters. Enjoy time for snorkelling among colourful fish and coral before having lunch with a local fishing family. Return to Bira and spend the remainder of the day exploring the village, relaxing on the beach or discovering the local fishing, boat-building and weaving traditions.

Snorkelling and the boat excursion are subject to suitable weather and sea conditions.

Coastal & Countryside Journey

Leave the white sandy beaches of Bira and travel north towards Sengkang. The route follows the eastern side of Sulawesi, passing rice terraces, rugged coastal scenery and Sulawesi's only rubber plantation. Arrive in Sengkang in the late afternoon.

Lake Tempe & Tana Toraja

After breakfast, take a boat ride on Lake Tempe, where communities live in floating houses. Continue towards Rantepao, the capital of Tana Toraja. Along the way, visit Kampung Sutra to observe traditional silk weaving before arriving in Rantepao and checking in to the hotel.

Toraja Villages & Rock Tombs

Explore Torajaland by van and on foot with a local guide. Visit Ketekesu village and its distinctive Tongkonan houses, decorated with traditional carvings and characteristic roofs. Continue to the rock tombs of Lemo and Londa, where carved burial sites and Tau Tau statues reflect the region's long-standing traditions.

Torajaland Walking Tour

After breakfast, hike through the kampungs of Torajaland. The route passes picturesque villages, rice terraces, bamboo forests and traditional Tongkonan houses surrounded by mountain scenery. The hike takes approximately 5–6 hours. Overnight in a traditional Toraja house or local homestay.

Torajaland Cycling & Cultural Traditions

After a simple breakfast, explore the surrounding villages by bicycle. If a local ceremony or traditional buffalo market takes place during the visit, the programme may be adapted accordingly. The experience offers an opportunity to observe Toraja traditions, burial sites and Tau Tau statues.

Ceremonies are seasonal and cannot be guaranteed. If visiting during a ceremony, local customs and appropriate behaviour should be respected.

Journey to Lake Poso

Depart early from Rantepao and travel north. The scenery changes from tropical forests to a broad coastal plain before reaching Pendolo in the late afternoon. The town is beautifully situated on the southern shore of Lake Poso.

Lake Poso Crossing & Tentena

Sail by chartered boat from Pendolo to the northern shore of Lake Poso while your luggage is transferred by car to Tentena. The crossing takes approximately three hours. Arrive at the beachfront bungalows near Tentena and enjoy a free afternoon for swimming in the lake or visiting Saluopa Waterfall, surrounded by tropical rainforest.

Free Day at Lake Poso

Enjoy a free day around Lake Poso at your own pace. Relax by the lake or arrange an optional excursion to the Bada Valley.

Journey to Ampana

Continue towards Ampana, a coastal town in Central Sulawesi and the gateway to the Togian Islands. Arrive and settle into your simple local accommodation before continuing to the islands the following day.

Journey to the Togian Islands

Travel to the port by horse-drawn carriage before taking a boat to the Togian Islands in the azure waters of Tomini Bay. The islands are home to traditional coastal communities, including sea nomad communities living in stilt houses. Continue to Kadidiri Island, where you will spend the next few days surrounded by beaches, jungle and tropical waters.

Free Day on Kadidiri Island

Enjoy a free day on the Togian Islands. Relax on the beach, swim in the clear waters or explore the underwater world at your own pace.

Island Leisure & Underwater Exploration

Continue enjoying the Togian Islands at your own pace. Snorkelling and diving are recommended ways to experience the region's colourful marine life and coral reefs. A night dive may also be arranged as an optional experience.

Return to the Mainland

Travel back to Ampana by boat and continue by road to Luwuk. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening. Luwuk is a small coastal town backed by mountains, with scenic views around the town.

Airport Transfer & Departure

At your preferred departure time, transfer to Luwuk Airport for your onward flight home or continuation to another island.

Flexible Conditions Along the Route

This is an extensive journey through several remote areas of Sulawesi. Road conditions, boat schedules, weather and sea conditions can affect travel times and activities. Local ceremonies are seasonal and cannot be guaranteed. Some accommodation and facilities may be simple, particularly in rural and island areas.