The relatively unknown island of Sulawesi is a pearl of the Indonesian island kingdom. Melissa and Petra from the Indonesia blog Indojunkie a closer look at the island.
Sulawesi things to do: the most beautiful places
Today they show you six places and landmarks that you absolutely must see during your trip through the orchid-shaped island of Sulawesi.
How to get to Sulawesi?
The huge island of Sulawesi offers two international airports for arrivals by air. Sam Ratulangi (MDC) in Manado and Sultan Hasanuddin (UPG). Makassar. Unfortunately, there are no direct flights from Europe or America to Sulawesi, so you will have to transfer to Sulawesi upon arrival.
The best connections and information about prices and tickets can be found on Skyscanner. Here you can check all options if you want to come to Sulawesi by plane.
Furthermore, a trip by boat or ferry is possible. The largest port is in Makassar, but smaller ports such as Bira are also approached from the neighboring islands. For example, you can take a boat from Flores, Kalimantan or Java. More information on how to reach Sulawesi can be found at 12go.asia.
Accommodation on Sulawesi – our hotel tips
Sulawesi is quite a large island and there are countless places to visit. Your trip will probably start in Manado or Makassar. A night and a short stay in one of the cities is therefore worthwhile – especially in the beautiful cities Manado. For a selection of hotels in Manado you can go here.
For a stay Bunaken we recommend a sea view bungalow at the MC Resort and Dive.
Sulawesi: Tours and tickets
1. Bunaken Marine National Park
Bunaken Marine National Park especially appeals to divers’ hearts with gigantic cliffs full of funky creatures. Rambo, the giant tortoise, resides here and his entire crew will meet you almost every day while you are diving and snorkeling around the islands. That is why the area is also called the “turtle paradise”.
Those who don’t feel like diving can climb on it Manado Tuaan extinct volcano, located on Siladen in the National Park. Relax on the beach or on Montehage and learn more about the life and culture of the sea nomads.
2. The vibrant cities of Sulawesi
Sulawesi is a huge island. Accordingly, there is also some larger city. Manado was named by Alfred Russell Wallace as one of the most beautiful cities in Asia. North Sulawesi’s largest city offers bustling markets, air-conditioned shopping centers, delicious specialties, crazy characters and a vibrant life around the harbour.
Makassar is the capital of the province of South Sulawesi and is one of the five largest cities in Indonesia. The harbor “Pelabuhan Paotere” is a must-see for everyone Makassar visit. In the evening you can end the day with live music on the beach “Pantai Losari”.
3. Tangkoko National Reserve
The reserve is worth seeing, especially because of the unique wildlife, which you can observe in peace. You will encounter the rare black-crested macaques, the small nocturnal Tarsiers with their big eyes, Cuscus bears, hornbills, snakes, spiders and other small animals.
Nature lovers should spend several days in the jungle reserve. The longer you stay, the greater your chance of seeing all the unique animals. Otherwise, there is also the faster version of a three-hour trek through the reserve’s lowlands.
4. The Minahasa Highlands
The Minahasa highlands are pure adventure. Here the city of flowers Tomohon awaits you with its exotic market. Grilled dogs, cats, rats, bats and snakes are also offered. But the area has much more to offer than this ‘nightmare market’ to which the city tends to limit itself.
There are a lot of them volcanoes that you can climb – whether it is Lokon, Klabat or Mahawu. The colorful Lake Linow will enchant you and you can discover Lake Tondano by kayak.
But the culture of the area is also fascinating. Learn about the Minahasa tombs, the Kabasaran battle dance, and Woloan houses during your journey.
5. Togian Islands
A few days on the 56 beautiful Togian islands is the highlight of any Sulawesi trip! You will feel like Robinson Crusoe on the many white dream beaches.
Whether Malenge, Una-Una or Kadidiri: each island is simply unique. And even if you are here for weeks, you will always discover new secluded beaches! The Togian Islands are a true paradise for beach lovers! The journey is difficult, but absolutely worth it.
Here you can dive, relax on the beach all day, snorkel in the jellyfish lake, get acquainted with the paradise culture of the lake, sing Indonesian love songs with guitar accompaniment at the campfire, drink rice wine in the evening or look for the giant coconut crab . Afterwards you will definitely say: “we have found paradise!” and leaving will be difficult for you.
6. The Tana Toraja Country
The most famous area of Sulawesi is the country of Tana Toraja. In the fairytale landscape, colorful Toraja houses tower high in the blue sky. In addition, hundreds of horns of sacrificed buffalo hang from the bamboo constructions.
The Toraja were cut off from the outside world in the highlands for a long time and developed their own rituals and traditions, which are still cultivated today in elaborate ceremonies. The burial ceremony of the Toraja in particular is world famous.
The area around Rantepao offers ideal conditions for long scooter or walking tours, passing various Toraja houses, buffalo and rice fields.
And now come to the island of Sulawesi, where adventure is still possible!
About the Authors
Melissa is a travel blogger, social media nerd, rescue diver, backpacking enthusiast and Indonesia enthusiast with a love for the environment and nature. In 2013, Melissa successfully created one niche blog for Indonesia in which she regularly blogs about life, work and travel in the fascinating archipelago. Her endless energy flows into her project, into yoga and diving, and ultimately into expanding her comfort zone by discovering the world with her backpack.
Petra is a filmmaker and photographer, radio geek, website creator, Southeast Asia enthusiast, backpacking enthusiast, diver and confident vegetarian with a love for animals and the environment. In 2014, Petra joined Indojunkie.com as a sound and video producer. Petra prefers to spend her energy on documentaries, radio, studying, playing the ukulele and making new plans for the wider world.
Plan your trip to Sulawesi now
More hotel recommendations for Sulawesi:
Popular routes to Manado/Sulawesi:
Have you ever been to Sulawesi? How did you like it and what are your personal highlights?
Photo 2 (sunset): © Visit Indonesia Tourism Office Germany
Photo 7 (Kadidiri) & 8 (Tana Toraja): Arian Zwegers/flickr (CC BY 2.0)
