Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Sulawesi Explorer
Preferred
Overview
Short Description
Mount Bromo’s smouldering crater at sunrise, wandering through Bali’s neatly terraced rice paddies, searching for dragons in Komodo National Park… On a tailor-made holiday to Indonesia with Audley, you’ll see the highlights — and much more — your way. We’ll design your ideal trip with you, paying close attention to your interests, your travel style and your budget. Our Indonesia specialists know the country inside out and can lead you to experiences you won’t find in a guidebook.
Wreck-dive through turtle-infested waters, or snorkel past shoals of glistening butterflyfish. Watch nervously as a villager precariously shimmies up a tree to harvest coconuts. Sip on Bali’s Robusta coffee-blend, grown in rich, volcanic soils. Outsmart opportunist macaque monkeys, and listen out for the orangutan’s deep, rumbling call ripple through Sumatra’s pristine jungle. Be captivated by a kecak dance (rhythmic chanting) at the world’s largest temple.
Gold-leaf temples anchored on clifftops besieged by thrashing waves. Lombok’s empty white-sand beaches. Forest-smothered volcanic peaks. What excites you? Travel at your own pace, in your own style, with the confidence that we’ll show you the best options, wherever you go.
Itinerary
Day 1 : International outbound flight
Today you begin your journey by boarding your international outbound flight to Makassar/Ujung Pandang.
Day 2 : Makassar/Ujung Pandang
The city of Makassar is the main entrance point for exploring the south of Sulawesi. Your guide will be waiting to greet you at the airport and will transfer you to your hotel.In the afternoon you will have a private guided tour of the city which will introduce you to the area's history and living culture.
Day 3 : Makassar/Ujung Pandang
The countryside surrounding Makassar is filled with rice-fields, limestone karsts and caves which were once used by ancient settlers. These settlers left their mark on these caves in the form of simple pre-historic drawings which can still be seen today.With your private guide you will explore this region by foot, canoe and bicycle visiting small villages amongst the rice fields and Leang-Leang where you will have the chance to see one of these cave paintings.
Day 4 : Sengkang
Today you will have a private transfer to the town of Sengkang which is renowned locally for its silk-weaving. In and around the town it is often possible to see women weaving under their houses using large, traditional wooden looms.Sengkang is also home to Lake Tempe where some fishermen still retain the tradition of using floating houses. You will have a boat tour on this lake and stop for refreshments at one of the floating houses.
Day 5 : Toraja
You will continue your journey north today to Toraja, Sulawesi's most famous destination. As you get closer you will notice a change in the scenery with mountains and rice-fields. You may also spot a change in the clothes of the locals with a slightly cooler climate and a change in the main religion from Islam to Christianity.Before reaching Toraja you will stop for lunch with a family who are renowned locally for their cheese.
Day 6 : Toraja
Today you will have a private walking tour through traditional Torajan villages with their unique and characterful houses and visit some of the area's unusual burial sites. The funerals and burial customs are an important part of the Torajan culture and are unique to this area in Indonesia.For lunch you will have the opportunity to meet a local family and dine in their traditional Torajan house complex.
Day 7 : Toraja
Early this morning you will visit the region's animal market where water buffalos can cost more than a car due to the importance they have in Torajan culture.In the afternoon you will have a cycling tour through the Torajan countryside passing local villages and small plantations and stopping at the area's unusual cultural sites.
Day 8 : Makassar/Ujung Pandang
Today you will fly back to Makassar in preparation for your journey to the north of Sulawesi.In the afternoon you will visit a local family to assist them in preparing popular regional dishes which you can then enjoy in the comfort of their home.
Day 9 : Tangkoko Rainforest
Morning flight to Manado, the gateway to north Sulawesi. Your guide will be waiting to greet you and will transfer you to your accommodation by the Tangkoko Rainforest.In the afternoon you will join a ranger for a guided nature tour in the National Park, looking for a number of the park's endemic species such as the critically endangered Celebes Crested Macaque and the park's most famous resident: the tarsier. The park is the best place to see these in the wild.During your stay, all your meals are included.
Day 10 : Tomohon
This morning your guide will transfer you to the highlands town of Tomohon, renowned for its market and volcanic scenery.After lunch you will visit a local temple and have a guided walk in the countryside surrounding Tomohon where you have views of the volcanoes that stand over the city.
Day 11 : Tomohon
Today you will have a private cycling tour through villages and past the volcanic sulphurous Lake Linow. There is a lot of geothermal activity in this area and by the lake you can see fumaroles whilst nearby a power plant converts this geothermal activity into electricity.The tour ends with lunch by Lake Tondano, north Sulawesi's largest lake.
Day 12 : Bunaken National Marine Park
Early start for your hike up an unusual river bed that was formed by an ancient lava flow to reach the edge of the active crater. On a clear day you will be rewarded with panoramic views over Tomohon and the sea.Later this morning you will transfer by car and boat to your hotel on the island of Siladen to spend your last 3 nights by the sea.
Day 13 : Bunaken National Marine Park
Day at leisure. Located within the Bunaken Marine Park, this is a great place to enjoy diving and snorkelling or simply relax in the grounds of your resort.During your stay all your meals are included.
Day 14 : Bunaken National Marine Park
Day at leisure to relax or enjoy activities on the sea. The resort is ideally located for watching the sun set over the sea and nearby volcanic island.
Day 15 : International return flight
The resort's boat will take you back to the mainland this morning where our guide will be waiting to take you back to the airport for your flights home.
Day 16 : International return flight
Arrive home today to complete your journey.
Availability
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3,472 Audley Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings
Sulawesi Explorer
Company Reviews
My husband and I have spent £20…
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The Best of the Best
Are they the cheapest in the world? No but the service they provide is exceptional and in my view worth every single penny.
The planning process was well thought out and executed, we even had a zoom call with a country expert to ask questions and listen to advice before our trip.
The paperwork they provide for you to take with you is well packaged and easy to read etc. The back up service is there and we even had an email after we had landed home saying they had checked our flights had landed on time and they hope everything had gone to plan.
Super Stacey!
Stacey Lockhart has been amazing
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kind regards Patsy
Authentic and seamless first trip with Audley
Every hour and excursion is well thought out and stitched together seamlessly by Holly at Audley. Our itinerary sent us on a wonderful, magical tour of Peru where we met by top notch drivers and guides taking us to the most magical places.
Laura our guide in Arequippa was second to none, giving us great insight and knowledge into Peruvian culture, history and landscapes. Laura took us off on walks, to villages and social interactions which we would never get with a usual tour operator. Away from the tourist traps, we experienced Peru in a completely authentic way. It was an education. Fully immersed in our travels, learning out the culture along the way, all we had to do was turn up. Our teenager was engaged every moment by our guides and their insight.
All the hotels were beautiful, well located and very clean. We stayed in Cusco, explored the area and trekked to Macchu Pichu with Alpaca Expeditions (arranged by Audley) – a great trekking company and well worth the experience. Everything went like clockwork; all we had to do was turn up and enjoy. We thoroughly recommend Audley to plan your trip. Well worth the money for their expertise and attention to detail in a very authentic, personal way with fantastic guides and drivers.
Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
All internal transport included (including local flights)
Group Size
Intimate Group - 12 max
Trip ID#:
audley-travel-44093
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