Undiscovered Sulawesi - Absolute Asia Tours

On arrival in Sulawesi, you'll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your Makassar hotel. 

Head towards Sengkang, taking time to enjoy the scenery, and sharing lunch with the locals. Canoe through Maros Pangkep’s dramatic karst landscape, photograph every gorgeous angle of Rammang Rammang village, and pause in a small community known for its silk weaving. Arrive in Sengkang by late afternoon to enjoy the rest of your day at leisure exploring this calm waterside community.

Accompanied by your guide, board a motorised canoe and cruise along the Walennea River to beautiful Lake Tempe, which expands from around 2,400 acres in dry season to an incredible 86,480 acres during wet season as the area floods. Observe how local fishermen use various ‘secret’ methods including nets, rods and bamboo fences to catch their quarry, and see their floating houses on the edge of the lake that move depending on water levels and where the fish are plentiful. Drive through the mountainous Tana Toraja region towards Rantepao, check in to your hotel, where you can relax with the rest of your day at leisure.

With their distinctive wooden frames and boat shaped roofs, Torajan tonkonan houses stand out confidently from the landscape. Visit several small villages with your guide over the course of the day to see these unique structures, gain insight into Torajan culture, chat with the locals, and soak up the scenery.

Spend a day trekking through Tana Toraja's rugged rural landscape, passing remote villages, and eventually reaching a traditional tonkonan ancestral house: your homestay for the night. Meet your hosts and chat together as you eat a typical Torajan dinner.

After a leisurely breakfast the next morning, your driver will pick you up and take you back to Rantepao, where you can spend the day at leisure discovering more secrets of this multi-layered region.

Head off back to Makassar, settling in for a long drive through the mountains and along the winding coast road. Stop for lunch with local hosts in a traditional Bugis community, where you can try the local cottage-style cheese made from fresh milk and papaya latex extract, along with other regional dishes. Once in Makassar, the rest of your day will be at leisure to soak up the town’s vibrant bustle.

Fly from Makassar Airport to Manado, and drive straight to the Tangkoko National Park. Spend a good couple of hours wildlife trekking through the forest, with a ranger by your side to help you spot those tiny tarsiers, before returning to your guesthouse on the edge of the reserve for dinner.

Spend a day diving in the award winning Bunaken Marine Park, often cited as one of the world’s most spectacular coral reefs, where you can see gorgeous corals, hundreds of fish, and even reef sharks. Your introductory day includes all the basic theory and equipment, one pool session and one ocean dive. The only prerequisite is being in and good health and able to swim, but no prior diving experience is necessary - your session will begin at whatever level you are. If you’re a seasoned diver and want a more advanced experience, speak with your specialist upon booking and they can arrange everything exactly to your needs.

Settle in for a couple of days at leisure, enjoying all aspects of the Bunaken reserve, whether you want to lay back on the sands, sign up for extra diving in the deeper waters, or drift away on land with a blissful spa treatment or two.

Transfer to the airport for your onward flight.