Sulawesi, Indonesia Travel Itinerary | 2, 3, and 4 Weeks

Preparations for a route through Sulawesi

Before starting with route ideas for Sulawesi in 2, 3 or 4 weeks, let's go over some things you should know before your trip and that everything goes smoothly.

Best time

Sulawesi has an equatorial climate with warm temperatures year-round, but the best time to visit is during the dry season, april to october. During these months, rain is less frequent. If you plan to visit the Tana Toraja region to attend to Toraja funeral rites The best time is July and August.

How to get around the country

Transport on Indonesian islands such as Sulawesi or Sumatra They are very slow. There are no carmain routes and practically all journeys are curve after curve. It can easily take 300 or 9 hours to travel 10 km. You can find more detailed explanations on how to get from one point to another at our guides about each location. The main means of transport are:

• Buses: A good option for busy routes. Despite their long distances, they aren't always comfortable.
• shared taxi: The only option for many journeys (used by both locals and tourists). You can share or pay for the whole car. Despite the long hours, the prices are low.
• Domestic flights: There are airports in key locations such as Makassar, Palu, Luwuk, Tana Toraja and Manado, which are ideal for saving time, but they are not cheap and do not have good connections to each other.
• Boats and ferriesEssential for reaching the islands. Public ferries are very cheap (and slow). Depending on the route, speedboat options may be available.carsignificantly increase the budget.

How to pay in Sulawesi

El cash It is essential in most of Sulawesi, especially outside the major cities. You'll find ATMs for withdrawing Indonesian rupiah in all cities and most towns. But In more remote places like the Togean Islands there are no and everything is paid in cash.

If your trip to Indonesia is mainly focused on Sulawesi, we recommend do not carry cash from homeThere are few exchange offices. It is best to withdraw using a card such as TradeRepublic (our favorite for travel).

Mobile Internet and coverage

Upon arrival you can get a physical SIM card at many small businesses, or bring one with you. eSIM from home. The most recommended operators are Telkomsel y XL Axiata, because in theory they have better coverage in rural areas.

In most places you will have a connection (although not very good), except for some islands and not even during transfersSo before you get on, take advantage of the opportunity to...carListen to podcasts, an ebook, or a Netflix episode.

What can't be missing in your backpack for a trip through Sulawesi

Comfortable, cool, and quick-drying clothing is a must because there are very few laundries And you may have to wash some clothes by hand. We didn't find any laundromat that would deliver our clothes the same day. A good laundry service is also a must. repellent, No sunscreen, in Sulawesi it is very difficult find body sunscreen, as they are Muslims they go to the beach in long clothes so they don't wear it.

It doesn't go inside the luggage, but what it does A good travel insurance is also a must., for Sulawesi we recommend one that covers at least €600.000 in medical expenses, such as the Heymondo Tranquility (using the link you get a discount).

Sulawesi Itineraries for free

How to get to Sulawesi

To enter the island there is two main airports which you can fly to start your route through Sulawesi, we did Kuala Lumpur Makassar & AFTER Manado – Bali.

• Manado: Sam Ratulangi International Airport (MDC)
• MakassarSultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG)

Compare the best options with Skyscanner.

There are also ferries from other islands from Indonesia, such as Bali or Java, but it takes several days to sail. The main port of entry to reach Sulawesi is Makassar.

As you can imagine there are a lot of places to see in Sulawesi, so the itinerary options are manyIn this article, we give you a suggestion of what we would do.

Sulawesi in 2 weeks

We give you two ideas, one for visit the region of Tana Toraja If you're going during the funeral rites season (June-September) and it's something you're interested in. Also, another two-week Sulawesi itinerary focused on enjoying the wonderful beaches of Sulawesi and its nature.

Tana Toraja & Togean Islands Route

• Day 1: Arrive to Makassar and night bus (or flight) to Rantepao.
• Day 2-5: Tana TorajaVisit the surroundings of Rantepao and enjoy funeral rites. Return on the 5th by overnight bus or flight on the 6th in the morning.
• Day 6: Domestic flight to Palu and shared taxi to Ampana (night in Ampana).
• Day 7-12: Speed ​​boat or ferry to Togean Islands.
• Day 13: Transfer back to Palu, flight to Makassar.
• Day 14: Day trip to Rammang – Rammang (or spending the night in a homestay)
• Day 15: Return from Rammang – Rammang or stroll through Makassar until flight time.

Togean Islands & Bunaken Route

This Sulawesi itinerary is focused on enjoying the wonderful waters surrounding the island of Sulawesi, located in the world-famous Coral Triangle. It is an ideal route if you do not have much interest in the Toraja funerary culture or you travel outside of the burial season.

• Day 1: Arrive to Makassar and walk around the city.
• Day 2: Flight to Palu and transfer to Ampana by shared taxi (night in Ampana).
• Day 3-8: Speed ​​boat or ferry to Togean Islands (one of the Indonesia's most paradisiacal islands).
• Day 9: Last day in Togean Islands and overnight ferry to Gorontalo (Attention, it does not come out every day, check the dates carefully).
• Day 10: Transfer to Manado staying in the reserve Tomohon
• Day 11-12: Tours of the reserve Tomohon, wildlife watching, volcano trekking, hot springs.
• Day 13: Transfer to Manado and ferry to bunaken. Late in bunaken.
• Day 14-15: Diving or snorkeling tours in bunaken. Private boat back in the afternoon to fly from Manado.

3-week Sulawesi itinerary

Just like for the two-week Sulawesi itinerary, we suggest one that includes Tana Toraja and another purely islandAlthough the peak season is during the European summer months, Sulawesi is an island with fairly equatorial weather that can be visited year-round, so you could plan a 3-week Sulawesi itinerary in months like November or March.

Tana Toraja, Togean Islands & Bunaken

• Day 1: Arrive to Makassar and night bus (or flight) to Rantepao.
• Day 2-5: Tana TorajaVisit the surroundings of Rantepao and enjoy funeral rites. Return on the 5th by overnight bus or flight on the 6th in the morning.
• Day 6: Transfer to Tentena by bus.
• Day 7: Route around Lake Poso, Air Terjun Saluopa y other surroundings of Tentena.
• Day 8: Transfer to Amana and speedboat to Togean Islands.
• Day 9-15: Togean Islands.
• Day 16: Last day in Togean Islands, overnight ferry to Gorontalo (Note that it does not come out every day)
• Day 17: Transfer to Manado to the reserve Tomohon.
• Day 18: Tomohon tour, wildlife watching, volcano trekking, hot springs.
• Day 19: Transfer to Manado and public or private ferry to bunaken, rest of the day in Bunaken.
• Day 20-21: Bunaken, diving, or snorkeling tours. Private boat return in the afternoon to fly from Manado.

Banggai Islands, Togean Islands & Bunaken

In case of buscar a more relaxed itinerary, where staying in the same island accommodation for many days and forget about the world, we recommend you eliminate Banggai Islands from the route through Sulawesi in 3 weeks and focus only on Bunaken and the Togean Islands.

• Day 1: Arrive to Makassar and fly to Luwuk.
• Day 2: Piala waterfall and ferry to Leme-Leme
• Day 3-4: Banggai Islands Paisu Pok and other attractions of Peleng Island.
• Day 5: Ferry to Luwuk and transfer to Amapana.
• Day 6-15: Ferry or boat to Togean Islands and enjoy the islands
• Day 16: Last day in Togean Islands, overnight ferry to Gorontalo (Note that it does not come out every day)
• Day 17: Transfer to Manado and overnight in Manado.
• Day 18-21: Ferry or boat to bunaken in the morning. Dive and/or snorkel with dozens of turtles. Flight from Manado on the afternoon of the 21st.

Sulawesi Route in 4 Weeks (or More)

For those who can enjoy the island for 4 weeks This is the route we would takeIf you are looking for something more relaxing, we recommend removing one of the island archipelagos (Togean or banggai) to spend more time on the other.

• Day 1: Arrive to Makassar, walk around the city and visit the Grand Mosque.
• Day 2: Excursion to Rammang – Rammang and night in a homestay.
• Day 3: Rammang – Rammang and night bus to Tana Toraja.
• Day 4-7: Tana Toraja, visit the surroundings of Rantepao and funeral rites.
• Day 8: Transfer to Tentena.
• Day 9: Route around Lake Poso, Air Terjun Saluopa and other surroundings of Tentena.
• Day 10: Transfer to Luwuk.
• Day 11: Piala waterfall and ferry to Leme-Leme
• Day 12-13: Banggai Islands – Route through Peleng Island (Paisu Pok and other attractions).
• Day 14-15: Banggai Islands – Route Banggai Laut and back to Luwuk.
• Day 16: Transfer to Ampana.
• Day 17-22: Speedboat or ferry to Togean Islands.
• Day 23: Last day in Togean Islands, overnight ferry to Gorontalo (Note that it does not come out every day)
• Day 24: Transfer to Manado staying in the reserve Tomohon or the Reserve of Tangkoko.
• Day 25-26: Tours of your chosen reserve, wildlife spotting, volcano trekking, hot springs... Afternoon transfer to Manado.
• Day 28: Public or private ferry to bunaken, rest of the day in Bunaken.
• Day 29-30: Bunaken, diving or snorkeling tours.
• Day 31: Flight from Manado

Another place of jungle in Indonesia that will leave you speechless... Trekking with orangutans in Gunung Leuser NP.

… Brief history of Sulawesi

Sulawesi has been a point key in maritime trade of Southeast Asia for centuries. Before European colonization, the kingdoms of Makassar and Bone controlled strategic trade routes, trading spices, gold, and slaves. In the 17th century, the Dutch arrived and, after a series of conflicts, they established their dominance on the island, imposing their control over trade and administration.

Following Indonesia's independence in 1945, Sulawesi experienced a period of instability, with separatist movements and internal conflicts until the mid-XNUMXth century. Today, it is one of the most culturally diverse islands in the country, with ethnic groups such as the Toraja, Bugis, Bajau, and Makassarese. Their economy is based on fishing and agriculture—with crops such as cocoa and coffee, but especially spices such as cloves or vanillaIt also has a significant mining industry with nickel extraction, a key resource.

We hope these 2, 3, and 4-week Sulawesi itineraries will help you plan your itinerary. We know that on such a large island, it's not easy to choose what to visit. We also recommend checking out the rest of our Guides for traveling through Sulawesi without dying in the attempt and continue to follow us social media. Happy journey!

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