Rondreis 24 dagen trans-Sulawesi

Garuda Indonesia flies non-stop from Amsterdam to Jakarta with her new Boeing 777-300 ER. Experience the hospitality of the Indonesian culture on board of Garuda Indonesia, the national flight company of Indonesia. This direct flight takes you in 13 and a half hour from Amsterdam to Jakarta. Departure Amsterdam around midday, arrival Jakarta the next day, early in the morning. Your connecting flight leaves about 3 hours later (flight time 2 hours and 30 minutes).

In Makassar, former Ujung Pandang, your driver is waiting for you and takes you to your hotel. The port city is situated in exactly the middle of Indonesia and therefor the gateway to the East. Your hotel is in the centre of the city within walking distance of the famous boulevard Pantai Losari and the old Dutch Fort Rotterdam. In front of the boulevard you’ll see the only mosque of Indonesia that is built on the sea. The bustling harbour Paotere is the home port of the famous Buginese Phinisi ships which are still loaded manually. The city is also well-known for its seafood restaurants. Makassar has wonderful sunsets that you can admire from the boulevard. Overnight in Makassar.

This morning you will take a short drive through the city and visit the old Fort Rotterdam, the fish market and fishing port, the old harbor where the wooden Bugineze schooners still dock for loading and unloading. Try the famous spring roll Makassar in "Lumpia" in the city. street ". Optionally, you can extend the city tour with a trip to Ramang-Ramang and the karst rocks. You will then be taken to the Dessa Ramang Ramang. From there you can take a canoe on the Puteh river. You sail along the karst rocks (cliffs of limestone - glue stone). You will also visit some small caves where prehistoric prints can be found. These prints seem to be between eight and thirty thousand years old and one of the oldest ever found in the world to date. You also take a brisk walk in the vicinity of the dessa Berua. A walk through the nature and culture of the Buginese. An English speaking guide will accompany you today. Overnight in Makassar.

Depending on the traffic our journey through the country of the Bugis to Bira takes 4 to 6 hours. The Bugis are known as the best ship builders and sailors in Indonesia. In Tanah Beru you can see how they build these beautiful and proud wooden Phinisi boats. In the afternoon you will arrive at the white sandy beach of Bira. Overnight in Bira.

There’s nothing on the program today. You can enjoy relaxing on the beach, or hire a boat and go snorkelling near one of the small islands in front of the coast. Overnight in Bira.

After breakfast your driver will bring you to Sengkang, a small city in the centre of the former Bugines Kingdom. In Watampone you will visit the museum of late Andi Mapasissi to admire his collection of former Buginese Kings. (not always open) In the afternoon around sunset a boat trip on Lake Tempe. With a motorized canoe (to be paid on the spot) ypu will sail the lake to see how the fishermen with their families live on their floating villages. Lake Tempo is a shallow lake. After a long period of drought the lake dries up and can’t be navigated anymore. Overnight stay in a simple accommodation in Sengkang.

After breakfast we leave for Toraja. In the morning first a visit to the local home industry in Sengkang and surrounding, Buginese silk weaving. Our trip to Toraja goes via Enrekang, with beautiful views on, for example, the erotic mountain. In the late afternoon arrival in Toraja. Overnight stay in Rantepao - Tana Toraja.

After breakfast a full day exploring the Toraja surroundings. Today you will visit Lemo where the rows of Tau Tau dolls are still on the balconies in front of the graves. Then to Suaya and surroundings where you visit the King's Tombs and the mystical baby boom. Then you stop at Londa where the dead are buried with great ceremonial. The last stop is at the authentic Toraja village of Kete Kesu. Not only known for its beautiful Tongkonans, the traditional Toraja houses, but also for its colorful carvings. Overnight in Rantepao - Tana Toraja.

Another day to explore Tana Toraja.. Today you will visit the somewhat higher situated Batutumonga from where you have a beautiful view over Rantepao and valley. An exceptional area for a brisk walk through the wonderful rice fields and straight through the daily life of the Torajans. You can make the walk as long as you want. The car is of course available for those who don’t want to walk. Overnight in Rantepao - Tana Toraja.

There‘s much to do and to see in Tana Toraja. Maybe there will be a funeral ceremony that you can attend one of these days or it’s the day of the weekly big cattle market where water buffalos and pigs are sold. On the market you can also find all the spices that people grow in this fertile region. Toraja coffee, vanilla, nutmeg, cacao, clove and much fruit are colourfully displayed in baskets by the local people from Toraja. Overnight in Rantepao - Tana Toraja.

Today a long but beautiful drive ahead of us. First to the coast and then over the sometimes very bad Trans-Sulawesi highway through the mountains to the village Pendolo on the south side of Lake Poso. If you’re as lucky as we were you’ll see an eagle and snap a picture of it along the way… Overnight stay in a simple accommodation in Pendolo on Lake Poso.

After breakfast you climb into a small local boat for a trip across Lake Poso to Tentena. At long last something else than sitting in a car… Along the way to Tentena, the boat stops at two villages where we make some nice cosy short walks. Overnight in Tando Bono cottages on the Lake Poso beach.

There’s nothing on the program today and you can relax by the lake. If you’re rather in the mood for an excursion you can book one at the resort. Overnight in Tando Bono cottages.

Vandaag weer een lange weg te gaan, maar met in het begin de mooiste waterval van Sulawesi: de Saluopa waterval. Daarna zetten we koers naar de kustplaats Donggala. 3 overnachtingen in Donggala

Er staat deze dag niets op het programma. U kunt lekker luieren aan het strand, zwemmen en snorkelen voor het resort of ter plaatse een van de optionele excursies boeken: Golfen bij Palu, een boottrip naar de dolfijnen of een ochtend naar de markt van Palu of Donggala (Let op! In dit deel van Sulawesi wordt hond ook beschouwd als etenswaar en kunt u die op de markt tegenkomen).

Ook deze dag staat er niets op het programma. De leukste dagen van Donggala zijn de zondagen, wanneer de lokale bevolking een groot deel van het strand voor zich neemt. U kunt zich verwonderen aan de honderden selfies die worden geschoten en de gezellig volle bootjes die langs komen varen.

In de loop van de ochtend transfer naar het vliegveld voor uw 14:35 Wings Air vlucht via Luwuk naar Manado. Aankomst is rond 17:20 uur. Bij de uitgang staan uw gids en chauffeur gereed voor de transfer naar het plaatsje Tomohon in de Minahassa Highlands. 2 overnachtingen in Tomohon. NB: De vluchten van Palu naar Manado via Luwuk worden uitsluitend op maandag en vrijdag gevlogen! Alternatief is de veel langere en duurdere vlucht via Makassar en Surabaya.

Flight with Lion air, transfer in Makassar Departure 07:15, arrival 10:30

You will tour the Minahassa throughout the day. An area that used to be called the twelfth province of the Netherlands and where the population is generally practicing Catholic. The Minahassa is located in the mountains west of Manado. Your driver will circle Lake Tondano and make beautiful stops where you regularly have the opportunity to walk. Tondano and Tomohok are the places you visit that offer a view of the still active volcano Lokon. You will also visit the sulfur lake Danau Linow and the village of Woloan where traditional houses are built. In the afternoon, your driver will take you back to the hotel in Tomohon.

After breakfast you leave the Minahassa and drive through a scenic route of about two hours to the Tangkoko Rainforest. Under the guidance of a local ranger, you will make an easy trekking through the rainforest. Tangkoko is a beautiful rainforest with beautiful fauna and flora, located in the mountainous east. The spectacular nature reserve is home to many rare animals, including the Khuskus, Macaca, Nigra, Hornbill and Tarsius Spectrum, the smallest monkey in the world. Around sunset you have the best chance to spott the tarsier. You spend the night in a simple lodge at the round of the Tangkoko forest.

After breakfast you will enter the jungle once again. This time to see the black macaques showing off their best, which they do especially in the morning. Then you will leave the rainforest and drive to Manado. Those who want to visit the local market should know that the people from Manado eat everything with four legs, except tables and chairs. On the market they sell for example also dogs for consumption. Overnight in beach front resort, close to Manado.

After breakfast, board the shared speedboat to the beautiful sea gardens of the Bunaken National Marine park. You can do two morning and one afternoon diving or snorkeling session here. The beautiful sea gardens of Bunaken are world famous! You step into a beautiful sea aquarium. You will have lunch on the island. In the afternoon we return to Manado. Overnight in beachfront hotel near Manado.

Nothing on the program today. You can relax at the swimming pool or discover the city on your own.

Your driver picks you up at your hotel and drives you to the airport.

Vlucht met Garuda Indonesia met transfer in Jakarta. Vertrek 16:30, aankomst vroeg in de ochtend volgende dag.

In the morning arrival at Schiphol. The end of a beautiful trip...