Destination
Sulawesi Itineraries, and Indonesia Beyond Bali
Beyond the well-trodden routes lies the rest of the archipelago, 17,000 islands of it. These itineraries cover Sulawesi, Maluku, Papua and other remote corners for travellers who want depth, not crowds.
- Sulawesi
- Maluku spice islands
- Papua highlands
- Banda Sea
Sulawesi itinerary: which route fits your trip?
Sulawesi splits into four trips, not one. North Sulawesi is world-class diving at Bunaken and Lembeh. Tana Toraja is highland culture and funeral ceremonies. Wakatobi is remote reef in the southeast. The Togean Islands are the slow middle. Ten days covers two; fourteen covers three.
| Region | Best for | Suggested days | Best season |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Sulawesi (Bunaken, Lembeh) | Reef diving and muck diving | 3 to 5 days | May to October |
| Tana Toraja | Highland culture, funeral ceremonies | 2 to 3 days | Year-round; June to September for ceremony season |
| Togean Islands | Slow island time between the two ends | 3 to 4 days | April to November |
| Wakatobi | Remote reef, fewer boats | 4 to 6 days | April to November |
10 days: Toraja + North Sulawesi
The standard first Sulawesi trip: highland culture in Tana Toraja, then diving at Bunaken. Enough time in each without a rushed handover.
Full day-by-day plan on the 10-day Toraja and Bunaken itinerary.
10 days: North Sulawesi diving focus
Skips Toraja for more time underwater, splitting days between Bunaken's reef walls and Lembeh's muck diving, a different style of dive from anywhere else in Indonesia.
Full day-by-day plan on the 10-day North Sulawesi diving itinerary.
14 days: Toraja, Togean and Bunaken
The full traverse: highlands, the slow middle islands of the Togeans, then North Sulawesi diving to close. Two weeks is the minimum to do all three without feeling rushed.
Full day-by-day plan on the 14-day Sulawesi itinerary.
8 days: Wakatobi diving
A dedicated trip to the southeast, further from the Bunaken crowds and built around one of Indonesia's most intact reef systems.
Full day-by-day plan on the 8-day Wakatobi diving itinerary.
15 itineraries in Wild Indonesia
One week (6-8 days) · Wild Indonesia
7 Days in West Sumbawa: Whale Sharks, Moyo Island and Kenawa
Bali or Lombok, Sumbawa Besar, Labuhan Jambu (Saleh Bay), Sumbawa Besar, Moyo Island, Poto Tano, Kenawa Island, Kayangan, Lombok
A 7-day West Sumbawa itinerary: whale sharks in Saleh Bay, Moyo Island's Mata Jitu waterfall and Kenawa, with flights, ferries, costs and seasons.
One week (6-8 days) · Wild Indonesia
6 Days in Belitung: Granite Beaches and Island Hopping from Jakarta
Jakarta, Tanjung Pandan, Tanjung Kelayang, Lengkuas Island, Gantong, Manggar, Tanjung Pandan, Jakarta
A relaxed 6-day Belitung itinerary from Jakarta: granite beaches, Lengkuas island hopping and a family pace, with flights, boat costs and when to go.
One week (6-8 days) · Wild Indonesia
8 Days in North Sulawesi with Kids: Bunaken, Tarsiers and the Highlands
Manado → Siladen or Bunaken → Manado → Tangkoko (Batuputih) → Tomohon, Minahasa highlands → Manado
An 8-day North Sulawesi family route: snorkel Bunaken from Siladen, see tarsiers at Tangkoko at dusk, then cool off in the Tomohon highlands.
One week (6-8 days) · Wild Indonesia
7 Days in South Sulawesi: Makassar, Rammang-Rammang and Toraja
Makassar → Rammang-Rammang (Maros) → Rantepao, Tana Toraja → Batutumonga & Lokomata → Makassar
Seven days from Makassar to Tana Toraja: the Rammang-Rammang karst by canoe, the cliff graves of Rantepao, and the night bus that makes a week fit.
One week (6-8 days) · Wild Indonesia
7 Days in Ternate and Tidore: North Maluku's Volcano Sultanates
Ternate → Hiri → Rum → Soasio → Kie Matubu → Ternate
Seven days across Ternate and Tidore: why Gamalama is closed, how to climb Kie Matubu instead, the Rp 20,000 crossing, and which island to sleep on.
10 days (9-11 days) · Wild Indonesia
9 Days in the Banda Islands: Neira, Gunung Api, Hatta and Ai
Ambon → Banda Neira → Gunung Api & Banda Besar → Pulau Hatta → Pulau Ai → Ambon
How to plan 9 days in the Banda Islands: the three ways from Ambon, why two buffer days are not optional, and what Neira, Hatta and Ai are each for.
One week (6-8 days) · Wild Indonesia
8 Days in the Derawan Islands: Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban and Maratua
Berau → Derawan → Sangalaki & Kakaban → Maratua
How to plan 8 days across Derawan, Sangalaki, Kakaban and Maratua: getting there from Berau, where to base, and the jellyfish lake rule that changed.
One week (6-8 days) · Wild Indonesia
8 Days in North Sulawesi for a Honeymoon: Bunaken and the Minahasa Highlands
Manado (Sam Ratulangi) → Bunaken or Siladen → Manado → Tomohon, Minahasa highlands → Manado
A quiet North Sulawesi honeymoon: four nights on the Bunaken reef, three in the cool Minahasa highlands, with real transfer times and 2026 costs.
Two weeks (12-16 days) · Wild Indonesia
14 Days in Sulawesi: Tana Toraja, the Togean Islands and Bunaken
Makassar → Tana Toraja (Rantepao) → Tentena → Ampana → Togean Islands (Kadidiri) → Gorontalo → Manado → Bunaken
The two-week Sulawesi route that fits the Togean Islands, planned backwards from two ferries that sail on fixed days. Transfers, costs and trade-offs.
Short escape (3-5 days) · Wild Indonesia
5 Days in Borneo: Tanjung Puting Orangutan River Cruise
Pangkalan Bun → Kumai → Sekonyer River → Tanjung Harapan → Pondok Tanggui → Camp Leakey → Kumai
A 5-day Tanjung Puting itinerary: a klotok houseboat up the Sekonyer River to Borneo's wild orangutans, with costs, timing and what to book first.
One week (6-8 days) · Wild Indonesia
Wakatobi: An 8-Day Diving Itinerary in Southeast Sulawesi
Makassar → Wangi-Wangi → Hoga → Tomia
How to dive Wakatobi in 8 days: reaching Wangi-Wangi, island-hopping to Hoga and Tomia, and choosing between independent travel and a dive resort.
10 days (9-11 days) · Wild Indonesia
10 Days Diving North Sulawesi: Bunaken and Lembeh
Manado → Bunaken → Lembeh Strait → Manado
A 10-day North Sulawesi dive itinerary pairing Bunaken's reef walls with Lembeh's muck diving, plus honest transfer, no-fly and season advice.
10 days (9-11 days) · Wild Indonesia
10 Days in Sulawesi: Tana Toraja, Bunaken and the Long Road Between
Makassar → Tana Toraja (Rantepao) → Makassar → Manado → Bunaken
How many days you need for Sulawesi, which of its four regions to pick, and a full 10-day route through Tana Toraja and Bunaken with honest drive times.
Three weeks+ (17+ days) · Bali
30 Days in Indonesia: The Ultimate Itinerary
Bali → Java → Komodo & Flores → Lombok & Gili → Sumatra → Sulawesi → Raja Ampat
A 30-day Indonesia itinerary across Bali, Java, Komodo, Lombok, Sumatra, Sulawesi and Raja Ampat, plus how to cut it to 2 or 3 weeks.
Three weeks+ (17+ days) · Wild Indonesia
20 Days in Wild Indonesia: Kalimantan, Sulawesi and Raja Ampat
Pangkalan Bun (Tanjung Puting) → Makassar → Tana Toraja → Sorong → Raja Ampat
A 20-day Wild Indonesia itinerary: Tanjung Puting, Tana Toraja and Raja Ampat. Orangutans, Torajan culture and marine wilderness, with honest logistics.
Before you go
Plan the practical side
Entry rules and a realistic budget before you book.