INDONESIAN LAND BASED EXCURSIONS

EXCURSIONS AND TOURS FROM MANADO.

All tours chosen by us are conducted and assisted by English speaking personnel and can be combined with all our diving and liveaboard holiday itineraries. In some cases only basic accommodation is provided during the tours but we have chosen the best facilities available. Tours are suitable for everyone and are all safety guidelines are strictly adhered to. Prices are available on request and include any internal flights. Further tours are also available on request.

Mt Mahawu Volcano Trek

This is soft adventure at its best!! Departure from your hotel heading straight through Tomohon. Arriving at the base of Mount Mahawu we begin the 1-hour trek to the crater’s edge. From that vantage point we can see Bunaken & Manado Tua Islands, as well as the bay of Manado. At the bottom of the crater, one can observe a steaming lake and experience the smell of ulphur from the pools. After this magnificent hike we stop for lunch at a shore-side restaurant on Lake Tondano.

Duration – approximately 7 hours --- Departure – AM

Highland Tour

Departure from your hotel directly to the small village of Woloan, where you can see the Minahasan Style Houses being built, knock down style, ready for delivery or shipping. Then it’s off to see the traditional food & flower market in Tomohon, surprises in store for you! After having lunch on Tondano Lake, close to the goldfish farm, where you will enjoy the serenity of Tondano Lake, we travel to Pulutan Village, a cottage industry for making pottery. As we start to head back towards Manado, the WW II Japanese Caves are a must to visit & explore. Last stop is Lake Linow (the changing color lake), a one of a kind experience.

Duration - approximately 7 hours --- Departure – AM

Tangkoko Nature Reserve

Departure from your hotel, proceed 2 - 3 hours to the 9000-hectare National Park where we will hike in search of the Black Crested Macaque (Black Monkey indigenous to North Sulawesi) as well as the Tarsier Spectrum (the world’s smallest primate). Cameras, long pants and a flashlight are the order of the day. Exciting trip for nature lovers, trekkers, and anyone who likes the outdoors.

Duration - approximately 10 hours --- Departure 12:30 PM-

TANGKOKO NATURE RESERVE- 2 Days/1 Night

DAY 01 (11:30 AM) Transfer by Safari Tours bus or AC 4 pax vehicle to Nature Reserve. The 2-hour drive to the 9000-hectare National Park is quite scenic as we pass through small villages. Upon arrival, immediately check in to Mama Roos Homestay or equivalent. You will then be guided by local forest rangers (and Safari staff) in search of the Black Crested Macaque (Black Monkey indigenous to North Sulawesi), hornbills, and couscous as well as other fauna specific to the reserve. Depending on what time it gets dark, we will head into the denser part of the jungle as the sun is setting, where you will (most likely) be able to get photographs of the Tarsier Spectrum (the world’s smallest primate). After it is completely dark and the Tarsier have departed for their nightly foraging, we head back to the homestay for a basic traditional dinner. Overnight – dinner

DAY 02 Rising early, you will again hike into the forest with local rangers where you will have the best opportunity to view more birds and certainly the Black Crested Macaque as these monkeys are earlier risers and are searching out food along the coastline at Tangkoko. After several hours it’s back to the homestay for a traditional breakfast and prepare to go back to Manado. On the way back to Manado we will stop for lunch at a traditional PADANG style restaurant where you can truly get to taste the typical Minahassa style cuisine. Arrive in Manado between 1 –2 PM. – B&L.

TORAJA LAND – South Sulawesi 5 Days/4 Nights

DAY 01 - Arrival at Ujung Pandang airport, welcome services and transfer to hotel at Ujung Pandang. Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAY 02 - After breakfast in hotel, departure to Tanah Toraja by private mini bus. On the way visit a Bugis village and stop in Pare Pare for lunch, then proceed to Rantepao via several scenic mountain passes offering spectacular panoramas. Arrival in the late afternoon check-in at hotel – Dinner and overnight at hotel.

DAYS 03&04 – Two full day of excursions in Toraja, visiting the traditional villages and burial sites: Londa, Lemo, Ketekesu, Pallawa, Sa’dan, Tobarana, Loko Mata, Marante and Nanggala. Including trek through the rice fields, local ceremonies and special events. Lunch en route. Dinner and breakfast at hotel.

DAY 05 – After breakfast, early morning departure for return trip to Ujung Pandang airport – lunch at Pare Pare.

WHAT TO DO NEXT?