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Banggai ArchipelagoThe Banggai Islands, off eastern Central Sulawesi: Lake Paisupok on Peleng Island, reef diving, and the Banggai cardinalfish, native only to these islands.Read more
BangkaBangka Island, off the northern tip of North Sulawesi: soft coral pinnacles and quiet dive resorts, reached by boat from Likupang.Read more
BiraTanjung Bira, at the southern tip of South Sulawesi: white sand beaches, clear water for snorkelling, and the pinisi boatyards of Tana Beru nearby.Read more
Sulawesi Travel Guide: Plan Your Trip by Region and SeasonPlan a Sulawesi trip in one place: the six regions and what each is known for, when to go, the two gateways, sample routes, visa, money and safety.Read more- How to Get to Sulawesi: Flights, Ferries and Entry PointsFly to Makassar (UPG) or Manado (MDC), Sulawesi's two international gateways with visa on arrival. Flights, Pelni ships and entry points, October 2026.Read more
- Things to Do in Sulawesi: Diving, Wildlife, Culture and IslandsDiving at Bunaken, Lembeh and Wakatobi, tarsiers at Tangkoko and the tongkonan of Tana Toraja: 21 things to do in Sulawesi, by region and best month.Read more
- Sulawesi Cave Art: The World's Oldest Dated Rock Art and How to Visit
- Pinisi Shipbuilding at Tana Beru: Inside the Bugis Boatyard
- Attending a Toraja Rambu Solo' funeral
- The Bajau at Mola, in the present tense
- Reading a tongkonan: the carvings at Ke'te Kesu'
- Understanding Rambu Solo': The Torajan Funeral Ceremony
- All
- How to Get to Sulawesi: Flights, Ferries and Entry Points
- Is Sulawesi Safe? Earthquakes, Volcanoes, Sea, Roads and Official Advice
- Manado to Bunaken Ferry: Public Boat or Resort Transfer
- Surviving a Pelni ferry, two nights at sea
- Driving the Trans-Sulawesi, what to expect
- Getting Around Sulawesi: Flights, Buses, and Ferries Explained
- All
2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping TourJourney from Makassar into the cool highlands of Malino for a 2-day trekking adventure through mountain streams and pine forests to Lembah Ramma. Camp overnight in a tranquil valley beneath the shadows of Mount Bawakaraeng, surrounded by lush meadows and dramatic rock wallsRead more
2D1N Tangkoko Nature Reserve Overnight Wildlife SafariExperience Tangkoko Nature Reserve across two distinct wildlife activity windows on an overnight safari. Track troops of Sulawesi black crested macaques, bear cuscus, and nocturnal tarsiers at dusk, then wake for an early-morning canopy trek to spot rare endemic birds and early-rising primatesRead more
3D2N Manado Highland & Island EscapeDiscover the cool Minahasa Highlands and historic landmarks before venturing out on a boat excursion across Bunaken Marine Park and Nain Island. Wrap up your journey with local culinary experiences and a quick city shopping tour of ManadoRead more
- 2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping Tour
- 2D1N Tangkoko Nature Reserve Overnight Wildlife Safari
- 3D2N Manado Highland & Island Escape
- 3-Day Toraja Cultural Immersion & Traditional Villagestay
- 7-Day Mount Gandang Dewata Remote Peak Traverse
- 5-Day Babirusa & Nantu Forest Expedition
- 14-Day Grand South & West Sulawesi Cultural Grand Overland Expedition
- All Trek tours
- 2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping Tour
- 3D2N Manado Highland & Island Escape
- 3D2N Makassar & Maros Highlights Tour
- 2-Day Bulukumba & Ammatoa Kajang Indigenous Village Cultural Tour
- 3-Day Toraja Cultural Immersion & Traditional Villagestay
- 7-Day Mount Gandang Dewata Remote Peak Traverse
- 7-Day Banggai Islands Expedition Cruise
- 5-Day Babirusa & Nantu Forest Expedition
- 8-Day Togean Islands Cruise & Beach Hopper Adventure
- 14-Day Grand South & West Sulawesi Cultural Grand Overland Expedition
- All Culture tours
- 2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping Tour
- 2D1N Tangkoko Nature Reserve Overnight Wildlife Safari
- 3D2N Manado Highland & Island Escape
- 3D2N Makassar & Maros Highlights Tour
- Bunaken & North Sulawesi Flexible Dive Resort Escape
- 3-Day Toraja Cultural Immersion & Traditional Villagestay
- 7-Day Mount Gandang Dewata Remote Peak Traverse
- 7-Day Banggai Islands Expedition Cruise
- 5-Day Babirusa & Nantu Forest Expedition
- All Wildlife & Birding tours
Private car with driverDoor to door across Sulawesi, with a local driver. Send us your route, and we reply with a price.Ask for a price- Road routes27 routes between the towns of Sulawesi, each with its distance and drive time.All land routes
- Tours with transport includedTours put the driving, the stops and the nights together into one trip.See the tours
Flights
Sulawesi has two main airports: Makassar (UPG) in the south and Manado (MDC) in the north. Most trips from abroad connect through Jakarta or Bali.
Where to land
Makassar (UPG) on the south coast and Manado (MDC) on the north tip are the two main airports of Sulawesi. Both have daily flights from Jakarta.
Hopping the island
Batik Air and Lion Air fly most routes between Makassar, Manado, Palu, Kendari and Luwuk (checked November 2026, airasia.com). Garuda Indonesia, TransNusa and Wings Air fly some of them. Wings Air also flies to smaller airports, such as Toraja. Schedules change often. Book the domestic flights once your dates are firm.
How to plan it
If you see only one half of the island, fly into the airport nearest your route. Crossing the island by land is slow. The flight from Makassar to Manado takes about two hours. By road, the same trip is about 1,725 km and takes 3 to 4 days. No bus runs the whole way.