Guided Tours and an Adventure Packages

(update last on 02-05-2009)

 

Guided Tour or Renting a Car?

On the way in Sulawesi, I always had time many weeks and therefore could travel - equipped with an up-to-date guide-book - on my own initiative. On the spot I then had myself led to the sights by a local guide. If I lost my way, had to wait for a ferry a couple of days or if if I stated, that the guide was extremely incompetent, this was not a tragedy.

Who has only a restricted time at the disposal, however, thinks differently. The shorter the stay, the harder carry weight the relatively high ticket costs for the often long distance flights. Every day is then precious and should not be wasted by a wrong planning. Therefore one should not save the additional costs for a tour which is well organized and carried out.

Those of you which do not only like to dive intensively (BUNAKEN, LEMBEH) but also see other worthwile parts of Indonesia (e.g. BALI, FLORES, KOMODO) can find now a new tour package for divers below.

If you are interested in a tour according to your individual wishes, I can recommend a very experienced tour-guide for you or your family/group who will arrange a cheap tailor-made tour. You must only inform me about the exact timeframe and the desired destinations/activities.

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Should you not want to follow a larger group or you think of a smaller tour in North Sulawesi, an individually planned tour with a rented vehicle with or without driver could be a cheap alternative .. Since I take friends to North Sulawesi again and again, I also "must" repeat my tours consequently every time. Meanwhile I rent the same vehicle with driver every year. With him I can negotiate a price depending on a desired tour and do not experience afterwards unpleasant surprises and tricks. At interest to rent a vehicle with or without driver or also tour-guide I can help you along willingly.

Another piece of advice: If you would like to make a trip to the Tangkoko National Park with a public transport, you should consider that there is no possibility of coming back the next day at the same price again. Of course the locals know that you are dependent on them and they therefore often demand outrageously excessive prices.

 

Attention!

There are lots of tour-guides on Bunaken, who will offer their services to you. But it is not easy to find out in a short time, who of them is really experienced and qualified for his job and morover not shady in character (after all you want to spend your time with him for quite a while).

I would not like to frighten you, however, generally, to take a guide for your trips. Of course, there are some black sheep under many serious ones, like everywhere in the world. But due to my experiences and to reports of travellers I must advise you, though: Always pay- if possible - at the end of your tour! At greater tours, which you plan jointly with your tourguide already from at home, of course an advance payment is required in order to book hotels and flights in time. The remaining payments then can be carried out step by step.

In order to avoid misunderstandings, it is also advisable to fix the exact process of the planned tour including all performances in note form and written - and to insist on a confirmation of the price for the planned tour!

I recently have been told negative reports about a tour guide and his agency, of whom promised performances were not kept and moreover financial problems appeared. For fuller information you can enquire by e-mail

 

These trips are e.g. carried out by local tour guides:

Below you can find the description:

• One as an example for travellers, who want to start their holidays in Makassar and see South-Sulawesi before their stay on Bunaken,
• An other one for travellers, who want to go sightseeing on Bali, Flores and Komodo before intensive diving on Bunaken and Lembeh.
• But you can also make short trips around North Sulawesi from Bunaken for only a couple of days, tailored according to your own desires.
• If you are interested in a combination of diving on Bunaken, Bangka Island, Lembeh, white river rafting, hiking Tangkoko National Park, Volcano Mahawu, sightseeing Tomohon and Minahasa Highland, - then you should study the ADVENTURE DIVE PACKAGE (13 days / 12 nights, pdf-file)
• For divers, who have been living and diving on Bunaken and want to experience Banka and Lembeh too, there is an ADVENTURE DIVING PACKAGE LEMBEH & BANGKA, for example with ...
  • 8 Dives in Lembeh Strait
  • 5 Dives in Bangka

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Example 1: Tour "South and Central Sulawesi" 13 DAYS / 12 NIGHTS

 

Day 01 : ARRIVAL IN MAKASSAR

Upon arrival at Hassanudin Airport in Makassar, meeting service and directly transfer to hotel for accommodation. Dinner will be served at sea side restaurant. Overnight.

Day 02 : MAKASSAR - PALU - TANJUNG KARANG

After breakfast, a short city tour before catching the flight to Palu, the Capital of the Province Central Sulawesi. Visit the Fort Rotterdam which is one of the best preserved Dutch Architecture in Indonesia dating back 1545. Proceed to Paotere Harbour, the Bugis sailing ships berth. Lunch will be served at the Hassanudin Airport. Upon arrival in Palu, directly drive to Tanjung Karang village for accommodation at the seaside cottage facing to Palu Bay. Dinner will be served at cottage. Overnight.

Day 03 : TANJUNG KARANG - DODA (BESOA VALLEY)

After breakfast, by car takes five hours drive to Doda the Land of Ancient Megalithic relics, and passing Napu valley and remote peaks. Lunch will be served at simple restaurant in Wuasa (Napu Valley). After lunch visit Watutau Megalith which is located in the center of the village. Upon arrival in Doda village, directly check-in for accommodation at Guest house. Dinner will be served at Guest house. overnight.

Day 04 : DODA FULL DAY TOUR

After breakfast, get ready for trekking to explore the Ancient Megalithic Relics in the vicinity including Tadulako Megalith, the stone tombs Kalamba which are located on the hill over savannah area. Return to Doda for lunch at guest house. After lunch, proceed to Pokekea ancient site by motor bike, and ride through the villages and continued on foot where Megaliths and Kalambas scattered over the field of savannah. Return at noon to Doda by motor bike. Dinner will be served at Guest house. Overnight.

Day 05 : DODA - TA'BA (Camping site)

After breakfast get ready for trekking six hours into the Lore Lindu National park. The park is in exotic plant and animal life including butterflies larger than a human hand. Lunch-box will be served en-route. Upon arrival at Ta'ba, set the tent on the river side for camping. Free leisure. Dinner will be cooked by your guide and the crew. Overnight.

Day 06 : TA'BA - BOMBA ( BADA VALLEY )

After breakfast continue trekking five hours in to the Lore Lindu National Park, under canopy of huge trees and tropical vegetation. Lunch-box will be served en-route. There is a possibility to see wild animal such as the endemic dwarf buffalo Anoa, Macaca Nigra and lots of birds. Upon arrival in Bomba village, check-in for accommodation at Guest house. Dinner will be served at Guest house. Overnight.

Day 07 : BOMBA FULL DAY TOUR.

After breakfast, get ready for five hours trekking to observe The Ancient Megalithic Relics, include The Principal Megalith Palindo 4,5 mtr high. Proceed to cross The Lariang River, which is the longest river in Sulawesi, by Bamboo raft. Lunch-box will be served en-route by picnic style. Visit the ancient site Suso to see tombs stone Kalamba. Return to Bomba before noon. Free for leisure. Dinner will be served at guest house. Overnight.

Day 08 : BOMBA - SIURI (LAKE POSO)

After breakfast, leaving to Siuri by 4-wheel drive takes five hours paved by muddy and bumpy road over the mountain area. Lunch box will be served en-route by picnic style. Upon arrival at Siuri, check-in for accommodation at Lake Side Cottage with private lake view bungalow, which is backgrounded by tropical forest. Free for leisure, or alternatively go swimming in the lake. Dinner will be at cottage. Overnight.

Day 09 : SIURI - RANTEPAO ( TORAJA )

After breakfast, embark on the motorboat and crossing Lake Poso, Indonesia's third largest lake covering an area of 32,300 hectares and reaching an averages depth of 450 mtrs with a handful of narrow beaches. Upon arrival in Pendolo at the southern east of the lake, proceed by car which takes seven hours drive to Rantepao, passing over mountain road and lowland, with a companion of Bugis village with their traditional house on stilts. Lunch will be served in Bone-bone at the restaurant. Continued the journey via Palopo, and drive up mountain to Toraja land. Upon arrival in Rantepao, check-in for accommodation at the hotel which is located in the middle of the rice field. Dinner will be served at hotel. Overnight.

Day 10 : RANTEPAO FULL DAY TOUR

After breakfast, a full day excursion in Toraja land by car to visit Lemo the most interesting burial area in Toraja land with the sheer rock face has a whole series of balconies for Tau-Tau Statues. Visit Sangalla to see baby grave which is carved on the tree trunk. Visit the traditional village and burial site at Ke'te Kesu, where there are some grave caves and a very old hanging grave which is full of bones and skulls. Lunch will be served at panoramic restaurant which is located in the middle of a rice field. After lunch, a four kilometers hiking through the Torajan villages with a beautiful rice field view. Return to the hotel at noon. Dinner will be served at hotel. Overnight.

Day 11 : RANTEPAO FULL DAY TOUR

After breakfast, by car heading north of Rantepao visit Bori to see Rante memorial site of funeral ceremony, contents with huge Menhirs where the water buffalos were slaughtered during funeral ceremony, and stone grave carvers are working to dig out the rock. Proceed to drive up mountain to Batutumonga where there is a spectacular view from high altitude. Lunch will be served at panoramic restaurant in Batutumonga. After lunch, hike down the mountain to Tikala village on foot, and on the way visit the black smith workers are working at their huts to produced farming tool and knifes. Proceed to visit the cliff grave at Marante village. At noon return to hotel. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight.

Day 12 : RANTEPAO - MAKASSAR

After breakfast by car takes eight hours drive to Makassar the Capital Province of South Sulawesi. On the way, stop at Bambapuang to see Panoramic view overlooking the mountain area. Lunch will be served on the sea side restaurant. After lunch continued drive on the lowland road along the Buginesse village with their typical traditional house which is built on stilt. Stop over on the way to see the Phinisi boat being constructed traditionally. Upon arrival in Makassar, check-in for accommodation at hotel. Dinner will be served at hotel. Overnight.

Day 13 : YOUR NEXT DESTINATION

This day you will be transferred-out to the Hassanudin Airport for your next destination. The end of our services.

Please, ask for the latest tour price!

Example 2: "Indonesia Trip for Divers" (BALI - FLORES - KOMODO - BUNAKEN - LEMBEH )

It is a tour of 14 days, starting in Bali with three days stay, continued over Flores to the islands of KALONG, KOMODO and RINCA. ( visit of the National Park Komodo with its unique Komodo-dragons). After onother 3 days, flight to Manado. From now on the diver will get his money's worth: 4 days on Bunaken (3 dives each day), then going on to Lembeh for 4 days (3 days 3 dives each day; last day at the free disposal/planning). The journey ends at the airport of Manado.

All this costs you 1683.- € (e.g. with a group of 4 divers, including domestic flights, transfers with boat, full board and guides). With larger groups the prices accordingly go down.You can download further details as ZIP file. It is an Exel document with 6 pages: description of the tour, recommendations (kind of check-list for you), price-list (graded according to group size for divers and non-divers), journey conditions.

In my opinion you can scarcely carry out such a tour (everything including) more cheaply in a management of your own . And this all without unnecessary losses of time. It can only be realized, because it is calculated by Indonesian standards and working without travel agencies.

If I have aroused your curiosity, then write an e-mail to me and I'll give you an e-mail address so that you can contact one of the tour guides directly.

If you lucky fellows have more than 15 days time at the disposal, you can continue your dive holiday on Bunaken or Lembeh or include additional trips in North Sulawesi (Tangkoko, Volcanos, Minahasa Highland).

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