Central Sulawesi
Seemingly scattered haphazardly around the hills near Lore Lindu National Park are some 400 ancient stone megaliths of unknown origin that might be over…
Must-see attractions in Sulawesi
Taman Nasional Kepulauan Togean
Togean Islands
Togean Islands National Park was gazetted in 2004, and in 2017 was declared a tourism area of national significance. The park encompasses 3400 sq km of…
Tana Toraja
The four stately tongkonan and many granaries that make up Ke'te Kesu' were moved to this picturesque site in 1927 when the savvy family head noticed the…
Tana Toraja
Whether it's the tau tau, the cave itself, or the peaceful rice paddy setting squeezed between a maze of cliffs, this is one our favourite sites in Tana…
Central Sulawesi
The valley around Bariri village is littered with megalithic objects, including statues of human forms as well as massive kalamba (stone pots) and tutu'na…
Central Sulawesi
If you have wheels you can visit this impressive, powerful waterfall that drops in stages through rainforest, 15km west of Tentena. The falls are a…
Tana Toraja
Live out your Indiana Jones fantasies at this extensive (and very popular) burial cave below a massive cliff face. Its entrance is guarded by a balcony of…
Tana Toraja
A veritable village of tau tau stare down with unblinking eyes and outstretched arms from this impressive burial cliff riddled with tombs. The sheer rock…
Makassar
One of the best-preserved examples of Dutch military architecture in Indonesia, Fort Rotterdam was built on the site of a Gowanese fort, itself built to…
South Sulawesi
The Gua Leang Leang caves are noted for their ancient paintings and handprints. Recent studies of nearby caves have placed the art at over 35,000 years…
North Sulawesi
About 9km southwest of Bitung, Tasikoki is an entirely volunteer-run organisation that rescues and cares for animals confiscated from smugglers. The aim…
North Sulawesi
Not just another roadside attraction, this complex is home to Minahasa houses, a history museum, a celebration of owls (the Minahasa Regency mascot), a…
Tana Toraja
Heralded as the world's largest water buffalo market, this dusty, chaotic scene pops off every Tuesday and Saturday when stately beasts imported from…
Sulawesi
High above the town centre is the kraton, the Wolio royal citadel with impressively long and well-preserved 16th-century walls and battlements that offer…
North Sulawesi
Suffering from erosion and rising sea levels, the beach at Liang has become a svelte, though pleasant, strip of white sand. At low tide, there's still…
South Sulawesi
Around 3km northwest of Bira village, this quieter crescent of white sand is fringed by low cliffs and palms. You can stroll here in 30 minutes from Bira…
Central Sulawesi
This exceptionally good museum has cultural artefacts from the area's indigenous peoples. Unfortunately only half the signs are in English, but there are…
Makassar
On the reclaimed waterfront opposite Pantai Losari, this stunning bright-orange-and-white, 99-domed mosque was almost complete at the time of research and…
Tana Toraja
There are lots of places to see standing stones, but this is one of the nicer ones. With 102 stones – each representing a different funeral conducted at…
Central Sulawesi
Two impressive waterfalls up the canyon northwest of Luwuk make a fine afternoon excursion. Piala requires ducking under a fence at the aqueduct which may…
North Sulawesi
Forming much of the east coast of Pulau Bunaken, Pantai Pangalisang is a long stretch of walkable soft white sand tucked between a thick wall of mangroves…
South Sulawesi
This bustling centre for traditional pinisi ship building 14km northwest of Bira gives you an inside look at how these massive Bugis sailing vessels come…
Sulawesi
Standing proud in the middle of the sea, this watery Bajau village is entirely built on stilts above the coral about 1km offshore from Ambeua pier. You're…
North Sulawesi
Up the hill east of town is the colourful, chaotic, anything-goes traditional market you've probably heard stories about – and those stories are true…
North Sulawesi
Located 3km east of Pulau Bunaken and the smallest island of the archipelago, Siladen boasts wonderful white-sand beaches and a wall of gorgeous corals…
Sulawesi
Getting to this traditional village with jungle walks and panoramic views has just enough ups and downs to make it an excellent bicycle destination for…
Sulawesi
First protected as Marine Conservation Area in 1996, the diverse coral and fish species that inhabit Wakatobi Islands have long caught the attention of…
Tana Toraja
Whether its claim to be the oldest known baby grave in Toraja is accurate or not, this site is definitely one of the more compelling. The minimal…
Sulawesi
High in the Balla district, Ballapeu' has a fine collection of over 100 traditional houses. Women here are experts in traditional weaving.
South Sulawesi
Pulau Tinabo houses a small National Park outpost and the only tourist infrastructure (such as it is) in the area.
South Sulawesi
These waterfalls, 42km from Makassar, are set amid lushly vegetated limestone cliffs. Looking up, it’s straight out of Jurassic Park, but then you scan…
Makassar
This tomb memorialises Indonesian national hero Sultan Hasanuddin, who ruled Gowa during the 17th century, fiercely defending the kingdom against the…
South Sulawesi
This large, shallow lake is fringed by wetlands, with floating houses and magnificent birdlife. Geologists believe it was once a gulf between southern…
Makassar
Just far enough away from Makassar to shed most (but not all) of the rubbish, the white sands of Pulau Samalona are popular with day trippers,…
North Sulawesi
Minahasans traditionally interred their dead in a squatting position in waruga stone sarcophagi shaped like houses sitting above ground right near their…
Tana Toraja
Torajans traditionally inter deceased babies, who have not yet teethed, in trees, believing that these infants are more pure than adults, and that their…
Makassar
Pelabuhan Paotere, 4km north of the city centre, is a large port where Bugis sailing ships berth. It's a working port, with requisite bustle and grime,…
South Sulawesi
Sengkang is known for its sutera (silk) weaving, and hundreds of workshops in surrounding villages can be great places to watch the process and purchase…
Tana Toraja
Billed as the 'Country Above the Clouds', the long north–south ridge line looming to the west of Rantepao certainly has spectacular views – especially at…
Tana Toraja
Buntu Pune village has two fine tongkonan houses and four rice barns some with ancient roofs covered in vegetation. According to local legend, one of the…
