Sulawesi: From Rantepao to Ampana

15

Another Option since you will have a few "extra" days available to you if you eliminate the Togians:

Fly from Makasar to Palu and visit beautiful Tanjung Karang Beach (located 45 minutes from Palu and 1 1/2 miles from the town of Donggala on the central west coast of Sulawesi). Spend 3 full days there for snorkling and/or diving, and enjoying a real authentic Sulawesi village with very friendly local people. Very nice white sand beach. This is the "real" Indonesia --- NOT like Kadidiri or Taipi Islands in the Togians where all you see are guesthouse accommodations designed for Divers. The town of Donggala has a nice traditional market too.

Then take the long-distance bus from Palu to Rantepao (the buses on this route are direct and there are lots of bus companies --- almost all of these buses go all the way to Makasar). Spend 3 full days in Tana Toraja. Then take a day bus or a night bus to Makasar.

Fly from Makasar to Manado (note that you may want to take the Lion Air night flight because the other flights arrive to late to do any diving or snorkling on the date of arrival. Spend 3 or 4 days in this area.

Fly back to Makasar or wherever you next distination might be.

A website to see SOME (but not all) of available domestic airlines which fly certain sectors and flight schedules is at www.travelindo.com. Plug in your cities.

Not sure if flights, if any, between Palu and Manado are reliable re going or being cancelled, but the flights I mentioned above are reliable.

MisterSteve is my name and Golf is my Game.

16

Sounds like a good alternative itinerary Mr Steve.


The resort on Taipi has been abandoned for years. All the bungalows are falling down and the pier has now completely gone. Just one 'care-taker' who's a bit dim and some starving cats staying there now, though the resorts still do a lot of dives around the island.


Take a day bus if you have time...it's quite a comfortable journey and the scenery is spectacular.... think of it as a day trip!

Ko Lipe, disaster island

17

I stayed at Taipi once --- I think it was in 2001. I didn't know that the bungalows were abandoned. It is possible to swim all the way around the island, and I did that several times.

MisterSteve is my name and Golf is my Game.

18

Yup me too...one of the rare places you can still see reef sharks.

Ko Lipe, disaster island

19

Thank you for all your inputs! I'm overwhelmed by the options. We'll decide soon and start booking the flights and acoomodations.