We originally came to Indonesia for just a few weeks. We wanted to visit Bali and nearby famous islands like Nusa Penida, Lombok or Java.
However, when we started planning our Indonesian adventure, we discovered that Indonesia has so much more to offer! After a couple of weeks in Bali, where we struggled with lots of tourists and traffic many times, we decided to go explore something that many people haven’t heard of!
Little did we know that when we arrived at the airport in Luwuk, we would be greeted by a representative from the tourist centre who would tell us that we were the first Slovaks heading to the Banggai Islands!
We also took a photo together at the airport, which goes on their bulletin board, where they have photos of the first tourists from different countries. So let’s talk a bit more about our adventure in an undiscovered place.
Where are the Banggai Islands?
The Banggai Islands are located at the eastern end of the central island of Sulawesi in Indonesia. The archipelago consists of approximately 100 islets, the largest of which is Peleng Island. The capital is Banggai, located on the west coast of Banggai Islands.
How to get to Banggai Islands?
To get to this paradise, you will have to make quite a journey. We flew from Bali. However, there is no direct flight on offer from Denpasar airport, so you will have to change planes in Makassar, which is also on Sulawesi. From Makassar you will then take a short flight (about 75 minutes) to Luwuk.
If you are going to Bali, be sure to read all the things you must know. 10 things you should know before your holiday in Bali!
This is where your adventure to the Banggai Islands will begin. From Luwuk town, you will then take a local boat to Leme Leme port. This can be considered the starting point of your adventure holiday.
If you decide to arrive in Luwuk a day earlier, we recommend staying at Hotel Santika. They offer very nice and clean rooms, an outdoor pool and a great breakfast buffet. It’s the perfect place to enjoy the ultimate luxury of air conditioning, a hot shower and a big bed. Don’t expect that on Banggai Islands!
Shoul you travel to Banggai Islands with or without a guide?
Banggai Islands are completely different from many well-known islands in Indonesia, e.g. Bali, Nusa Penida, Lombok, or the Gili Islands. You won’t find many restaurants, cafes or even hotels here. Almost no one on the island speaks English, so travelling on your own can be very difficult indeed.
That’s why we recommend going on a guided holiday, which will take care of everything for you, relieving you of all your worries and ensuring you feel safe throughout your trip. This is not to say that the islands are dangerous, but you will rarely see tourists there. That’s why it can be difficult to rent a car or a scooter, or to find the most beautiful places, which are often not even on the map.
We did our holiday with our guide Ikram(@alfatih.310114) who we were really very happy with. He speaks fluent English, booked a car for us, hotels and arranged meals for us. He tailored the itinerary to our preferences and took us to the most beautiful places!
We paid 540€ for this 5-day trip for two people. This included all transportation, admissions, accommodations, meals, and drinking water, in addition to the services of a guide.
What to prepare for on Banggai Islands?
As we have already mentioned, you will not find any luxury on these islands. You have to prepare for a very simple way of life. Your housing will be at home in the so-called homestays, where you usually won’t find air conditioning, western toilets, and sometimes not even a shower or a bed. The living conditions here can be pretty wild, but we guarantee that after spending the day in the most beautiful places, you won’t care about sleeping on mattresses on the ground or just rinsing off with small containers of brackish water in the evening.
However, the locals will welcome you with open arms and cook you the best local specialities. Very few tourists visit the Banggai Islands each year, so be prepared that locals will want to take a photo with you. It’s a very big rarity for them. Children will want to play with you, hold your hand, converse with you in English, or admire your skin colour and body.
However, it left us with very positive feelings and even though seeing the reality of people living on such an undeveloped island can be difficult and sad, we were very pleasantly surprised at how happy, smiling and generous they were.
Accommodation on Banggai Islands
If you decide to travel on your own, from our own experience we recommend living in more developed cities where you can find at least some amenities and internet access. An alternative is to go directly to Leme Leme harbour, which is a great starting point for an excursion. It is located on the largest island, Peleng.
However, the largest selection of hotels and restaurants can be found in Salakan. We stayed at the Sidapore Hotel. The rooms were again very simple, the big plus was the air conditioning. The hotel is close to the harbour and there are several shops nearby.
We also tried the Tanahmerah Coffee restaurant in this town, where we enjoyed some great local chicken. Definitely recommended.
The last alternative may be the city of Banggai, which is the most developed. There are many restaurants, hotels, shops and also a harbour from which boats go directly to Luwuk. With our guide, we tried the food from Mola FoodCourt. These are streetfood stalls offering a variety of local specialities.
To get to Banggai town, we had to make a 30 minute journey by small speedboat from a local village, again handled by our guide. The location can be found here. It was from Banggai that we visited the famous Oyama Beach. We then travelled from the port back to Luwuk town. However, since we were at the other end of the Banggai Islands, the ferry ride this time took almost 7 hours.
What to see in Banggai Islands
Paisupok Lake
One of the reasons we decided to visit Banggai Island was Paisupok Lake, which can be considered one of the cleanest lakes in the world. A paradise on earth. We have never seen such clear blue water in our lives. The lake is surrounded by hundreds of palm trees, giving it an even more exotic feel.
Among other things, you will meet almost no tourists here, so you can rent a boat or kayak and enjoy it to the fullest. And not to forget, bring your snorkel! There is hidden beauty under the water.
Paisubatango Lagoon
Right next to the lake there is the beautiful Paisubatango Lagoon. The water in the lagoon is brackish. It is crystal clear, so swimming in it will be an experience for you.
Babanang Cave and Susundeng Cave
The Banggai Islands offer wonderful caves. We visited two of them during our trip, namely Babanang Cave and Susundeng Cave. Both were wonderful. You will not find any people here, we were the only ones there. So we enjoyed swimming to the fullest.
Last but not least, the beaches that the Banggai Islands offer to tourists should definitely be highlighted. The beaches with white sand and turquoise water are extensive and beautiful. They reminded us a lot of the beaches in the Maldives.
However, it is also necessary to prepare for polluted surroundings, especially at low tide. Indonesia is generally one of the countries that produce the most waste and this can be observed on almost every Indonesian island. It is no different on the Banggai Islands.
Poganda Beach
One of the most beautiful beaches we visited is Poganda Beach. Located just 30 minutes from the famous Lake Paisupok, it offers not only a beautiful beach but also great conditions for snorkelling. There are also swings, small local shops and toilets. You’ll pay about 30 cents per person to get in, unless it’s included in your guide’s price.
Mandel Beach
Another beautiful beach is Mandel Beach. It is much bigger than Poganda Beach. You will not find anything in the area. No hotels, shops, restaurants. And that’s why it has its own charm. You can enjoy its beauty just for yourself.
Oyama Beach
Our favourite of all the beaches in the Banggai Islands is Oyama Beach. We had been looking forward to this beach the whole time and it was the last stop on our trip. The best at the end right? The contrast of the white sand, blue water and green palm trees all around was unreal. There was nothing and no one around but us. It was truly heaven on earth, see yourself.
If you are a lover of adventure, you don’t like luxury resorts, but on the contrary you like to explore local places, then Banggai Islands are just right for you. So, are you packed already?
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1 Comment. Leave new
We prefer the raw way by ferry and traveling by our own.
Sadly, i thought I would find here more Information about that