Trekking North Sulawesi Volcano & Tangkoko National Park

📍 Transfer from Manado Sam Ratulangi international Airport to Hotel (14 km): 30 minutes

Arrival at Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado, the capital city of the North of Sulawesi Island.

Recommended flights (not included in package and quoted separately – airfares and schedules subject to change without prior notice):

Domestic: Garuda Indonesia from Makassar to Manado GA682, departing at 9:00 and arriving at 10:35 or Garuda Indonesia from Denpasar (Bali) to Manado GA624 departing at 12:20 and arriving at 14:55.

International: Silk Air from Singapore to Manado MI274 (Mon & Tuesday & Friday & Saturday), departing at 09:25 and arriving at 13:05.

Upon arrival to the airport, our guide and driver will be waiting to provide transport to the hotel in the centre of Manado. After checking in, enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Dinner is arranged at the hotel.

Overnight in Manado.

Tonight you will prepare a light backpack that you will carry for the Siau Island on day 2 and 3, your main luggage will be stored in our office in Manado until your pick up upon return from Siau.

Inclusions:

🍗 Dinner

📍 Transfer to Siau by speed boat: 4 hours (depend on tide) Transfer from Siau Harbour to Karangetan basecamp (12 km): 25 minutes

After breakfast at the hotel, begin with a short city tour. Visit the Ban Hian Kiong temple en route to the harbour. This is the oldest Buddhist temple in the eastern part of Indonesia, built in the early 19th century.

After the temple visit, board a public boat (around 10:00) for the 4-hour transfer to Siau Island, to observe the Karangetang volcano. Lunch will be served en route.

Upon arrival to Siau, transfer to a small nearby village on the slopes of the volcano and take a short walk to the basecamp. Relaxing at the basecamp, take note of the incandescence in the crater (based on the volcano's activity).

Enjoy dinner at the camp, specially prepared by the team.

Overnight at camp

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Transfer to Manado by Speed boat: 4 hours (depend on tide) Transfer from Manado to Tomohon (25km): 1 hour Trekking distance: 5 hours Difficulty: Hard

Wake at first light to begin the trek up Karangetang, one of Indonesia's most active volcanoes. Climb to the observation camp near the active lava dome, observing the volcanic activity and the surrounding panoramic views over Siau Island. The trek consists of 4 to 5 hours of steep-to-difficult terrain.

A light breakfast will be served at the peak.

After descending, there will be a short transfer to the harbour to catch a 12:00 boat back to Manado. Upon disembarking, continue the next adventure on the beautiful highland of Sulawesi, Tomohon. Lunch will be provided on the way to Tomohon highland.

Dinner at the hotel

Overnight in Tomohon

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Transfer from Lokon Empung to Tomohon (6 km): 15 minutes / one way Trekking distance (Lokon Empung Volcano): 3 hours ascent; 1 hour descent Difficulty: Medium

After breakfast at the hotel, start the day by visiting the volcano observatory to check on the activity of Lokon Empung and Soputan Volcano from a distance. It’s a great opportunity to learn how volcanologists get volcanic data and share it with the world.

Afterwards, take a short transfer to the starting point of the first volcano trek, Lokon Empung Volcano. The volcano is one of the most active volcanoes in Indonesia. It consists of two volcanic cones, the older called Lokon and the younger called Empung. The active crater of Tompaluan is situated in the saddle between the two cones.  

Start the trek by hiking up Lokon Volcano and take a shortcut to reach the active crater. Depending on the volcanic activity, there may be a chance to go down into the crater to discover the new crater and observe the fumaroles.

A picnic lunch will be served on the crater rim.

Next, descend via Empung to the finishing point. Return to Tomohon end enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Dinner and overnight in Tomohon

Tonight, prepare a light backpack to carry for the Soputan trek; main luggage will be stored at the hotel in Tomohon.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Transfer from Tomohon to Toure village (30km): 2 hours Trekking (Toure village – Pine forest): 2 hours 30 minutes Trekking (pine forest to base camp): 1hour Difficulty: Medium

After breakfast at the hotel, depart in the morning for an observation of Tondano Caldera Lake. This huge lake lies along the eastern side of a massive ancient volcanic caldera. 

Afterwards, continue the journey to Toure village, leaving the vehicle behind and meeting with the team for the Soputan trek.
The trek starts with a two-hour hike to a pine forest where there will be a picnic lunch. 

After lunch, continue trekking towards base camp.

This afternoon’s short trek heads to the volcanic ash plateau to observe Soputan volcano’s activity during daylight. Continue to the nearby hot springs and take a relaxing dip before returning to camp.

Take some time to relax before dinner, heading back to the observation point to see the volcanic activity by night.

Night at the camp
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Transfer from Toure village to Tomohon (30km): 2 hours Trekking to Soputan summit: 4 hours Trekking down to Toure: 4 hours Difficulty: Hard

Wake at 01:30 and depart for the Soputan summit, an approximate 4-hour trek. Arrive to the summit and get the chance to observe the active dome with its lava.

Depending on volcanic activity, the guide will decide if it’s possible to get closer to the eruptive area or to trek down the caldera and up the steep active dome.

Enjoy a stunning sunrise and views of the surrounding volcanoes of Lokon, Mahawu, Klabat. There will also be views of Tangkoko National park, the Bunaken and Lembeh islands and the Tondano Crater Lake.

Return to camp and stop for breakfast before continuing down to Toure village with a transfer back to the hotel in Tomohon. Lunch will be served en route.

Dinner and overnight in Tomohon
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Transfer from Tomohon to Tangkoko (66km): 3 hours Jungle Track: 2-3 hrs Difficulty: Very Easy

After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a scenic drive to Tangkoko National Park, stopping on the way to visit the Waruga ancient grave of the Minahasa tribe.

Upon arrival at Tangkoko, check in to the lodge. The national park is a protected rain forest with varied flora and fauna in a mountainous area. Here it is possible to see rare animals such as the Macaca Nigra (Sulawesi Black Monkey), Horn Bill and the endemic Tarsius Spectrum.

Lunch today will be served at the lodge.

Around 16:00, meet with the ranger and start the evening walk in the forest to observe the highlight of the national park: the nocturnal primate, Tarsius spectrum. The smallest primates on earth, these creatures only inhabit North Sulawesi and the Philippines.
After the walk, return to the lodge for dinner.

Note: The lodge in Tangkoko is basic accommodation with AC rooms but no hot water. Electricity is provided by a generator but operates all day.

Overnight in Tangkoko
 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Transfer from Tangkoko to Manado (66km): 3 hours

Wake early in the morning and meet with a ranger for a second forest walk to observe the Tarsius spectrum and other animals. Sunrise and sunset are the two best times to observe the wildlife of Tangkoko National Park.

After breakfast, transport will be provided to Manado airport to catch the onward flight.

Recommended flights (not included in package and quoted separately - subject to change without prior notice): International MI273 from Manado to Singapore departing at 13:50 and arriving at 17:05

Domestic GA625 from Manado to Denpasar departing at 15:45 and arriving 18:10

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast