ID · Central Sulawesi · 0.39°S 121.96°E

togian islands

Small coral islands, village jetties and long snorkelling days in the Gulf of Tomini.

Best time
April to October usually brings the calmest seas and clearest water. December to February is the wettest stretch, with more delayed boats, though showers can come in any month.
How long
5–7 nights on the islands, plus 2 days each way
Getting there
Fly to Makassar (about 3 hours from KL) and connect to Luwuk, then it's about 5 hours by road to Ampana and a boat to Wakai, about 1.5 hours by speedboat or 5 by ferry. Your host's boat takes you on from there. Another way in is the overnight ferry from Gorontalo. Plan on a night in Ampana. Central Sulawesi is on the same time as KL.
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ID · Central Sulawesitogian islands0.39°S 121.96°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Small coral islands, village jetties and long snorkelling days in the Gulf of Tomini.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTogian IslandsID, Central Sulawesi
KLtogian islands
≈ 2,287 km from KL, as the crow flies
A stilt house in the bajau village of Kabalutan (Togian islands, Sulawesi)

Photo: Benoît Vicart · CC0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A chain of jungle-covered islands in the calm Gulf of Tomini, in the middle of Sulawesi, with reefs right off the beach and simple bungalows on stilts. Getting there takes days, which is exactly why it stays so quiet; once you arrive, there's little to do but snorkel, swim and watch the boats.

Makan

  1. Grilled fishThe day's catch with rice and vegetables, the standard full-board dinner.Map ↗
  2. Sayur kelorA light soup of moringa leaves, often on the table with the fish.Map ↗
  3. Pisang gorengFried bananas with afternoon coffee, between swims.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. KadidiriThe most popular island, with house reefs straight off the beach and a few dive centres.Map ↗
  2. MalengeA quieter island of mangroves, fishing villages and good snorkelling, further into the chain.Map ↗
  3. BombaThe western end of the chain, with a few beach bungalows and reefs close by.Map ↗
  4. Bajo villagesStilt-house villages of the Bajo sea people, like Pulau Papan, joined to Malenge by a long wooden footbridge.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Make sure your host will meet the boat at Wakai; most island stays are a further boat ride away.
  • Bring enough cash from the mainland; you can't count on ATMs or cards out on the islands.
  • Food in the villages is halal as standard, but most bungalows cook for foreign guests, so tell your host you eat halal when you book.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.