Whilst there are thousands of islands in Indonesia, nothing compares to the beauty and tranquillity of the Togean Islands, where its remote location has played a key role in preserving the natural allure of these stunning islands.
Made up of 56 islands, most of them untouched, this is THE spot to visit if you want to get off-the-grid and enjoy a true castaway experience. In this Togean islands travel guide, you’ll see that the beaches of these idyllic, remote islands are blessed with the whitest, most powdery sand you are ever likely to see, alongside giant seashells dotting the beaches and colourful coral reefs teeming with hundreds of species of tropical fish and marine life below the surface.
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When visiting the Togean Islands in the Gulf Of Tomini, you can be forgiven for wanting to spend all your time on the beach or underwater, however there is plenty to see on dry land too! The islands are covered in virgin jungle, which is home to some of Sulawesi’s endemic wildlife. Floating fishing villages, where the Bajo people live, are bustling with activity and a great place to observe the authentic sea-gypsy way of life, as well as interact with friendly locals.
If you are not a diver, tales of the Togean Islands may not have reached your ears, but you might have seen the dreamy images of heavenly tropical islands joined with wooden footbridges. Many of the small islands are interconnected by charming wooden bridges, so you can literally walk on water whilst island-hopping. Here, there is little to no Wi-Fi coverage, and lights only turn on at night using a generator. The Togean Islands are truly an off-the-grid experience!
How To Get To The Togean Islands
Now, let’s discuss how to reach this earthly paradise! Whilst it’s quite the adventure via bus, car and ferry, it’s also well worth the many hours travel time to reach this dreamy tropical oasis.
Catch a boat from either Gorontalo in North Sulawesi, or Ampana to the Togean Islands. You can reach the islands from Ampana via a public ferry which takes around 7-hours, departing on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, and returning from Togean on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 10am. There is also a speedboat which leaves at 9am and returns at 1pm daily, taking anything between 4-7 hours depending on where you will be disembarking. You’ll also find that the hotels have private outriggers and speed-boats that can be organised to pick you up from the main harbours. Most resorts have private speed boats that will pick you up from Wakai and take you straight to the resort.
From Gorontalo the public ferry trip takes around 13-hours, leaving at 5pm on Tuesdays and Fridays. The return ferry is on Mondays and Thursdays, departing at 10am. Make sure you reserve a tatami mattress when booking your ticket, as otherwise you will be sleeping on the deck! It’s important to note that the boat schedules and travel times are subject to weather conditions.
To reach Ampana, the best route is to get a private driver from Tentena (6-7 hours), Palu (10-12 hours) or Poso (3-4 hours). There are also 8-seater minivans available to hire from Poso to Ampana, which takes 4-hours and cost just IDR100,000 (AUD$10) per person.
For more info about travelling to Sulawesi, check-out our Comprehensive Sulawesi Travel Guide.
Where To Stay On The Togean Islands
Not all of the 56 Togean Islands are inhabited, but there are many islands which have hotels for holiday makers and travellers. The accommodation choice mostly consists of beach bungalows and diving accommodation scattered across the islands, with a handful of mid-range to luxury options also available. Most beach bungalows accept walk-ins, but it’s always a good idea to plan ahead and book accommodation for your first few days at least. Many hotels are all-inclusive and offer communal dining, which is great for connecting with other travellers and enjoying the atmosphere of sharing travel stories over a meal and a few Bintangs.
The larger island of Batudaka is located near to the main port of Wakai. Togean, Bomba and Una-Una are where you will find most of the hotels, along with plenty of charming spots dotted across the smaller tropical isles that are just calling out to be discovered.
Here are some recommendations for accommodation in the Togean Islands:
- Poki Poki in Bomba
- Ale Beach Angkayo in Kalia
- Sera Beach Cottages in Malenge
- Araya Dive Resort on Batudaka Island
- Kadiri Dive Resort on Kadiri Island
- Sanctum Una-Una Dive Resort in Una-Una
What To Do On The Togean Islands
- Swim with stingless jellyfish at Lake Mariona. This is a surreal experience which you can enjoy at only a few locations around the world. After the lake ceased to be connected to the sea, the jellyfish evolved to be stingless due to there being no threat of predators. As a result, you will feel like you are floating through a galaxy of jellyfish. Karina Beach is located right by the lake and a great place to hang-out, snorkel and enjoy a chilled-out beach day after your jellyfish experience.
- Visit floating fishing villages like Pulau Papan, home of the Bajo people who live as sea-gipsies, free diving for their livelihood.
- The islands are very biodiverse, with many endangered animals inhabiting the area including Hawksbill and Green Sea Turtles – you may even spot the alien-like Giant Coconut Crabs that climb the surrounding coconut trees.
- Una-Una Island is where you will find two volcanos, one of which last erupted in 1983. The trek up Volcano Ambun takes around half a day. Volcano Colo has a lake viewing point where you will be able to see firsthand that the volcano is indeed active, due to the smoke pouring out of the crater! There are Jurassic jungle views all around and picturesque hikes, but make sure you take plenty of water, sunscreen and snacks. Your accommodation should be able to organise transfers and guides for your volcano treks to ensure that you are in safe hands!
- Kepulauan Togean National Park
- Wake-up to fresh sea breeze with a liveaboard experience. You can dive from day through to night, with everything from food to diving gear taken care of, allowing you to really sink your teeth into the underwater world of the Togeans. Not just for divers, anyone can spend a few nights aboard a liveaboard boat for a true sea-gypsy experience.
Diving The Togean Islands
Wakatobi and Bunaken are two of the more popular options for diving in Sulawesi, but no matter where you choose, what you will find throughout all the Togean Islands is up to 30-metres of clear underwater visibility, due to the calm waters of the Gulf of Tomini. You will also see vast underwater landscapes, as well as a spectacle of dazzling marine life. There are over 1,000 species of reef fish, corals and sponges, as well as coral gardens, pinnacles, barrier reefs, fringing reefs, walls, steep slopes, muck diving and even a WWII Bomber B-24 aircraft wreck. Although dynamite fishing has sadly done some damage to the coral reefs, the Togeans are an incredible destination for amazing underwater exploration.
Travel Tips for Visiting The Togean Islands
- There are no ATMs on the islands, so make sure you take plenty of cash with you!
- Carefully plan your route ahead of time, as car, bus and ferry rides are lengthy, and schedules are not very frequent or flexible.
- You won’t have access to mobile data or Wi-Fi on the islands, so be prepared for a truly off-the-grid experience. If you’re lucky, you may get some date coverage in Wakai, but don’t count on it!
- Bring all your travel necessities with you, as there won’t be much available for purchase. This includes toiletries, mosquito spray, sunscreens, batteries, medication, snacks and pretty much any of your daily needs.
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The Togean Islands of Sulawesi are remote, but well worthy of exploration. Our exclusive travel guide for the Togean Islands is here to inspire you to travel to some of the most remote islands on the planet, where natural beauty and a tranquil island experience awaits eager adventurers!
Are you looking to explore more of Sulawesi while visiting the Togean Islands? Read our blog on 7 Amazing Things To Do In Sulawesi!
