4 Days / 3 Nights
| Accommodation | Location | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Gardenia Country Inn or Highland Resort | Minahasa | 3 Nights |
Overview
The Minahasa Highlands begin at about 300 meters above sea-level and continue up to 600-700 meters, with volcanic peaks of more than 1700 meters. The cool temperatures at night offer a relaxing respite from the shorelines and beaches of North Sulawesi. Bring a sweater.
Fun-loving and extroverted, the Minahasa people live in neat wood frame houses, with fences and flower gardens, giving the area a European feel. Those with an adventurous palate should try the famously hot and spicy Minahasa cuisine. A trip through the Minahasa Highlands will take you to intriguing prehistoric above-ground burial sites, volcanoes, hot springs, the highland lake Tondano and breathtaking panoramas of lush mountains, coffee and coconut plantations, orchid gardens and terraced hillsides.
Included
- Tours stated in each day
- Private AC car, English speaking guide and driver
- All entrance fees and park ranger fee
- Meals are specified each day
Excluded
- Extra expenses
- Tips
- Pick up or drop off to Bitung ($25pp)
Day 1: Tangkoko
12noon departure from Manado City or airport to Tangkoko Nature Reserve
The 2-hours trip to this 9,000-hectare nature reserve is quite scenic as we pass on small villages. Lunch is served in a local restaurant en route.
At the Nature Reserve, you will be guided by a forest ranger and Safari staff in search of the Macaca Nigra (black crested macaques indigenous to North Sulawesi), hornbills, couscous, Tarsier (one of the world’s smallest primates), as well as other fauna specific to the reserve. After the sun sets, you will have dinner at a local homestay near Tangkoko. After dinner, you will be driven to the resort in Tomohon, in the highlands overnight.
Day 2: Minahasa Highland
09.00 Leaving the Resort, your first stop will be at Pagoda Ekayana in the village of Kakaskasen. A place of worship for Buddhists, the pagoda also welcomes visitors to admire its architecture that blends well with the surrounding nature. Afterwards you’ll proceed to see the traditional food & flower market in Tomohon and to the small village of Woloan to see the Minahasan traditional style houses being built, knock down style, ready for delivery or shipping. You will have lunch at Tondano Lake while enjoying the serenity of the lake and its surrounding hills. After lunch your driven to Pulutan Village, an industrial village for pottery-making. As you start back to your resort, the bentenan weaving workshop is a must to visit and see the local weaving traditions being practiced. Dinner and overnight at resort.
Day 3: Mahawu Volcano
09:00 You’ll leave the resort heading to Mount Mahawu. Arriving at the starting point, you’ll begin the 30 minutes climb up the stairs to the crater’s edge. From the observation point at the top we can see Bunaken & Manado Tua Islands as well as the bay of Manado. A walk around
the crater’s rim will take us 45-60 minutes, and you can also observe a steaming lake and experience the smell of sulfur from the pools.
After the hike you’ll be driven to Lake Linow, a sulfuric lake (or equivalent), to have lunch and then driven back to the resort. Dinner and overnight at resort.
Day 4: Departure
Breakfast at Resort. You will be picked you up at the designated time to the airport to catch your next flight, or transfer you to your next destination.
| Gardenia Country Inn | $855 per person/double $1,335 single occupancy |
| Highland Resort | $725 per person/double $1,105 single occupancy |