A shallow village reef with urchin colonies — the easiest place to find the endemic. Snorkel only.WildBone Baru cardinalfish
Depth 1 – 5 m
Local guide €5
Banggai ArchipelagoJourney to Peleng Island to experience Lake Paisupok, Indonesia’s famous glass-clear blue lake hidden within the Banggai archipelagoRead more
BangkaA small island off the northern tip of North Sulawesi, reached by boat from Likupang,
known for soft coral pinnacles and quiet dive resorts away from the Bunaken crowds.Read more
BiraUnwind on South Sulawesi’s southern tip, famous for flour-soft white sand beaches, vibrant turquoise waters, and ancient Phinisi boatbuilding traditionsRead more
- Tanjung Bira Travel Guide: What's Worth the StopThe southern tip has the white sand, but most travellers stay a night too many. An honest read on when Bira earns the trip.Read more
- Pinisi Shipbuilding at Tana Beru: Inside the Bugis BoatyardNine months, three carpenters, and no measuring tape. Inside the Tana Beru pinisi yard, where Bugis shipbuilders still work the old way.Read more
Tarsier Spotting at Tangkoko: A Practical Field GuideTarsiers wake at six, weigh less than a phone, and forgive a quiet visitor exactly once. How to find them at Tangkoko — rangers, timing, and the rules.Read more
2D1N Tangkoko Nature Reserve Overnight Wildlife SafariExperience Tangkoko Nature Reserve across two distinct wildlife activity windows on an overnight safari. Track troops of Sulawesi black crested macaques, bear cuscus, and nocturnal tarsiers at dusk, then wake for an early-morning canopy trek to spot rare endemic birds and early-rising primatesRead more
2-Day Lembah Ramma Valley Hiking & Camping TourJourney from Makassar into the cool highlands of Malino for a 2-day trekking adventure through mountain streams and pine forests to Lembah Ramma. Camp overnight in a tranquil valley beneath the shadows of Mount Bawakaraeng, surrounded by lush meadows and dramatic rock wallsRead more
3D2N Manado Highland & Island EscapeDiscover the cool Minahasa Highlands and historic landmarks before venturing out on a boat excursion across Bunaken Marine Park and Nain Island. Wrap up your journey with local culinary experiences and a quick city shopping tour of ManadoRead more
- 3D2N Makassar & Maros Highlights Tour
- 3-Day Toraja Cultural Immersion & Traditional Villagestay
- 7-Day Buton & Muna Islands Nature & Cultural Expedition
- 5-Day Labengki & Sombori Islands Expedition
- 5-Day Toraja Cultural Journey & Bugis Heritage Exploration
- 8-Day Togean Islands Cruise & Beach Hopper Adventure
- Find your tour
BANGGAI ISLANDS
Banggai Archipelago
LAKE PAISUPOK & GLASS WATERS
- Typical stay5 – 7 days
- Base townBanggai (Bangkep)
- ProvinceCentral Sulawesi
- Island stays3 properties we book
- Driest monthsMay – Oct
Central Sulawesi
Banggai Archipelago
The Banggai Archipelago is a chain of small islands east of the Togean group, separated from them by the same Gulf of Tomini and reached by a different ferry. The reason to come is one fish: Pterapogon kauderni, the Banggai cardinalfish, which evolved in this archipelago and nowhere else on the planet.
It is a small striped fish, no bigger than a hand, and it broods its eggs inside the male's mouth. You see it in shallows over sea-urchin colonies; the urchin spines are the nursery.
The reef beyond is healthy and the diving is quiet — fewer boats than the Togeans, no signal on most islands, and the slow rhythm of a place no through-traffic visits.
Highlights
- Bone Baru cardinalfishDepth 1 – 5 m
- Tinakin LautDepth 8 – 30 m
- Pulau DuaDepth 5 – 25 m
- Liang CaveHalf-day
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Tell us roughly what you want from the trip and we will put a route together around it.
WhatsApp usJourney to Peleng Island to experience Lake Paisupok, Indonesia’s famous glass-clear blue lake hidden within the Banggai archipelago
Tours that go to Banggai Archipelago
Every published trip that reaches this part of the island.
Ready to plan your adventure?
None of these quite right? We build trips from scratch just as often as we run these.
WhatsApp usBest visits
- A shallow village reef with urchin colonies — the easiest place to find the endemic. Snorkel only.Wild
A north-coast reef with intact tabular coral. Boats from Banggai town in the morning.WildTinakin Laut
Depth 8 – 30 m
From €62 / 2 dives
A small island wall with slack-tide drift. Pelagic in shoulder months.WildPulau Dua
Depth 5 – 25 m
From €70 / 2 dives
A swimming cave on Peleng. Cool water, a shaft of light at noon, a fifteen-minute walk in.WildLiang Cave
Half-day
Local guide €2
What visitors say about Banggai Archipelago
A wild and remote island destination
Banggai feels wild, remote, and almost untouched compared with Bali or Indonesia's more developed islands.
Our summary of what travellers and travel writers report about this area. It is not a quotation from any one of them.
The 2 places to stay here average 7.7 out of 10, across 69 guest reviews on Booking.com.
See where to stay
Plan your visit
Pre-done trip · 7 days
A Banggai cardinal week
Luwuk to Banggai by ferry, two snorkels at Bone Baru and three dives in the outer reefs.
- From €1 302
- 6 dives
- 2 guests min.
Nearby
Places close enough to add to the same trip without a long journey between them.
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