Saltwater Tours

Wanci, Wakatobi

The islands of Wakatobi were identified by President Jokowi of Indonesia as one of the 10 locations that are being prioritized for tourism development. This tourism is focused on scuba diving, since it is located within the second largest Marine National Park in the country. There is also a large community of Bajo people, sometimes called “Sea Gypsies,” that build their houses over the water and have a very unique culture. Aspects of this ocean culture can be explored in Wakatobi as well as doing some amazing diving for the more experienced.

Raha or South Muna Island

The island of Muna is the second largest in the province and is a quick boat ride away from the city of Baubau. Muna is primarily limestone and has a large number of caves and coves that are well known, especially in the south part of the island. Raha is the largest city on Muna and is located farther north on the island’s east coast. Near Raha are some caves that have ancient paintings within them, and rock formations to hike among with a zipline available at the top of one peak depending on the operating schedule. The famous Napabale Cove has a tunnel to the ocean that is only visible at low tide. A visit to Muna will include a ferry ride that is 30 minutes to an hour and a half (depending on the route) as well as between an hour to three hours by car (also depending on the route).

Lapandewa, South Buton

This area is located on the South Coast of the island of Buton looking directly at the Banda Sea with the island of Batuatas visible in the distance on clear days. It is a village among the Cia-Cia people and is remote enough to have its own unique cultural feel. It is about an hour and a half drive from our guesthouse in Baubau, and there are some traditional wooden stilt houses overlooking Lande Bay where guests can stay. There is also a house to stay in that is close to the water located next to the market in a village called Lande. In addition to cultural tours, we can take experienced divers out diving in a traditional fiberglass boat around the bay and on the southern end of Buton, which are dives similar to those in Wakatobi.

Batusori, Baubau

The area of Batusori is located within the city limits of Baubau, though it feels very remote. It is about a 30-minute drive from the guesthouse in Baubau, and is named after the small rock island that is at the point in the Buton Strait where the island of Buton and Muna are the closest. The city tourism department has recently built a walking bridge to this island that has become a favorite spot in the city to spend the late afternoon walking around. We also have a boat that we can use for diving and watersports, as well as SUPs, a zipline, and a milk goat farm to visit as well. This is the closest location to all of our equipment and the most convenient for a variety of activities like hikes to waterfalls, caves, and historical sites as well. Baubau has great shore dives at Nirvana Beach, which work well for Discovery Dives.

Arrival Info

Most of the tours will have the guests arriving by air into the city of Baubau. For the one week or longer all-inclusive tours we can arrange the domestic Indonesian airline flight from your port of entry, usually Jakarta (CGK) or Bali (DPS). Once you arrive in Baubau we can pick you up at the airport and provide everything you need for your time on the island of Buton and the islands surrounding it. The only exception to this would be if guests wanted to fly directly into Wakatobi, and we can help arrange tours among those islands as well.

Other Adventure Activities

We offer a variety of water and land adventure activities in and around the city of Baubau. We have Stand-Up Paddleboards (SUPs), kayaks, mountain bikes, a climbing wall, and some ziplines in the area. Any mix of these activities are allowed and included in the price of our tour packages. With a boat rental we can also do tubing.

Cultural

The islands of Buton are scattered with many different people groups, each of which have their own language or dialect, and their own twist on the local rituals and beliefs. Two villages can be located right next to each other and have totally different languages. Thankfully most of the people in all of the villages can also speak the Indonesian language, so you will be able to interact with them with the help of a translator. They love to get to talk to you and will do their best to make you feel at home. There are probably some big differences between the way you and they live, and each of these tours offer a great chance to see the differences first-hand and expand your worldview a little. Any mix of these activities are allowed and included in the price of our tour packages.

Trekking

There is still a large amount of unexplored jungle on these islands. Most of the villages are located on the coast, and all of them are close to the coast, though some are in the Buton Strait, some face the open ocean of the Banda Sea, and some are near mangrove swamps. Especially on the larger islands, such as Buton and Muna, there are plenty of villages inland, but it is not hard to get alone with nature if you want to. There are many caves, coves, and waterfalls on these islands that are easy to visit and fun to explore. The mountains are 750m at the tallest, with many being smaller than that, but some require a several hour hike into the jungle. These hikes can be completed by adults of all ages, and hikers are often rewarded with a great view at the top of the mountain. Any mix of these activities are allowed and included in the price of our tour packages.

All Tours Mix Adventure

The tours on the island of Buton, and the islands surrounding it, are all designed with the same basic elements, though there is flexibility in all of the tours. We will spend several days in a small village, living with the people, learning about their culture, and helping them out where we can. In the vicinity of this village will be places to dive, various options for cultural and ocean activities, as well as caves, mountains, and waterfalls to visit. If one activity is preferred over another, we can make adjustments as we go. All of our tours can be customized for the individual or group that comes to visit. We can also provide additional information about each of the activities upon request.

Diving & Snorkeling

These islands are off the southeastern coast of Sulawesi, which is famous for its scuba diving. The second largest Marine National Park in Indonesia is among the islands of Wakatobi, and there is good diving all year round. There are wall dives, muck dives, drift dives, cave dives, and plenty of shore dives where you can also snorkel. We have dives for all levels of experience, even those that are not yet certified and want to take part in a PADI Discovery Dive to see what it’s like. These activities usually require an additional charge unless the guest is signed up for a week or longer all-inclusive tour, then they are included.

Experience Authentic Indonesia

What We Do

Where We Are

Tours

Activities

Locations

Gallery