Do we need to book our accommodations in advance for Sulawesi?
The snorkeling would be at an amateur level—my son does it with flippers, and I just paddle around at the surface with a mask. What would work well for us is snorkeling directly from the beach, since excursions, which are only occasional, increase the budget if we have to rent a boat every day. No scuba diving.
- For the purpose of the trip: be aware that I have an autistic teenager who doesn’t handle noise, crowds, or too-frequent travel well. He generally enjoys small villages with little restaurants, shops, and quiet beaches. For travel, we can’t do daily moves—we stay 2 to 4 days at each stop. We can take a local flight if it’s not too expensive.
The Togian Islands could be an option. They’re accessible from the north via Gorontalo or from the south via Ampana. https://onedayonetravel.com/sejour-aux-iles-togian-guide-de-voyage-a-sulawesi/ https://www.voyageindonesie.com/guide-indonesie/destination/iles-togian
On Malenge, for example, you have a choice (among others) between two sets of beachfront bungalows: Sandy Bay and Sera Beach (my favorite), about 400 meters apart (you can walk from one to the other). http://www.sandybay-resort.com/ https://seramalengesulawesi.com/2019/03/06/home/ It’s really off the beaten path. The only big village on the island is 6 or 7 km away (accessible on foot via jungle trails or by canoe), and in that village, apart from a small grocery store, there’s almost nothing else. The two accommodations (there are at least two others) offer full board—no other options. The food is really good (lots of fish!), and the rates are budget-friendly. Electricity is only available for 2 or 3 hours in the evening. No Wi-Fi! So it’s super peaceful! When I went (in March), there were very few people—only a few bungalows were occupied. In August, it might be a good idea to book... From Malenge (just like from the other islands), you can head to other islands and stay a few days (Kadidiri, Bomba, etc.), and also take an excursion to the jellyfish lake where you can swim (harmless jellyfish) and see a Badjo village. On every island and beach with guesthouses, you can snorkel right from the shore, or join group snorkeling trips (and even scuba diving) with other guests to reefs about half an hour from the beach (you share the cost of the canoe) with the bungalow managers.
The Togian Islands could be an option. They’re accessible from the north via Gorontalo or from the south via Ampana. https://onedayonetravel.com/sejour-aux-iles-togian-guide-de-voyage-a-sulawesi/ https://www.voyageindonesie.com/guide-indonesie/destination/iles-togian
On Malenge, for example, you have a choice (among others) between two sets of beachfront bungalows: Sandy Bay and Sera Beach (my favorite), about 400 meters apart (you can walk from one to the other). http://www.sandybay-resort.com/ https://seramalengesulawesi.com/2019/03/06/home/ It’s really off the beaten path. The only big village on the island is 6 or 7 km away (accessible on foot via jungle trails or by canoe), and in that village, apart from a small grocery store, there’s almost nothing else. The two accommodations (there are at least two others) offer full board—no other options. The food is really good (lots of fish!), and the rates are budget-friendly. Electricity is only available for 2 or 3 hours in the evening. No Wi-Fi! So it’s super peaceful! When I went (in March), there were very few people—only a few bungalows were occupied. In August, it might be a good idea to book... From Malenge (just like from the other islands), you can head to other islands and stay a few days (Kadidiri, Bomba, etc.), and also take an excursion to the jellyfish lake where you can swim (harmless jellyfish) and see a Badjo village. On every island and beach with guesthouses, you can snorkel right from the shore, or join group snorkeling trips (and even scuba diving) with other guests to reefs about half an hour from the beach (you share the cost of the canoe) with the bungalow managers.