Discover Indonesia

Tour Description:

Adventure and Ecotourism on North Sulawesi

Tour Highlights:

Underwater Volcano, Mt. Awu, Dugong, Snorkeling, Traditional Fishing

Tour Area:

Sangihe Volcanic Islands (North Sulawesi)

Starting Point:

Manado

Ending Point:

Manado

Minimun Person:

2 Persons

Welcome to Sangihe Islands

The Ring of Fire

Introduction:

Sangihe And Talaud

This district consists of 77 islands, of which 56 islands are inhabited. The population is 335.000 people (2006). Most of the people are involved in agriculture, which include coconut, vanilla, nutmeg, clove and fishing. The islands are located north of the Sulawesi Peninsula, and south of the Philippines the islands are divided into two main groups; Sangihe, consisting of the islands Sangir Besar, Siau, Tagulandang and Biaro; and Talaud consists of the  island of Karakelang, Salibabu, Kaburuan, Nanusa, Miangas plus many other small island. The capital of Sangihe Talaud is Tahuna; which is located on Sanger Besar. The airport located about 21 km from Tahuna is serviced by domestic airlines on an irregular basis.

There are seaports in Tahuna, Siau, Tagulandang and Biau which are serviced by various ferries and local boats.

Sangihe Talaud is renowned for its magnificent white sandy beaches with amazing coral gardens as well as an underwater active volcano.

The cultural ceremonies, dances, and folksongs from this group of island are many.

The most outstanding traditional ceremonies are:

Menahulending

A ceremony to expressing gratitude and pray for someone who renders a useful service.

Menulude

Aceremony thanks giving, which is celebrated annually at the end of January.

Mangundang Banua (Mesundeng)

is a dedication ceremony for a new boat, house, or garden.

Sangihe Talaud is known for its beautiful dances such as:

Maane’e

a traditional fish catching in Intata Island, which always celebrate every once in a year on the month of May.

Maharo Island

This beautiful tiny island is located on the eastern side of Siau Island. Justly proud of the beauty of its own, touring to this island is wonderful to observe Portuguese ruin fortress in the gentle see breeze. Only a few minute by a motorized outrigger canoe from Siau harbour

Mount Awu Crater Lake

Situated on Sanger Besar Island, mount Awu (1320 m) is still active and it last erupted on 12 August 1966. The Crater Lake is considerably beauty; dark green, light green and white colors are contrast. Climbing it inquire at the Volcanologist Office in Tahuna.

Nutmeg Plantation in Siau

Blessed by fertile land, caused by volcanic ash of volcano Karangetang, some of village used their shifting land into nutmeg plantations. Indeed, most of grounds are covered by green and thick nutmeg trees, makes a breathtaking view of spice forest. Siau is an ideal place to enjoy nutmeg plantation.

Mahangetang Underwater Volcano

Lies 4 – 8 meters underwater, about 300 m only off the Island of Mahangetang, this underwater volcano showing magnificent underwater view of the crystal of boiling water under the sea. Located 18 miles away of Tahuna, it is easily reached by hiring a motorizes outrigger canoe from Tahuna harbour.

Sara Island

Heavily forested with lush verdant tropical vegetation, this tiny island bustled with the activity of Maleo birds, cockatoos, etc. It is surrounded by white sandy beaches and there is an extensive coral reef nearby. Take a motorized outrigger canoe from Lirung harbour (45 minutes) or from Melangguane Airport (60 minutes) to this splendor island.

Volcano Karangetang

Towering 1.800 m in Siau, this volcano is still active and it last erupted in 1974. Volcano Karangetang appears so scenically from the sea while entering Siau harbour.

Santago Mousoleum

Lying among towering coconut palms and flowery garden, overlooking a beautiful stretch of forested mountains and sea views, it is a King Santiago Mouseleum and he rued Managanitu Kingdom from 1670 – 1677

Tour Itinerary Sangihe Volcanic Island

07 Days/06 Nights

Day 01: Arrival – Manado – Sangihe

• Arrival at Sam Ratulangi International airport
• Welcome drink
• Meeting service
• Full payment
• Sightseeing around Manado city
• Transfer to Manado harbor
• By ship sailing to Sangihe, it takes 6-7 hours
• Overnight stay at the ship

Day 02: Climb to Mt Awu Crater (whole day activity)

• Arrive in Tahuna City early morning, proceed to Mt. Awu check point for report
• Situated on Sanger Besar Island, mount Awu (1320 m) is still active and it last erupted on 12 August 1966. The Crater Lake is considerably beauty; dark green, light green and white colors are contrast and here we need to report to the Volcanologist Office in Tahuna before climbing
• In the afternoon driving down to Enemawira
• Stay overnight at the locals.

Important Note: The Volcano logical Survey of Indonesia (VSI) issued reports of activity at Awu during June-July 2000, November-December 2002, and more recently during January-early March 2003, all of which are summarized here.

During June 2000, VSI reported an increase in seismicity, especially deep volcanic earthquakes (table 1). Satellite-relayed monitoring (by ARGOS) showed an increase in seismic energy beginning on 18 May 2000; deformation data showed inflation of ~800 µrad since 23 May.

During 14-16 October 2002, tremor was recorded and was    followed by a felt tectonic earthquake with amplitude of I-II MMI on 10 October. Soon after the tremor activity decreased, volcanic earthquakes began to be recorded (table 1). VSI reported a significant increase in seismicity during mid-November 2002; volcanic earthquakes that normally occurred less than five times per day occurred 81 times on 15 November. Activity decreased to normal levels by late 2002. Visual observations of the summit did not reveal significant changes. Volcanic earthquakes continued during January-early March 2003 (table 1). Awu remained at Alert Level 2 (on a scale of 1-4).

Ash plum at Mt.Awu on June 2006

Day 03: Snorkeling to Mahangetang Underwater Volcano 2 Hours Boat Trip (each way) from Tamako (depends of how big the engines used)

Mahangetang Underwater Volcano

Lies at 4- 8 meters underwater, only about 300 m off the island of Mahangetang, this underwater volcano offers a magnificent view of water boiling under the sea.

• Breakfast
• By a local motorized small boat, sail to Mahangetang island
• Arrive on the Island
• We will pay a visit to the “OPO LAO” village head for permission
• Enjoy yourself on the crystal clear water, hot water and beautiful coral of the Mahangetang

Mahangetang Islands Area

1. Underwater volcano
2. Schools of fish everywhere
3. Magnificent corals
4. See shape of volcano
5. Bubbles and hot water from volcano
6. Parrot, Scorpion fish, Sharks, Jack

• Lunch will be served on the beach
• We’ll take time to explore this small fisherman village
• Late in the afternoon return to Tamako for overnight

Day 04: Trekking to Mt. Sahengbalira – Binala waterfall

The Gunung Sahengbalira Protection Forest covers an area of 5,000 ha and is nominated as a nature reserve in Indonesia’s National Conservation Plan. The site holds the last remaining area with reasonably extensive forest on Sangihe Island. Forests range from primary lowland tropical rainforest to sub-montane forests at the higher altitudes. The site is named after the highest peak in the area: the Gunung Sahengbalira (1015m). Mammal sand Birds are expected to be seen:

Mammals:

• Sulawesi dwarf cuscus – Strigocuscus celebensis
• Variable flying fox – Pteropus hypomelanus
• Sulawesi rousette – Rousettus celebensis
• Malayan false vampire bat – Megaderma spasma
• Swift fruit bat – Thoopterus nigrescens
• Common long – Tongued fruit bat
• Sangihe tarsier – Tarsius sangirensis
• Malay civet – Viverra tangalunga
• Sulawesi giant rat – Lenomys meyeri
• House mouse – Mus musculus
• House rat – Rattus rattus
• Sangihe tree squirrel – Prosciurillus leucomus
• Sulawesi giant squirrel – Rubrisciurus rubriventer

Birds:

• Philippine Scrubfowl – Megapodius cumingii
• Dollarbird – Eurystomus orientalis
• Sulawesi Kingfisher (E) – Ceyx fallax
• Lilac-cheeked Kingfisher(E) – Cittura cyanotis
• Rainbow Bee-eater – Merops ornatus
• Oriental Cuckoo – Cuculus saturates
• Asian Koel – Eudynamys scolopacea
• Lesser Coucal – Centropus bengalensis
• Sulphur-crested Cockatoo – Cacatua galerita
• Great-billed Parrot – Tanygnathus megalorynchos
• Blue-backed Parrot – Tanygnathus sumatranus
• Sangihe Hanging-Parrot(E) – Loriculus catamene
• Glossy Swiftlet – Collocalia esculenta
• Moluccan Swiftlet – Aerodramus infuscate
• White-throated Needletail – Hirundapus caudacutus
• Sangihe Scops-Owl (E) – Otus collari
• Slender-billed Cuckoo-Dove – Macropygia amboinensis

Day 05: Tamako – Lapango – Manganitu – Tahuna

• Breakfast
• Check out, then we drive you to Lapango (old gold mining complex)
• Driving along the coastal roads and villages then to Manganitu village
• Lunch enroute
• A short trek to the nearby waterfall called Laine at Manganitu village
• Arrive in Tahuna, stay overnight at local people house.

Day 06: Dugong and Snorkeling Trip

• A whole day boat trip for swimming, snorkeling , fishing, dolphin and to search the famous Dugong Fish around on the satellite islands of Tahuna
• Spend your time also on the beautiful beach of Pananualeng
• Overnight at locals at Enemawira village. (Beach farewell party)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Dugong is very hard to find, it depends on its food (sea grass) and some Islands of Tahuna are surrounded by sea grass. People and crab are the predators of these mammals. Dugong (Dugong dugon) is commonly called sea cow. Dugongs are 3 meters long and rotund as blimps, often weighting 400 kg. They have a pig like head with enormous upper lips used for grasping sea grass. Like elephants, they are vegetarians. Like all mammals, they must breathe air and rarely submerge for more than 8 minutes. Dugongs may live for more than 70 years.

• Leaving Enemawira to Tahuna
• Touring around Tahuna, to Kolongan Beach, snorkeling at the harbor site (There is no boat provided)
• Late in the afternoon, return to Manado by evening ferry
• On the way, enjoy the spectacular plume of Mt. Karangetang with its larva activity.

Day 07: Arrive in Manado – Airport

• Early in the morning arrive in Manado
• Breakfast
• Tour evaluation
• Leisure time until transfer to airport
• Transfer to airport for your next destination
• End of our services