Banggai Islands: Indonesia Off the Grid
You've probably seen Paisupok Lake on Instagram – water so clear the boats seem to float in air. What you won't find online: how to actually get there. The Banggai Islands are one of Indonesia's last off-grid destinations. No Booking.com, no Google Maps, no English, no tourist infrastructure. That's what makes them special – and why you need this guide. We traveled the archipelago with cameras and dive gear and figured it all out the hard way, so you don't have to: – The exact route: flights (incl. the tiny Air Susi plane), ferries and schedules – Booking homestays via WhatsApp – what works and what to say – Paisupok done right: the golden hour window before wind ruins the glassy water – Boat charters: realistic prices, finding a reliable captain – Cash, SIMs, power cuts – the unglamorous stuff that makes or breaks this trip – Snorkeling spots incl. the endemic Banggai cardinalfish Every spot and price is from our own trip. Indonesia like Raja Ampat 20 years ago – this is it.
Drinking water
stay hydrated
Snorkeling & the fish that lives nowhere else
and what to bring to see it
Drone & Photo etiquette
cultural differences
A little Bahasa goes a long way
Especially when you the phone signal is weak
Navigating the unknown
...even when Google maps fails
Surviving the Ferry
travel sometimes comes at a cost
Health and Safety
... you are going off the beaten path - come prepared
Indonesian Rubbertime
The clocks tick differently in Indonesia...
Finding Hotels
Many hotels in the Banggai Islands are not listed on the common platforms.
Money in Indonesia
Especially in the rural areas of Indonesia like the Banggai Islands cash is still king.
SIM Cards and networks
how to not get stuck without Signal
a quicker way to get from Banggai Laut to Luwuk and vice versa
...and it is scenic too!
Ferries
the confusing Ferries between the Banggai Islands and which to chose