Not at all! Most people who join my group trips come completely solo.

The whole idea behind these trips is to make it easier to travel somewhere incredible even if you don’t have someone to go with. We’ll all meet in Bali at the beginning of the trip and travel through Banggai together from there.

The trip starts and finishes in Bali.

You’ll organise your own international flights to Bali, then all domestic flights between Bali and Luwuk are included and organised as part of the trip.

On Day 8, we’ll fly back to Bali and the trip will officially finish once we arrive. From there you can stay longer in Bali, continue travelling or make your way home.

You’ll need to fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Bali.

I recommend arriving on Day 1, although you’re more than welcome to arrive earlier and spend some extra time in Bali before the trip begins.

Yes! Your return domestic flights between Bali and Luwuk are included in the cost of the trip and will be organised for the group.

We’ll travel together, so once you arrive in Bali you don’t need to figure out how to get yourself to Banggai.

We’ll be staying in a mix of villas, hotels and locally run guesthouses, all on a twin-share basis.

Our Bali accommodation will be more comfortable, with time to relax by the pool before we head off on the adventure.

Once we reach Banggai, things get a lot more basic. This is remote Indonesia, so expect simple rooms, local guesthouses and limited facilities in some places. It’s definitely not a luxury trip, but that’s a big part of getting to experience somewhere this untouched.

Wi-Fi should be available at some of our accommodation, particularly in Bali and Luwuk, but once we head into the Banggai Islands it may be limited, slow or unavailable at times.

I’d come prepared for a few days where you might be a little more disconnected than usual.

You don’t need to be an amazing swimmer, but a lot of this trip revolves around water.

We’ll be visiting lakes, lagoons, beaches, snorkelling spots and spending full days out on boats, so you’ll get the most out of the trip if you’re comfortable being around and getting into the water.

If there’s ever an activity you don’t feel comfortable doing, you can always sit it out.

You don’t need to be super fit for this trip.

There isn’t a major trekking component, but there will be plenty of swimming, getting on and off boats, walking around different locations and some long travel days.

A basic level of fitness and a sense of adventure will definitely help!

I’d recommend packing light for this trip.

We’ll be travelling on domestic flights, speedboats, ferries and between different guesthouses, so a backpack or smaller suitcase will be much easier than a huge suitcase.

You’ll mainly need lightweight clothes, swimmers, sandals, comfortable shoes, sun protection, a small day bag and anything you need for swimming/snorkelling.

I’ll send everyone a much more detailed packing list closer to the trip.

We’ll do our best to accommodate dietary requirements and allergies, but because we’ll be travelling through a remote part of Indonesia, food choices can sometimes be more limited than in Bali.

You’ll be asked to provide any dietary requirements before the trip so we can communicate them with our local team in advance.

During the Banggai portion of the trip, expect mostly local Indonesian food.

Because we’re travelling somewhere remote, there won’t always be the huge range of Western cafés and restaurants you might be used to in Bali.

It’s all part of the experience, and a great chance to try more local food along the way.

Definitely not haha.

We’ll start with a couple of comfortable days in Bali, but Banggai is still a very remote and relatively undeveloped part of Indonesia.

Some accommodation will be basic, journeys can take time and things might not always run exactly to schedule. If you’re happy to trade a little luxury for ridiculously beautiful places and a proper off-the-beaten-path adventure, you’ll love it.

Yes. Travel insurance is mandatory for everyone joining the trip.

Your policy should cover medical expenses, cancellations and delays, lost belongings and the activities included in the itinerary.

I’d also make sure your policy covers domestic travel within Indonesia and water-based activities.

If you love finding places before everyone else does, this is exactly that kind of trip.

The Banggai Islands are still relatively untouched by international tourism, with ridiculously clear lakes, lagoons, empty beaches and tiny islands that feel completely different to the busier parts of Indonesia.

It takes a little more effort to get there, but that’s also exactly why it still feels so special.

You only need a $600 deposit (this is non refundable) to secure your spot, and the remaining balance can be paid off through a payment plan.

Once your deposit is paid, your spot is officially secured and you’ll be able to follow the payment schedule from there.

If you ever have any questions about your payments along the way, just reach out and I’m always happy to help where I can.