The world's most strangely formed island, Sulawesi is the island of contrasts. Rugged mountains, virgin rainforests, lush paddy fields, highland lakes and perfect beaches, rich coral reefs, the island's dramatic geographical features share a fabulous tropical setting with an amazing variety of flora and fauna. Unspoilt reserves provide a protected habitat for the indigenous species of Sulawesi, such as the arona, dwarf buffalo and babi rusa or pig deer. Sulawesi, once known as the Celebes, is home to remarkable variety of peoples. Fishermen occupy its coast; sailing and trading peoples, especially the Bugis, Makassar and Mandar peoples of the south, are famous for their notable wooden sailing crafts called "phinisi"; lowlands are occupied by farmers of rice, maize, manioc and other crops. Sulawesi is the home to Muslim, Christians, Buddhists, Hindus, as well as followers of indigenous religions.

The island is divided into 5 provinces: South Sulawesi, Central Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, North Sulawesi and Gorontalo. Makassar, the capital and administrative centre of South Sulawesi, is usually simply passed on the way to Tana Toraja. But the city for almost five hundred years was the entry to the legendary "Spice Islands" of eastern archipelago, has much to offer: shopping, historical sites and busy urban setting. Rantepao is a little town, where begins and end ends journey into Tana Toraja, the "Land of the Heavenly Kings" whose unique culture rivals any in the archipelago. South Sulawesi is famous for its tremendous scenery but also for the quality and talent of its silk and silver work industries, however the economy is largely based on agriculture. Central Sulawesi is an enormous, mountainous province of virgin forests and rocky panorama. Until recently, few westerners visited the region, which is cut off from the south by a natural barrier of jungle and mountain. North Sulawesi is a craggy, forested set with stunning vistas of active volcanoes and clove trees. The area offers world-famous scuba diving, volcano climbing, serene mountain resorts, natural parks, and unique Minahasan culture. The main attraction of Southeast Sulawesi is its impressive surroundings, and the fact that it is so isolated. Southeast Sulawesi covers Southeast peninsula, Buton Island, Muna Island and small islands spread out at South and South East of peninsula. Most of the land area is covered by natural jungle, with extensive plantations of teak and ironwood, which are used for local handicrafts and contribute to the local economy.

SOUTH SULAWESI
South Sulawesi, that constitutes the narrow south-western peninsula of the island, is geographically and culturally diverse. South Sulawesi posses fertile rice fields, lofty mountains, dry southern region, and long shoreline dotted with fishing villages. The highlight is, except striking landscapes, remarkable people, this part of the island is home to four major ethnic groups and several minor ones. The costal and lowland regions of South Sulawesi are occupied mainly by pound and frank Bugis. The Bugis have always been great seafarers and shipbuilders. Other groups, as Makassarese and Mandarese are closely related to the Bugis. In the northern part of peninsula is a region inhabited by people collectively known as Toraja. The best known of these peoples, the Sa'dan Toraja, get their name from the great river the courses through the mountains. A believe that their forefathers descended from heaven on a boat onto mountain some twenty generations ago, the Toraja have unique culture based on strong animistic beliefs. They practice an ancestor cult where death and afterlife ceremonies are great feasts. A strict hierarchy is followed in the villages and for an important figure, wedding and burial ceremonies, can take days to perform buffalo are sacrificed, the deceased's remains are placed in a coffin and interred in caves hollowed out in high cliffs. The mouth of the cave is guarded by lifelike statues, who diligently look out from a balcony at the families and friends they have left. Tongkonan, family houses, are built on stilts with the roof rearing up at either end, representing the prows of the first ship to arrive in the area with the Torajan's ancestors. The houses all face north and some say that this because it was from the north that the ancestors of the Toraja came. Others, however will say that the north (and east) are regarded as the realm of the gods, the compass of life.

CENTRAL SULAWESI
Central Sulawesi is still much off the beaten track, about 60% of its land swathed n rainforest. This region has some of the lowest densities of people in all of Indonesia, vast majority are distributed along the coasts and the hinterlands are sparsely populated. Many inland villages are only by horse trails or walking tracks. Therefore, the community and cultural live of central Sulawesi is amazingly diverse; groups may speak different languages and follow different customs. There are dozens of quite secluded ethnic groups still practising shamanic religions.

SOUTHEAST SULAWESI
South East Sulawesi is a rugged province with impassable mountains to the north, savannah to the east, it covers South East Sulawesi peninsula, Buton Island, Muna Island and small islands spread out at South and South East of peninsula. The area is populated by more than 1.2 million people, in five diverse and interesting cultural groups: the Tolaki, Morunene, Buton, Muna (locally called the Wuna), and the Bajo. All offer the visitor a glimpse of life-styles which have survived man's rush to modernization while using much of today's technology to their advantage. Most of the land area of Southeast Sulawesi is covered by natural jungle, with extensive plantations of teak and ironwood, which are used for local handicrafts and contribute to the local economy. Much of the beauty of the region has been preserved for prosperity by declaring it as national parks and nature reserves.

GORONTALO & NORTH SULAWESI
Superb coral gardens and array of tropical marine life defend coastlines of virgin white beaches in the north of the island of Sulawesi. Mountains and volcanoes dominate the scenery with over 50 summits, some of which are still active, reminding the islanders and the world of the potential power of one of the earth's most tremendous forces.
The people of North Sulawesi can be classified into four groups; Minahasa, Bolaang Mongondow, Gorontalo and the Sangir Talaud. The Minahasans are cantered around the city of Manado, but the entire region has a strong tradition of trade and contact with the outside world. The Sangir-Talaud islands, to the north of the mainland, form a natural bridge to the Philippines providing a convenient route for peoples and cultures to easily move between Indonesia and the Philippines, and many traces of Filipino culture can still be found here. First contacts with European traders came in the 16th century with the arrival of the Spanish and Portuguese and with them they brought Christianity. It wasn't until the arrival of the Dutch, however, that Christianity became the predominant religion of the area with the western parts of the province of Bolaang Mongondow and Gorontalo remaining as small Muslim principalities until the turn of the century.