UPDATE JANUARY 2022
There are currently no flights to Ampana.
Best option to get to Togian Islands is via flight to the town of Luwuk. Alternative options are via flight to Poso or Palu. From either city you can take a car, minivan or bus to Ampana from where you can reach Togian Islands on a daily basis.
Alternative route is via flight to Gorontalo. There is a ferry from Gorontalo to Togian Islands twice a week (Ferry "Tuna Tomini").
CURRENTLY NOT OPERATING:
Makassar (UPG) → Ampana (OJU)
There is a weekly flight from Makassar to Ampana. You can get to Makassar from almost any airport in Indonesia. Also there are international flights from Kuala Lumpur to Makassar.
Airline: Operated by Citilink
Schedule: Every wednesday, departure 10:20, arrival 11:55
This could be your travel route:
Jakarta to Makassar, Makassar to Ampana
Bali to Makassar, Makassar to Ampana
Kuala Lumpur to Makassar, Makassar to Ampana
FROM PALU TO AMPANA
PALU (PLW) → Ampana (OJU)
There are two weekly flights from Palu to Ampana. You can get from to Palu from several airports in indonesia and almost any airport in Sulawesi.
Airline: Operated by Susi Air
Schedule: Every tuesday & saturday
This could be your travel route:
Jakarta to Palu, Palu to Ampana
Manado to Palu, Palu to Ampana
If you are making your way to the archipelago from the south AMPANA is the main hub to the Togian Islands. Its newly build airport is small but operates on modern standards. The current flight connection brings you to Ampana from Makassar on a weekly base.
If the flight schedule from Makassar to Ampana does not fit your needs there are other good connections to get to POKI POKI and the islands. You can read about all options below.
Once you are in Ampana the Togian Islands are just a footstep away. The city of Ampana is much closer to the islands then the city of Gorontalo, which is the northern main hub to Togian Islands - the speedboat ride from Ampana to Bomba takes only 45 minutes. More and more speedboats leave Ampana daily to connect the mainland of Sulawesi with Bomba, Wakai and Malenge.
HOW TO GO FROM THE AIRPORT IN AMPANA TO THE HARBOR?
With the Bentor of course! Once you made it to Ampana grab a Bentor (Sulawesi style Tuk Tuk) and go straight to the harbor and buy your ticket to the Togians Islands. The harbor is only 20 minutes away from the airport. And of you go to the Togians!
ALTERNATIVE ROUTES TO AMPANA
FLIGHT TO/FROM LUWUK (COMING FROM SOUTH)
Luwuk has a good connected airport, which was just renovated and has good infrastructure. Daily flights from Makassar (you get to Makassar coming from Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur or many other big cities of Indonesia) or Manado (in the north of Sulawesi) bring you straight to Luwuk. Luwuk is just 4 hours with the car from Ampana and well connected.
Once in Luwuk you can take a minivan, shared- or private car to Ampana (the southern gateway of Togian Islands). The minivans, which are the cheapest option to get from Luwuk to Ampana start their journey around 10:00 am (e.g. company: Kesayangan Anda, price 150.000 IDR per person). If you have to stay a night in Luwuk – don’t worry! There are beautiful waterfalls to be discovered and the city has very good hotels on the hill, with beautiful view over the wide bay. From Luwuk to Ampana the ride takes about 4 hours and the newly built road is (for most parts) in very good condition.
From Ampana you reach the islands quickly and on a daily basis (e.g Ampana to Bomba in less than one hour, Ampana to Wakai in less than two hours). You can read all about the boat schedules to Togian Islands here.
FLIGHT TO/FROM POSO
Poso, a mid-size city in the center of central Sulawesi, is connected with daily flights to the city of Makassar. From Poso to Ampana it`s just a 3-hour car ride. From Ampana you reach the islands quickly and on a daily basis. You can read all about the boat schedules to Togian Islands here.
FLIGHT TO GORONTALO
Gorontalo is the northern gateway to the Togian Islands. The city is well connected with flight to Jakarta, Makassar or Manado. The downturn of this option is, that you can reach the islands only twice a week with the overnight ferry “Tuna Tomini”, which brings you to the Togian Islands over the night within about 12 hours. Compared to the daily and quicker access via Ampana this gives you less flexibility on your dates to come and leave the islands.