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Cultural Village Tour

Lembeh Island is a fascinating place with 17 villages ("lurah" or "desa").  In this tour we aim to provide cultural and human aspects of living on this fascinating place to our guests.

Ideal for no-dive surface interval, or simply taking an afternoon off diving.

Kelapa Dua (K2) Village Tour

This is a short walking tour to the nearest village Kelapa Dua (K2), lasting 1 to 1.5 hours

  • religious harmony at Lembeh

  • local health care setup

  • economies of Lembeh - coconut, spices, fishing

  • life and school, moving around Lembeh and Bitung

Religious Harmony Lembeh Culture Church

Beautiful Minahasa Church.  Lembeh Island population comprise about 50% Christians and 50% Muslims.

Lembeh Economy Culture Kopra Coconut Processing

About half of the population of Lembeh are farmers.  This is a "kopra" processing plant, where smoke from burning of coconut husk is used to separate coconut flesh ("kopra") from the shell.

Lembeh Economy Coconut Plantation

Coconut Plantation.  Coconut and spices are the main economic produce of Lembeh, along with fishing.

Lembeh Economy Subsistence Fishing

And the other half of population of Lembeh are fishermen.  Small scale fishing or off-shore tuna fishing are among the main fishing activities.

Papusungan Village Tour

Papusungan is the nearest "big" village, kind of the town centre in South Lembeh, also the busiest part of village life in Lembeh.  The village is about 30 min by foot from K2 Lembeh Dive Resort, and so a short ride on Gojek, the local Uber equivalent is recommended.

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What you will see

  • The local health clinic Puskemas (Pukat Kesehatan Masyarakat or Communities Health Centre)

  • The only bank in Lembeh (Bank Sulut Go)

  • The local Police Station

  • The main ferry transfer point

  • The local wet market​

  • Some small foot stalls, push carts

  • The local Indomaret and Alfamart (7 Eleven-like convenience stores) are located

Local life Ferry Crossing Bitung and Lembeh

The local ferries travel between Papusungan on Lembeh Island to Bitung regularly.  Typically once the ferry captain's quota of revenue is reached (combination of motorcycles and passengers) the ferry will take off.

Life in Lembeh Ferry Motorcycle Crossing to Bitung

Note how the motorcycles are secured using 2 ropes and the stand forming a third leg.  Motorcycles are the prevalent mode of transport on Lembeh Island.  Daily hundreds, maybe thousands, of motorcycles will cross the straits to Bitung.

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