Tomohon is a highland town about 25 kilometres south of Manado, sitting between the active volcanoes of Lokon and Mahawu at around 800 metres elevation. The climate is noticeably cooler than the coast, and the views across the Minahasa highlands and down to Manado Bay are excellent.
The town is known for its colourful daily market, its flower market (Tomohon calls itself the "City of Flowers"), and the nearby Lake Linow — a volcanic crater lake whose colours shift between blue, green, and yellow depending on the sulphur content and the light. The drive up from Manado passes through productive farmland and small villages and is pleasant in its own right. Tomohon makes for a straightforward half-day trip that offers a complete contrast to the dive culture of the coast.