South Sulawesi Detailed

📍 Makassar Hasanudin international Airport – Makassar City center (17 km): 30 mins

Arrive at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar on the island of Sulawesi, which was once referred to as Celebes and is sometimes called Ujung Pandang -the islanders use both names freely. In addition to being the fourth largest island in Indonesia, it also has one of richest traditions of cultural heritage, some of the deepest history and some of the most exceptional natural wonders. 

Meet with an airport assistant and be introduced to the guide and driver for a private transfer to the hotel in Makassar. 

After checking in and getting settled, the rest of the day is free to spend at leisure either exploring independently or relaxing at the hotel. 

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight in Makassar

Note: depending on the arrival time a Makassar city tour can be added as well as lunch.

Inclusions:

📍 Makassar – Maros / Rammang Rammang: (50 km): 1 hrs 30 mins; Rammang Rammang - Pangkajene: (15 km): 30 mins; Pangkajene - sengkang: (145 km): 4 hrs 30 mins

After breakfast, around 09:30 meet your local driver and guide for a half day tour of the city. Start with a visit to the bustling fish market where locals come to buy their fish for the day – straight from the boat to the market. Take a walk through local streets to arrive at Paotere harbor to learn about the famed Bugis Phinisi Schooner shipbuilders of the region.

Return to the vehicle for a short drive to the city’s most iconic landmark, Fort Rotterdam. Recently refurbished it is perhaps one of the best preserved Dutch forts in all of Indonesia; learn more about the diversity of Sulawesi at the La Galigo Museum. At Phoenam Coffee shop local coffe, Teh Tarik and snacks are in the menu, and it is a typical Chinese coffee shop where people meet to discuss business. There is still an Abacus which can be used to calculate the price of the coffee. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea before you continue to the next destination.

An lunch is served at Bonto Tallasa in Maros

OPTIONAL ACTIVITY: RAMMANG - RAMMANG - chargeable

Drive to Kampung Berua. You will board a Jolloro, a traditional local motorized canoe (appr. 30 min) and cruise along the Pute’ river. The river banks are covered by majestic Nipa Palms from which the locals use the leaves to build roofs over their houses.

You will also pass under several simple but effective traditional bamboo bridges which locals use to cross the river for going to their rice fields and along the river you will see the nets which fishermen use to catch small shrimp.

Upon arrival in the main village you make a short trekking towards the Telepak Tangan Cave to see the fingerprints, left there long time ago by ancient cave dwellers.

Afterwards you will go to the village chief’s house where you are served tea or coffee with traditional local cakes and fried bananans.

We cruise back by local canoe and disembark to make a light trekking among karst towers.

After lunch we drive to Sengkang via Pekkae – Bulu Dua.

Dinner is served at hotel.

Overnight in Sengkang

Note:  if Rammang Rammang is visited, the city tour in Makasar will comprise Fort Rotterdam and Paotere Harbor only. Lunch will be served in a local Warung in PANGKAJENE.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Sengkang – Tempe Lake side (1,5 km): approximately 20 mins; Tempe Lake – Silk Workshop (2 km): approximately 30 mins; Silk Workshop – Lunch Glory (2 km): approximately 30 mins; Sengkang – Enrekang (80 km): approximately 2 hrs 45 mins; Enrekang – Rantepao (98km): approximately 3 hrs 20 mins

Rise early this morning at 05:15 to take advantage of the picturesque scene across the Lake Tempe.  The Bugis people have a unique housing style where their traditional houses float on the lake. Take this opportunity to travel on a local longboat to enjoy the Bugis hospitality with a cup of tea or coffee, and maybe some fried banana (a favourite snack in Indonesia). There are about 30 houses that remain on the lake and participate in the old traditions of fishing and fish drying.

Brunch served at a local restaurant.

Leave Sengkang and drive to Enrekang on the way to Tana Toraja. In Enrekang stop for photo facing the Erotic Mountain (basic bathrooms are available and a kiosk).

Rantepao is the small capital of Toraja, with an estimated population of around 450,000. The Toraja ethnic group is renowned for their elaborate funeral rites, traditional houses and spectacular carving and dancing. You will spend the next two days exploring the Toraja villages and learning about their unique culture.

Arrive to the hotel late afternoon for an evening at leisure.

Dinner is served at the hotel.

Overnight Rantepao.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Rantepao – Bolu Market (3 km): approximately 15 mins; Rantepao – Lemo/Suaya/Kenbira (23 km): approximately 45 mins; Bolu Market – Lemo/ Suaya/ Kenbira (26 km): approximately 75 mins; Lemo/Suaya/Kenbira – Maruang (20 km): approximately 60 mins; Maruang – Londa / Kete Kesu (6 km): approximately 20 mins; Kete Kesu – Rantepao (6 km): approximately 20 mins

This morning after breakfast, if the schedule permits, you will have the chance to immerse yourself in the bustling life of the Torajan’s with a visit to their twice a week traditional Buffalo market in Bolu. This market is important to the local society as buffalos and pigs are an essential part of the intricate funeral ceremony.

After you head south of Toraja to visit two traditional villages and their surroundings. Begin with a drive to Lemo, Suaya and Kenbira villages which are enveloped  by cliffs pierced with graves and tau tau (hanging effigies) of deceased noblility. These cliffs are also referred to as the ‘death balconies’ due to their perilious location.

Lunch is served in a traditional ‘Liong Tongkonan’ (local name for housing structure) where you can hear about the spiritual elements of ancestral Torajan architecture.

This afternoon, visit Londa village where wooden coffins are suspended by ropes and poles extending from the cliffs. Visit the unique village of Kete Kesu which has one of the finest ensembles of Tongkonan (Toraja traditional houses) in Sulawesi. These boat-shaped houses have tall roofs made of slender bristles and create strange silhouettes in the sky. The Tongkonan facades boast many carved and painted motifs and a buffalo head wood adorns the wealthiest homes. Kete Kesu village also has a rice granary of the traditional Toraja country style. Take a short walk around the village and view the bones and ornate coffins that still reside in the rocky outcrops. Return to the hotel late this afternoon.

Dinner will be served in the hotel.

Overnight in Rantepao

Note: Bolu Market depends on the schedule and is only held twice a week every Tuesday and Saturday. In case there is no market on the day you visit, we will replace it by a visit to a local market in Rantepao or on the next day.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Rantepao – Rantepao Market MALLANGO (2 km): approximately 20 mins; Rantepao – Bolu Market (3 km): approximately 15 mins; Rantepao Market/MALLANGO - Batutumonga (25 km): approximately 60 mins in narrow road. Bolu Market/MALLANGO - Palawa (13 km): approximately 45 mins; Mentirotiku : trekking from starting point to LEMPO (4 km): approximately 60 mins; Mentirotiku: trekking from starting point to BORI PARINDING (7 km): approximately 2 hrs; Tinongbayo – Rantepao (22 km): approximately 55 mins; Tikala – Rantepao (8 km): approximately 25 mins; Rantepao – Todi (2 km): approximately 15 mins; Todi – Marante (8 km): approximately 35 mins; Marante – Rantepao (9 km): approximately 45 mins

This morning after breakfast, if the schedule permits, you will have the chance to immerse yourself in the bustling life of the Torajan’s with a visit to their, twice a week traditional Buffalo market in Bolu. This market is important to the local society as buffalos and pigs are an essential part of the intricate funeral ceremony.

Proceed to Palawa, a typical Toraja village, and on to the highlands of Batutumonga for stunning views across the Toraja valley. See the megalithic stone monuments of Bori.

Here you will take lunch at Mentirotiku local restaurant.

According to your preference, take a 1 or 2 hour light trek through fascinating Toraja villages.

OPTION: 1 HOUR OR 2 HOUR TREKKING

Perched on the slopes of Mt Sesean, these villages offers beautiful views of rice fields dotted with large black rocks, remains of ancient volcanic eruptions. A 1 hour trek will take you through the village of Lempo and Tinongbayo while the easy two-hour walk takes you through the villages of Bori and Tikala where you will get to meet the locals and observe their traditional lifestyle and customs. These two villages have ancestral stone circles, part of the local lore of the Toraja people, with each stone representing an important noble who has passed away. They also feature impressive Tongkonan houses.
Return to Rantepao with a stop at a Todi weaving factory where the ancient technique and motifs for Torajans textile known as Ikat’s are preserved. Finish the day with a visit to Marante village.

Return to the hotel late afternoon.

Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Rantepao

Notes:

- Bolu Market depends on the schedule and is only held twice a week every Tuesday and Saturday. In case there is no market on the day you visit, we will replace it by a visit to a local market in Rantepao or on the previous day.

- Between July and September (dry season) many funerals take place and during this period many Toraja migrants return home for the holidays. The program will be tailored to allow for an attendance of such ceremony during stay in Toraja if desired and possible. On weekends (Saturday and Sunday) such ceremonies do not take place, and there is never any guarantee that it will be possibly to attend. However, this ceremony can be very confronting for people as it involves the slaughter of live buffalo and pigs. Please let your guide know before you arrive to the ceremony if you would like to witness this unique cultural experience or not.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Rantepao – Pare Pare (175km): approximately 5 hours 30 mins; Pare Pare – Makassar Airport (140km): approximately 4 hrs

After breakfast, we will depart to Makassar with stop at Carawali Village (if time allows).

Take lunch at Asia or Bukit Indah Restaurant in Pare Pare.

Arrive to the airport in Makassar for your onward journey.

Recommended flights (not included in package and quoted separately – airfares and schedules subject to change without prior notice): Lion Air from Makassar to Denpasar JT747 departing at 18:50 and arriving at 20:15 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch