Toraja Discovery & South Sulawesi Beach

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.

Recommended flights (not included in package and quoted separately – airfares and schedules subject to change without prior notice):

Domestic: Garuda Indonesia from Surabaya to Makassar GA671, departing at 13:45 and arriving at 16:15 or Garuda Indonesia from Denpasar to Makassar GA620 departing at 17:20 and arriving at 18:50.

International: Silk Air from Singapore to Makassar MI142 (Monday and Wednesday), departing at 07:55 and arriving at 11:00 or MI144 (Saturday), departing at 15:05 and arriving at 17:55.

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

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

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. 

Inclusions:

📍 Makassar – Pare Pare (155 km): approximately 4 hours 30 minutes Pare Pare – Rantepao (175km): approximately 5 hours 30 minutes

Check out from your hotel and depart for to Toraja via Pare Pare.

Your journey takes you through several villages of the Bugis people whose stilted houses line magnificent mountain passes. Stop at a local restaurant in Pare-pare for a late lunch.

After lunch, the journey leads through several villages of the Bugis people, whose stilted houses line magnificent mountain passes. Stop at a local restaurant in Pare-Pare for a late lunch.

The drive continues through the hills reaching Rantepao in the late afternoon. 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. Here, spend next two days exploring the Toraja villages and learning about their unique culture and customs.

Check in to the hotel in Rantepao.

Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Rantepao.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

This morning after breakfast, if the timing is right, have the chance to be immersed in the bustling life of the Torajan’s with a visit to their once-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 ceremonies that take place here.

Note: Bolu Market depends on the schedule and is only held once every 6 days. In case there is no market on the day of visit, we will replace it by a visit to a local market in Rantepao.

Afterwards, head south of Toraja and visit two traditional villages. After exploring these cultural hotspots, head to the villages of Lemo and Suaya, which are enveloped  by cliffs pierced with graves and tau tau (hanging effigies) of deceased nobility. These cliffs are also referred to as the ‘death balconies’ due to their perilous locations.

Lunch is served in a traditional ‘Liong Tongkonan’ (local name for housing structure). While enjoying some unique local food, learn about the spiritual elements of ancestral Torajan architecture.

After lunch, visit Londa Village where wooden coffins are suspended by ropes and poles extending from the cliffs. Continue to Kete Kesu, a village which has one of the finest ensembles of Tongkonan (Toraja traditional houses) on the island. 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 wooden buffalo head typically adorns the wealthiest homes. Kete Kesu Village also has a rice granary of the traditional Toraja country style.

Return to the hotel late in the afternoon.

Dinner will be served in the hotel.

Overnight in Rantepao.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

After breakfast in the morning, head to Palawa, a typical Toraja village, and then on to the highlands of Batutumonga for stunning views across the Toraja Valley.

In this incredible surrounding, take lunch at Mentirotiku Local Restaurant.

According to preferences, 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 offer beautiful views of rice fields dotted with large black rocks -remains of ancient volcanic eruptions. The one-hour trek leads through the villages of Lempo and Tinongbayo, while the easy two-hour walk leads through the villages of Bori and Tikala. In both instances, there will be an opportunity to meet locals and observe their traditional lifestyles. These 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 Ikats are preserved.

Return to the hotel late in the afternoon.

Dinner at the hotel.

Overnight in Rantepao.

Note: Between July and September (dry season) many funerals take place and during this period, and many Toraja migrants return home for the holidays. The program will be tailored to allow guests to attend a ceremony if they choose to do so.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch, 🍗 Dinner

📍 Rantepao – Enrekang (91 km): approximately 3 hours Enrekang – Sengkang (103 km): approximately 3 hours 40 minutes

After breakfast in the morning, check out from the hotel and begin the day’s journey to Sengkang.  

Stop enroute in Enrekang and enjoy a  late lunch in a local restaurant.

After lunch, continue to the village of Sengkang, a former capital of the Bugis Kingdom which overlooks Lake Tempe, the largest lake in Sulawesi.  

Enjoy a Local Bugis style feast dinner at Glory Restaurant while soaking up spectacular views of the surrounding area.

Overnight in Sengkang.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Sengkang – Wantampone (67 km):approximately 2 hours Wantampone – Bira Beach (147 km): approximately 5 hours

Rise early this morning at 05:15 to take advantage of the picturesque scene across Lake Tempe.  The Bugis people have a unique housing style -they float on the lake. Take this opportunity to travel on a local longboat to enjoy 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. While taking a look around, participate in the old traditions of fishing and fish drying.

Return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, and check out and drive to Watampone on the east coast of Sulawesi where early lunch is served in a local restaurant.

From Watampone we drive further  south to Cape Bira, on the south-eastern tip of Sulawesi.

On the way there we make a stop in a Bugis village where we can see the process of growing sugar, rice and kakao.

Late in the afternoon, arrive in Bira and check in to the selected hotel.

Dinner at leisure.

Overnight in your hotel.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

This morning after breakfast you go by local fisherboat to the nearby island of Liukan. Here you have some time for snorkelling in these beautiful waters (snorkel, mask and fins provided).

After snorkling we visit the local fishing village of Konjo where we can see some traditional ikat weaving.

Next we have a picnic lunch on the island after which there is some more time for exploring the island or relaxing on the beach before returning to the mainland and your hotel.

Remainder of the afternoon is free at leisure.

Overnight in your hotel. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Bira Beach – Tanah Beru (12 km): approximately 30 minutes Tanah Beru – Makassar (179 km): approximately 6 hours

After breakfast at the hotel, spend some time at leisure.

Around 12:30, after check, depart along the South coast of Sulawesi towards Makassar.  On the way we make a stop at Tanah Beru Village, which is famous for the phinisi-style ships built there following ancient traditional methods.

We also stop in the village of Bonto Salluang for a short walk to Bissappu, a 70-metre tall waterfall set in lush tropical surroundings.

Upon arrival in Makassar, check in to the hotel.

Dinner is at leisure.

Overnight in the hotel.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast

After breakfast, be picked up by the tour guide and driver and depart for a short sightseeing tour of Makassar. Start with a visit to the bustling Paotere Harbour to learn about the famed Bugis Phinisi Schooner shipbuilders of the region and continue to 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.

Return to the hotel and spend some time to relax before receiving a transfer to the airport for the onward flight. Lunch at leisure.

Recommended flights (not included in package and quoted separately – airfares and schedules subject to change without prior notice): Garuda Indonesia from Makassar to Denpasar GA621 departing at 19:45 and arriving at 21:10 or Garuda Indonesia from Makassar to Surabaya GA630 departing at 19:00 and arriving at 19:30.

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast