The Toraja Highlands

South Sulawesi’s landscape is dominated by limestone mountains. Makassar, the capital, is home to the 17th-century Fort Rotterdam, a harborside Dutch colonial landmark. In the southern highlands is Tana Toraja, a region of traditional villages with a culture notable for elaborate funeral rituals, cliff tombs and saddle-roofed tongkonan houses.

Southern Sulawesi combines stunning limestone landscapes with amazing culture and history. On this tour, you’ll visit the world famous Tana Toraja with its elaborate funeral rituals and cliff tombs, see the megaliths at Bori and do a short trek with views of the mountains and rice paddies.  

Sample itinerary

Day 1 -  On arrival this afternoon, you will be transferred to your hotel for the night and met by your guide, who will brief you about your plans for the next week.. 

Day 2 -  Today you will take a tour of the city’s main land marks and enjoy a lunch down by the water. Afternoon at leisure or perhaps some time for shopping. Overnight your hotel. 

Day 3 -  After breakfast we begin the drive up the west coast to via beautiful coastline and stunning mountain scenery to Toraja. Lunch is at the small port town of Pare Pare and local coffee at Puncak Lakawan and the infamous erotic mountain. Late afternoon we arrive in Toraja and check into our hotel. 

Day 4 - After breakfast, we start our tour of Toraja: the stone graves with tau-tau (wooden people) installed on high cliff balconies overlooking the green valley at Lemo; and the family tombs at Suaya. After lunch we have time to visit a traditional carving village at Kete Kesu and a typical village at Nangala with ornate rice-barns. Late afternoon we return to the hotel for dinner.

Day 5 - After breakfast we continue our tour of the traditional Toraja villages and learn about local weaving and the ancient Megalithic stones at Bori. Lunch is on the slope of Mount Sesean with views of terraced rice-fields and limestone mountains of Batutumonga. After lunch we will take a soft trek from Lokomata to Pana, where we will be picked up before transfer back to our hotel. 

Day 6 - This morning we leave Toraja for Sengkang via Palopo with lunch enroute. On arrival in Sengkang you will check in at your hotel for the night. 

Day 7 - After breakfast we take a visit to Lake Tempe to discover the way of life of those who live at the lakeside; the famous floating houses; and the traditional silk weaving villagers who make silk sarongs. After lunch, we transfer you back to Makassar for the night, or to catch an onwards flight. 

Day 8 - Free day before your midday transfers to the airport for you onward flight.

Inclusions

• Private car and experienced driver, tour guide
  
• Deluxe rooms
• Boat fee in Rammang- Rammang and Tempe Lake
• Entrance fee to all sites
• Donation at funeral ceremony
• Breakfast, lunch, dinner, coffee/tea break in Bamba Puang
• Fuel, tolls, parking
• Mineral water, insurance, government tax. 

This trip is suitable for any age. You only need a basic level of fitness. This trip can be tailored to your specific interests and needs. Your guide will be on hand to look after you throughout.