In this 4-day tour of authentic Toraja experience, we take you into the rainforest of central Sulawesi to meet one the major ethnic group in the island. Torajans are known for their unique and complex death ceremonies and unusual ways of burial. Visit the unique stone graves in Lemo, where the people bury the deceased ones on a side of a cliff and hang wooden statue representing them. Also, step into the eerie yet mystical baby graves where they bury the child inside the trees. But beside that, being up in the highlands with lofty mountains and cliffs that protect the area, the land offers amazing landscapes and breathtaking views.
Welcome to the island of Celebes, an exotic island with a very particular shape as the letter “K”. Sulawesi has an impressive variety of animal species, tropical plants, and two extravagant ethnic groups; the mountainous Toraja, and the Bugis sailors. The airport of the capital of the Celebes Islands (Makassar), is the transit center of all the airplanes that move from the East to the West of Indonesia (and vice versa).
And here begins the adventure of the island of Celebes, by heading towards Toraja land by car. The route, about 310 km is full of rice fields, Bugis villages, who are the owners of the famous and traditional Phinisi ships and are therefore better known as “sailors”. It will be 9 hours by car from the airport, so you will make a stop halfway to lunch or dinner. This will depend on the time of your flight. After arrival at the hotel, you will enjoy your well-deserved rest after the long trip.
Note:
If you arrive in Makassar after 3 PM, we suggest you book an overnight stay and start the tour the next morning. We can arrange airport transfer and accommodation if you need it.
Meals: Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Rantepao
We will have two days of adventure in the Toraja Lands. It will be two days to explore not only its incredible landscapes but also its remarkable culture. And it is time to discover it during our stay in this magical land. The local people, mostly Christians, still practice animism according to their original religion called Aluk Todolo. Are you ready to soak up the Toraja culture? We will visit Lemo with the cemetery on the rock walls and all the wooden statues called Tau-Tau that represent their deceased.
The town of Ke’te Kesu, one of the oldest in Toraja where you will see the typical houses called “Tongkonan”. You will also see other hanging tombs in one of its caves. And in the towns of Bori, Nanggala, Suaya, there are baby graves in the trees. We may find it strange, but it is something that is part of this ancient culture. During your stay in this land of spirits, with “luck”, we can see their funeral ceremonies up close. These picturesque funerals are frequent, but not every day, so we can’t assure you will see them. When we attend them, as an offering to the family, tourists are asked to donate about 100,000 Rupiah.
In addition to these visits, we will visit its attractive markets where local people carry out their daily transactions. On Tuesday and Thursday, a larger market develops.
Afterwards we will return to the hotel to rest.
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Rantepao
Breakfast at the hotel before we start a new adventure. Today we will visit the town of Palawa, one of the oldest towns and that have many typical Torajas houses called Tongkonan. In front, the small barns (Alang) all geographically aligned in the same direction. We will also visit Bori, a town that maintains old Megaliths. Then we will go to Batutumonga, from the heights of the mountain, we can contemplate the greatness of the Torajas Lands. We will also take the opportunity to take a two-hour walk to the town of Tikala. Along the way you will enjoy the rice fields and isolated villages with the Tongkonan houses. Upon arrival in Tikala, our driver will be waiting to take us by car to Rantepao. After arrival at the hotel you will enjoy your well-deserved rest after so many walks. Good night and we will see you tomorrow!
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Rantepao
Today is our last day in this special area of Indonesia. After breakfast, we depart south towards the capital of Sulawesi and then take the flight to our next destination. This will take approximately 8 hours. Thank you for enjoying this Authentic Toraja Tour Experience by the hands of Come2Indonesia. Sampai Jumpa!
Meals: Breakfast – Lunch
Accommodation: –
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