SULAWESI : MAKASSAR - BUGIS - TORAJA

Day 1 : Arrival Makasar – Hotel - Makasar (- / - / D)

Settle into Sulawesi Island life with the day free to explore the charming cosmopolitan city of Makassar. Upon arrival at Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar, we will be met by our guide and taken to the hotel for check-in. We then have the rest of the day at leisure to relax, or start exploring the city. 

Makassar is the largest city in eastern Indonesia and serves as the capital of South Sulawesi province. It is home to a diverse ethnic group once called Ujung Pandang. Its range of attractions includes historical sites, a picturesque boardwalk waterfront, a diversity of culinary treats and architectural landmarks. We head to Fort Rotterdam, a well-preserved bastion from the Gowa Sultanate that dates back to the 17th century, or visit bustling Paotere Harbour to watch fishermen go about their daily work.

Overnight in Makassar

Day 2 : Makasar – Bira (B / L / D) 

Delve into life in Makassar with this day tour of the city. After breakfast at the hotel, we will set off on our adventure, starting at Makassar’s iconic landmark Fort Rotterdam. This old Dutch colonial fort dates back to 1667 and served as the centre of Dutch colonial power on Sulawesi. Today it houses the Lagaligo Museum, which comprises two buildings. One focuses on the island’s ethnology and the other on its history. 

Our next stop is Paotere, Makassar’s old harbour where we can see the world-famous phinisi or Bugis schooners. Afterwards, we drive to marvel at the white sands of Tanjung Bira Beach via Bantaeng. We stop en route to visit boat builders at Tana Beru. Here we can learn about the trade and see first-hand how the Buginese make the famous schooner. Lunch is served en route.

Overnight in Bira

Day 3 : Bira – Watampone – Sengkang (B / L / D)

A huge dose of culture is served during our eight-hour drive from Makassar to Sengkang (220 km). After breakfast, we bid a fond farewell to Makassar as we hit the road. Along the way, we stop at Watampone, the capital of the Bone Regency, a former kingdom and the centre of Bugis political power. Here, we will visit the Museum of Andi Mappasisi to see the heirlooms of the Bugis Kingdom and listen to stories of the former royal families. 

We then continue on our journey to Sengkang, where we delve into the local life and learn about the silk weaving industries that thrive there. We will meet some of the weavers and learn about these traditional handicrafts. Then we check-in at the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. Lunch is served en route.

Overnight in Sengkang

Day 4 : Sengkang – Palopo – Toraja (B /L- / D)

Today’s action-packed adventure sees us cruise across Lake Tempe before we hit the road to Toraja. After breakfast at the hotel, we head to Lake Tempe and board a traditional motorised canoe to explore life on the lake. This vast, shallow, freshwater wetland is bursting with life, including waterbirds, fish, reed beds and waterlilies. It is also home to a handful of floating houses, which we pass by to get a glimpse into how life is lived out on the water. 

We then hit the road to Toraja (198 km), passing through charming Buginese villages where we can meet locals and learn about their lives. In the late afternoon, we arrive in Rantepao and check-in at the hotel with the rest of the day at leisure. Rantepao is a picturesque town and capital of the North Toraja Regency. We start exploring the compact town by foot before getting a good night’s sleep ahead of tomorrow’s adventure.

Overnight in Toraja

Day 5 : Toraja (B / L / D)

Travel is all about immersive experiences and today sees us get a glimpse into the lives of the Torajan communities indigenous to this region. After breakfast at the hotel, we set off on our full-day discovery with a drive to the Toraja Highlands to learn about the unique funeral rituals of the ethnic group. Our first stop is Lemo, where we can admire the rugged cliff that contains 75 small hand-carved holes containing colourful effigies of the dead that date back to the 16th century.

We then hit the road and continue to Londa, which is home to an ancient cave cemetery. Here, the deceased are buried in a steep cave wall with wooden dolls standing close by, which are believed to represent the dead. Our final destination of the day is the traditional Toraja village of Kete Kesu, famed for its wood-carving. Houses are also designed as boats and these are believed to help carry the spirits to heaven.

Overnight in Toraja

Day 6 : Toraja Excursion  (B / L / D)

Soak up the rich culture and heritage of the indigenous people that call Toraja home with this immersive day trip. After breakfast, we hit the road for Batutumonga, a spectacular spot that is located on the slopes of Batutumonga Mount Sesean, Toraja’s highest mountain. This peak boasts stunning views of the surrounding valleys and expansive lakes. We can take a gentle stroll along the tracks that wind past sprawling rice paddies and farmland to get a glimpse into the daily lives of the locals.

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant before we visit the hilltop village of Pallawa to view Tongkonan houses, rice barns and granaries.

Our final stop of the day is at Sa’dan, which sits at the centre of Rantepao’s weaving communities. Here, we can learn about this traditional handcraft and watch weavers at work, before returning to the hotel. 

Overnight in Toraja

Day 7 : Rantepao – Makasar – Denparture  (B / L / D)

Start the day to a spectacular sunrise (subject to weather conditions) before enjoying breakfast at the hotel. We then set off on our eight-hour drive to Makassar (350 km). This brings our seven-day immersion into the rich culture and natural beauty of Makassar, Bugis and Toraja to an end. On the journey, we can soak up our last views of Sulawesi’s rolling landscapes. 

En route, we make a stop at Parepare for lunch at a local restaurant before continuing to Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar, where we check-in for our onward flight. We will leave full of lasting memories forged during this unforgettable trip that has seen us delve into the culture and heritage of Sulawesi, cruised across picturesque Lake Tempe, learned about the Bugis Kingdom and haven been treated to the warm hospitality of the Toraja ethnic people who call the mountainous region in the south of the island home.

End of the Tour