Experience Tana Toraja like a local
Tana Toraja is known for its burial sites and funeral ceremonies. Less known is the mesmerising scenery that offers the best off-the-beaten-path treks in Indonesia, which we have specialised in. Come and experience Toraja’s unique culture and scenic nature, and join us in our mission to help local businesses and protect our rainforest.
Tana Toraja & Village Stay Tours
Note: Itineraries are flexible and can be adjusted to your wishes and flight schedule.
2D Toraja Classic Visit all the popular sites
We visit the most popular burial sites of Torajaland such as Lemo, Kete Kesu, Tampang Allo and Kote baby trees, and have short treks through the beautiful landscapes and hills around Batutumonga.
3D Toraja & Village Stay Scenic trek to remote village
Experience the most beautiful trekking scenes in Indonesia with stunning panoramas and through bamboo forests, cacao- and coffee plantations. Through our friendships with local tribe heads, we’ll stay one night in the remote, traditional village Salu.
4D or 5D Toraja & Village Stay Far away from the crowds
With these ultimate off-the-beaten path tours, you’ll continue your trek from Salu to other remote mountain villages such as Tinapu and Batutumonga. These are the hiker’s favourite choices.
Makassar Roundtrip Tours
If you arrive and depart from Makassar, it is good value for money to also visit Rammang Rammang, Lake Tempe and/or Bira Beach on your way to and from Tana Toraja with our South Sulawesi tours.
5D South Sulawesi Popular highlights
In just 5 days we will visit the main popular highlights this area has to offer: large karst mountains in Rammang Rammang, floating villages in Lake Tempe, and burial sites and scenic treks in Torajaland.
6D South Sulawesi Best value for money
If you have time, the 6D roundtrip is better value for money than the 5D tour. You feel like being much less on the road, and can have a stunning hike in Toraja with an overnight in an authentic village far away from the crowd.
7D South Sulawesi Picturesque, deserted beaches
This is the same as the 6D tour, but we additionally relax at the exotic beaches in Bira, and stay at the BaraCoco Bungalows to feel the tropical vibe of the area.
8D South Sulawesi The Ultimate Roundtrip
Stay a day longer at the beach, and wander at your own pace through the deserted beaches around Bira.
Detailed Itinerary for the Jungle Trek
Our aim is to show the rich diversity of flora and fauna in this beautiful, virgin jungle. The jungle provides many resources that people ignore nowadays such as traditional medicinal herbs. Animals living here include wild pigs, monkeys and various bird species including the Sulawesi hornbill.
Trekking, Hunting & Building Shelters
As we trek through the jungle, we will teach you about the medicinal plants, and show the wildlife. We will sleep in a tent or in hammocks and prepare simple meals in cooking equipment we bring with ourselves. Porters will carry your heavy bags and provide general support.
For the true adventurours we also offer the survival option where we will teach you how to hunt in the jungle, make a shelter from natural resources and eat what the jungle provides us (this includes smoking ant nests, drinking from plant roots, eating jungle fruit, frying frogs, etc).
We provide jungle trekkings from 2 up to 7 days. We recommend to do at least a 3 day tour to experience one full day in the jungle. You should be in good shape, comfortable with outdoor trekkings and very basic facilities.
Wana Tribe
This jungle is also home to the indigenous Wana tribe. This Nomadic tribe lives in the jungle in isolation from the civilized world, but they do warmly welcome the few visitors that show interest to visit them.
In case you do a jungle trekking of at least 5 or 6 days, we may be able to find them and pay them a visit. This is especially a unique opportunity for photographers and documentary makers, as there is very little public information available about this jungle tribe!
Sulawesi has in 2018 been hit by a tsunami that killed ±2000 people and left ±500.000 children without access to basic nutrition, health and education. What exacerbates the situation is that tourism in Sulawesi has fallen dramatically ever since even pre-corona. So with your visit to this beautiful island you will not only make lifetime memories, you will also support the local economy.
Toraja Guides: Cultural Experiences off-the-beaten-path
We are born and raised around Torajaland. It is our mission to make visitors experience both the unique Toraja culture and the stunning Toraja nature like locals.
Through our friendships with tribe chiefs, we can offer the unique possibility to spend nights in remote and authentic mountain villages far away from the crowd. We carefully design our scenic treks off-the-beathen-path which pale the crowded, standard trails most visitors end up on.
Whether you want to learn about Toraja death rituals, tau tau effigies, want to see breathtaking views and stay in Tongkonans or are a family with small children: You will find yourself in great company with us.
How to prepare for your visit to Torajaland?
For the ultimate preparation, go through the FAQ below or read The Ultimate Guide to Tana Toraja.
How to get to Tana Toraja?
Makassar is the gateway to Tana Toraja, and Rantepao is the base from which to explore Tana Toraja.
Fly to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar. From here you can reach Rantepao both via land and by air.
By Air. Take the morning flight from Makassar to Palopo Bua Airport (±1 hour), located ±2 hour drive from Rantepao. We can pick you up here. Use SkyScanner to search for international and domestic flights.
Warning: While Rantepao also has a small airport "Pongtiku", we advice against flying there, as occasionally flights are either delayed or canceled.
Taxi. Take a private transfer from the airport to Rantepao (±7/8 hours). You could make stops at interesting sites on route (Bugis village, Erotic mountains), make a ±2 hour detour to visit Rammang Rammang, or break the journey with an overnight at Sengkang.
Makassar is the gateway to Tana Toraja, and Rantepao is the base from which to explore Tana Toraja.
Fly to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar. From here you can reach Rantepao both via land and by air.
By Air. Take the morning flight from Makassar to Palopo Bua Airport (±1 hour), located ±2 hour drive from Rantepao. We can pick you up here. Use SkyScanner to search for international and domestic flights.
Warning: While Rantepao also has a small airport "Pongtiku", we advice against flying there, as occasionally flights are either delayed or canceled.
Taxi. Take a private transfer from the airport to Rantepao (±7/8 hours). You could make stops at interesting sites on route (Bugis village, Erotic mountains), make a ±2 hour detour to visit Rammang Rammang, or break the journey with an overnight at Sengkang.
Bus. The cheapest option is to take the bus (±9/10 hours). There are many bus companies with different prices and each bus has several seat classes. Always take the "VIP" seats as these are the most comfortable. Bus companies include Litha & Co, Manggala Trans and Primadona. Usually you need to buy the bus tickets locally, but Primadona has a (primitive) online booking system and an email address ([email protected]).
What to see on the drive from Makassar to Tana Toraja?
Interesting sites on route from Makassar to Rantepao in Tana Toraja are:
- 1. The Bugis Makassar village
- 2. The "Erotic mountain" in Bambapuang
- 3. The famous stone grave "Lemo"
- 4. The Torajan traditional village " Sasa"
If you leave early in the morning, you could also consider visiting Rammang Rammang and make a guided boat trip and trek.
Notice that the drive to Tana Toraja easily takes 8 hours and could even be longer depending on traffic. So don't be too ambitious with your wishlist and manage your expectations that some sites may have to be skipped depending on the traffic.
Can I get a private transfer Makassar - Tana Toraja by night?
Yes. Our private airport transport can be at any time you wish.
In case you have an early flight to catch in Makassar, we could either drop you off the night before in Makassar so that you rest in a nearby hotel, or we could transport you at night and drop you off at the airport in the morning. As you wish.
What is the best period to visit Tana Toraja?
From a climate point of view, Tana Toraja can be visited all year long. While the temperature is fairly constant throughout the year, chances for the best weather are in the dry season from mid April to early October. However, the rain season in Tana Toraja is not as wet as in other places in Indonesia; typically there is short rain shower in the late afternoon, if it rains at all. In the worst case it could rain half a day.
The best period to visit Tana Toraja to attend a funeral ceremony is July – August. In these months you will be able to attend a ceremony with near certainty if you stay in Tana Toraja for 3 days or more. At the same time this is the busiest period with crowds or visitors.
The best period to visit Tana Toraja for the scenic treks are the high season and shoulder months (April - October), although the best picture conditions (green rice fields) are in the rain season period October-March.
How much should I tip?
Tipping is common in Indonesia, and the staff will be extremely happy and flattered if you decide to do so, but it is entirely voluntary and not expected.
There is no rule for how much to tip, as it really depends on how satisfied you are with the service and on your budget. Some clients really insist to get an indication, so we will give the rule of thumb that for every day you may consider tipping your guide 150.000 IDR and 50.000 IDR to your driver.
Please consider this as very indicative. If you are on a low budget just consider less, and if you are on a high budget you could consider more. But any amount is really appreciated!
Can I visit a funeral ceremony with your Tana Toraja tours?
If there will be a funeral ceremony during your visit then we will attend the funeral if you wish, and we adjust the tour itinerary accordingly.
But we can usually not guarantee that there will be funeral ceremonies during your visit because the funeral schedules are usually not fixed and sometimes only announced a few days in advance.
But if you stay in Tana Toraja for a few days in July and August it is likely that there will be a funeral ceremony during your stay.
How difficult are the treks?
The default treks with the 4D3N Tana Toraja Tour and 5D4N Sulawesi Tour are short (±1 hour) and very accessible even for small children.
The default treks with the 5D4N Tana Toraja Tour and 6D5N Sulawesi Tour are also easy but there is an all-day trek that could be tiring for the inexperienced hiker. In that case, we also offer an alternative hike that only takes ±3 hour and includes the highlights.
However, nothing is set in stone, so just contact us about your preferences and we'll tailor the itineraries to your interests. This can even be done on the spot!
What accommodation is included in Rantepao?
The included accommodation in Rantepao is an ensuite room at a local guesthouse with great value for money: Rosalina Guesthouse or alike.
What are other recommended accommodations in Rantepao?
Rantepao does not have any luxury accommodations, and in our opinion the more expensive accommodations are not good value for money. However, in case you prefer to stay at the more expensive accommodations instead of the included guesthouse, you can book your own accommodation and get a discount for your Toraja tour. Popular hotels in the top category are:
Please notice that you can book your own accommodation only for the part of the tour with overnights in Rantepao as accommodations in the mountain villages with the Toraja Tour & Village Stay tours cannot be booked by visitors themselves. Just let us know if you wish to visit other villages than in our default program and we change the itinerary and accommodation accordingly.
What accommodation is included in the remote villages?
You will sleep like a local: in basic but clean rooms. Notice that conform local customs, the shower is usually outside of the house. While we cannot guarantee it, we always try to arrange a traditional Tongkonan.
Why are Buffalo's sacrificed with the Toraja Funeral Ceremonies?
According to Torajan beliefs, the ghost of the deceased lingers around his village until the funeral ceremony is completed, after which it will start the journey to the Land of Souls ("Puya").
Buffaloes are considered to be a transportation vehicle for this journey, and during the funeral ceremony as many buffaloes are sacrificed as possible so that the journey to the land of souls can be done as fast as possible.
What are the most famous burial sites in Tana Toraja?
Lemo. Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves.
Kambira Baby Graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.
Kete Kesu'. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village with Tongkanan houses. Visit the rice barns, hanging graves, or start a scenic trek from here.
Suaya. Seven royal families from Sangalla are buried at this famous and relatively quite burial site. The wooden effigies tau tau are in balconies that are cut in the large rock face.
Tampang Allo. Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.
Lampio. Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.
Bebo and Karuaya. Traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, during which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful nature.What should I bring to my Tana Toraja Tour?
The general pack list:
- Comfortable shoes
- Insect repellent (DEET 40%)
- Small backpack for the day trips
- Camera
Pack also the following for the Tana Toraja treks:
- Towel
- Pocket light
- Mobile charger for your electronic devices (or a spare battery)
When you visit a ceremony, you should bring a small ceremony gift (such as sugar, chocolate, cigarettes), or just ask your guide to make a stop at a local store on the way to the ceremony.
Reading Tip: The Ultimate Guide to Tana Toraja
HELP DENA GET TO COLLEGE
Our current donation program is for Dena, who has just finished secondary school and dreams of continuing his education and become a police officer.
Deda lives in Sumatra in the small village Bukit Lawang. Because of the modest local salaries, his family is not able to pay the significant college enrollment fee of ± € 8000.
Would you like to help Dena? With the booking form below, you also get the option to make a donation. The entire amount will be spent on the cause.
Tana Toraja Tours – Itineraries
Day 1: Highlights of the South
Rantepao >> Lemo - Kambira - Tampang Allo - Lampio - Kete’ Kesu >> Rantepao
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, entrance fees, accommodation in Rantepao*
excluded: meals
Visiting the Southern area will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we will visit Lemo, Kambira, Tampang Allo, the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya, and the burial site in Kete’ Kesu. In case there is time, we could also visit the weaving village Lampio.
Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya are traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, in which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful natureClassified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village and very close to Rantepao. It is renowned for its traditional tongkanan houses, rice barns and its hanging graves. Also, there are a few scenic trekking options from here.Day 2: Highlights of the North
Rantepao >> Lombok Parinding - Bori - Palawa - Tinimbayo - Batutumonga - Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame >> Rantepao
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, short trek (Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame), entrance fees
excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, meals
We'll explore the less touristic North, which is the most scenic region of Tana Toraja with some excellent, easy trekking options through picturesque villages and panorama views.
We visit the stone graves and rice burns in the village Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the traditional village Palawa and Tinimbayo.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where you enjoy a beautiful panorama. After lunch, we drive to Lokomata to see the boulder grave.
At Loko Mata we start our scenic trek of 2-3 hours through rice fields, bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations, until we arrive at Kayurame village, from where we return by car to Rantepao.
The Most Popular Pick!
Day 1: Highlights of the South
Rantepao >> Lemo - Kambira - Tampang Allo - Lampio - Kete’ Kesu >> Rantepao
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, entrance fees, accommodation in Rantepao*
excluded: meals
Visiting the Southern area will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we will visit Lemo, Kambira, Tampang Allo, the weaving village Lampio, and the burial site in Kete’ Kesu. If there is time we could also visit the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya.
Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya are traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, in which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful natureClassified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village and very close to Rantepao. It is renowned for its traditional tongkanan houses, rice barns and its hanging graves. Also, there are a few scenic trekking options from here.Day 2: Trekking to Salu Village (L D)
Rantepao >> Pana - Kata - Sumpiak - Lolai - Bela - Salu
Included: guide, car and driver for drop-off, long trek (Kata - Salu), overnight at Salu, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, you are picked up and dropped off at Panaa. We visit the old stone grave, and then start our scenic day trek. We pass Kata - located in the middle of rice fields - and then continue to Sumpiak .
After the mountain village Lolai we go through the bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations to eventually arrive at our final destination: the remote, traditional village Salu.
Here, we'll meet the villagers, have diner, and spend the night in a local house.
Day 3: Highlights of the North (B)
Salu >> Lombok Parinding - Bori - Palawa - Tinimbayo - Batutumonga - Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame >> Rantepao
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, short trek (Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame), entrance fees
excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, meals
After breakfast in Salu village, we are picked up by car to explore the scenic Northern part of Toraja.
We visit the stone graves and rice burns in the village Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the traditional village Palawa and Tinimbayo.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where you enjoy a beautiful panorama. After lunch, we drive to Lokomata to see the boulder grave.
At Loko Mata we start our scenic trek of 2-3 hours through rice fields, bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations, until we arrive at Kayurame village, from where we return by car to Rantepao.
Day 1: Highlights of the South
Rantepao >> Lemo - Kambira - Tampang Allo - Lampio - Kete’ Kesu >> Rantepao
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, entrance fees, accommodation in Rantepao*
excluded: meals
Visiting the Southern area will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we will visit Lemo, Kambira, Tampang Allo, the weaving village Lampio, and the burial site in Kete’ Kesu. If there is time we could also visit the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya.
Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya are traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, in which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful natureClassified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village and very close to Rantepao. It is renowned for its traditional tongkanan houses, rice barns and its hanging graves. Also, there are a few scenic trekking options from here.Day 2: Trekking to Tinapu Village (L D)
Rantepao >> Pana - Kata - Kepe - Poya - Perangian - Tinapu
Included: guide, car and driver for drop-off, long trek (Pana - Tinapu), entrance fees, accommodation in Tinapu, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, you are picked up and dropped off at Panaa. We visit the old stone grave, and then start our scenic day trek. We walk to Kata which located in the middle of rice fields.
We continue via Kepe to the very old village Poya, where some still have animistic beliefs and who have been studied by European scientists. The next stop is at Perangian village, with many joyful children excited to see foreigners.
We hike through a beautiful and rough landscape before arriving at our final destination Tinapu village, where we meet the hospitable villagers and feel the warm Torajan atmosphere where people live simply and are happy at the same time.
Day 3: Trekking to Salu (B L D)
Tinapu - Limbong - Parinding – Bela – Salu
Included: guide, long trek (Tinapu - Salu), accommodation in Salu, entrance fees, meals as mentioned
After breakfast we start our hike to the beautiful ricefields at Limbong village, and the many Torajan houses and rice burns at Parinding
We will have lunch in the forest or the rice fields. And then we pass cacao- and coffee plantations and beautiful rice fields before we arrive at the remote, traditional village Salu. We meet the villagers, have diner, and spend the night in a local house.
Day 4: Highlights of the North (B)
Salu >> Lombok Parinding - Bori - Palawa - Tinimbayo - Batutumonga - Loko Mata >> Rantepao
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, short trek (Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame), entrance fees
excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, meals
After breakfast in Salu village, we are picked up by car to explore the scenic Northern part of Toraja.
We visit the stone graves and rice burns in the village Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the traditional village Palawa and Tinimbayo.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where you enjoy a beautiful panorama view. After lunch, we drive to Lokomata to see the boulder grave.
At Loko Mata we start our scenic trek of 2-3 hours through rice fields, bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations, until we arrive at Kayurame village, from where we return by car to Rantepao.
Recommended Pick for Hikers! Off-the-beaten Trails!
Day 1: Highlights of the South
Rantepao >> Lemo - Kambira - Tampang Allo - Lampio - Kete’ Kesu >> Rantepao
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, entrance fees, accommodation in Rantepao*
excluded: meals
Visiting the Southern area will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we will visit Lemo, Kambira, Tampang Allo, the weaving village Lampio, and the burial site in Kete’ Kesu. If there is time we could also visit the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya.
Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya are traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, in which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful natureClassified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village and very close to Rantepao. It is renowned for its traditional tongkanan houses, rice barns and its hanging graves. Also, there are a few scenic trekking options from here.Day 2: Trekking to Batutumonga (L D)
RANTEPAO >> PALAWA - AKUNG - TINIMBAYO - LEMPO - BATUTUMONGA
Included: guide, car and driver for drop-off, long trek (Pana - Tinapu), accommodation in Batutumonga, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, we are picked up and dropped off at the old village Palawa with many Torajan houses and riceburns.
We continue to Tinimbayo, from which the hike to Lempo is perhaps the most scenic in North Toraja as we enjoy the beautiful view of the rice field terraces and the panorama of North Toraja.
Finally, we arrive at Batutumonga which has a beautiful panorama view, and where we will spend the night.
Day 3: Trekking to Tinapu Village (L D)
Batutumonga - Kata - Kepe - Poya - Perangian - Tinapu
Included: guide, car and driver for drop-off, long trek (Pana - Tinapu), accommodation in Tinapu, entrance fees, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, we hike from Batutumonga to Kata which located in the middle of rice fields.
We continue via Kepe to the very old village Poya, where some still have animistic beliefs and who have been studied by European scientists. The next stop is at Perangian village, with many joyful children excited to see foreigners.
We hike through a beautiful and rough landscape before arriving at our final destination Tinapu village, where we meet the hospitable villagers and feel the warm Torajan atmosphere where people live simply and are happy at the same time.
Day 4: Trekking to Salu (B L D)
Tinapu - Limbong - Parinding – Bela – Salu
Included: guide, long trek (Tinapu - Salu), accommodation in Salu, meals as mentioned
After breakfast we start our hike to the beautiful ricefields at Limbong village, and the many Torajan houses and rice burns at Parinding
We will have lunch in the forest or the rice fields. And then we pass cacao- and coffee plantations and beautiful rice fields before we arrive at the remote, traditional village Salu. We meet the villagers, have diner, and spend the night in a local house.
Day 5: Highlights of the North (B)
Salu >> Lombok Parinding - Bori - Loko Mata - Batutumonga - Lempo - Naggara >> Rantepao
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, short trek (Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame), entrance fees, meals as mentioned
excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, meals
After breakfast in Salu village, we are picked up by car. We visit the stone graves and rice burns in Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the boulder grave in Lokomata.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where you enjoy a beautiful panorama view. Then we visit the ceremonial ground in Lempo, and finally the traditional village Nanggala. We return in the afternoon to Rantepao.
What’s Included?
■ Included: Accommodation, guide, car, driver, fuel, entrance fees, meals as mentioned in itinerary
■ Excluded: Ceremony gifts, meals (unless mentioned), insurance, tips
■ Note: Airport transfer to/from Makassar and Palopo can be booked at additional cost
What to bring?
Comfortable shoes, insect repellent, towel, pocketlight, if applicable: ceremony gifts
Recommended Acccommodations
The included accommodation in Rantepao is at a local guesthouse with great value for money: Rosalina Guesthouse or alike.
Rantepao does not have any luxury accommodations, and in our opinion the more expensive accommodations are not good value for money. However, in case you prefer to stay at the more expensive accommodations instead of the included guesthouse, you can book your own accommodation and get a discount for your Toraja tour. Popular hotels in the top category are:
■ Toraja Misilliana Hotel
■ Tongkonan Layuk Lion .
South Sulawesi Tours – Itineraries
DAY 1: MAKASSAR – RAMMANG RAMMANG – SENGKANG
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees, boat with boatman and guide in Rammang Rammang, short trek in Rammang Rammang
Excluded: accommodation in Sengkang, meals
After pick-up at hotel, you will visit Rammang Rammang. Here you take a beautiful boat ride and make a short hike through the village, caves and limestone mountains.
Then we continue the drive to Sengkang, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
DAY 2: SENGKANG – LAKE TEMPE – RANTEPAO
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees, boat with boatman and guide in Lake Tempe
Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, meals
Pick-up after breakfast and cruise through Lake Tempe with a guide to see the floating houses.
Then, we return to the car and drive to Rantepao with a few stops in between to stretch legs (ask your driver to stop at interesting sites).
DAY 3: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SOUTH
RANTEPAO >> LEMO - KAMBIRA - TAMPANG ALLO - LAMPIO - BEBO & KARUAYA - KETE’ KESU >> RANTEPAO
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, entrance fees to sites, meals
Visiting the Southern area will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we will visit Lemo, Kambira, Tampang Allo, the weaving village Lampio, and the burial site in Kete’ Kesu. If there is time we could also visit the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya.
Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya are traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, in which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful natureClassified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village and very close to Rantepao. It is renowned for its traditional tongkanan houses, rice barns and its hanging graves. Also, there are a few scenic trekking options from here.DAY 4: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTH
RANTEPAO >> LOMBOK PARINDING - BORI - PALAWA - TINIMBAYO - BATUTUMONGA - LOKOMATA - KATA - KAYURAME >> RANTEPAO
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, short trek (Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame) Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, entrance fees to sites, meals
After breakfast, we are picked up by car to explore the scenic Northern part of Toraja.
We visit the stone graves and rice burns in the village Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the traditional village Palawa and Tinimbayo.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where you enjoy a beautiful panorama. After lunch, we drive to Lokomata to see the boulder grave.
At Loko Mata we start our scenic trek of 2-3 hours through rice fields, bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations, until we arrive at Kayurame village, from where we return by car to Rantepao.
DAY 5: RANTEPAO – EROTIC MOUNTAIN - PAREPARE - MAKASSAR
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Makassar, meals
Pick-up at your hotel at an agreed time, and transfer to Makassar (8-9 hours) with a few short stops in between, such as at the Erotic Mountains and at Parepare.
DAY 1: MAKASSAR – RAMMANG RAMMANG – SENGKANG
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees, boat with boatman and guide in Rammang Rammang, short trek in Rammang Rammang
Excluded: accommodation in Sengkang, meals
After pick-up at hotel, you will visit Rammang Rammang. Here you take a beautiful boat ride and make a short hike through the village, caves and limestone mountains.
Then we continue the drive to Sengkang, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
DAY 2: SENGKANG – LAKE TEMPE – RANTEPAO
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees, boat with boatman and guide in Lake Tempe
Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, meals
Pick-up after breakfast and cruise through Lake Tempe with a guide to see the floating houses.
Then, we return to the car and drive to Rantepao with a few stops in between to stretch legs (ask your driver to stop at interesting sites).
DAY 3: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SOUTH
RANTEPAO >> LEMO - KAMBIRA - TAMPANG ALLO - LAMPIO - BEBO & KARUAYA - KETE’ KESU >> RANTEPAO
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, entrance fees to sites, meals
Visiting the Southern area will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we will visit Lemo, Kambira, Tampang Allo, the weaving village Lampio, and the burial site in Kete’ Kesu. If there is time we could also visit the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya.
Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya are traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, in which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful natureClassified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village and very close to Rantepao. It is renowned for its traditional tongkanan houses, rice barns and its hanging graves. Also, there are a few scenic trekking options from here.Day 4: Trekking to Salu Village (L D)
Rantepao >> Pana - Kata - Sumpiak - Lolai - Bela - Salu
Included: guide, car and driver for drop-off, long trek (Kata - Salu), overnight at Salu, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, you are picked up and dropped off at Panaa. We visit the old stone grave, and then start our scenic day trek. We pass Kata - located in the middle of rice fields - and then continue to Sumpiak .
After the mountain village Lolai we go through the bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations to eventually arrive at our final destination: the remote, traditional village Salu.
Here, we'll meet the villagers, have diner, and spend the night in a local house.
DAY 5: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTH (B)
RANTEPAO >> LOMBOK PARINDING - BORI - PALAWA - TINIMBAYO - BATUTUMONGA - LOKOMATA - KATA - KAYURAME >> RANTEPAO
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, short trek (Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame), breakfast Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, entrance fees to sites, meals
After breakfast, we are picked up by car to explore the scenic Northern part of Toraja.
We visit the stone graves and rice burns in the village Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the traditional village Palawa and Tinimbayo.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where you enjoy a beautiful panorama. After lunch, we drive to Lokomata to see the boulder grave.
At Loko Mata we start our scenic trek of 2-3 hours through rice fields, bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations, until we arrive at Kayurame village, from where we return by car to Rantepao.
DAY 6: RANTEPAO – EROTIC MOUNTAIN - PAREPARE - MAKASSAR
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Makassar, meals
Pick-up at your hotel at an agreed time, and transfer to Makassar (8-9 hours) with a few short stops in between, such as at the Erotic Mountains and at Parepare.
DAY 1: MAKASSAR – RAMMANG RAMMANG – RANTEPAO
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees, boat with boatman in Rammang Rammang, short trek in Rammang Rammang
Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, meals
After pick-up at your hotel (or airport), you will visit Rammang Rammang. Here you take a beautiful boat ride and make a short hike through the village, caves and limestone mountains.
Then we continue the drive to Rantepao, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
DAY 2: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SOUTH
RANTEPAO >> LEMO - KAMBIRA - TAMPANG ALLO - LAMPIO - BEBO & KARUAYA - KETE’ KESU >> RANTEPAO
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, entrance fees to sites, meals
Visiting the Southern area will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we will visit Lemo, Kambira, Tampang Allo, the weaving village Lampio, and the burial site in Kete’ Kesu. If there is time we could also visit the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya.
Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya are traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, in which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful natureClassified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village and very close to Rantepao. It is renowned for its traditional tongkanan houses, rice barns and its hanging graves. Also, there are a few scenic trekking options from here.Day 3: Trekking to Salu Village (L D)
Rantepao >> Pana - Kata - Sumpiak - Lolai - Bela - Salu
Included: guide, car and driver for drop-off, long trek (Kata - Salu), overnight at Salu, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, you are picked up and dropped off at Panaa. We visit the old stone grave, and then start our scenic day trek. We pass Kata - located in the middle of rice fields - and then continue to Sumpiak .
After the mountain village Lolai we go through the bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations to eventually arrive at our final destination: the remote, traditional village Salu.
Here, we'll meet the villagers, have diner, and spend the night in a local house.
DAY 4: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTH (B)
RANTEPAO >> LOMBOK PARINDING - BORI - PALAWA - TINIMBAYO - BATUTUMONGA - LOKOMATA - KATA - KAYURAME >> RANTEPAO
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, short trek (Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame), breakfast Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, entrance fees to sites, meals
After breakfast, we are picked up by car to explore the scenic Northern part of Toraja.
We visit the stone graves and rice burns in the village Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the traditional village Palawa and Tinimbayo.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where you enjoy a beautiful panorama. After lunch, we drive to Lokomata to see the boulder grave.
At Loko Mata we start our scenic trek of 2-3 hours through rice fields, bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations, until we arrive at Kayurame village, from where we return by car to Rantepao.
DAY 5: RANTEPAO – LAKE TEMPE - SENGKANG
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees, boat with boatman
Excluded: accommodation in Sengkang, meals
Pick-up in the morning, and transfer to Sengkang. We make a stop at Bambapuang for a refreshment and to see the erotic mountain of Buntu Kabobong.
You check-in at your hotel in Sengkang and after lunch you visit Lake Tempe. Here, you take a guided boat cruise through the lake to see the floating houses. Then, we return to your hotel in Sengkang.
DAY 6: SENGKANG – BUGIS VILLAGES – BIRA
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Bira, meals
Pick-up in the morning, and transfer via the Bugis Villages and through a scenic landscape to Tanjung Bira.
You check-in at your hotel, and have a free program to enjoy the beach or the sunset.
DAY 7: BIRA - TANA BERU - MAKASSAR
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Makassar, meals
Free program in the morning, and then we start our return. We stop at Tana Beru. Here we will visit the boat-building center to see how the big, traditional Pinisi boats are built. After lunch enroute, we proceed to your hotel in Makassar. End of program.
DAY 1: MAKASSAR – RAMMANG RAMMANG – RANTEPAO
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees, boat with boatman in Rammang Rammang, short trek in Rammang Rammang
Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, meals
After pick-up at your hotel (or airport), you will visit Rammang Rammang. Here you take a beautiful boat ride and make a short hike through the village, caves and limestone mountains.
Then we continue the drive to Rantepao, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.
DAY 2: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE SOUTH
RANTEPAO >> LEMO - KAMBIRA - TAMPANG ALLO - LAMPIO - BEBO & KARUAYA - KETE’ KESU >> RANTEPAO
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, entrance fees to sites, meals
Visiting the Southern area will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we will visit Lemo, Kambira, Tampang Allo, the weaving village Lampio, and the burial site in Kete’ Kesu. If there is time we could also visit the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya.
Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya are traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, in which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful natureClassified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village and very close to Rantepao. It is renowned for its traditional tongkanan houses, rice barns and its hanging graves. Also, there are a few scenic trekking options from here.Day 3: Trekking to Salu Village (L D)
Rantepao >> Pana - Kata - Sumpiak - Lolai - Bela - Salu
Included: guide, car and driver for drop-off, long trek (Kata - Salu), overnight at Salu, meals as mentioned
After breakfast, you are picked up and dropped off at Panaa. We visit the old stone grave, and then start our scenic day trek. We pass Kata - located in the middle of rice fields - and then continue to Sumpiak .
After the mountain village Lolai we go through the bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations to eventually arrive at our final destination: the remote, traditional village Salu.
Here, we'll meet the villagers, have diner, and spend the night in a local house.
DAY 4: HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTH (B)
RANTEPAO >> LOMBOK PARINDING - BORI - PALAWA - TINIMBAYO - BATUTUMONGA - LOKOMATA - KATA - KAYURAME >> RANTEPAO
Included: guide, car, driver, fuel, parking fees, short trek (Loko Mata - Kata - Kayurame), breakfast Excluded: accommodation in Rantepao, entrance fees to sites, meals
After breakfast, we are picked up by car to explore the scenic Northern part of Toraja.
We visit the stone graves and rice burns in the village Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the traditional village Palawa and Tinimbayo.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where you enjoy a beautiful panorama. After lunch, we drive to Lokomata to see the boulder grave.
At Loko Mata we start our scenic trek of 2-3 hours through rice fields, bamboo forests, cacao and coffee plantations, until we arrive at Kayurame village, from where we return by car to Rantepao.
DAY 5: RANTEPAO – LAKE TEMPE - SENGKANG
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees, boat with boatman
Excluded: accommodation in Sengkang, meals
Pick-up in the morning, and transfer to Sengkang. We make a stop at Bambapuang for a refreshment and to see the erotic mountain of Buntu Kabobong.
You check-in at your hotel in Sengkang and after lunch you visit Lake Tempe. Here, you take a guided boat cruise through the lake to see the floating houses. Then, we return to your hotel in Sengkang.
DAY 6: SENGKANG – BUGIS VILLAGES – BIRA
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Bira, meals
Pick-up in the morning, and transfer via the Bugis Villages and through a scenic landscape to Tanjung Bira.
You check-in at your hotel, and have a free program to enjoy the beach or the sunset.
DAY 7: BIRA BEACH - FREE PROGRAM
Included: nothing
Excluded: accommodation in Bira, meals, driver
Free program. Enjoy on your own pace the beautiful beaches around Bira.
DAY 8: BIRA - TANA BERU - MAKASSAR
Included: car, driver, fuel, parking fees
Excluded: accommodation in Makassar, meals
Free program in the morning, and then we start our return. We stop at Tana Beru. Here we will visit the boat-building center to see how the big, traditional Pinisi boats are built. After lunch enroute, we proceed to your hotel in Makassar. End of program.
What’s Included?
■ Included: Accommodation in villages, guide, car, boat, meals as mentioned in itinerary ■ Excluded: Accommodation in Rantepao, entry tickets for sites, ceremony gifts, insurance
What to bring?
Comfortable shoes, insect repellent, towel, pocketlight, if applicable: ceremony gifts
Recommended Acccommodations
Accommodation is not included (except in a Toraja village). Some recommended hotels:
| Bira: | Secret Guest Hause |
| Makassar Airport: | Harper Perintis |
| Makassar | Citanes Royal Bay Makassar |
| Rantepao: | Toraja Misilliana Hotel |
| Sengkang: | BBC Hotel ([email protected]) |
How to Prepare for your Tana Toraja Tour?
Go through our frequently asked questions below. If you cannot find your question, don’t hesitate to drop us an email.
Makassar is the gateway to Tana Toraja, and Rantepao is the base from which to explore Tana Toraja.
Fly to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar. From here you can reach Rantepao both via land and by air.
By Air. Take the morning flight from Makassar to Palopo Bua Airport (±1 hour), located ±2 hour drive from Rantepao. We can pick you up here. Use SkyScanner to search for international and domestic flights.
Warning: While Rantepao also has a small airport "Pongtiku", we advice against flying there, as occasionally flights are either delayed or canceled.
Taxi. Take a private transfer from the airport to Rantepao (±7/8 hours). You could make stops at interesting sites on route (Bugis village, Erotic mountains), make a ±2 hour detour to visit Rammang Rammang, or break the journey with an overnight at Sengkang.
Bus. The cheapest option is to take the bus (±9/10 hours). There are many bus companies with different prices and each bus has several seat classes. Always take the "VIP" seats as these are the most comfortable. Bus companies include Litha & Co, Manggala Trans and Primadona. Usually you need to buy the bus tickets locally, but Primadona has a (primitive) online booking system and an email address ([email protected]).
There are many bus companies with different prices and each bus has several seat classes. Always take the "VIP" seats as these are the most comfortable. Bus companies include Litha & Co, Manggala Trans and Primadona. Usually you need to buy the bus tickets locally, but Primadona has a (primitive) online booking system and an email address ([email protected]).
Interesting sites on route from Makassar to Rantepao in Tana Toraja are:
- 1. The Bugis Makassar village
- 2. The "Erotic mountain" in Bambapuang
- 3. The famous stone grave "Lemo"
- 4. The Torajan traditional village " Sasa"
If you leave early in the morning, you could also consider visiting Rammang Rammang and make a guided boat trip and trek.
Notice that the drive to Tana Toraja easily takes 8 hours and could even be longer depending on traffic. So don't be too ambitious with your wishlist and manage your expectations that some sites may have to be skipped depending on the traffic.
Yes. Our private airport transport can be at any time you wish.
In case you have an early flight to catch in Makassar, we could either drop you off the night before in Makassar so that you rest in a nearby hotel, or we could transport you at night and drop you off at the airport in the morning. As you wish.
From a climate point of view, Tana Toraja can be visited all year long. While the temperature is fairly constant throughout the year, chances for the best weather are in the dry season from mid April to early October. However, the rain season in Tana Toraja is not as wet as in other places in Indonesia; typically there is short rain shower in the late afternoon, if it rains at all. In the worst case it could rain half a day.
The best period to visit Tana Toraja to attend a funeral ceremony is July – August. In these months you will be able to attend a ceremony with near certainty if you stay in Tana Toraja for 3 days or more. At the same time this is the busiest period with crowds or visitors.
The best period to visit Tana Toraja for the scenic treks are the high season and shoulder months (April - October), although the best picture conditions (green rice fields) are in the rain season period October-March.
Yes. Feel free to get to Tana Toraja on your own. We will reduce the tour price (3 million IDR for a return private transfer Makassar - Rantepao) and tour itinerary accordingly.
Tipping is common in Indonesia, and the staff will be extremely happy and flattered if you decide to do so, but it is entirely voluntary and not expected.
There is no rule for how much to tip, as it really depends on how satisfied you are with the service and on your budget. Some clients really insist to get an indication, so we will give the rule of thumb that for every day you may consider tipping your guide 100.000 IDR and 50.000 IDR to your driver.
Please consider this as very indicative. If you are on a low budget just consider less, and if you are on a high budget you could consider more. But any amount is really appreciated!
If there will be a funeral ceremony during your visit then we will attend the funeral if you wish, and we adjust the tour itinerary accordingly.
But we can usually not guarantee that there will be funeral ceremonies during your visit because the funeral schedules are usually not fixed and sometimes only announced a few days in advance.
But if you stay in Tana Toraja for a few days in July and August it is likely that there will be a funeral ceremony during your stay.
The default treks with the 4D3N Tana Toraja Tour and 5D4N Sulawesi Tour are short (±1 hour) and very accessible even for less fit people.
The default treks with the 5D4N Tana Toraja Tour and 6D5N Sulawesi Tour are also easy but there is an all-day trek that could be tiring for the inexperienced hiker. In that case, we also offer an alternative hike that only takes ±3 hour and includes the highlights.
However, nothing is set in stone, so just contact us about your preferences and we'll tailor the itineraries to your interests.
The included accommodation in Rantepao is an ensuite room at a local guesthouse with great value for money: Rosalina Guesthouse or alike.
You will sleep like the local villagers, in basic but clean rooms. Notice that conform local customs, the shower is usually outside of the house. While we cannot guarantee it, we always try to arrange a traditional Tongkonan.
Rantepao does not have any luxury accommodations, and in our opinion the more expensive accommodations are not good value for money. However, in case you prefer to stay at the more expensive accommodations instead of the included guesthouse, you can book your own accommodation and get a discount for your Toraja tour. Popular hotels in the top category are:
Please notice that you can book your own accommodation only for the part of the tour with overnights in Rantepao as accommodations in the mountain villages with the Toraja Tour & Village Stay tours cannot be booked by visitors themselves. Just let us know if you wish to visit other villages than in our default program and we change the itinerary and accommodation accordingly.
According to Torajan beliefs, the ghost of the deceased lingers around his village until the funeral ceremony is completed, after which it will start the journey to the Land of Souls ("Puya").
Buffaloes are considered to be a transportation vehicle for this journey, and during the funeral ceremony as many buffaloes are sacrificed as possible so that the journey to the land of souls can be done as fast as possible.
Lemo. Perhaps the best known and most crowded burial site in Toraja. The sheer rock face has a series of balconies with tau tau, wooden statues of the dead persons inside the graves.Kambira Baby Graves. The most famous baby grave site in Tana Toraja. Torajans from Kambira would carve a hole into the trunk of a Jackfruit tree and place the baby in it. Over time the living tree would grow around the hole sealing the baby into the trunk. Unfortunately, the trees have died by now. This somewhat dark site holds around 20 deceased infants.Kete Kesu'. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is perhaps the best known traditional Torajan village with Tongkanan houses. Visit the rice barns, hanging graves, or start a scenic trek from here.Suaya. Seven royal families from Sangalla are buried at this famous and relatively quite burial site. The wooden effigies tau tau are in balconies that are cut in the large rock face.Tampang Allo. Perhaps the least known of the fabulous must-sees in the Southern area: A beautiful, natural cave that has been used in the past as burial site, and where you find tau tau and some human bones.Lampio. Lampio is a traditional weaving village in Toraja. It is the authentic equivalent to the touristic and commercial Sa'dan village.Bebo and Karuaya. Traditional villages, where the villagers still have a traditional, animistic belief. The walk from Bebo to Karuaya takes around 45 minutes, during which you see both traditional Torajan houses and beautiful nature.The general pack list:
- Comfortable shoes
- Insect repellent (DEET 40%)
- Small backpack for the day trips
- Camera
Pack also the following for the Tana Toraja treks:
- Towel
- Pocket light
- Mobile charger for your electronic devices (or a spare battery)
When you visit a ceremony, you should bring a small ceremony gift (such as sugar, chocolate, cigarettes), or just ask your guide to make a stop at a local store on the way to the ceremony.
This tour is for the true adventurer! The traveler that seeks to discover unexplored, and yet magnificent regions! The traveler that enjoys the outdoors, is curious about survival techniques, and is thrilled by the vibe of a remote, virgin, evergreen forest.
The trekking will be in the remote, evergreen rainforest in the Mambasa region, a few hours drive from Palopo airport and Rantepao village. Because Torajans are supersticious and fear the jungle, most Torajan guides have never been to the jungle and jungle trekking tours are not commonly offered around Toraja, despite the incredibly attractive circumstances.
Our aim is to show the rich diversity of flora and fauna in this beautiful, virgin jungle. The jungle provides many resources that people ignore nowadays such as traditional medicinal herbs. Animals living here include wild pigs, monkeys and various bird species including the Sulawesi hornbill.
Trekking, Hunting & Building Shelters
As we trek through the jungle, we will teach you about the medicinal plants, and show the wildlife. We will sleep in a tent or in hammocks and prepare simple meals in cooking equipment we bring with ourselves. Porters will carry your heavy bags and provide general support.
For the true adventurours we also offer the survival option where we will teach you how to hunt in the jungle, make a shelter from natural resources and eat what the jungle provides us (this includes smoking ant nests, drinking from plant roots, eating jungle fruit, frying frogs, etc).
We provide jungle trekkings from 2 up to 7 days. We recommend to do at least a 3 day tour to experience one full day in the jungle. You should be in good shape, comfortable with outdoor trekkings and very basic facilities.
Wana Tribe
This jungle is also home to the indigenous Wana tribe. This Nomadic tribe lives in the jungle in isolation from the civilized world, but they do warmly welcome the few visitors that show interest to visit them.
In case you do a jungle trekking of at least 5 or 6 days, we may be able to find them and pay them a visit. This is especially a unique opportunity for photographers and documentary makers, as there is very little public information available about this jungle tribe!
