Makassar >> Rammang Rammang >> Sengkang
After pick-up in Makassar, we will visit Rammang Rammang. This is the third largest karst landscape in the world. It is so rough and surreal that we could easily imagine having entered a Jurassic Park scene.
We 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 we check in at our hotel and enjoy diner.
Sengkang >> Lake Tempe / Floating Village >> Rantepao
After breakfast we visit Lake Tempe, which is a shallow lake fringed by wetlands with traditional floating houses and a large population of birds. There are around 30 floating houses inhabited by traditional fishermen.
We cruise on the lake with a long tail boat and visit a traditional floating house where we can enjoy drinking tea or coffee and eating fried banana (Pisang Goreng) with the locals.
Then, we return to the car and drive to Rantepao, where we check-in to our authentic Tongkonan. A traditional meal will be prepared for you which you can enjoy at the balcony of your Tongkonan.
Rantepao >> Lemo – Tampang Allo – Suaya – Bebo – Karuaya – Kete’ Kesu >> Rantepao
Visiting the Southern area of Torajaland will feel as if a cultural documentary has been brought to life. These are the must-sees of Tana Toraja.
Typically we visit Lemo with its hanging tau tau effigies, the burial cave in Tampang Allo, the animistic villages Bebo and Karuaya, the grave of the seven royal families in Suaya, and the burial site in the picturesque Kete’ Kesu.
Around Karuaya and Tampang Allo there are also beautiful rice fields where we could walk around if weather- and rice field conditions allow.
In the afternoon we drive to an authentic village around Rantepao and check in to our Tongkonan accommodation. Relax, enjoy the view, and meet the kind locals as your guide or the village cook prepares your traditional diner.
Nothing is set in stone so we can also visit other sites in the South if you wish. Subject to ceremony schedule and your wishes, we could on this day also visit a funeral or a wedding instead.
Rantepao >> Lombok Parinding – Bori – Palawa – Tinimbayo – Batutumonga – Loko Mata – Kata – Kayurame >> Rantepao
After our home-made breakfast, it is time to pack and say goodbye to the villagers. We explore the less touristic North, which is the most scenic region of Tana Toraja with beautiful trails through mountain villages.
We visit the stone graves and rice barns in the village Lombok Parinding, the megalithic stones in Bori, and the traditional village Palawa and Tinimbayo.
Lunch will be served in Batutumonga, where we enjoy a beautiful panorama of rice terraces. After lunch, we drive to Loko Mata 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, from where we return by car to Rantepao.
This will be our last night in Rantepao.
Nothing is set in stone so we can also visit other sites in the North if you wish. Subject to ceremony schedule and your wishes, we could on this day also visit a funeral or a wedding instead.
Rantepao >> Erotic Mountain >> Pare Pare >> Makassar
After breakfast at our Tongkonan, we drive back to Makassar (ca 8 hours). On our way we make several stops such as in Parepare and at Bambapuang to see the stunning Buntu Kabobong, better known as the Erotic Mountain.
In Makassar our Sulawesi adventure ends and we say goodbye to the driver.