Indonesia Expedition: Sulawesi & Toraja Tribes

Selamat datang! Welcome to Sulawesi, the Indonesian island gem that’s home to vast national parkland, radiant coral reefs and a mountainous centre. Your adventure starts in Makassar with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early maybe join a food tour at the local night market, explore the 14th-century Fort Rotterdam or visit the 99-Dome Mosque. After your meeting, maybe get to know your new travel companions over a traditional dinner on Losari beach.

This morning, travel through the countryside to Pare Pare – a port town on the coast of Sulawesi. Along the way, visit Ramang Ramang village and take in the panoramic views of the karst mountains closing in on the rice paddies and surrounding farmland. Then, board a traditional wooden boat and float up the river, stopping along the way to meet locals and be welcomed into their village. After, continue your journey to Pare Pare where you’ll spend the evening.

Today, you’ll travel north to Rantepao – a town surrounded by mountains and forest, known as the cultural centre of the Toraja people. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. Along the way, stop at the Gunung Nona viewpoint for panoramic views over the region. When you arrive in Rantepao later this afternoon, maybe visit a local coffee roastery and try a Toraja coffee or relax with a good book in preparation for the trekking adventure ahead.

Wake up early and set out for the starting point of today’s Tana Toraja trek in Mariri. Your hike begins with a steep descent through lush bamboo forest, then traverses beautiful scenery as you soak up the sight of coffee and cacao plantations, pass villages, rice terraces and pine forests, and chat with local Toraja people along the way. Stop for a packed lunch and take a moment to appreciate the remoteness of the surrounding landscape. This afternoon, you’ll arrive in Madong. Enjoy a free afternoon and maybe join the locals as they weave traditional floor mats or make dinner. Tonight, you’ll stay in a local Tongkonan guesthouse run by a family in the village. Tongkonan houses are the traditional homes of the Toraja people, with boat-shaped roofs and intricate carvings.

After a traditional breakfast, lace up your hiking boots and set off on the next section of your trek to Kalimbuang. Your hike begins by weaving through bamboo forest and traditional villages. Pass farmers tending to their gardens and immerse yourself in the beautiful landscape of rice terraces and fertile valleys. Stop by a village for a well-earned rest and refuel with a packed lunch before descending through pine forest. When you arrive at the Kalimbuang Rice Terrace, drive to Batutumonga, where you’ll spend a second night in a Tongkonan guesthouse.

Enjoy a free morning to explore at your own pace. Maybe go in search of a delicious Toraja hot coffee or hike to Mount Sesean for uninterrupted views over the region. Later today, visit Ke’te Kesu’ in the centre of the highlands. Nestled in the mountainous region of South Sulawesi, this Tongkonan complex has remained unchanged since its development over 400 years ago and has preserved its ancestral customs as well as its buildings. The people of Ke’te Kesu’ are known as highly skilled craftsmen, and evidence of their creations can be found across the settlement. Discover the abstract and geometric patterns carved into bamboo and stone, then continue to Rantepao.

Spend a full day immersing yourself in Toraja culture. Begin in Lemo, where artful cliffside tombs tell centuries-old stories. Learn about Ma’nene, the ritual held every three years when ‘mummified’ bodies are exhumed, cleaned and redressed in fresh clothing. Continue to Palawa, where traditional houses display buffalo horns as symbols of status. After lunch, travel to Bori and discover the striking landscape of megalithic stones marking a ceremonial ground where the Toraja gather for feasts and rituals to honour the dead. Conclude with the mysterious and confronting Londa Cave, an ancient Torajan burial site where natural limestone caves house centuries-old coffins and remains, offering a unique insight into the region’s rich funeral traditions.