Toraja Highlands Trek & Cultural Immersion

Welcome at Makassar airport by your English speaking tour-guide and transfer to the hotel. Makassar is the capital of the province of South Sulawesi, situated on the Makassar Strait. Rest of the day at leisure. In the early afternoon, visit the fish market, an essential meeting place, as fish is an important part of Indonesian culinary culture.

Transfer to the port of Paotere to admire the magnificent wooden schooners. The tour ends with a visit to Fort Rotterdam, built in 1545 by Raja Tunipalangga: originally it consisted of an earthen rampart called a "makassar". It was not until 1634 that these were reinforced with stone walls, at the request of Sultan Alaudin. The fort was later (in 1667) conquered by the Dutch and renamed "Rotterdam" (the birthplace of Speelman). Today, the fort has been fully restored and even houses a small museum recounting its history.

In the morning, transfer to the Maros region, once discovered by Alfred Wallace, famous for its rice fields and karst peaks. Take a short walk in the surrounding area and explore a cave that is almost 39,000 years old, featuring numerous cave paintings.

Your guide will also take you on a pirogue ride along a river, home to many bird species. You will meet the local people, who live in houses built on stilts.At the end of the morning, continue your journey to the seaside town of Pare Pare, then make your way up the Sa'Dan River toward the mountains, passing through stunning landscapes. The flat terrain gradually gives way to thick coconut forests. Stop along the way at Bambapuang for a view of the so-called "erotic" mountain.

Arrival in Rantepao the capital of Toraja country, in the early evening. Check-in at your hotel

Morning transfer to Sangkurapi, the starting point of your 5-day trek through Toraja. Throughout the journey, you'll pass through rice fields, dense forests, rivers, and charming traditional villages, each offering glimpses into the local way of life. Upon arriving in Karonanga in the afternoon, you'll have free time to relax before enjoying a unique dinner with the locals, who showcase the surprising uses of bamboo in their cooking.

Second day of trekking to Sapan, through terraced rice fields, villages and bamboo forests. Overnight in a typical Toraja house.

You continue your trek towards Baruppu, largely through the forest.

Today's route takes you through some splendid scenery towards Melosya.

Last day of walking, bringing you closer to Rantepao. Transfer to the Toraja capital mid-afternoon.

Your first stop today is the Lemo site. This is a rock face into which balconies have been carved, housing numerous figurines known as Tau Tau.

We then transfer to the royal tombs of Suaya and continue on foot to another interesting site: Tampangg'alo. In the afternoon, visit the Londa caves, at the foot of a large cliff, which contain coffins and scattered bones. Easy walk to Kete Kusu village (famous for its wood carvings and rice granaries), through rice fields, villages and bamboo forest. You'll also discover troglodytic tombs and older suspended tombs.

Early in the morning, transfer to the shores of lake Tempe and board motorized canoes for an extraordinary exploration of this vast marshy lake, home to numerous bird species and an astonishing lakeside village. This experience offers you a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the local way of life, where time appears to stand still for the villagers. In the morning, we’ll reach the charming little town of Sengkang, which stretches along the banks of the Walanae River. In the afternoon, visit the traditional silk weaving workshops.