Example Itinerary

Ancestral Adventures in South Sulawesi

Duration
6 days / 5 nights
Price Per Person
Interests
Tribal
Destinations
Indonesia

Sulawesi is home to a vast array of colourful, exotic tribes. Get up-close and personal with them on our 6-day Ancestral Adventures in South Sulawesi itinerary. Enjoy stunning scenery, beautiful beaches, and accommodation that ranges from luxe to rugged - all part of the in-depth cultural immersion experience. From Makassar, to Bira, to Sengkang, to Rantepao, and finishing off in well-known Tana Toraja, you’re in for a thrilling journey into the lives - past and present - of Sulawesi’s tribespeople.

This itinerary is an example. It’s designed to inspire you and provide you with thoughtfully curated ideas. You can choose to do this exact itinerary or completely personalize it. All trips are 100% bespoke.

Highlights

  • Hidden Gem Beach: Just an hour south of Makassar, Bira is a small fishing village with exceptional dive sites. White sand soft as flour and clear blue waters, Bira Beach is one of Indonesia's most beautiful - and lesser known - beaches.
  • Macabre Traditions: Witness firsthand Tana Toraja’s famous hanging coffins and ancestral sculptures at a sacred cliff gravesite.
  • Forest Tribe: Have an audience with the chief of the indigenous Kajang, a tribe that lives deep in the forest. Striving to live according to traditional customs, they face the challenges of modernity and forest encroachment which endanger their way of life.

Day-by-Day

Day 1

Map

Makassar

Arrive at the Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, Sulawesi’s largest city, and transfer to your hotel. Spend the remainder of your day getting acquainted with your new surroundings.

Hotel Options
About

One of the leading hotels in Makassar, the Rinra is a modern luxury hotel boasting 175 rooms and suites at a seaside location. Contemporary rooms are dressed in calming neutral colors and feature modern tech and amenities; select rooms come with balcony and sea views.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 2

Map

Bira

Rise and shine this morning, starting with breakfast at your hotel, followed by a five-hour scenic drive around Sulawesi’s South Coast, to Bira Beach. Along the way, you’ll stop in Tana Beru town, where wooden boatbuilding is an integral part of the culture. See how it’s done by watching the boat builders in action. Enjoy a packed lunch as you continue to Bira Beach. Once arrived, sink your feet into some of the whitest, most powdery sand you’ve ever felt. Enjoy some beach time this afternoon, before returning to your hotel for dinner. 

Hotel Options
About

Tropical paradise awaits you at the Amatoa Resort in Bira, Indonesia. Nestled into incredible stone cliffs, overlooking the sprawling white sand beaches, the views are unbelievable.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Bira
Bira

Day 3

Map

Sengkang

Check out of your hotel early this morning - you’re back on the road again. This time, you’re heading the short distance to Bulukumba, where you’ll meet members of the indigenous Kajang tribe. These tribes people believe that their home, a 31-square-mile forested area, is set on the world’s oldest land. Here, you’ll be granted an audience with the tribal chief, who can provide insight into the Kajang’s culture and traditions. Lunch in Watampone, and afterwards, check out Museum Andi Mappasisi. Upon arrival in Sengkang, you’ll check in to your hotel. Once settled in, you’ll pay a visit to a traditional silk factory, where you can observe the traditional silk spinning and weaving process. Sunset is a can’t-miss - you’ll catch it over Lake Tempeh, before heading to a local restaurant for a traditional, delicious Sulawesi-style culinary feast.

Hotel Options
About

Located in Sengkang, the Sermani Hotel Sengkang offers clean and comfortable rooms that feature air conditioning, standing hot and cold showers, and complimentary wifi. Though the hotel doesn’t have a full-time restaurant, they do have a kitchen and dining area that offers a standard breakfast for guests.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Day 4

Map

Toraja

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before an early departure for Toraja. The 7-hour drive there is wonderfully-scenic - make sure your camera is ready! Have lunch in Makale, then head to Londa, an ancient cave cemetery. Continue onwards to Kete Kesu, and check out the traditional boat-shaped Tongkonan ancestral houses. You’ll arrive in Toraja’s capital by evening, and check in to your hotel. Dine either at your hotel, or at a nearby restaurant.

Hotel Options
About

At Toraja Heritage Hotel, guests are in for a real treat: located 2,300 feet above sea level, looking out over one of Indonesia’s largest mountain ranges, this hotel prides itself on following the architectural style of traditional Torajan clan houses, complete with traditional furnishings and handicrafts, and a roof shaped like a ship’s prow. But the hotel - the first four-star international hotel in Toraja - also provides world-class amenities and comforts seen around the world, with two outdoor swimming pools, a bamboo bar featuring fresh juice and a “drink of the day”, and even as a flying ropes course for the adventurous type! Venturing off-site, guests can enjoy visits to nearby sites including rice fields and a traditional plait center; staying on the grounds, they can indulge in a spa treatment and order some room service to their luxurious suite.

This accommodation has been personally vetted by the Remote Lands team and is the best available in the area. More information on this property is available on the “Hotels” tab at the top of the page.

Toraja
Toraja

Day 5

Map

Toraja

Spend the day exploring the Torajan Highlands, and discover how the place was endowed with the nickname “Land of the Heavenly Kings”. Today you’ll start with Lemo, a cliff gravesite where you can observe the Torajan’s traditional hanging graves and ancestral sculptures. Continue on to other traditional villages, where you can interact with the locals and observe their daily lives. You’ll dine in local restaurants, and truly feel immersed in the local culture. Relax tonight at your hotel ahead of your final day and journey home.

Day 6

Map

Departure

For the final day of your South Sulawesi sojourn, you’ll take a scenic 3-hour drive Palopo, a coast city to the east. Enjoy lunch along the way and fly out of Palopo airport.

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