Trekking in Toraja, Meet the death rituals
Itinerary
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Day 1 Arrive in Makassar
You will arrive in Makassar, you English-speaking guide will wait you at the airport and send you to check in at your hotel. Relax at your hotel for your following days trip in Toraja.
- 15m drive
- Night in Aston Makassar: deluxe room
- No meals -
Day 2 Makassar - Toraja
Today, you reach the Toraja country directly by following the coast of the flat Bugis country, a region of sailors and boat builders of the Muslim faith. The Torajas are Protestant mountain people, but they continue to perpetuate the religion of their ancestors. The latter is based on large ceremonies, particularly funeral ceremonies, which are sacrificed by hundreds of head of cattle.
- Transport : 8h
- Night in Toraja : Hotel Sahid deluxe room
- Meals: B, L, D -
Day 3 Toraja - Kandora - Randan Batu
Beginning of the trek through the Toraja country, towards Kandora, the starting point of the trek. Departure of the hike through plentiful landscapes made of jungle, rice fields and bamboos, and punctuated by tongkonan, traditional Toraja houses that stand up to the sky their amazing roof in the shape of boats. On the way, you meet the torajas and observe their daily activities...
- 6h hiking
- 45 min transport
- Night : Traditional homestay
- Meals: B, L, D -
Day 4 Randan Batu - Paniki - Buntao
Hiking to Paniki and Labo through the rice fields and villages. After a picnic lunch, you reach Buntao and settle into a village house.
- 4h hiking
- Night : Traditional homestay
- Meals: B, L, D -
Day 5 Buntao - Palawa - Batutumonga
After a short walk you take the road to Palawa, one of the most beautiful Toraja villages. You hike to Lempo, walking through beautiful rice terraces and small typical villages before reaching Batutumonga.
- 4h hiking
- 1h : transport
- Night : Traditional homestay
- Meals: B, L, D -
Day 6 Coffee plantation - Rantepao
You will take the road to Rantepao, capital of the Toraja country. You will transfer to the coffee plantation and hiking inside with a local guide. Depending on the season, you will watch local people harvesting coffee as well as learning how they process it. Lunch at a local restaurant, then you will go to discovery of the famous villages of Lemo and Londa, with their “dead on the balconies”. Called Tao-Tao by the Torajas, these statuettes represent the deceased looking at the living from the top of balconies built in the cliffs or caves. You will also encounter baby trees. When a baby dies before teething, the family forgoes the normal funeral ritual, and goes to the tree at night by torchlight. They carve a hole in the side of the tree, place the baby’s body in vertically, and cover it with palm fiber. By the time the fiber cover falls off years later, the tree has regrown and absorbed the skeleton. Unlike the funeral, only a small percentage of Torajans still bury babies this way.
At the end, you will go back to Rantepao for your last night.- 2 -3h hiking
- 2h : Transport
- Night in Rantepao : Hotel Masiliana deluxe room
- Meals: B, L, D -
Day 7 Rantepao - Ujung Pandang - Makassar
Transfer to Ujung Pandang with a lunch break at Pare-Pare. You say goodbye to your guide when you arrive at your hotel in Makassar. Next morning, only the driver will drop you off at the airport according to your flight time.
- 8h : Transport
- Night in Aston Makassar: deluxe room
- Meals: B, L -
Day 8 Farewell Makassar - End of your trip
Free time in Makassar, according to your flight time, the driver will drop off at the airport of Makassar. You are taking a flight to your next destination.
- 30m drive
- Meals: B
Period & budget
When to travel?
The best period for travelling is during the following months:
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
Price
The budget is an indication of the price per person, subject to availability. Your local agent will send you a customized quote with the exact price. The price can vary according to availability, level of services, period of travel, number of participants, booking time frame and other items.
Included
- 7 nights with breakfast (4 nights in a hotel, 3 nights in a local house)
Not included
- Tips (advise: 4€ - 8€/traveler/day)
Notes
Terms and conditions
Booking conditions
Invoice procedure
Cancellation policy
- Cancellation received more than 30 days prior to the departure date: a sum of €50 per person will be retained
- Cancellation received 30 to 21 days before the departure date: your deposit, 30% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received 20 to 14 days before the departure date: 50% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received 13 to 7 days before the departure date: 75% of the total trip price will be retained
- Cancellation received less than 7 days before the departure date: 100% of the total trip price will be retained
- Fixed airfares: if your airline ticket was issued in advance, often done to avoid significant surcharges, you will be charged 100% of any non-refundable fees if you wish to change or cancel your flight plan.
- Fixed in-country costs: early charges for firm bookings will be charged if you cancel or modify your trip.
- Insurance costs: if you have taken out comprehensive or cancellation insurance, the cost of insurance is due and cannot be refunded.
Changes to travel contract
Pricing
Contract transfer
Insurance
Practical info
Food
Accommodation
Transportation
Budget & exchange
Tips
Vital equipment
- A cap or sunhat
- A good pair of sunglasses (level 3 or 4, glacier)
- 1 or 2 sets of thermals: long-sleeved thermal tops and full-length long johns
- Long sleeved and short sleeved t-shirts, appropriate for hiking in
- 1 fleece or equivalent
- A breathable wind proof, waterproof jacket (Gore-Tex...)
- A rain cape or protective waterproof bag for your daybag
- 1 or 2 pairs of long shorts
- 1 pair of walking trousers
- Your hiking boots (high-cut, thick soles...)
- A pair of trainers
- A pair of sandals for wearing in the sea
- Thick walking socks
- A good water bottle (min. 1.5 l)
- A good sun-cream (SPF 50+, water resistant, biodegradable...)
- Insect repellent
- Towel(s)
- A wash bag
- your personal toiletries
Helpful equipment
- A camera and spare batteries/portable charger
- A power plug travel adapter
- A head torch and spare batteries
- A pocket knife
- A fast drying micro-fibre beach towel
- A bath towel
- Blister plasters
- A small personal first aid kit
- Zip lock bags to protect your important documents and electronics
- A laundry bag/bin bag for your dirty clothes
- Tissues
- Earplugs
Luggage
Medicine
Passport
Visa
Health information & recommendations
Weather
Electricity
Local time
Sustainable tourism
- Be prepared
- Stick to trails and camp overnight right
- Stash your trash and pick up waste
- Leave it as you find it
- Be careful with fire
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors