Ancestral Adventures in South Sulawesi, Indonesia (6 days)

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

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. We recommend the luxurious Amatoa Resort, perched on a cliff overlooking the beach.

Check out of your hotel early this morning - you’re back on the road again. This time, you’re heading 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 family-run hotel, Pondok Eka, the best in town. 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.

Enjoy breakfast at your hotel, before departing for Toraja. The 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 late afternoon, and check in to our recommended hotel, the Toraja Heritage. Dine either at your hotel, or at a nearby restaurant.

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.

For the final day of your South Sulawesi sojourn, you’ll take a long, scenic drive (8 hours) to Makassar. Enjoy lunch along the way with a stop in Pare Pare, a port-town where many of the Bugi people live, with their ancient seafaring culture. Once arrived, you’ll check in for your flight to your next destination.