Flight: SQ5142 Singapore - Makassar 07.55 - 11.10

Private transfer: Upon arrival in Makassar, you will be met by your local guide and taken to the Aryaduta Makassar for a two night stay.

Afternoon guided tour: After checking in to your hotel, set off on a gentle city tour to explore the local area with your guide. Visit nearby Port Rotterdam and the Lagaligo Museum, which has some interesting sections on ethnology and history.

Dinner at Ratu Gurih: This evening, you will be taken to one of Makassar’s famous seafood restaurants for dinner. Choose from a wide selection of supremely fresh fish and watch it being grilled over a charcoal barbeque. The fish will be served with rice and a selection of tasty vegetable side dishes and sauces. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aryaduta Makassar (Superior Room)

Meals: Dinner

Road journey to Rantepao, via Rammang Rammang: After breakfast this morning depart by road for Toraja, a journey of around 8 hours with stops en route. Your first stop is approximately 50km to visit a protected area of karst mountains and limestone cliffs that is considered one of southern Sulawesi’s most scenic spots. Archaeologists have discovered prehistoric drawings in the caves that riddle these limestone outcrops, indicating that this region of Indonesia has long been inhabited. At the village of Rammang Rammang board a small motor boat for a short river cruise through the spellbinding scenery of green clad mountains. After your boat trip take a walk through the village to see locals going about their daily lives. Continue your drive north following the coast to Pare Pare, then turn inland and up over the mountains. Stop for afternoon coffee at Puncak Lakawang from where there are panoramic views over the landscape.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Toraja Misiliana Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Full day tour of Toraja villages & countryside: After breakfast this morning you will visit the weekly Bolu market, where locals trade their livestock such as water buffalos, pigs and vegetable. You get a real sense of how much is invested into these ceremonies by visiting the bi-weekly buffalo auction, where the rarest and most sought after albino buffalos can sell for up to USD 30,000 each. Your guide may be able to arrange for you to attend part of a funeral ceremony, by offering a donation which could be a carton of kretek cigarettes, sack of rice or even a pig. The morning market is the best place to ask around for information about which families have been at the market preparing for an upcoming funeral ceremony. Should there be a ceremony being held during your time in Toraja, your guide will do their best to adjust the itinerary to accommodate this. 

Later this morning travel out to the village of Bori to see an impressive collection of megaliths where the funeral ceremonies of the highest ranking nobility are held. Take a short walk to a collection of baby graves lodged in special trees nearby. Continue your tour with a visit to Lemo, where rows of Tau-Tau and hanging graves line the cliffs. Next is the village of Karuaya to see an impressive collection of ancient Tongkonan houses with row of rice barns. For lunch you will experience a Torajan cooking class in Sangalla, where seasoned pork and chicken are stuffed inside lengths of bamboo then roasted on an open fire. After lunch there will be a visit to to Sa’dan village to watch the process of Ikat weaving, an ancient Torajan technique that is still used today. Continue to Sangalla to visit royal graves from the kingdom at Suaya. The final stop of the day will be made at Londa to see a large cave grave where extravagant ceremonies take place.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Toraja Misiliana Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Torajah trekking and homestay: Today’s adventures start with a drive north from Rantepao to the picturesque village of Tondok Litak, located in one of Toraja’s main coffee growing areas. This is the starting point for your trek through western Toraja’s striking scenery of rice paddies terraces dotted with granite outcrops. The walking trail takes you through several small villages where you will see locals going about their daily routines. A picnic lunch will be served en route at a quiet spot with great vistas of the surrounding countryside. Continue trekking to the village of Limbong, where you will stay overnight in a traditional Tongkonan house and experience the hospitality of Torajan people. After some time to wander around the village and meet some of the locals, your hosts will provide a hearty evening meal of Torajan specialities before settling down for an early night.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Toraja Homestay (Basic Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

White water rafting: Rise early at daybreak, and see the villagers going about their morning activities. After a simple breakfast, bid farewell to your hosts and hike down to the banks of the Maiting river where your raft and crew will be waiting. After a safety briefing from a rafting guide, set off today’s rafting adventure. As you paddle downstream you may come across iguanas and wild ducks, whilst enjoying the scenery in this remote and inaccessible area of central Sulawesi. A picnic lunch will be served on the riverbank in an area surrounded by huge canyons and water falls. After lunch continue rafting downstream until reaching the end point, where you will meet your driver and continue your journey by road to your hotel in Rantepao.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Toraja Misiliana Hotel (Superior Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Pendolo: After an early breakfast, set off on today’s overland journey to Pendolo, a drive of approximately 9 hours including stops. The first section of the drive descends from the Torajan highlands through lush rainforest to the city of Palopo a small port and second largest city in the South Sulawesi Province. Drive for around 2 hours across the flat plains hugging the Gulf of Boni before stopping for lunch in a local restaurant serving local specialities including grilled fish. The road then snakes through the forested highlands of Central Sulawesi Province before descending to the south shore of Lake Poso and the small town of Pendolo. Lake Poso is a an immensely beautiful lake with crystal clear water ringed by white sandy beaches rising to high, densely forested mountains.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the National Cottages (Lakeview Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast

Cruise across Lake Poso: After a leisurely start this morning, board a private boat to cruise the length of Lake Poso to the town of Tentena, with sightseeing en route. Along the way there will be stops to visit the rural villages of Tindoli and Dulumai. Lunch will be served at local restaurant en route. Upon arrival at Tentena, your car and driver will be waiting to drive you to your hotel, where you will have time to rest and relax as the sun starts setting over the lake.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Dolidi Ndano Cottages (Deluxe Lakeview Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Hiking around Lake Poso: This morning, you will have the chance to visit Tentena’s traditional market, a great place to pick up some exotic produce that grows in abundance in this area including vanilla. You will then take a hike with your guide and a local ranger to explore the forested hills around Lake Poso, a habitat for exotic bird and animal species including the tarsier. Today’s hike will take around 5-6 hours on hilly terrain with a picnic lunch provided by your guide, but can be shortened on request. Near Tentena you will visit the impressive 12-tiered Saluopa waterfall in Tunusu, and take a walk through a Balinese transmigration village which has a colourful Hindu temple.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Dolidi Ndano Cottages (Deluxe Lakeview Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Road journey to Bada Valley: Set off this morning on the drive over the forested hills to the Bada Valley, a quiet but twisty drive of around 2.5 hours. En route there will be stops to search for flora and fauna including orchids and birds, and to soak up the spectacular views as you descend towards the village of Gimpu, set in the heart of this isolated valley.

Archaeological tour of the Bada Valley: After a simple lunch at your homestay, set off to explore the pre-historic monuments of the Bada Valley. A number of intricately-carved megaliths, resembling the Moai statues of Easter Island, are dotted around the valley’s picturesque surroundings of rice paddies, streams and farmland. These archaeological wonders remain in a natural environment, away from car parks, fences, concrete and security guards and this afternoon’s tour includes some walking between the sites. The largest and most photographed megalith is Palindo, measuring approximately 4m in length, leaning at a precarious angle which is thought to have been caused by warring tribes. Other megaliths depict a sad-looking woman, a monkey or small child and a buffalo lying in a field. There are also two fields full of huge stone jars, similar to those found in eastern Laos, which are thought to be linked to sacrificial ceremonies. Return to your simple homestay for dinner and an early night.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Ningsih Homestay (Simple Room)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Bird watching in the Malei Rainforest: After early breakfast, drive back towards Tentena, and stop at the Malei rainforest area, located in the southern section of Lore Lindu National Park. Here you will meet a local ranger who will take you on a nature trek through the forest to spot birds and other animals. Birdlife is particularly plentiful here in the morning and you can expect to see hornbill, kingfishers and eagles, and a number of species that are endemic to Sulawesi. This morning’s walk will take you on a loop from the road through a protected area of forest and along riverbanks, taking approximately 2-3 hours. Longer treks can be arranged on request.

Road journey to Tentena: Later this morning, drive back to your hotel on the edge of Lake Poso, a drive of approximately 1.5 hours. The rest of the day is at leisure to relax at your hotel.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Dolidi Ndano Cottages (Deluxe Lakeview Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Road journey to Ampana: Set off from Lake Poso this morning and drive to Ampana, a journey of around 5 hours. Rejoin the Trans-Sulawesi highway at Tentena and start descending towards the coast. As you approach the city of Poso the road forks to the east, and hugs the coast until reaching the small port of Ampana. There are several local restaurants along this road serving freshly barbecued fish with steamed vegetables and rice. Upon arrival at your hotel in Ampana you will have some time to rest and relax, or explore the nearby town.    

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Marina Cottages Ampana (Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast

Boat journey to Kadidiri Island: This morning, you will be transferred to the nearby harbour to board the local ferry service to the Togean Islands. The ferry departs at 9.30am and arrives in the Togean Islands’ main port of Wakai at 11.30am (please note that this schedule is subject to change). Upon arrival at Wakai, you will be met by staff from your hotel and transferred by speedboat to the Kadidiri Paradise Resort, a journey of around 45 minutes.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kadidiri Paradise Resort (Over Water Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Full day exploring the Togean Islands: After breakfast this morning, set off on a privately chartered boat to explore the surrounding islands. Your first stop will be at the attractive village of Bajoe, a fishing community living in floating houses clinging to a large rock that has now been linked to a neighbouring island with a long walkway over the azure seas and coral beds. Continue in your boat to a large offshore reef known as Hotel California, and snorkel along the edge to see a huge variety of marine creates and both hard and soft coral in bath-warm waters with crystal clear visibility. After a packed lunch back on board your boat, travel to Jelly Fish Lagoon, a lake swarming with non-stinging Jellyfish where you can snorkel over the pulsating creatures of all shapes and sizes. Finish your trip at a sweeping white sand beach on the deserted island of Pulau Papan, where there is more snorkelling over coral reef or simply relax and soak up the views. Return to your resort late this afternoon in time to watch the sun setting over the sea.

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Kadidiri Paradise Resort (Over Water Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Days at leisure: You have two days at leisure in the Togean Islands to relax and explore the resort’s house reef, or you can book activities locally which include kayaking, diving and fishing.

Accommodation: Stay these nights at the Kadidiri Paradise Resort (Over Water Bungalow)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

Private speedboat to Ampana: After breakfast this morning, return to the mainland by private speedboat, a jouney of around 1.5 hours.

Road journey to Luwuk: A local driver will meet you at the mainland, and transfer you to the city of Luwuk. The drive takes you along a coastal road through coconut groves and remote fishing villages with simple restaurants serving fresh fish. The road then turns inland and taking you over the hills and down to the city of Luwuk, a port set on an attractive bay facing the Banda Sea. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Swiss-Belinn Luwuk (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast

Morning at leisure: This morning, you have some time to relax at your hotel, or explore the city of Luwuk independently.

Private transfer: This afternoon, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport in time for your flight back to Makassar.

Flight: GA687 Luwuk - Makassar 16.15 - 17.55 

Dinner at RM Nelayan: This evening, you will be taken to another of Makassar’s famous seafood restaurants for dinner. Choose from a wide selection of supremely fresh fish and watch it being grilled over a charcoal barbeque. The fish will be served with rice and a selection of tasty vegetable side dishes and sauces. 

Accommodation: Stay tonight at the Aryaduta Makassar (Deluxe Room)

Meals: Breakfast & Dinner

Morning visit to Paotere Harbour and Fish Market: After breakfast this morning, drive to the north of the city for a tour of Paotere Harbour and Makassar’s fish market. Makassar’s strategic location on the shipping routes between the spice islands and the rest of Asia created one of east Asia’s largest maritime hubs, where commodities were exchanged. The Bugis people from the south of Sulawesi are well known for their seafaring, and the architects of majestic Phinisi wooden schooner ships that are built along the south coast of Sulawesi at Bira. This morning you will have time to wander around Paotere harbour to see the traditional wooden cargo ships and their crew offloading and preparing for their next voyage. Next door to the harbour is one of Southeast Asia’s largest fish markets, and a hive of human activity. Fishing boats from the eastern extremities of the archipelago convene here to sell giant tuna, grouper, wrasse and hundreds of exotic sea creatures.

Private transfer: This evening, you will be met at your hotel and transferred to the airport in time for your onward flight.

Flight: SQ5143 Makassar - Singapore 18.55 - 21.40

Flight: SQ322 Singapore - London Heathrow 23.30 - 05.55 (overnight)

Meals: Breakfast