Sulawesi & Raja Ampat 16-Day Culture & Island Escape

Points of Interest : Makassar
Welcome to Sulawesi. You arrive in Makassar, where your driver greets you at the airport and takes you to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest after your flight or take a first stroll through the city on your own.

• Meals included : None
• Accommodation : Hotel in Makassar

Points of Interest : Makassar, Rantepao
You leave the Bugis region with its colorful stilt houses and begin the long but scenic drive to Tanah Toraja. En route you stop for lunch in the coastal town of Pare-Pare. As you continue, the road becomes more winding and the scenery more mountainous. Along the way you spot your first tongkonan, the traditional Toraja houses with roofs shaped like buffalo horns.
After arrival in the Toraja area, you can visit nearby villages steeped in ancestral traditions, wander through a local market or simply relax at your hotel. Overnight in a hotel in the Toraja region. Approximate driving time: 8 hours for about 320 km.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel in the Tanah Toraja / Rantepao area

Points of Interest : Kambira, Lemo, Suaya
Together with your guide you set out on a full day of exploration in Tanah Toraja. Following scenic roads, you pass emerald rice terraces and traditional tongkonan houses crowned with buffalo-horn roofs. You visit lively local markets and learn about the region’s complex funerary customs and rituals.
In Lemo you see the famous tau-tau, wooden effigies that watch over rock-cut graves. In Kambira you discover a unique baby cemetery where infants were once laid to rest inside the trunks of living trees. At Londa you explore cave graves and dramatic hanging coffins. Other highlights include the megaliths of Sada, the villages of Nangalla and Ke’te Kesu, the royal tombs at Suaya and the silk weaving of Tansitolo, offering you a deep insight into Toraja culture.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel in the Tanah Toraja / Rantepao area

Points of Interest : Bori, Palawa
After breakfast you are picked up at your hotel and head up to the impressive Tinombayo plateau, where panoramic views open over patchwork rice fields and scattered Toraja villages. You continue on to Palawa, a well-preserved traditional settlement with rows of tongkonan houses and rice barns facing each other.
Later you explore the traditional villages of Sadan and Bori. Bori is known for its stone megaliths, erected as part of important ceremonies, which stand among the greenery like ancient sentinels. Throughout the day you have further opportunities to experience Toraja daily life and appreciate the harmony between traditional architecture and dramatic highland scenery.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel in the Tanah Toraja / Rantepao area

Points of Interest : Marante, Siguntu
You are collected from your hotel and start the day in the traditional village of Marante, where rows of tongkonan and rice barns are backed by steep cliffs containing ancient graves. From here you continue to Siguntu, a quieter village that allows you to immerse yourself in everyday Toraja life.
You observe the distinctive wooden architecture, watch village activities and have time to chat with local residents. These personal encounters offer a more intimate understanding of Toraja customs, community life and the way traditional beliefs coexist with the modern world.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel in the Tanah Toraja / Rantepao area

Points of Interest : Sengkang, Lake Tempe
After breakfast you visit Lemo and Ke’te Kesu one more time, then leave Toraja land and drive south towards Sengkang, gateway to Lake Tempe. The journey of about 220 km takes around 7 hours through ever-changing landscapes.
In the afternoon you reach magnificent Lake Tempe. Aboard a motorized canoe you cross the lake around sunset and visit a floating village, where houses and walkways rise and fall with the water level. You discover the unique lifestyle of the Bugis fishermen and spend the night in a traditional floating house, surrounded by water hyacinths and the sound of nets being cast as the light fades over the lake.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Traditional floating house on Lake Tempe or simple guesthouse in Sengkang

Points of Interest : Kajang, Bira
After breakfast you leave Sengkang and Lake Tempe behind and drive towards the coastal region of Bira, a journey of around 220 km taking about 7 hours. Part of the route follows a smaller, bumpier road through the varied landscapes of South Sulawesi.
En route you stop at the traditional village of Kajang, where residents dress in black and strictly uphold ancestral customs. To respect local tradition, visitors are asked to wear black clothing (you can also borrow suitable clothes on site). Along the way you also see how palm sugar is produced and pass by rubber (Hevea) plantations.
In the late afternoon you arrive at the dazzling white beaches of Bira, where you can settle into your accommodation and enjoy the first views of the turquoise sea.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Beach hotel or guesthouse in Bira

Points of Interest : Bira
After breakfast you board a boat bound for the offshore island of Liukang Loe. On the way, crystal-clear turquoise waters and colorful coral reefs invite you to snorkel among tropical fish. Upon arrival you visit the so‑called “village of sinners”, learn about traditional weaving techniques and wander through the peaceful settlement.
After lunch on the island you have free time to relax on the beach or return to the water for more snorkeling over the surrounding coral gardens. In the late afternoon you sail back to Bira, where the evening is at leisure.

• Meals included : Breakfast, Lunch
• Accommodation : Beach hotel or guesthouse in Bira

Points of Interest : Bira
Enjoy breakfast at your hotel and spend a leisurely day on Bira’s white-sand beach and in the clear, warm sea. If you feel like exploring, your driver can take you to hidden lagoons or you can arrange an additional snorkeling or diving excursion to nearby reefs.
You may also choose to visit surrounding villages and the traditional shipyards of Tana Beru, where craftsmen still build impressive wooden phinisi sailing boats by hand. The day is completely at your disposal. In the evening, watch the sun set over the sea and perhaps enjoy an Indonesian dinner on the beach.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Beach hotel or guesthouse in Bira

Points of Interest : Makassar
In the early morning you depart from Bira’s beautiful beaches and travel back to Makassar. On the way there is time for optional stops: you can visit local salt pans and the shipyards at Tana Beru, where traditional wooden phinisi boats are constructed using ancestral techniques.
As you drive, you bid farewell to the colorful Bugis stilt houses and the green rice fields, which depending on the season can be transformed into fish farms. In the late afternoon or evening you arrive at your hotel in Makassar.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel in Makassar

Points of Interest : Sorong
Today you leave Sulawesi and fly from Makassar to Sorong, gateway to Raja Ampat. After arrival you are welcomed and transferred to your accommodation or to the harbor for the onward boat journey towards the islands, depending on the logistics of your chosen resort. Welcome to paradise and the starting point for your Raja Ampat experience.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel in Sorong or resort transfer starting point

Points of Interest : Waisai
Enjoy a full day of relaxation in Raja Ampat. You are free to spend your time as you wish: snorkel directly from the beach to discover vibrant reefs, or simply unwind on the sand and soak up the tranquil atmosphere at your resort.
If you like, your local travel expert can arrange a full‑day boat excursion to nearby islands, with opportunities for snorkeling or scuba diving at some of the archipelago’s most beautiful sites. The evening is at leisure to enjoy the sounds of the sea and a star-filled sky.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Resort or guesthouse in Raja Ampat (Waisai area)

Points of Interest : Waisai
Another free day to enjoy Raja Ampat at your own pace. You can once again snorkel from the shore, paddle a kayak over calm waters, or simply rest in a hammock overlooking the lagoon.
On request, additional boat trips can be arranged to explore more remote islands and reef systems, giving you even more chances to encounter colorful fish, healthy corals and, with luck, manta rays or turtles. In the evening, relax at your accommodation and revisit the highlights of your island stay.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Resort or guesthouse in Raja Ampat (Waisai area)

Points of Interest : Sorong
After breakfast you say goodbye to the islands. A boat takes you back across the water to Sorong. On arrival you are transferred to your hotel or remain near the harbor or airport depending on the schedule of your onward flight the next day. The rest of the day is at leisure to rest or to take a short walk around town.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel in Sorong

Points of Interest : Jakarta
You are picked up at your hotel in Sorong for a private transfer to the airport. From here you board your domestic flight to Jakarta on the island of Java. On arrival in Indonesia’s bustling capital, you are transferred to your hotel to spend the final night of your journey, with time to experience urban Indonesia or simply rest before your trip home.

• Meals included : Breakfast
• Accommodation : Hotel in Jakarta