Tana Toraja Trip, South Sulawesi

16 August 2017

I stayed in Makassar (formerly Ujung Pandang), capital city of South Sulawesi since 3 days ago for a business trip, took a flight with Citilink Airlines from Jakarta, before I decided to visit Tana Toraja. To reach Tana Toraja from Makassar, you can join a tour that will cost you around 1.500.000 - 3.000.000 rupiahs per pax, or you can go on your own and it will much much much cheaper way.

I googled everywhere and collecting every information that i can get, before i decided to drive by myself. FYI if you don't wanna drive to Tana Toraja, you can take a public bus from Makassar, 313KM, 8-9hours long. Both me and my mom love to drive, so even only 2 females on the road, that will works for us. So I rent a car (Daihatsu Xenia 1300cc MT) in Makassar from Mr. Bahar (+6285242090074 // +628114111778) that cost me 250K/day.

12:30 pm
Then the journey begin, buy some mineral water and meals for the preparation of 8-9hours drive. Passing Maros, Mandalle and Parepare, then took Pinrang Route instead of Rapang, i plan to take Rapang Route for my way back. You will get a chance to see mountain, sea and river panorama view if you travel on day time.

 

5:30 pm

When you start seeing this stone karst mountain, then there are some small rest area on the right side along the road. You can found these kind of stone karst mountain also in Zhangjiajie, China. But to go there you have to spend soooo much money. Just come to Tana Toraja la, with more affordable cost. I insist you to visit here, satisfaction guarantee!

You can get an amazing view from inside the rest area. Take deep breath, have a seat and just a sip of hot coffee and fried banana.... Yummm!!! Sooooo beautiful!!!

view from rest area

6:00pm
Continuing our journey. The road was quite smooth, so much different from Lintas Sumatra Road.

8:15pm
Arrive in Rantepao Toraja. Most of foreign tourists will stay at Toraja Misiliana Hotel, 4* hotel that cost you 700K nett /night included breakfast for two. Or another 4* hotel named Toraja Heritage hotel, but the location a little bit far from main road.

 

I pick Niel Hotel Toraja for two nights, just because have good rating in online, good service and clean room with affordable price on people's review, and the hotel quite bright from the outside, its showed a good clean hotel impression. And the location also just on the main road and near Rantepao city center. And yes I proved it by myself, good service, clean blankets-towels-room, and only 350K nett /night, pay in cash, included good delicious breakfast. Recommended!!



17 August 2017 
Start from this, will be one full day of Tana Toraja Tour, driving all by myself (and with my mom, of course).

• KeteKesu 10K/pax WNI, 20K/pax WNA

Top tourist destination in Tana Toraja. Use google maps, and you won't get lost, about 10minutes from Niel Hotel. The place is nice, not so crowded when I visited.

Most famous Tongkonan Toraja (Toraja Traditional House), "tongkon" comes from local tongue which means "sitting" or sitting together, so it's a place to have a meeting, rituals, or ceremony. 

Grave inside the stone mountain, dead's skull and bones. Also the fun part is the shopping center for Toraja's unique handicrafts.

Spend about one hour is enough for enjoy the scenery and take some pictures.

• Limbong Lake 10K/pax WNI, 20K/pax WNA

Not so many tourist know this place, but I suggest you come to take a peek since you already arrive at Tana Toraja. Its beautiful, natural green lake combines with stone karst mountain. I will put Limbong Lake on must visit place in Toraja list.

The place also not so far from KeteKesu, and you dont have to walk long stairs to see the view. Before you reach the lake, they will offer you a beauty of Indonesian famous rice field.

When i saw some local ladies were working on the rice fields, I just think that my camera wont miss the scene.

Limbong Lake

About 3-5minutes walking climbing the stairway, then you will see Limbong Lake's scenery.

• Londa 10K/pax WNI, 20K/pax WNA

Oldest ancient grave in Tana Toraja, they put family and relatives in one hole inside the stone mountain. Higher place they put, higher also their position in the community when they lived.

All the mountain are naturally founded by their ancestors.

You can hire a local guide that will explain the culture of this ancient grave and also lead you the way inside the cave. The lamp cost you 50K, and you can give another small tip for the guide. I meet some local friends at the hotel before, two young girls, named Noni and Lynn, that hire a private car with driver and petrol for 600K /12hours. And suddenly met again here, at Londa. So we share the cost for local guide and the lamp, we paid 70K in total for taking four of us a small tour inside Londa's cave.

There is small love story here, as you see in the picture, there are two skull that placed together. Local people said they want to get married before but the family forbid them to become one. They were basically blood related on each other so its strictly prohibited to marrying family or close relatives in Toraja Culture. So they killed themself together. Is it a true story, or made by local people to attract tourists, well who knows...

• Jesus Statue at Burake, Makale 10K/pax WNI, 20K/pax WNA, 2K parking fee

Lets take a rest from anything about graveyard, dead body, and others. This Amazing Jesus Statue also worth to visit while you are in Toraja.

On the top of the mountain, with cool wind, and great view. Damn damn damn worth! Its like Jesus bless Toraja. Amen!!!

Me and my mom ordered a glass of hot Toraja Coffee, 4 pieces of friend banana, a glass of hot sweet tea, also three pieces of steamed corns and one sunny side egg, all just cost me 30K. Don't worry, every snacks that they sell in here is affordable. Suddenly I feel the friendliness of local people while enjoying the scenery of Burake.

• Alun-alun Tana Toraja, Free

Last, take some pictures before the night comes. Enjoy the cool breeze and see the busyness of the Toraja city center.

And that's it. But actually there are still plenty of beautiful places in Tana Toraja you can visit, such as Kambira Baby Grave, Suaya, Tilangan Natural Pool, Totombi, and Lolai.  I just recommend all of you to visit wonderful Indonesia, especially Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi. You will meet friendly local people, beautiful scenery and everything just natural and perfect.

All the expenses that we spend during our visit, not more than 2.500.000 IDR for two person. Let's check it out!! And also, i proudly provide Tana Toraja Tourist Map, so you don't have to spend time on the road to back and forth to visit all the place while you here, you can visit every place in one smooth way.

Rent Car 3 days @250K = 750K

Hotel 2 nights @350K = 700K

Makassar-Toraja-Makassar Petrol Fee = 380K

Highway on Makassar City Return trip = 20K

Entrance ticket = 82K

Rent Lamp with local guide = 35K

Meals at Warung Pori = 40K

Bakso + Belanda Juice = 28K

Other expense such as meals, drinks, and snacks = 256K

TOTAL 2.291.000 IDR