Getting to Tana Toraja from Makassar
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Tana Toraja is one regency in South Sulawesi with Makale as the capital. It's famous not just because it's culture, but also with the beautiful nature. In 2008, North Toraja was officially created with Rantepao as it's capital. Most of the tourists will stay in Rantepao because it's strategic location. Rantepao is located around 314 km from Makassar.
When to Get There
The best time to visit Toraja will be around June until October. June and July is harvest time then August until October there are many funeral ceremonies. The reason why there are many funeral ceremonies at those months because it's school holiday so there are many families and relatives come to visit.
Getting There
- Flight
There was a flight from Trans Nusa from Makassar to Toraja but started from November 2017 they stopped flying there. Another option is to fly to Bua airport in Palopo. Then you can rent a car to Rantepao. It takes around 2 hours to get to Rantepao from Bua airport.
- Bus
Busses leave twice a day from Makassar to Toraja. You can choose the morning bus or the overnight bus. The morning busses leave at 9 am and the overnight busses leave at 9 pm from Daya Terminal. There are many bus operators such as Metro Permai, Primadona, Bintang Prima, Litha. Co, etc. The bus fare from Makassar to Makale or Rantepao starts from IDR 120,000 and can be more expensive depends with the type of the bus. It takes around 10 hours from Makassar to Rantepao. Let the driver know your hotel and they will drop you off there.
- Rent a car with a driver.
We provide a car with English speaking driver as an option to you. It costs IDR 1,500,000 for a drop off from your hotel or Sultan Hasanuddin airport to Toraja or IDR 750,000/ day (including driver and gasoline, and driver's accomodation). Minimum rent 3 days and to attend a funeral ceremony, you might need to book a local guide. For more information or for booking, you can contact me here.
Sleeping
These are some hotels near Rantepao city center:
- Pia's Poppies
Simple hotel but rooms are clean and spacious. They provide hot shower and you will get welcome drink. For a double room it will cost you IDR 220,000. We are ready to help if you need a help to book a room here.
- Rosalina Homestay
Rosalina homestay runs by Enos ad his family. Rooms are clean and they provide hot shower. Beautiful view of rice field from the balcony. Breakfast is included. We are ready to help if you need to book a room here.
Around Toraja
- Lemo
Located 9 km south of Rantepao, Lemo stone graves are still being used by the locals to bury the dead. From far away, you can see wooden effigies or locally known as tau-tau with colorfull dress.
- Londa
Londa is located 7 km south of Rantepao. To get to the tomb cave, we must descend number of stairs and we will need to rent a lantern from the loccals.
- Kete Kesu
Kete Kesu is a village with 6 traditional houses called Tongkonan and 12 rice barns called Alang. It is located 4 km south east of Rantepao. Beside of the beautiful houses, you can also see grave behind the Tongkonan houses.
Activities
There are short trekking around Batutumonga and long trekking route. Here are some populer longer routes:
- Batutumonga-Lokomata-Pangala-Baruppu-Pulu Pulu-Sapan
- Pangala-Bolokan-Bittuang
- Saddan-Sapan-Pulu Pulu-Baruppu-Pangala
We can help you to contact a guide for trekking.
Eating
Most of restaurants located on Jalan Ahmad Yani and Jalan Andi Mappanyukki in Rantepao. Here are some of them:
- Aras Cafe
Cafe that served local food and western food. It's a cafe and also an art gallery.
- Rimiko Cafe
Rimiko served local food at affrordable rates. Here you can also meet some guides for your holiday in Toraja Land.
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