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Indonesia15 daysMax 12Solo-friendly

Indonesia – Sulawesi Explorer

A two-week overland journey linking Makassar's port history, Toraja's cliff tombs and funeral rites, and Bunaken's coral reefs.

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About this journey

The story behind the route

The enormous and oddly shaped island of Sulawesi is one of Indonesia’s cultural treasures, but is often neglected by western tour companies, in favour of better-known Bali or Java. Yet it holds a wealth of treasures that should be on the itinerary of every serious traveller, with fascinating ethnic groups following elaborate social practices, which cannot be seen elsewhere.

Our Indonesia trip to this remarkable land encompasses both the north and south of the island, starting from the bustling capital Makassar and heading into Tanah Toraja, an area of highlands where traditional architecture and practices are at their strongest. We explore villages with amazing carved houses where we hope to see some of their tribal festivals, we visit incredible ‘hanging graves’ and walk along picturesque rice terraces to reach little visited communities. In Sulawesi’s north we visit parks and reserves in search of the island’s unusual wildlife, including the tiny Tarsier, and enjoy traditional meals cooked for us by the inhabitants of local villages. We see the unusual ‘waruga’ sarcophagi of the Minhasa Highlands and explore colourful local markets where anything is considered to be food. This is an intriguing and rather mysterious part of the Indonesian archipelago with unique and complex social customs that are unlike anything you will have seen before.

This two-week trip encompasses the very best of this fascinating island, and will leave you wanting to explore more of this vast and varied region.

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The journey

Indonesia – Sulawesi Explorer

Key moments

The moments that define this trip

Drawn from the full tour dossier — the standout days, encounters and views our specialists keep coming back to.

Your route
isemap
  1. Rammang Rammang Karst and Cave Handprints

    A canoe journey along a quiet river flanked by nipa palms reaches a remote village in the Maros karst landscape. Visitors explore a cave containing ancient handprints dating back over 5,000 years. The surrounding karst formations create a dramatic, otherworldly setting.

  2. Malino Highland Walk and Waterfalls

    A guided walk through Malino's forested hills and farmlands crosses rivers via bamboo bridges and passes scenic waterfalls including Biroro and Ta'kapala. Lunch is served at a local home with panoramic views across the valleys. The walk offers an intimate look at rural highland life.

  3. Lake Tempe Canoe Journey and Floating Villages

    A traditional canoe crossing of Lake Tempe's wetlands passes floating villages and fishermen deploying nets, rods, and enclosures among more than 20 species of water birds. Where lake conditions allow, visitors enter one of the stilted homes on the water. The lake expands dramatically in the wet season, flooding the surrounding area.

  4. Toraja Cliff Tombs, Tau Tau Statues, and Tree Graves

    Lemo's cliff-side tombs are guarded by Tau Tau, life-sized carved ancestral effigies, while ancient burial caves and tree graves at Kambira hold the remains of infants placed inside living trees. The day continues to Kete Kesu, a UNESCO-listed cultural village renowned for its traditional tongkonan houses and elaborate funeral traditions. The sites illustrate the Torajan belief system, Aluk to Dolo, which governs rites of the ancestors.

  5. Bolu Buffalo Market and Bori Stone Monoliths

    The Bolu buffalo market, held Tuesdays and Saturdays, is a central site of Torajan cultural life where buffaloes are traded for use in funeral ceremonies. Nearby Bori contains ancient stone monoliths marking the funeral grounds of Torajan aristocracy. The day also visits Londa's cave tombs, adorned with life-like ancestral figures, before ending with views from Batutumonga over rice terraces and small villages.

  6. Toraja Cooking Class in a Traditional Rice Barn

    Ingredients are sourced at a lively local market before participants prepare authentic Torajan dishes alongside a local host family. The meal is shared inside a traditional rice barn, followed by an afternoon walk through bamboo forests and rice paddies. The experience provides direct access to domestic Torajan life and cuisine.

Key moments for Indonesia – Sulawesi Explorer

Full itinerary · 15 days

Prefer a PDF? Get the printable dossier
Dates & prices

Pick your departure

Reserve your place with a 10% deposit. Final balance due 70 days before departure. Single-room supplements optional — most travellers happily share.

  • Departure
    17 Jul 202631 Jul 2026
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,345 pp
    Single supp. +£525
    Book now
  • Departure
    11 Sept 202625 Sept 2026
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,345 pp
    Single supp. +£525
    Book now
  • Departure
    14 May 202728 May 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,345 pp
    Single supp. +£525
    Book now
  • Departure
    16 Jul 202730 Jul 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,345 pp
    Single supp. +£525
    Book now
  • Departure
    10 Sept 202724 Sept 2027
    Guaranteed
    From
    £2,345 pp
    Single supp. +£525
    Book now

Can’t find the right fit?

Every one of our Indonesia journeys can be rebuilt around your dates, pace and interests — or we’ll design something entirely new.

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What's included

Everything covered — and what's not

Included in the price

  • Arrival and departure transfers
  • Overland transport throughout with professional driver
  • Domestic flight
  • All accommodation
  • Services of English-speaking guide / tour leader
  • Meals as listed
  • Entrance fees for sites listed as part of the itinerary

Budget separately for

  • International flights (, contact , us, for expert advice and a quote)
  • Any airport taxes (except when included with domestic airfares)
  • Travel Insurance
  • Visa – when required
  • Drinks
  • Items of personal nature
  • Tips (Discretionary)
Before you go

Essential information

Shared across all tours that visit this destination. Read alongside your individual tour dossier for trip-specific details.

Foreign Office travel advice

We constantly monitor official travel advice, including the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) Indonesia Travel Advice, and will always advise clients of any warnings before departure. At the time of writing, there are no specific warnings against travel to the parts of Indonesia that we visit on our tours.

Please contact us if you have any specific concerns or would like to understand what measures are in place to ensure your trip remains safe and trouble-free.

For additional official guidance, travellers may also refer to:

Please note this information applies primarily to British citizens — nationals of other countries should check the current position with their respective government travel authority.

Voices from the road

What travellers say about us

Independently verified reviews from travellers who joined Indonesia – Sulawesi Explorer. Rated 4.9 Excellent on AITO by 250+ reviewers.

Great itinerary to an off the beaten path location. Traditions, people, wildlife all amazing. Very fascinating and impactful trip. Easy to book and communicate with.

Elsa

Indonesia

Sulawesi then Java to Bali. Small independent UK company.

Senior traveller

Indonesia

An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!

Anna

This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!

Grete

My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.

Frank

Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.

Cathy

Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.

Lynn

We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.

Andy

We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.

Jennie

Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.

Debbie

Great itinerary to an off the beaten path location. Traditions, people, wildlife all amazing. Very fascinating and impactful trip. Easy to book and communicate with.

Elsa

Indonesia

Sulawesi then Java to Bali. Small independent UK company.

Senior traveller

Indonesia

An amazing trip! We had the most amazing holiday — over two weeks we had a taste of the cities, the culture, the mountains, a safari, and time at the beach. Our driver/guide made the whole trip very relaxing, and we were welcomed warmly by everyone we met, enjoying fabulous food and drink along the way. Undiscovered Destinations planned a really amazing itinerary for us with great hotels, a fabulous guide/driver, and interesting places to visit — they took great care to ensure we had an excellent holiday. We look forward to booking another holiday with them in the future. Thank you, Mark!

Anna

This adventure was always going to be very full-on, which is how we like our trips. I didn't count on getting bronchitis and ending up in hospital, however. The itinerary was quickly amended to avoid high-altitude destinations as much as possible while still making sure we had a chance to enjoy interesting experiences. While obviously sad to have missed some of the original sites, the revised itinerary was the only sensible option under the circumstances. I was extremely impressed with how Undiscovered Destinations and their local team handled the situation — taking the stress out of it, smoothing the way, rearranging the itinerary and booking new hotels, translating for me with the medical staff, and making sure I always had transport, medicines and anything else I needed. Nothing was too much trouble, and they kept in touch with me, each other, and the insurance company throughout. I can't recommend them enough!

Grete

My wife and I had a wonderful tour with Undiscovered Destinations. We had a different guide at each stop, and all of them were friendly, cheerful and knowledgeable. The local people were welcoming, and we always felt safe and comfortable. The beaches were spectacularly beautiful and empty of people, with warm, clear water, and each stop had its own character — some we loved for their unspoiled scenery, others for their history and the warmth of the welcome. We took the opportunity to snorkel on one of the most pristine reefs we've experienced, swimming with sea turtles and enormous manta rays that came right up to us out of curiosity. A wonderful destination for nature lovers.

Frank

Excellent. Action packed. Our local agent was excellent, and a good choice by Undiscovered Destinations. Because there were only two of us on the holiday, we had different guides at each stop, each one making sure we were handed over safely. All manner of transport was used, and we appreciated the different guiding strategies, the wealth of information given, the high level of English, and the genuine wish to show off their country at its best. Excellent.

Cathy

Far exceeding my expectations, this was one of the best trips I've ever done. A beautiful destination, with interesting history, lively ceremonies, lovely people and — surprisingly, for somewhere that sees so few tourists — absolutely no hassle on the streets. Excellent service from start to finish, with a first-class tour leader.

Lynn

We had a two-week trip with Undiscovered Destinations, flying in for two days first to break up the journey. It was a great trip, because we managed to see so much more than just the capital cities. This was the fourth trip we've taken with Undiscovered Destinations, and each one has been wonderful. Our guides were lovely — very professional and helpful. We rate UD very highly.

Andy

We had a fabulous trip with an excellent local guide, who took great care of us and enthusiastically shared his knowledge of both ancient and recent history, with lots of fascinating personal stories of his own life. We highly recommend this trip — Undiscovered Destinations were great to work with, and we hope to use them again.

Jennie

Everything was great — we got to witness a wonderful variety of wildlife, and thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and the hospitality of the people. A fabulous trip from start to finish.

Debbie

Want to customise this tour?

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Common questions

Things travellers usually ask

  • How many travellers will be in my group?

    Maximum 12 travellers — that's the cap on every Undiscovered Destinations small-group tour. Small enough to eat in a local family home; large enough to share the wonder with other like-minded travellers.

  • Can I travel solo?

    Yes — there's no compulsory single supplement on our small-group tours. You get your own room at no extra cost. About 60% of UD travellers come solo, so you'll be in good company.

  • How fit do I need to be?

    Fitness requirements vary by itinerary, from gentle to demanding. The day-by-day tour dossier sets out walking distances, terrain and any altitude so you know what to expect. If you have specific concerns, speak to our team before booking — they can talk you through a typical day.

  • When are the next departures?

    The next available departures are 17 July 2026; 11 September 2026; 14 May 2027. See the "Pick your departure" table further up the page for the full schedule and per-departure pricing.

  • What's included in the tour price?

    Included items vary by tour — see the full list above. On this trip, expect: Arrival and departure transfers; Overland transport throughout with professional driver; Domestic flight; and more. International flights and travel insurance are not included.

  • Where exactly does this trip go?

    This tour visits Indonesia. Each destination has its own page with practical information, climate, and the attractions our specialists recommend — linked from the itinerary above.

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