Indonesia Expedition: Sulawesi & Toraja Tribes

This trip is an expedition trip and involves a two-day trek. Although you’ll mostly be trekking on established trails, you’ll need to have a good level of fitness to make the most of the trip., There are a few nights where you’ll stay in basic local Tongkonan houses. The facilities will be shared with only cold showers, and you’ll sleep on mattresses on the floor with other group members. Although the conditions will be basic, the experience of staying with local Torajan families will be rewarding. In general, the tourism infrastructure in Sulawesi is still developing and the service standards and accommodation conditions can be lower than other popular destinations in Indonesia. However, this is also the charm of adventure to visit such less visited destinations.

1. A single supplement is bookable for this trip, excluding Day 4, 5&10, and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent if you are interested.

What you need to bring will vary according to when you are travelling. Generally speaking, we recommend you pack as lightly as possible and make sure that you are able to carry and lift your own luggage, and walk with it for short distances. It will also be easier for jumping on and off small boats. As well as your underwear, toothbrush and other items you always need to pack for travel, below are some items that you specifically need for this trip.

ESSENTIALS
- Day pack: for carrying essentials when exploring destinations.
- Lightweight clothing: A mixture of covering lightweight clothing and some warm layers (depending on the season) are recommended. It is best to check the weather and seasonal information before travelling.
For visits to religious sites you will also need to wear clothing that covers shoulders and pants/skirts that go past the knee. Perhaps carry a scarf or sarong for these visits. Modest and covering clothing is also preferable in Java, which is more conservative in general than neighbouring Bali.
- Walking shoes or hiking boots with a good grip: Closed-in shoes that are comfortable to walk for an entire day are recommended for city and countryside walks, and are necessary for included cycling activities. Surfaces can sometimes be slippery for the climb for mountain climbs, so shoes with good grip are preferable.
- Sandals/flip flops/shoes that can get wet: For the Green Canyon tour you will walk through a shallow river. Sandals with straps or shoes which are not likely to fall off are preferable
- Sun protection – hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, lip balm
- Insect repellent
- Waterproof jacket (particularly if travelling from October until March)
- Warm layers (it can get cooler at Mt Bromo due to the elevation).
- Headtorch/hand held torch/flashlight: for the Mt Bromo climb you will be commencing before sunrise
- Swimming costume
- Water bottle – some hotels may have filtered drinking water to refill your bottle.

RECOMMENDED
- Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as, mild pain killers, adhesive bandages and electrolytes.
- Camera with spare batteries/charger/power bank: You will have access to power to recharge your electrical items most days, however these are a good backup.
- Electrical adapter plug
- Hand sanitizer
- Money belt or pouch

OPTIONAL
- A good book, a journal and music player
- Playing cards
- Travel washing line and Bio-degradable washing detergent

MORE!
If you need some further tips for packing, you can always check out our ultimate packing list., https://www.intrepidtravel.com/packing-list

This trip involves long time of travelling on local buses and has a couple of days of trekking through hilly terrain in central Sulawesi. Although the trails are well established and the trek is not very strenuous, you'll need to be reasonably fit and experienced in trekking to make the most of the trip.

Aryaduta Makassar Hotel, Jalan, Somba Opu, No 297, Makassar, 90111, INDONESIA

Alternate Joining Point

Aryaduta Makassar Hotel, Jalan, Somba Opu, No 297, Makassar, 90111, INDONESIA

Alternate Finish Point

Breakfasts included: 11

Lunches included: 2

Dinners included: 2

While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader or local representative will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule, our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. If you have dietary requirements and/or food allergies, please let your booking agent know prior to departure., INDONESIAN FOOD:
Here are 10 quintessential dishes you have to try while travelling in Indonesia: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/what-to-eat-in-indonesia/

VEGETARIANS & VEGANS:
Strict vegetarians should be aware that a lot of Indonesian cooking contains fermented shrimp paste (terasi) as a basic ingredient. Chicken and eggs are also common in many dishes. Although there are many vegetarian options available, please ensure you are specific as possible when ordering food to ensure that your meal suits your dietary needs. If you are travelling to Ubud, see our guide to vegan and vegetarian eats: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/vegan-vegetarian-guide-to-ubud/

FLOODS & MUDSLIDES:
Floods and mudslides can occur during the wet season (October - March). Heavy rains during this time can result in areas of the Jakarta region being affected by flood waters. Key services, such as emergency and medical care, telecommunications, transport, and the supply of food and water are often disrupted during floods and mudslides. Should our trips be affected by floods during this time we may need to reroute our itineraries and travellers may need to use their contingency funds to cover additional costs.

VOLCANOES:
Indonesia has many active volcanoes that can erupt at any time and cause widespread disruption. Alert levels may be raised and evacuations ordered at short notice. Follow the instructions and advice of local authorities, including any evacuation orders. In the event of or following an eruption you should contact your travel insurance provider directly to ask if your policy is affected by the volcanic activity. For information regarding whether your itinerary has been affected, see our Travel Alerts page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts

The most recent eruptions have been:
- Mt Agung, East Bali. Mount Agung has shown increased volcanic activity since late-September 2017. Ash from the volcano has disrupted flights. There is currently an exclusion zone around the crater, which may change at short notice.
- Mount Merapi (near Yogyakarta). Following an eruption in May 2018, people in the area were evacuated by local authorities.

EARTHQUAKES:
Indonesia is in an active earthquake region with a high level of earthquake activity, sometimes triggering tsunamis. Earthquakes can occur anywhere in Indonesia. In the event of a natural disaster, follow the advice of local authorities. In the event of or following an earthquake you should contact your travel insurance provider directly to ask if your policy is affected by the event. For information regarding whether your itinerary has been affected, see our Travel Alerts page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/travel-alerts

The most recent earthquakes have been:
- Lombok & the Gili Islands. A series of powerful earthquakes caused widespread damage and loss of life in northern Lombok and the Gili Islands in July and August 2018. Tourist facilities such as hotels and restaurants that temporarily closed as a result of the earthquakes are progressively reopening and ferry services are operating.
, NATIONAL INDEPENDENCE DAY:
Always celebrated on August 17, this is Indonesia's national day and marks Indonesia's declaration of independence from the Netherlands in 1945. Around this time you may experience some delays to transport due to events, or alternative accommodation may be need to be sourced due to it being a peak time.

NYEPI - BALINESE NEW YEAR :
Nyepi is a Balinese "Day of Silence" that is commemorated every Isakawarsa according to the Balinese calendar. It is a Hindu celebration mainly celebrated in Bali. Custom requires that all people in Bali observe a day of silence and do not leave their homes. Flights to/from Denpasar airport will be suspended for this day and majority of services and businesses do not operate. It is expected that travellers will respect the traditions of the Balinese people during Nyepi and stay within their accommodation at this time. Dates for Nyepi may change, but are currently: 19th March 2026 and 8th March 2027.
, RAMADAN
The important month of Ramadan is expected to be in progress 16 February to 18 March 2026 and the Eid ul-Fitr festival will be held directly at its conclusion for 3-4 days. Ramadan is a festival of sacrifice where the devout refrain from eating or drinking during daylight hours. During Ramadan, business hours are shortened, including opening hours at some tourist attractions. Alcohol is not permitted during daylight hours and many restaurants will be closed. While you should expect some delays and inconveniences during this period, the month is a fantastic opportunity to travel in a Muslim country and witness this unique period, particularly the nightly celebrations when the sun sets and the fast is broken. Please note that although the Eid ul-Fitr festival can also be a fascinating time to travel it's a period of national holiday. Most government offices and businesses will be closed and some tourist site opening hours may be affected.

While we always endeavour to provide the best possible holiday experience, due to the nature of travel and the areas we visit sometimes things can and do go wrong. Should any issue occur while you are on your trip, it is imperative that you discuss this with your group leader or local representative straight away so that they can do their best to rectify the problem and save any potential negative impact on the rest of your trip.

We recognise that there may be times when your group leader or local representative may not be able to resolve a situation to your satisfaction - if this is the case, please ask the group leader or local representative to speak to their direct manager.

You may also choose to provide details in your online feedback, which we ask you to complete within 30 days of the end of your trip. Please do be aware that it is very difficult for us to provide any practical help after the trip is completed, so informing us while still travelling will give us the opportunity to resolve the issue in real-time., For general contact details please use the following page: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us, In case of a genuine crisis or emergency, you can reach our local office on the numbers below:

, Available for phone call or WhatsApp call on +62 822 3553 2507

TRAVEL IN JAVA
Java is one of the most one of the largest islands in Indonesia, and we cover a large distance on this trip. Where suitable we travel by train to make the journey more comfortable but on some days we will be taking road transport. Travel times can be long, and traffic can be heavy and slow, especially over holiday periods. You will be expected to carry your own bags onto and off trains, and for short distances (porters are available in most stations at an extra charge)., TRANSPORT IN BALI:
In Bali we travel by private minivan in order to access more remote areas such as Bedugul, and for safety on the busy and narrow Balinese roads. Depending on the size of your group you may be split over multiple vans and your leader will alternate between the vehicles throughout the journey.