Must-see attractions in South Sulawesi

  • Ke'te Kesu'

    Tana Toraja

    The four stately tongkonan and many granaries that make up Ke'te Kesu' were moved to this picturesque site in 1927 when the savvy family head noticed the…

  • Tampang Allo

    Tana Toraja

    Whether it's the tau tau, the cave itself, or the peaceful rice paddy setting squeezed between a maze of cliffs, this is one our favourite sites in Tana…

  • Londa

    Tana Toraja

    Live out your Indiana Jones fantasies at this extensive (and very popular) burial cave below a massive cliff face. Its entrance is guarded by a balcony of…

  • Lemo

    Tana Toraja

    A veritable village of tau tau stare down with unblinking eyes and outstretched arms from this impressive burial cliff riddled with tombs. The sheer rock…

  • Fort Rotterdam

    Makassar

    One of the best-preserved examples of Dutch military architecture in Indonesia, Fort Rotterdam was built on the site of a Gowanese fort, itself built to…

  • Gua Leang Leang

    South Sulawesi

    The Gua Leang Leang caves are noted for their ancient paintings and handprints. Recent studies of nearby caves have placed the art at over 35,000 years…

  • Pasar Bolu

    Tana Toraja

    Heralded as the world's largest water buffalo market, this dusty, chaotic scene pops off every Tuesday and Saturday when stately beasts imported from…

  • Pantai Bara

    South Sulawesi

    Around 3km northwest of Bira village, this quieter crescent of white sand is fringed by low cliffs and palms. You can stroll here in 30 minutes from Bira…

  • Asmaul Husnah 99 Kubah

    Makassar

    On the reclaimed waterfront opposite Pantai Losari, this stunning bright-orange-and-white, 99-domed mosque was almost complete at the time of research and…

  • Bori' Kalimbuang

    Tana Toraja

    There are lots of places to see standing stones, but this is one of the nicer ones. With 102 stones – each representing a different funeral conducted at…

  • Pantai Tanah Beru

    South Sulawesi

    This bustling centre for traditional pinisi ship building 14km northwest of Bira gives you an inside look at how these massive Bugis sailing vessels come…

  • Pana'

    Tana Toraja

    Whether its claim to be the oldest known baby grave in Toraja is accurate or not, this site is definitely one of the more compelling. The minimal…

  • Pulau Tinabo Besar

    South Sulawesi

    Pulau Tinabo houses a small National Park outpost and the only tourist infrastructure (such as it is) in the area.

  • Air Terjun Bantimurung

    South Sulawesi

    These waterfalls, 42km from Makassar, are set amid lushly vegetated limestone cliffs. Looking up, it’s straight out of Jurassic Park, but then you scan…

  • Makam Sultan Hasanuddin

    Makassar

    This tomb memorialises Indonesian national hero Sultan Hasanuddin, who ruled Gowa during the 17th century, fiercely defending the kingdom against the…

  • Danau Tempe

    South Sulawesi

    This large, shallow lake is fringed by wetlands, with floating houses and magnificent birdlife. Geologists believe it was once a gulf between southern…

  • Pulau Samalona

    Makassar

    Just far enough away from Makassar to shed most (but not all) of the rubbish, the white sands of Pulau Samalona are popular with day trippers,…

  • Kambira Baby Graves

    Tana Toraja

    Torajans traditionally inter deceased babies, who have not yet teethed, in trees, believing that these infants are more pure than adults, and that their…

  • Pelabuhan Paotere

    Makassar

    Pelabuhan Paotere, 4km north of the city centre, is a large port where Bugis sailing ships berth. It's a working port, with requisite bustle and grime,…

  • Silk Weaving

    South Sulawesi

    Sengkang is known for its sutera (silk) weaving, and hundreds of workshops in surrounding villages can be great places to watch the process and purchase…

  • Lolai

    Tana Toraja

    Billed as the 'Country Above the Clouds', the long north–south ridge line looming to the west of Rantepao certainly has spectacular views – especially at…

  • Buntu Pune

    Tana Toraja

    Buntu Pune village has two fine tongkonan houses and four rice barns some with ancient roofs covered in vegetation. According to local legend, one of the…

  • Museum Negeri La Galigo

    Makassar

    Spread across two buildings inside Fort Rotterdam, Museum Negeri La Galigo has an assortment of exhibits, including palaeolithic artefacts, rice bowls…

  • Beteng Somba Opu

    Makassar

    Once the most formidable fortress in the archipelago, Somba Opu was decimated by the Dutch in 1669, then consumed by the Jeneberang River delta. One…

  • Pantai Losari

    Makassar

    Pantai Losari is a kilometre-long beachless promenade that stretches south to Masjid Amirul Mukminin, the 'floating mosque'. It's a good place to catch…

  • Pantai Panrang Luhu

    South Sulawesi

    Pantai Panrang Luhu is a coconut-fringed affair north of the ferry pier in Bira village. Pinisi ship builders operate under the cliffs on the north end,…

  • Sangkombong

    Tana Toraja

    Rows of tongkonan also house several workshops of traditional weavers who are happy to demonstrate their handicraft. A variety of fabrics are on display…

  • Pantai Bira

    South Sulawesi

    Bira's main beach, just west of the village centre, is a glimmering crescent of white sand that is usually pleasant on the weekdays but gets packed with…

  • Karassik

    Tana Toraja

    On the outskirts of Rantepao, just off the road to Makale, Karassik holds an interesting array of obelisks moved here by the Dutch from Lantangin in 1906 …

  • Lo'ko' Mata

    Tana Toraja

    High on the mountainside, this collection of rock tombs is unique for its location: bored into the sides of a giant round boulder about 3km northwest of…

  • Tilanga

    Tana Toraja

    Ten kilometres south of Rantepao, off the Rantepao–Makale road, Tilanga is a quiet, natural cool-water swimming pool. You can swim, but don’t be surprised…

  • Pulio

    Tana Toraja

    Perched on a hilltop above boulder-strewn rice terraces, this small village with anachronistic street lights makes an excellent jumping off point for…

  • Museum Lapawawoi

    South Sulawesi

    This small former palace houses one of Indonesia’s more interesting regional collections, including an odd array of court memorabilia. You may have to ask…

  • Air Terjun Takapala

    South Sulawesi

    A seasonally spectacular 100m-tall waterfall set amid rice fields 4km south of the town of Malino. It's easiest to get there via ojek (from 10,000Rp).

  • Museum Balla Lompoa

    Makassar

    A seemingly forgotten and rather dilapidated collection of local artefacts is housed in an impressive example of traditional Sulawesi architecture: the…

  • Marante

    Tana Toraja

    A thriving traditional village bursting with tongkonan (many new) just 5km northeast of Rantepao makes for a fine, relatively flat, excursion from town…

  • Pulau Kayangan

    Makassar

    This tiny island, a 10-minute ride (return 40,000Rp) from Makassar harbourfront, was getting a much-needed facelift when we last visited. It's rammed with…

  • Masjid Amirul Mukminin

    Makassar

    Rising above the sea on concrete pillars, this small but stylish twin-domed 'floating mosque' enjoyed better sunset views (and cleaner waters) before…

  • Pua Janggo

    South Sulawesi

    A 1km hike ascends 80m up a service road to Telkomsel towers and sweeping vistas of the cape. Look for the sign for Pua Janggo off the main road 500m…

  • Pasar Bira

    South Sulawesi

    This small but lively market is held in the village every two days, attracting locals and their wares from surrounding islands.

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