Rantepao Travel Guide

 Daihappydai Says:  The Torajan funeral service is a massive affair. It is so big that temproary shelters need to be built to accommodate all the 'mourners'. When you arrive, you present the host with a gift - for close family members and friends this will be a buffalo or pig. For others such... 

 Daihappydai Says:  Perched on a hill is a cliff face weather beaten by the elements, grave yard of the royalty. Here Torajan kings and their family have been buried. The sheer cliff face is home to rows of impressive 'tau tau'. Most are now grey-white due to facing the weather. But one stands... 

 Daihappydai Says:  Batutumonga is about 20 km north of Rantepeo. On my first trip I had done a bit of cross country hiking before reaching the final steep ascent to Batutumonga restaurant. The restaurant is a great place to stop for a cold drink and lunch. But most impressive are the views... 

 Daihappydai Says:  Palawa is a village with rows of Tongkonan and rice barns in traditional Torajan style. Outside some of the Tongkonan are columns of buffalo horns - the larger the stack, the more prestigious the family is. When I was in Palawa I was taken into a Tongkonan that had a dead... 

 Daihappydai Says:  Lemo is probably the most photographed rock-grave site and the locals quite rightly try to cash in on tourists - there are a large number of stalls selling T-shirts and 'traditional' Torajan 'made-for-tourists' items. Having said that, it is well worth a visit. The best time... 

 Daihappydai Says:  Ke'te Kesu village is 5km south east of Rantepeo. There are bemo that travel up and down the road or see it as part of a healthy afternoon walk - take water. From the road itself, the village is picturesque seen across lush fields. There are traditional tongkonan and rice... 

 Daihappydai Says:  In Londa there is a massive cliff face concealing the entrance to a warren of caves. As you get closer to the base of the cliff - taking care on the slippery steps - you will notice rows of 'tau tau' seemingly guarding the entrance to the caves. You need a torch to see... 

 7 Opinions

 nabunay Says:  The chef prepares each dish with such dedication that each dish comes out so pleasing to one's palatte. You could also tell him your particular taste or that if you're suffering from some ailment, he will specially cook the dish that will be healthy for you. But as he puts... 

 vinceckw Says:  We hired a car to to Tana Teroja instead, you should take a night bus (IDR$80,000, US$8.00 one way) which we think it will helps to save a lot of your times and money. Since we travel in the day time, we wasted our day time (almost 8 hours) on the car doing nothing to Tana... 

 RoyJava Says:  It is well-known to eat fruit and stay healthy. Pay a visit to Rantepao's market place North of Rantepao. Watch the many many bemos loaded with pigs, bags full of coffee, rice and others. Country people with their goods and wears stream in and out of town all day long.... 

 Daihappydai Says:  While the Torajan people have their own traditional funerals and burials, many also are Christian - all Indoesians ust have a nominated religion on their ID cards. As such, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are important occasions in Rantepeo. People go to church on Christmas... 

 Daihappydai Says:  Not so much a tip, more a unique experience. While driving to Batutumonga we came across a temproary shelter where a group of men and teenage boys were wrapping bodies from a nearby rock grave site. Our guide who has lived in Toraja all his life said he had never come across... 

 RoyJava Says:  Strange title huh? I've seen a lot of tourists running around snapping their camera's, taking their digitals, video's and, finishing a wonderful trip in the touristy souvenir shops. What a pity!Go for a walk, trek, and trip in very Indonesian way. Pelahan-pelahan... slowly!...