This 11 night/12 day tailor-made tour takes in some of the key highlights of Bali and Sulawesi and finishes with time to relax in the remote Spa Village Resort at Tembok on the north coast. The many sights, peoples, cultures and religions of Sulawesi are as bewildering as its capricious geographical form might indicate - the coastline boasts abundant marine life and coral reefs along with untouched tropical rainforest, high mountain peaks, shrouded in eternal mist and rice terraces that can compete with those of Bali for beauty.

But for most visitors, Sulawesi island will be remembered for one of the most interesting peoples in the entire archipelago, the Torajans. The promise of witnessing one of their elaborate ceremonies for the deceased makes for a trip not to be missed. Returning to Bali you will be able to enjoy some time in the cultural centre of Bali, Ubud, enjoying a few nights to explore before heading north to your final resort for peace and relaxation.

 

Day 1: Departure

Today you will take the direct Singapore Airlines flight to Singapore.

Day 2: Arrive Bali

Land Singapore. Transit and board the flight to Denpaser, Bali.

Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your chosen beach hotel in Sanur. Overnight Sanur.

Day 3: Bali / Sulawesi (B/L/D)

This morning, transfer to the Denpaser airport and take the short flight across to Makassar on Sulawesi island. Start travelling up-country straight to Tanah Toraja, a region located about 300 km away. The road leads past a scenic road with breathtaking panoramas of the deep valleys and high mountains. Finally you will reach Rantepao, the cultural centre of the Toraja people. Overnight here.

Days 4 - 5: Eploring Tanah Toraja (B/L/D)

Enjoy the next 2 days exploring Toraja Land and its people with their powerful cultural identity. Time to find small villages with names like Sangalla, Ketekesu, Marante and Palawa and to retrace an ancient way of life. Unique houses with their characteristic roof, are dotted all over the place. Deceased are usually buried in holes of a rock-face. All highlights in the area will be visited, but if some of the burial ceremonies take place, your guide will bring you to the scene of these intriguing and grandly staged events. Young women perform trance-like dances, rituals from pre-Christian religions reappear, visitors include relatives who might come from any far flung corner of the archipelago, ritual fights between different village clans are held, numerous expensive water buffalos will be slaughtered, all to appease the animist spirits of an Unseen World. The ceremony goes on an on for days on end while all attending are sheltered in make-shift bamboo houses, built exclusively for this purpose. They must be fed, according their social status as well.

Day 6: Sulawesi / Ubud (B/L/-)

Transfer back to Makassar. Check in for your domestic flight to Denpasar, Bali. After your safe landing in Bali, you will be transferred to your Ubud hotel. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure exploring Ubud and the surrounding region.

Day 7: Ubud (B/-/-)

Today you have time at leisure to explore Ubud further.

Day 8: Ubud / Tembok (B/-/-)

This morning you will be collected and transferred north to the small village of Tembok and the Spa Village Resort. Here you have time at leisure to relax and enjoy the inclusive Spa treatments.

Days 9-12: Spa Villa Resort, Tembok (B/-/-)

Days at leisure.

Day 13: Departure (B/-/-)

Today you will be transferred from the Resort to Denpasar airport for your return flight to the UK.