Toraja Village Walk & Funeral Ceremony

Set off on a light trek to a local Torajan village to witness their funeral traditions, although not for the faint-hearted!

You’ll go on a light trek to a local Toraja village, where you can interact with the villagers and witness their unique funeral rites, which are integral to daily life in this part of Indonesia.

It’s worth noting that while this gives you a great insight into local culture, these funerals do involve the live sacrifice of buffalo and pigs, which can be quite disturbing or even abhorrent, depending on your point of view.

However, there’s also much more to the ceremony than the sacrifices: traditional dances, large feasts and huge family gatherings are well worth stopping by for.

Funerals are such an important part of the culture and tradition of the Torajans: it can take years to plan them, and family will come from all over Indonesia, Papua and even as far as Australia to take part.

What you’ll do

• Take a trek to a remote Torajan village to see local families preparing or hosting a funeral ceremony
• Witness elements of these complex rites, from traditional dances and feasts to the buffalo sacrifices that define Torajan culture
• Learn from your guide about the intricacies of the unique funeral ceremonies and why they take years to plan