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Simone B
Disappointing Sulawesi tour – poor organization and overpriced
Local Guides - Tana Toraja的点评
点评：We booked a 7-day family tour in South Sulawesi with Local Guides, expecting an authentic, cultural, and sustainable experience — something that would help us connect with local communities and understand the region’s traditions.
We were a family of five (two adults and three children aged 12–14). We had never booked an organised tour before, but this time we chose to do so because Sulawesi is a region where few people speak English. We wanted a deep cultural experience beyond what we could arrange on our own. Unfortunately, what we received was far from that.
This trip, which we had dreamed of for months, turned out to be one of the most disappointing and confusing travel experiences we’ve ever had.
What went well:
Some of the places we visited — such as Rammang Rammang, the Toraja villages, and Lake Tempe — were beautiful. The local people were kind, and once communication improved, our guide Budi did his best to make up for earlier problems. He later admitted that Local Guides hadn’t properly briefed him and that the itinerary didn’t make much sense as it was initially organised. To his credit, he tried to rearrange the program to make it more meaningful.
What went wrong:
1. Communication and organisation:
The main issue was the total lack of communication and preparation. When we arrived in Makassar, no one explained what would happen. We were driven for hours without any briefing or context. For the first two days, we had almost no contact with a guide who could speak English, only a driver who, although kind, didn’t speak a single word of English. We spent eight hours in the car in silence, not knowing what we were seeing or where we were going.
When we were finally met by Budi, he seemed unaware of what had been planned. He told us he wasn’t used to working with “Western travellers” and needed to balance Local Guides’ expectations with local customs — an admission that says a lot about the organisation’s lack of coordination.
2. Program confusion and changes:
The program we had agreed on with Local Guides had been changed several times before departure — each time supposedly to make the experience more balanced. In reality, it was unclear, poorly sequenced, and exhausting. Budi himself suggested we reverse the itinerary because, as he said, “it didn’t make much sense.”
On the second day, during the long drive to Rantepao, the driver stopped at one of the most touristy roadside restaurants, where a pushy lady insisted on ordering food for us even though we weren’t hungry. It was exactly the kind of experience we had hoped to avoid by booking with a company that claimed to promote genuine, responsible tourism.
We had also been told we would spend two nights in Bira so the kids could enjoy the sea after days of long drives. Instead, we were moved from one hotel to another, with no explanation and no proper time to relax.
3. Accommodation and value for money:
Hotels were confirmed at the very last minute — one literally the day before arrival — and in Toraja Land, we were placed in a noisy, central hotel instead of the quiet, family-run lodge we had specifically requested.
The price we paid was astonishing: over 1.1 million IDR per person per day, which is excessive for what was delivered. The trip included long hours in the car, little cultural immersion, and minimal guiding. The so-called “premium” price simply cannot be justified.
4. Cultural and educational experience:
We chose Local Guides because of their promise of meaningful, responsible tourism. We expected explanations about local traditions, beliefs, and daily life — a chance to understand the Toraja culture beyond the surface. Instead, we were shown the most touristy places with little or no cultural insight.
Even the offer to witness a Toraja funeral, which Sal had strongly recommended as a “unique cultural experience,” was completely inappropriate. These rituals are complex and often extremely graphic, involving animal sacrifices — something absolutely unsuitable for children. We were shocked that this was even suggested for a family tour.
5. Responsibility and follow-up:
When we tried to share our concerns, Sal acknowledged some mistakes but mostly shifted responsibility to the local team. He insisted we discuss everything directly with Budi, even though it was clear that the mismanagement came from the head office.
While Budi eventually showed genuine care and tried to make things better, the problem was structural: Local Guides failed to plan, failed to brief their team, and failed to deliver what they promise — an authentic, sustainable experience.
Conclusion:
Our South Sulawesi tour was not the immersive, cultural experience we were promised, but an overpriced, poorly coordinated itinerary with long transfers, minimal explanations, and no real guiding for most of the trip.
What’s most disappointing is that we trusted Local Guides because of their strong values and focus on sustainability. In reality, we received a conventional tour at premium prices. We paid for a meaningful experience and got a logistical mess.
Unless Local Guides radically improve their coordination, transparency, and respect for travellers’ expectations, I don't recommend them for Sulawesi at all.
We were a family of five (two adults and three children aged 12–14). We had never booked an organised tour before, but this time we chose to do so because Sulawesi is a region where few people speak English. We wanted a deep cultural experience beyond what we could arrange on our own. Unfortunately, what we received was far from that.
This trip, which we had dreamed of for months, turned out to be one of the most disappointing and confusing travel experiences we’ve ever had.
What went well:
Some of the places we visited — such as Rammang Rammang, the Toraja villages, and Lake Tempe — were beautiful. The local people were kind, and once communication improved, our guide Budi did his best to make up for earlier problems. He later admitted that Local Guides hadn’t properly briefed him and that the itinerary didn’t make much sense as it was initially organised. To his credit, he tried to rearrange the program to make it more meaningful.
What went wrong:
1. Communication and organisation:
The main issue was the total lack of communication and preparation. When we arrived in Makassar, no one explained what would happen. We were driven for hours without any briefing or context. For the first two days, we had almost no contact with a guide who could speak English, only a driver who, although kind, didn’t speak a single word of English. We spent eight hours in the car in silence, not knowing what we were seeing or where we were going.
When we were finally met by Budi, he seemed unaware of what had been planned. He told us he wasn’t used to working with “Western travellers” and needed to balance Local Guides’ expectations with local customs — an admission that says a lot about the organisation’s lack of coordination.
2. Program confusion and changes:
The program we had agreed on with Local Guides had been changed several times before departure — each time supposedly to make the experience more balanced. In reality, it was unclear, poorly sequenced, and exhausting. Budi himself suggested we reverse the itinerary because, as he said, “it didn’t make much sense.”
On the second day, during the long drive to Rantepao, the driver stopped at one of the most touristy roadside restaurants, where a pushy lady insisted on ordering food for us even though we weren’t hungry. It was exactly the kind of experience we had hoped to avoid by booking with a company that claimed to promote genuine, responsible tourism.
We had also been told we would spend two nights in Bira so the kids could enjoy the sea after days of long drives. Instead, we were moved from one hotel to another, with no explanation and no proper time to relax.
3. Accommodation and value for money:
Hotels were confirmed at the very last minute — one literally the day before arrival — and in Toraja Land, we were placed in a noisy, central hotel instead of the quiet, family-run lodge we had specifically requested.
The price we paid was astonishing: over 1.1 million IDR per person per day, which is excessive for what was delivered. The trip included long hours in the car, little cultural immersion, and minimal guiding. The so-called “premium” price simply cannot be justified.
4. Cultural and educational experience:
We chose Local Guides because of their promise of meaningful, responsible tourism. We expected explanations about local traditions, beliefs, and daily life — a chance to understand the Toraja culture beyond the surface. Instead, we were shown the most touristy places with little or no cultural insight.
Even the offer to witness a Toraja funeral, which Sal had strongly recommended as a “unique cultural experience,” was completely inappropriate. These rituals are complex and often extremely graphic, involving animal sacrifices — something absolutely unsuitable for children. We were shocked that this was even suggested for a family tour.
5. Responsibility and follow-up:
When we tried to share our concerns, Sal acknowledged some mistakes but mostly shifted responsibility to the local team. He insisted we discuss everything directly with Budi, even though it was clear that the mismanagement came from the head office.
While Budi eventually showed genuine care and tried to make things better, the problem was structural: Local Guides failed to plan, failed to brief their team, and failed to deliver what they promise — an authentic, sustainable experience.
Conclusion:
Our South Sulawesi tour was not the immersive, cultural experience we were promised, but an overpriced, poorly coordinated itinerary with long transfers, minimal explanations, and no real guiding for most of the trip.
What’s most disappointing is that we trusted Local Guides because of their strong values and focus on sustainability. In reality, we received a conventional tour at premium prices. We paid for a meaningful experience and got a logistical mess.
Unless Local Guides radically improve their coordination, transparency, and respect for travellers’ expectations, I don't recommend them for Sulawesi at all.
翻译：我们预订了南苏拉威西岛的7日家庭游，由当地导游带领，期待一次地道、文化丰富且可持续的体验——这能帮助我们融入当地社区，了解当地的传统。
我们一家五口（两个大人和三个12-14岁的孩子）。我们以前从未预订过跟团游，但这次我们选择跟团，因为苏拉威西岛很少有人说英语。我们希望获得一次深度的文化体验，超越我们自己能够安排的范围。可惜的是，我们得到的远非如此。
这次我们梦寐以求的旅行，最终却成了我们最失望、最困惑的旅行经历之一。
成功之处：
我们参观的一些地方——例如Rammang Rammang、托拉贾村落和坦佩湖——都非常美丽。当地人很友善，一旦沟通上有所改善，我们的导游Budi就会尽力弥补之前遇到的问题。他后来承认，当地向导没有向他详细汇报行程安排，而且最初的行程安排也不太合理。值得称赞的是，他努力重新安排行程，使其更有意义。
问题出在：
1. 沟通和组织：
主要问题是完全缺乏沟通和准备。我们抵达望加锡时，没有人解释接下来会发生什么。我们被载了好几个小时，没有任何介绍或背景信息。头两天，我们几乎没有遇到会说英语的导游，只有一位司机，虽然他很友善，但却一句英语也不会说。我们在车里默默地待了八个小时，不知道看到了什么，也不知道要去哪里。
当我们终于见到了布迪时，他似乎对行程安排一无所知。他告诉我们，他不习惯与“西方游客”打交道，需要平衡当地向导的期望和当地习俗——这充分说明了当地向导的协调能力不足。
2. 行程混乱和变更：
我们与当地向导商定的行程在出发前被更改了好几次——每次都声称是为了让体验更加均衡。但实际上，行程不清晰，顺序混乱，而且让人精疲力竭。Budi 本人建议我们调整行程，因为他说“这不太合理”。
第二天，在前往兰特包的长途车程中，司机在一家游客最多的路边餐馆停了下来，一位咄咄逼人的女士坚持要给我们点餐，尽管我们并不饿。我们本来希望通过预订一家声称推广真诚、负责任旅游的公司来避免这种经历。
我们还被告知会在比拉住两晚，这样孩子们可以在长途驾驶几天后享受大海的乐趣。结果，我们被从一家酒店转移到另一家酒店，没有任何解释，也没有时间好好放松一下。
3. 住宿和性价比：
酒店是在最后一刻才确认的——确切地说是抵达前一天——而且在托拉雅地区，我们被安排在一家位于市中心、吵闹的酒店，而不是我们特意要求的安静的家庭式旅馆。
我们支付的价格令人震惊：每人每天超过110万印尼盾，相对于我们提供的服务来说，这简直是过高的价钱。行程中，我们长时间在车里，几乎没有文化体验，导游服务也很少。所谓的“高价”根本说不通。
4. 文化和教育体验：
我们选择当地导游，是因为他们承诺提供有意义、负责任的旅游服务。我们期待他们讲解当地的传统、信仰和日常生活——一个深入了解托拉雅文化的机会。结果，他们带我们去了最热门的景点，却几乎没有任何文化见解。
甚至连萨尔强烈推荐的观看托拉雅葬礼的机会也完全不合适，毕竟这是一次“独特的文化体验”。这些仪式复杂，通常极其露骨，还涉及动物献祭——这绝对不适合儿童。我们震惊的是，竟然有人建议在家庭旅行中安排这样的活动。
5. 责任与后续跟进：
当我们试图表达担忧时，Sal 承认了一些错误，但主要把责任推卸给了当地团队。他坚持要求我们直接与 Budi 讨论所有问题，尽管很明显，管理不善是总部的责任。
虽然 Budi 最终表现出了真诚的关怀，并努力改进，但问题在于结构性：当地导游未能做好计划，未能向团队进行简报，也未能兑现他们的承诺——提供真实、可持续的体验。
结论：
我们的南苏拉威西之旅并非我们所承诺的沉浸式文化体验，而是价格过高、行程安排混乱、换乘时间过长、讲解匮乏，而且大部分行程都没有真正的导游。
最令人失望的是，我们之所以信任当地导游，是因为他们坚守价值观并注重可持续发展。但事实上，我们参加了一次价格不菲的传统行程。我们花钱体验了一次意义非凡的旅程，却遭遇了后勤方面的混乱。
除非当地导游能够彻底改善他们的协调能力、透明度以及对游客期望的尊重，否则我根本不推荐他们去苏拉威西岛。
我们一家五口（两个大人和三个12-14岁的孩子）。我们以前从未预订过跟团游，但这次我们选择跟团，因为苏拉威西岛很少有人说英语。我们希望获得一次深度的文化体验，超越我们自己能够安排的范围。可惜的是，我们得到的远非如此。
这次我们梦寐以求的旅行，最终却成了我们最失望、最困惑的旅行经历之一。
成功之处：
我们参观的一些地方——例如Rammang Rammang、托拉贾村落和坦佩湖——都非常美丽。当地人很友善，一旦沟通上有所改善，我们的导游Budi就会尽力弥补之前遇到的问题。他后来承认，当地向导没有向他详细汇报行程安排，而且最初的行程安排也不太合理。值得称赞的是，他努力重新安排行程，使其更有意义。
问题出在：
1. 沟通和组织：
主要问题是完全缺乏沟通和准备。我们抵达望加锡时，没有人解释接下来会发生什么。我们被载了好几个小时，没有任何介绍或背景信息。头两天，我们几乎没有遇到会说英语的导游，只有一位司机，虽然他很友善，但却一句英语也不会说。我们在车里默默地待了八个小时，不知道看到了什么，也不知道要去哪里。
当我们终于见到了布迪时，他似乎对行程安排一无所知。他告诉我们，他不习惯与“西方游客”打交道，需要平衡当地向导的期望和当地习俗——这充分说明了当地向导的协调能力不足。
2. 行程混乱和变更：
我们与当地向导商定的行程在出发前被更改了好几次——每次都声称是为了让体验更加均衡。但实际上，行程不清晰，顺序混乱，而且让人精疲力竭。Budi 本人建议我们调整行程，因为他说“这不太合理”。
第二天，在前往兰特包的长途车程中，司机在一家游客最多的路边餐馆停了下来，一位咄咄逼人的女士坚持要给我们点餐，尽管我们并不饿。我们本来希望通过预订一家声称推广真诚、负责任旅游的公司来避免这种经历。
我们还被告知会在比拉住两晚，这样孩子们可以在长途驾驶几天后享受大海的乐趣。结果，我们被从一家酒店转移到另一家酒店，没有任何解释，也没有时间好好放松一下。
3. 住宿和性价比：
酒店是在最后一刻才确认的——确切地说是抵达前一天——而且在托拉雅地区，我们被安排在一家位于市中心、吵闹的酒店，而不是我们特意要求的安静的家庭式旅馆。
我们支付的价格令人震惊：每人每天超过110万印尼盾，相对于我们提供的服务来说，这简直是过高的价钱。行程中，我们长时间在车里，几乎没有文化体验，导游服务也很少。所谓的“高价”根本说不通。
4. 文化和教育体验：
我们选择当地导游，是因为他们承诺提供有意义、负责任的旅游服务。我们期待他们讲解当地的传统、信仰和日常生活——一个深入了解托拉雅文化的机会。结果，他们带我们去了最热门的景点，却几乎没有任何文化见解。
甚至连萨尔强烈推荐的观看托拉雅葬礼的机会也完全不合适，毕竟这是一次“独特的文化体验”。这些仪式复杂，通常极其露骨，还涉及动物献祭——这绝对不适合儿童。我们震惊的是，竟然有人建议在家庭旅行中安排这样的活动。
5. 责任与后续跟进：
当我们试图表达担忧时，Sal 承认了一些错误，但主要把责任推卸给了当地团队。他坚持要求我们直接与 Budi 讨论所有问题，尽管很明显，管理不善是总部的责任。
虽然 Budi 最终表现出了真诚的关怀，并努力改进，但问题在于结构性：当地导游未能做好计划，未能向团队进行简报，也未能兑现他们的承诺——提供真实、可持续的体验。
结论：
我们的南苏拉威西之旅并非我们所承诺的沉浸式文化体验，而是价格过高、行程安排混乱、换乘时间过长、讲解匮乏，而且大部分行程都没有真正的导游。
最令人失望的是，我们之所以信任当地导游，是因为他们坚守价值观并注重可持续发展。但事实上，我们参加了一次价格不菲的传统行程。我们花钱体验了一次意义非凡的旅程，却遭遇了后勤方面的混乱。
除非当地导游能够彻底改善他们的协调能力、透明度以及对游客期望的尊重，否则我根本不推荐他们去苏拉威西岛。
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