Summary
Rammang Rammang is a special village in the karst mountains of south Sulawesi, Indonesia. The landscape here resembles a setting from a Jurassic Park movie, creating a truly unique experience for visitors.
The nature at Rammang is stunning, where you can hop on a boat and navigate the river, surrounded by giant mountains, caves, and prehistoric art.
This travel guide will outline how to reach Rammang Rammang, activities to enjoy, accommodations, and all the essentials you need to know before your adventure!
What Is This Place?
The karst mountains at Rammang Rammang formed through limestone erosion over the ages, and the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Its name translates to ‘set of clouds or mist’.
This location is among the largest karst regions globally, ranking just behind Tsingy in Madagascar and Shilin in China. It bears similarities to Krabi in Thailand and Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, although the latter is now submerged.
As of 2024, Rammang remains largely undiscovered by tourists, but it’s undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in Indonesia!
Where To Stay
There are basic homestays available in Rammang Rammang village if you wish to stay close to the karsts or catch the sunrise, ideal for photography.
Popular homestays include Nasrul House and Rammang Rammang Eco Lodge. Food can be found at Cafe Puncak and Salenrang Cafe, while the Eco Lodge also offers a cafe.
Staying in Rammang is advantageous for witnessing the sunrise; however, many travelers, including us, prefer to stay in Makassar for its wider selection of restaurants and hotels at varying price points.
Makassar Hotels
How To Get To Rammang Rammang
Rammang village is situated in south Sulawesi, Indonesia. The closest airport is Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) in Makassar, which offers direct flights from Bali (DPS) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL).
For travelers arriving from Bali, the flight lasts approximately 90 minutes, available through various airlines. You can find flights to Makassar via Skyscanner.
Reaching Rammang takes about an hour by car from Makassar airport, or 1.5 hours from the city center. The best transport options are by hiring a driver for the day or taking a taxi (details below).
Our Makassar Driver
The most straightforward way to explore Rammang is by hiring a driver from Makassar for the day, typically costing about 600k Rupiah ($40 USD) for the entire trip (up to 12 hours).
We arranged our transportation through Dodo Mursalim, who provided an excellent experience. He’s known for being friendly, helpful, and punctual, and he is familiar with all the prominent sites to visit in the area.
You can reach Dodo on his Facebook page or via WhatsApp at ☎ +62 812-4129-913. He speaks English as well.
Other Transport
For budget-conscious travelers, a more economical option to get to Rammang is to use a Grab or Go-Jek taxi from Makassar.
The fare is typically around 100-150k Rupiah ($7-10 USD) one way. However, finding a return taxi can be challenging since there are no Grab or Go-Jek drivers in the Maros area, necessitating a local taxi for your return.
A local taxi from Rammang for the return trip might cost upwards of 300k Rupiah ($20) due to the remote location, resulting in minimal savings compared to hiring a day driver.
Nasrul, the amiable owner of Nasrul Homestay in Rammang, can assist in arranging a return taxi if that’s required. He is available on WhatsApp at ☎ +62 823-4700-2175 and speaks English well.
Entrance Fees
- Berua Village: 10k IDR (~$1)
- Fireflies Cave: 10k IDR
Visiting Rammang Rammang
The ideal way to explore Rammang is on foot and via traditional boat. There are established walking paths leading to all the main points of interest, and the trails are relatively flat.
The paths are well-marked with directional signs, and a good map is displayed at the main entrance to the area. The only challenge might be the intense midday heat.
You can experience most highlights in a full-day trip; however, to cover everything mentioned, you would need a couple of days.
The list below is not exhaustive but includes some of my favorite activities and sights in Rammang!
Best Things To Do & See
• Berua Village (Kampung Berua)
Berua Village is undoubtedly the highlight of any visit to Rammang Rammang.
It features a large pond that beautifully reflects the surrounding mountains and jungle, with three perfectly aligned palm trees creating a breathtaking view that never becomes tiresome!
The primary route to Berua is by boat (as described below), but talking to Nazrul may reveal a secret hiking path for sunrise visits.
• Pute River Boat Trips
Boat rides on the Pute River are one of the most favored ways to experience Rammang.
I initially hesitated, considering it somewhat overpriced for one or two people at 200k Rupiah ($14) round trip per boat. Nevertheless, the river scenery is quite lovely, reminiscent of Vietnam.
If you find others to share the boat, the fare becomes reasonable. Each boat can accommodate six people, and the ride takes approximately 20 minutes each way.
• Fireflies Cave (Goa Kunang Kunang)
This expansive cave features sparkling limestone formations that twinkle like fireflies at night.
To explore the cave, you may need to climb a few ladders to reach its higher sections.
Capturing the magical lights and vibrant colors with a camera can be challenging, so experiencing it firsthand is a must!
• Prehistoric Cave (Goa Bulu Barakka)
This modest cave houses some prehistoric painted art.
If you search carefully, you may find two ancient handprints left by people from ages long past.
As a side note, for the best handprints and cave art, visit Leang Leang, another location nearby that requires more travel.
• Stone Forest
This area showcases a collection of peculiar, pointed rocks interspersed with trees and bushes.
Some of these rocks feature tunnels or openings that create fun photo opportunities.
From a distance, it truly resembles a stone forest.
More Things To See Nearby
• Leang Leang Karst Caves
Located just a 30-minute drive southeast of Rammang is another karst geopark called Leang Leang.
This area is recognized for its prehistoric caves featuring some of the oldest human-made art globally.
If time permits, make sure to include this in your travel plans!
• Tonasa Green Lake
Only a 15-minute drive north of Rammang Rammang, this beautiful pond offers striking reflections of the karsts in the morning. It is rumored to have another cave containing prehistoric handprints, although some climbing might be necessary.
The pond is easy to locate, but access roads may get muddy during the rainy season.
• Leang Surukang Cave
This remarkable cave lies approximately 45 minutes north of Rammang.
With several ‘windows’ offering views of the rice terraces, it boasts a million-dollar vista—one could imagine ancient inhabitants enjoying the same view from this very spot.
Leang Surukang remains off the tourist radar, so hiring a guide is necessary to visit it. The path is only a 15-minute walk from the parking area, but the route winds confusingly through rice fields, making it challenging to navigate without assistance.
The local farmers are friendly, and the landscape is lovely. With the help of our driver Dodo, we found a guide from the local tourism office, and he guided us to the cave for 100k Rupiah (~$7).
The adventure includes walking through rice paddies, crossing a broken footbridge over a stream, and climbing two staircases to access the cave, which, while not dangerous, may not be suitable for elderly visitors.
• Pangkep Museum
Located about 30 minutes north of Rammang, this new museum in Pangkep offers insightful exhibits on the archaeology and history of the karsts in the region.
The museum was completed in 2020, but was not open to visitors due to the COVID pandemic at the time. During my visit, I had the pleasure of being the first foreign guest, which was quite memorable.
Best Time To Visit
The optimal months for visiting Rammang Rammang and Maros are during the dry season, particularly from April to August when the landscape is lush and vibrant.
While visits can occur outside these months, dryness at the end of the dry season or heavy rains in the wet season may affect your experience.
Early morning is the best time of day to visit to avoid the wind and capture stunning reflections in the ponds at Berua village. Additionally, morning temperatures are cooler, making it more pleasant compared to the scorching midday sun, which often exceeds 30°C, accompanied by high humidity and scant shade.
Conservation Status
Rammang Rammang is in need of improved conservation efforts. Indonesia recently received UNESCO Geopark status for this region, yet I sincerely hope to see the area cleaned and maintained in its natural state.
These valuable landscapes face threats from development and mining activities. We observed some litter in the village, although some locals have started placing garbage bins around, which is a positive step forward.
If you visit, we urge you to help maintain the cleanliness of this environment. Please carry out your trash and refrain from leaving anything behind in the village. Even if discarded in a trash can, its final destination remains uncertain.
