We found this hotel on the internet, though it turned out to be cheaper to book by phone than through Agoda. As advertised, Hotel Pantan Toraja is located just outside the town of Makale, the administrative centre of the Tana Toraja region.

Room and Facilities

Our room was spacious and comfortable but a bit run-down. The double bed was comfortable and there was a flat screen TV. A small kettle was provided but the electric cable was too short to reach the socket, so we had to perch it on the hot water flask every time we used it. There was no air conditioning but Tana Toraja is a cool, mountainous area, so we didn’t feel hot.

The bathroom in particular, although functional, was in need of renovation. With hot water, a bath and a shower of the bath, it was a shame there was no shower curtain, but we were able to enjoy some long, soaky baths.

Swimming, Breakfast and Service

The hotel has a large swimming pool, which I used once; on the day we arrived the water was cloudy but by day two it had been cleaned. Breakfast was a buffet of rice, vegetable and chicken dishes, with tea of coffee, but unfortunately only served 6.30 – 8am, so no late mornings for us.

Hotel staff were polite and efficient but unable to help with our queries about vehicle rental or tours of the area. Most of the other guests were Indonesian domestic tourists with their own vehicles.

If you want to stay out of town and use your own transport to get around, Pantan Toraja is a good option, and fairly decent value for this area. However, if you need tourist information and services, you’re better off staying in Rantepao.