Leang Leang Maros is a karst mountain geopark in Sulawesi with ancient limestone caves and Indonesian cave art.
The prehistoric caves in this area are known for having the oldest cave paintings in the world. I went to see these human hand prints up close on my first trip to Sulawesi in 2018, and it was completely fascinating!
This travel guide will explain how to get there, and everything you need to know before you go!
History Of Leang Leang
The limestone mountains at Leang Leang Maros make up one of the biggest karst areas in the world, right behind the Tsingy area in Madagascar and Shilin in China.
Youβll also notice some similarities to Krabi in Thailand, and Ha Long Bay in Vietnam, although this oneβs not underwater anymore!
Naturally the limestone erosion is great for creating caves, so there are hundreds of them at Leang, and a bunch were inhabited during prehistoric times.
The caves at Leang Leang were discovered by two Dutch explorers in the 1900s, but it wasnβt until recently that people realized just how old and valuable the artwork is.
The current estimate is that the Indonesia cave paintings here are 40,000+ years old, making it the oldest figurative artwork in the world, and also the oldest known hunting scene.
More caves and prehistoric art are still being discovered in this area, and Indonesia has applied to UNESCO to have it recognized as a world heritage site.
Leang Leang Maros β What To Expect
β’ Cave Paintings
The cave paintings at Leang are in a high cave that can only be reached by climbing 25 steps up a metal staircase built into the rock.
Watch your step, because the passage is narrow and the smooth rocks at the mouth of the cave can be slippery.
At the top, suspended on a cave wall, youβll see half a dozen primitive paintings showing human hand prints and babi rusa (wild boar).
If you look around, youβll also find seashells embedded in the rocks, indicating that this whole area used to be submerged in the Java Sea.
Itβs an interesting and thought provoking place. A long time ago, someone left their mark here.
β’ Karst Rock Garden
When youβre done exploring the caves, thereβs a rock garden outside with lots of unique shaped limestone rocks.
These are naturally formed rocks with weird and cool shapes, including a dog, heart, and a few different rock windows you can look through.
Entrance Fees
- Foreigners: 20k IDR (~$1.50 USD)
- Indonesians: 5k IDR
How To Get There
Leang Leang Maros is located in south Sulawesi, Indonesia.
The nearest airport is Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (UPG) in Makassar, which has direct flights from Bali (DPS) or Kuala Lumpur (KUL). You can shop for flights to Makassar at Skyscanner.
Leang is a 1 hour drive from the Makassar airport, or a 1.5 hour drive from the city center.
The two best transport options are with a day driver or a taxi (more info on this below).
Our Makassar Driver
The easiest way to visit Rammang is to book a driver from Makassar for the day, which should cost about 600k IDR ($40 USD) for the whole car and driver (up to 12 hours).
Weβve booked trips with Dodo Mursalim from Makassar and had a great experience. Heβs very friendly, helpful, and punctual, and he already knows how to find all of the places you see on this page.
You can contact Dodo on his Facebook page or via WhatsApp at β +62 812-4129-913. He also speaks English.
EXTRA: Rammang Rammang
When youβre visiting Leang, thereβs another karst geopark near Makassar called Rammang Rammang.
This place has huge karst mountains, jungles, and even more caves to explore. Itβs one of my favorite places in Indonesia.
If you have time, check out both Rammang and Leang!
Read More: Rammang Rammang Maros
Best Time To Visit
The best months to visit Leang Leang Maros are in the dry season, especially from April to August when things are greenest.
You can definitely visit outside of these months, but it may be more dried out (at the end of the dry season) or rainy (in the middle of the wet season).
The best time of day to visit is early in the morning, before the heat picks up. Daytime temps here can be over 32 C (90 F).
Where To Stay
There are some very basic homestays in Rammang Rammang village if you want to stay near the karsts or get an early start for sunrise. The most popular homestay is Nasrul House.
We stayed in Makassar city instead, and I think thatβs generally your best bet, because Makassar has lots of restaurants and nice hotels in all price ranges.
The Makassar hotels below are some of our top recommendations! You can see more options here.
Where We Stayed
We stayed at the 3-star Pesonna Hotel in Makassar city, and paid $20 USD for a private double room with cold A/C and hot shower.
They have a restaurant on site, and a nice pool. My only gripe is that the WiFi is really slow. Still, I havenβt found a better value in the Makassar area! Itβs hard to beat this price for a clean double or twin room.
Prices may fluctuate from time to time, so just keep an eye out for a good deal.
See Also
- Most Beautiful Indonesian Islands - Best Places To Visit In Indonesia
- Best Hikes In Indonesia - Volcanoes, Jungles, & Waterfalls
- Indonesia Waterfall Guide - Best Waterfalls In Indonesia
- Indonesia Beach Guide - Best Beaches In Indonesia
- Best Things To Do In Indonesia - What To Do In The Islands
- Indonesia Travel Guide - Tips, Info, & Photos