You’ve probably stumbled across this image on your social media platform. The picture displays a row of cone-shaped traditional houses made from dry grass. The material covers almost all aspects of natural building. This traditional architecture is what makes Wae Rebo village famous around the world. A lot of travellers are curious about how the locals preserve the cultural wisdom from their ancestors.
Indeed, the village adds to the charms of East Nusa Tenggara province. When its name pops up, people usually connect it with rare Komodo dragons in the National Komodo Park. This world heritage site itself is situated on Komodo Island, lying between Flores and Sumbawa Islands. For those who love exploring cultural attractions, Wae Rebo village can be such a unique place to visit and observe.
Many consider the village an ancient one, although its exact establishment remains unknown to this day. Besides the house design, the residents continue to uphold the way of life of their predecessors. Moreover, the tourism spot earned the Top Award of Excellence from UNESCO in 2012 in Bangkok, Thailand. Let’s read more about the village and how to access its location from where you live. Scroll down until the last sentence!
How can I get to Wae Rebo village?
To reach the spot, you need to fly to Labuan Bajo in Flores, use a car/motorbike to Denge village, and then hike on foot. Driving by car or motorbike to Denge village takes between 4 and 5 hours. The hiking trip can last 2 to 4 hours. The whole journey is quite long and challenging.
You will need to pass through the rainforest due to its location, which is 1,111 metres above sea level. No wonder that many people call it “the village on the cloud”. Here are the step-by-step guides for you:
- Step 1: Flying to Labuan Bajo or Ende Airport from Bali or Jakarta.
- Step 2: Going to Ruteng via car from Labuan Bajo or from Ende. Hiring a private driver or joining a tour is recommended.
- Phase 3: Trekking to Wae Rebo village on foot. The village can’t be accessed by vehicles.
The uniqueness of Wae Rebo village
Wae Rebo village offers cultural, architectural, and environmental attractions that become more interesting today for modern tourists seeking authentic holiday experiences. Due to these factors, the area becomes a tourism icon of the province. By administration, it is located in Satar Lenda, Satar Mese subdistrict, Manggarai regency. It has around 600 residents in 142 households.
The inhabitants mostly work as farmers by cultivating coffee as the primary commodity. In addition, they plant cloves and tubers. The natural way of life of the local people adds extra charm to this place, as travellers can see how their traditional farming methods remain useful to this day. Check the full list of attractions below!
Traditional Mbaru Niang houses
The houses become the “signature” of the Wae Rebo village. Besides dry grass, the houses are made from wood and bamboo. If you step inside, you can see that the house contains multiple stories, each of which has different functions. The symbolic cone design reflects the belief of the people in Manggarai. In this regard, the architectural design draws a parallel connection between humans, nature, and ancestors.
Cultural heritage
Wae Rebo village is a living site. As mentioned above, the residents still follow the old ways of life from their ancestors. Examples of these are in farming, ritual ceremonies, and decision-making for communal activities. Hence, visiting it will expose you to the local wisdom that has been passed down through generations. Such a unique experience for any modern traveller around the world.
The natural beauty
Wae Rebo village is surrounded by mountains; hence, its climate is fresh, and the air is clean. Moreover, the locals uphold the natural way of farming and living in general. Given its remote location, you won’t find any pollution. You will find this place to be such a relaxing area with pristine scenery.
Get an authentic tourism experience at Wae Rebo Village with Discovery Komodo Adventure!
If you are looking for cultural tourism experiences in East Nusa Tenggara, spending a few days exploring Wae Rebo village is a great idea. This village has natural, cultural, and educational charms that meet your thirst for such needs. As mentioned above, reaching the area is quite challenging. As such, partnering with a top tour agency, such as Discovery Komodo Adventure, is recommended.
Our company consists of experienced local professionals who know all the information regarding the tourism destination. Not only do our staff know how to reach the spot, but they also have “insider” knowledge you may not find on the Internet. They will share the daily customs of the locals and the historical sides of the area. You can directly select the special package of the village. Yet, if you need more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. Please chat with our marketing team using this website.
