KAMPUNG ADAT & HIGHLIGHTS
Visit the most beautiful traditional villages of Flores
Kampung adat, the traditional villages on Flores are unique with the oldest ones around Bajawa. Sometimes travelers are a bit hesitant as sometimes they think the traditions like ceremonies and
festivals are set up for tourists. But, that's really a misunderstanding.
Their ceremonies are year round tourists or not. Actually "reba" their new year are in the months of January and February, not really the tourist season.
So please come and enjoy their unique (and sometimes complicated) culture.
For those who cannot get enough of the traditional villages I made a program which focuses mainly on the most beautiful and some less visited villages on Flores.
Starting in the east and ending in the west. It also can be done the reverse way ofcourse.
The most popular and visited ones are Bena and Wae Rebo. In particular Wae Rebo receives many visitors, most of them on a 2-day trip from Labuan Bajo. It can be rather full in the months June to
September with sometimes up to 80 people who overnight in the village. This had resulted in steep entrance fees.
Bena, near Bajawa is on the UNESCO waitinglist and the only one in the area with entrancefees. No worries, it is 25k only. All other villages near Bajawa can be visited with a donation only.
The nicest one on Flores?
For me, the nicest ones are Tololela, set in a beautiful environment with a spatial feeling, Belaraghi but in a somewhat dry area in particular between August and November and Nggela although the
local women mainly focus on selling their weaving products..
You can overnight in Bena, Tololela, Belaraghi, Gurusina and Maghilewa and in Nggela (Ende district). Costs are usually 200k to 250k per night per person which includes a place to sleep, dinner and breakfast and often a bottle of moke (arack). Reservations can be made by one of the guides or through your driver.
Blue highlighted are the most visited and popular places. Yellow marked are the less know places worth a visit.
If you should pick one area only then I would advise to visit the area around Bajawa (by flight from Labuan Bajo for example)
Kampung adat Nunungongo, a traditional village off the beaten track and not often visited. Between Boawae and Mbay (Nagekeo).
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KA
Ende to Labuan Bajo 7 or 8 days |
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Day |
Route |
See & do |
Info |
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1 |
Ende-Moni Non stop 1,5 hours
Overnight in Moni |
PANCASILA BAMBOO BRIDGE SAGA DETUSOKO RICEFIELDS WOLOGAI |
Memorial
principles of Indonesia
Traditional village Photostop Traditional village |
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2 |
Moni
Overnight in Moni |
KELIMUTU NGGELA
JOPU
RANGGASE MURUNDAO |
Volcano and 3 coloured lakes Traditional village Traditional house Waterfall |
|
3 |
Moni-Ende Non stop 1,5 hours
Overnight in Ende |
COLOURED BRIDGE WOLOTOPO NANGANESE BEACH PUNCAK NDONA |
Waterfall Traditional houses Black sand beach For sunset |
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4 |
Ende-Bajawa Non stop 4 hours Overnight in Bajawa |
BLUE STONE BEACH WOGO WOLOBOBO |
Traditional village Viewpoint and sunset |
|
5 |
Bajawa
Overnight in Tololela |
MENGERUDA MANULALU LUBA BENA HIKE THROUGH FOREST TOLOLELA |
Hotspring Viewpoint Traditional village Traditional village Preferably with guide Traditional village |
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6 |
Bajawa-Ruteng
Overnight in Ruteng |
MAGHILEWA BELARAGHI ARACK PRODUCTION |
Traditional village Traditional village Aimere |
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7 |
Ruteng-Labuan Bajo Non stop 4 hours Overnight in Labuan Bajo |
CANCAR TODO MELO |
Spiderweb ricefields Traditional village Viewpoint |
*
In this program you will spend the night in Tololela which you can visit together with a local guide from Bajawa.
Instead of day 7 Ruteng to Labuan Bajo you can continue to Wae Rebo village. This requires one day extra, however if you also want to visit Todo village I advise to start early in Ruteng. Todo village has the same architecture as Wae Rebo, also with more history.
Be aware that Wae Rebo can be very touristic, in particular in the months June-September when sometimes up to 80 people overnight there. Cost for overnight are 325k per person, additional ceremony is 50k, ojek (motortaxi) is 100k per person return and for guide/porter you pay per group 150k to 200k.
Below the schedule for day 7 and 8.
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7 |
Ruteng-Denge* Non stop 3,5 to 4 hours
Overnight
in Wae Rebo |
CANCAR* TODO*
HIKE TO WAE REBO WAE REBO |
Spiderweb ricefields Traditional village
Traditional
village, uphill 2-4 hours Traditional village |
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8 |
Denge-Labuan Bajo Non stop 4 hours
Overnight in Labuan Bajo |
HIKE TO DENGE NANGALILI BEACH
LEMBOR RICEFIELDS MELO |
Downhill
1,5 to 2 hours
Photostop Viewpoint |
*
Tip: this route to Denge is via de Trans Flores Road and Todo. You also can take the road to Iteng, south of Ruteng through the national park Ranaka and with magnificent views. A few kilometers
before Iteng there is a road to the southcoast where you can continue to Denge.
However, this means you need to skip Cancar and Todo.
The part along the southcoast is a disaster to Denge and on your way to Labuan Bajo for one hour with a badly potholed road. But there isn't another option.
Anne Mieke - AM PHOTONESIA©