Viewtop-quality stock photos of Wae Rebo Village At Night With Milky Way Indonesia. Find premium, high-resolution stock photography at Getty Images. WaeRebo is a small, very out of the way village. Situated on around 1,100 meters above sea level and approximately 3 - 4 hour travel by foot from Denge Village. Wae Rebo is completely surrounded by panoramic mountains and the dense Todo forest. Abstract This chapter presents the case of a young man called Lorens who went missing in the forest around Wae Rebo after gathering rattan. In relation to this, Manggarai villagers believe that a person becomes lost in the forest because of a spirit who changes the direction of the land, in such a way that the path towards the mountains would be redirected towards the sea. FindWae Rebo Traditional Village Milky Way stock images in HD and millions of other royalty-free stock photos, illustrations and vectors in the Shutterstock collection. Thousands of new, high-quality pictures added every day. Ifyou are in Labuhan Bajo and want to visit Wae Rebo, you don't have to pay a fortune to a LB-based travel agency. Simply contact Julianus in Rueteng, make your way there by bemo, motor bike or car, and he will arrange the trek to Wae Rebo, which is amazing in every respect. It's an unforgetable place and a fascinating overnight experience. Whileyou will see rice field irrigation, nature, culture and primitive village on Flores island. That's why tour Komodo Wae Rebo tour 5D/4N is great tour combination. Although to visit Wae Rebo traditional village need adventure to reach. Because you need to trek about two hours or more one way. Detail of tour program tour Komodo Wae Rebo 5D/4N . Stock Photo ID 1673087281Wae Rebo traditional village with Milky Way ,Wae Rebo is an old Manggaraian village, situated in pleasant, isolated mountain scenery. Feels fresh air and see the beautiful moment Flores, Indonesia Flores is undeniably a fascinating island to visit in the East Nusa Tenggara. The island offers an array of wonders, with Wae Rebo Village being one of the major ones. There is something so mystical about this traditional settlement that encourages many to marvel at its beauty, and you can get a glimpse of it in the following Wae Rebo Village travel guide. Wae Rebo A Mystical Village Above the CloudsHow to Get to Wae Rebo VillageWhere to StayWhen to Visit Wae ReboThe Main AttractionsFinal Thoughts Wae Rebo A Mystical Village Above the Clouds Wae Rebo is home to the Manggarai tribe situated in the West Maggarai Regency on the highland of Flores Island, Indonesia. According to the oral lore, the village was settled somewhere around 18 generations ago. An elder of the community-led his tribe to the Flores highlands after a vision came to him. That was when the tribe established a settlement with the protection of a holy spirit. The local government began the initial moves toward developing Wae Rebo Village as a tourist attraction in 1997. The authorities invested in two traditional circular cone-shaped houses called Mbaru Niang. As for the remaining early Mbaru Niang houses, they underwent a renovation conducted by a group of Jakarta-based professional architects. Aside from its unique house shape, what distinguishes this small community is its location, approximately 3,608 feet above sea level and enclosed by deep woodland and panoramic undulating mountains. The only way to get to this heritage destination is by trekking uphill for around 3-4 hours. Also, that’s only after making the four-hour drive from Labuan Bajo or Ruteng. Even so, many have completed the journey to this UNESCO awarded village. Having a trustworthy Wae Rebo Village travel guide is key to a smooth journey. The majority of visitors generally begin the trip from Labuan Bajo, for it’s used as a base to marvel at the surrounding attractions. If you are traveling in a group, it would be best to take a package tour because it’s the easiest and probably most affordable option. In addition, everything will be taken care of for you, allowing you to sit back and relax without having to worry about everything and anything. The trip to the hinterland of Flores is typically made in three days using the following route Labuan Bajo – Lembor – Narang – Dintor – Denge – Wae Rebo. On the first day, you go for the car ride to Denge in which it’s the last village to Wae Rebo. Despite the distance being just approximately 70 kilometers, the ride can take more than six hours due to the poor condition of the roads. While it’s a relatively steep, long journey, the majestic view of the Cancar spider web rice field along the way will keep you entertained. Yet still, don’t underestimate the travel time, and make sure to get started in Labuan Bajo before midday. That’s because it’s highly impossible to drive on such difficult roads in the dark, and any surrounding natural beauties will almost certainly be invisible. Upon arrival, you can spend the night in a lodge which you can only find in the village of Denge or Dintor. The next day is reserved for trekking to Wae Rebo Village, which takes around hours should there be no concerning obstacles. Breathtaking views of the bluish sea below and the triangular Mount Inerie, as well as diverse wilderness, will be your reward during the trekking. Not to mention the regular sightings of birds, monkeys, and butterflies that make the journey will ingrain forever in mind. In the hazy cloud forest surrounding Wae Rebo Village, you may witness any kind of forest crops, such as cacao beans, coffee, taro, and cassava. A glimpse of the mountain valley accompanies you as you reach a point after what seems like ages of climbing. Here, the roofs of the Wae Rebo houses can already be seen peeking out of the trees. This is where you will experience a truly magnificent moment. Also, after all the sweating, you will get the sensation that your effort is well worth it. Where to Stay Finding a place to stay for a night along the route from Labuan Bajo to Denge is never an easy task. Therefore, your departure schedule to the hinterland of Flores will significantly affect your choice of accommodation. Some of the available homestays can be found in the villages of Denge and Dintor. Thus, if possible, try to get to Denge before the sun goes down. Denge is the last village prior to heading to Wae Rebo. Fortunately, the road to this village is still passable by car. In any Wae Rebo Village travel guide, you will find that the Denge Home Stay is an excellent option to stay. Blasius Monta, a schoolteacher and an expert of Wae Rebo, runs this welcoming guesthouse which offers modest but well-taken care rooms in his lovely home for those who want to marvel at the beauty of Wae Rebo. You can contact Blasius by telephone at 0813 3935 0775. Also, it would be best if you call or text him before going there. Some tourists who have been there usually have difficulty contacting him due to the poor signal in Denge Village. If you are incapable of making a call, texting him will suffice. This homestay is the ideal place to stay for it is only several feet away from the trail start to the land above the clouds, Wae Rebo. In addition, it will be much easier to get an early start after enjoying a simple yet delectable breakfast. If you rent a room here, you can keep your belongings you might not need on the uphill. That way, you can reduce the burden of trekking from Denge to Wae Rebo and makes everything much more manageable. As a teacher, the lodge owner enjoys reading and would highly appreciate it if visitors could leave one or two books behind. The cost each night in Denge Home Stay is 250,000 rupiah, already including dinner, breakfast, and lunch. Not only will the visitors be able to take a good rest before a long journey, but they will also get a ton of brand new experience. This includes getting to taste the nutty red rice cultivated locally by the villagers and strong sambal made of green chili peppers. Visitors may also ask the owner to open the Wae Rebo center, which is located next door. In this visitor center, you will find a collection of photos of the new Manggarai house built in 2009. Going to the Denge’s market on Monday would be great if you want to get closer to the local culture. When to Visit Wae Rebo The ideal time to visit Wae Rebo Village is between February and November when the weather is mild and there is little to no rainfall. Coming to the destination during the wet season won’t make an excellent choice. Instead, it will make the journey from Labuan Bajo to the trekking time much more difficult. As for the trekking, starting it early between 5-6 am is advised. This way, you can reach the top in the midday and still get a lot of chance to rest while also enjoying the views and mingling with the native of Wae Rebo. The Main Attractions Being one of Indonesia’s most prevalent tourist attractions makes Wae Rebo well taken care of. One of the many appealing aspects of the community—apart from its cone-shaped houses—is how secluded it is. It’s a 28-kilometer journey through the dense jungle from the village of Denge. Visiting this destination is currently only visible if you spend a night at the provided accommodation. The seclusion of Wae Rebo restricts the number of visitors, which makes the journey more about the actual experience. The first thing visitors must do is go to the ceremonial house to meet the elders, who will later perform a prayer. Every visitor must also take part in the Waelu Ceremony. It’s a ceremony where the tribe leader will deliver a welcoming speech and pray for visitors to be safe during the visit. After the ceremony, you can go to the visitors’ house where you will be served lunch. You may spend the day exploring the nearby valley, interacting with the locals, taking photographs, or simply immersing yourself in the peace and quiet of the Wae Rebo ambiance. Some are coming here just to take pictures, and there’s nothing wrong with it. However, it’s advisable to take the available opportunity to get in-depth knowledge about the lives of the native in Wae Rebo Village. Mingle with them to know their thoughts or perhaps their philosophy of life as a part of a tribe. Come to those you think are capable of explaining everything in a fun and straightforward way about this traditional village. The information you get will undoubtedly be a valuable lesson you may only obtain in some remote communities that require a lot of effort to visit. If you come during the dry season, you will be fortunate as you get to enjoy the night sky packed with stars, making it a perfect moment for night photography. There is no need to worry about the place to stay during the night because you will get the opportunity to sleep in one of the huts. The price is around 250,000 per night for each person, including a clean toilet. Final Thoughts Is Wae Rebo Village worth visiting? If you’re simply interested in the unique shaped houses, you can see them in other villages which don’t require trekking. However, if you are a fan of a great challenge, Wae Rebo is your answer; and this Wae Rebo Village travel guide can help you to start off. Indonesia is famous for many beautiful destinations such as Bali, Nusa Penida and Raja Ampat – but perhaps one of the most magical little spots is Wae Rebo Village, a mystical oasis nestled in the mountains and forest. The village is known for its tall conical shaped houses called “Mbaru Niang” and its community of friendly villagers who call this place this blog post, I will cover everything you need to know about visiting Wae Rebo Village and also share with you my experiences there – including my overnight stay in one of the traditional Mbaru Niang houses. But first, let me introduce myself. My name is Polina and I’m from grew up in Minsk, Belarus and never traveled when I was a kid, but I always dreamt of exploring the world. I only first started traveling approximately five years ago. These trips inspired me to learn new languages because I wasn’t able to communicate with local people – so I started with English and then a few years later I picked up a bit of Italian!Traveling in Indonesia for a Year and a HalfWhile I enjoyed traveling in Europe, there were other regions of the world that captured my interest too. My boyfriend and I had this dream of spending a winter in Asia. So we conjured up a plan to visit a few different countries such as Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore. In 2020 we started our trip in Indonesia but then the COVID-19 pandemic ended up getting stuck in Indonesia for a year and a half! Once we realized that we couldn’t travel internationally, we decided to spend our time exploring Indonesia as much as possible. During this time we traveled to Lombok, Surabaya, Jakarta, Mount Bromo, Ijen, Banyuwangi, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, Nusa Penida, Sumba, Flores and we were living in Indonesia for such a long time, we made friends with some locals. One guy ended up inviting us to share a trip to Wae Rebo Village. It wasn’t exactly an organized tour but we did get to share the experience with a local which was pretty cool! I remember feeling this incredible calmness once we arrived at the village. It was a special place!Broken Beach, Nusa Penida © Polina panamarovapalinaExploring Indonesia © Polina panamarovapalinaPadar Island © Polina panamarovapalinaIjen Volcano Complex © Polina panamarovapalinaMount Bromo © Polina panamarovapalinaMy Experience at Wae Rebo VillageWe arrived at Wae Rebo Village in the evening. First of all, we had to go through this amazing ceremony where we were blessed to be “Waerebo People”. This event took place inside one of the traditional houses. The man who ran and performed the ceremony was the head of the a few hours in Wae Rebo, we were invited to have dinner with other travelers. We had this delicious omelet, rice and vegetable dish for dinner, and enjoyed sitting on the floor and conversing with other travelers. Once dinner was complete, we set off to explore more of the was a really peaceful space – a little bit foggy and cool. There were some animals roaming around the village like dogs and cats. We brought some treats for the kids there but based on the rules we couldn’t give them our sweets without letting their parents know or asking for the adults approved, we gave the sweets to the kids and they were all so happy! So this is my first recommendation take some gifts for the kids. They will love you for it! We stayed overnight at the village and slept in one of the traditional houses. It wasn’t possible to stay in the houses with locals, so we stayed in a house that was still traditional but only for day at 10pm all of the lights in the village are turned off and the magic begins. I don’t think I have ever seen such a beautiful night sky as I did in Wae Rebo. There were so many stars and I couldn’t stop watching and taking photos! It was a precious moment, one that I will never village gets quite cold at night, so my second recommendation is to take some warm clothes. I slept wearing sporting pants, a t-shirt, a hoodie and some warm socks. You can also take earplugs and a sleeping mask because it can be a little noisy with the other tourists sleeping next morning was awesome! I thought this would be the best time to take photos, and so we spent around an hour choosing different angles and scoping out different spots to shoot some photography. The breakfast was the same as our dinner but we also got to enjoy a cup of the way, the coffee at Wae Rebo Village is grown nearby and we got the opportunity to see how people process and roast it. You can also buy some traditionally roasted coffee here. The souvenir shop is located inside one of the tourist houses and they sell a few souvenir gifts for those Rebo Village © Polina panamarovapalinaWae Rebo Village © Polina panamarovapalinaWae Rebo Village © Polina panamarovapalinaWae Rebo Village © Polina panamarovapalinaWae Rebo Village © Polina panamarovapalinaWae Rebo Village © Polina panamarovapalinaTips for Visiting Wae Rebo VillageBring a decent pair of hiking/walking shoes it’s quite a long and difficult hike to get to the village. It tooks us two hours to arrive and I remember that the terrain was fairly difficult, so just be prepared!There are no proper showers or toilets the shower is just a bucket with some really cold water, again just be mentally prepared for mosquito spray I recommend putting it on before you every moment visiting the Wae Rebo Village is a super unique experience. You will fall in love with the charming village Rebo Village © Polina panamarovapalinaAuthor Polina PonomarevaPolina Ponomareva is a traveler, lover of languages, and coffee enthusiast from Minsk, Belarus. She recently spent a year and a half traveling through Indonesia. Have you ever wondered somewhere deep in the jungle and on the mountain summit, lies a community living their lives isolated from the spoils of modernization and exploitation. Tucked away in the dense tropical jungles of East Nusa Tenggara Island or more commonly known as Flores Island, there is such a place. Well, almost. Wae Rebo, is a village tucked away on top of a mountain near the town of Denge. It is easily recognizable by its distinct circular, cone shaped structure and thatched roofs, according to the Colony Roofers website. The traditional village is home to about 50 Manggaraian people, still living their normal lives since its first founding a century ago. Wae Rebo is one of the many villages of the Manggaraian people but it is the only one left that is built in the traditional cone shaped Mbraru Niang style. Wae Rebo Traditional Village This small village situated 1,100 meters above sea level where the air is fresh and cool. The picturesque village is completely surrounded by tropical vegetation and dense jungles. One of the more unique sounds you can hear here are the chirping of many types of songbirds. If you are into this kind of unique adventure, then read on. Getting There Getting to Wae Rebo village is no easy task. The first thing you need to know is that the only way to get there, is to hike. The hike starts from the base town of Denge. Since this is a village that is above the clouds, the hike takes about 3 hours and you do require a good deal of stamina to pull this off. Wae Rebo Lodge, Denge Denge is a 5-hour drive away from Labuan Bajo or a 3-hour drive if you are coming from Ruteng. It is a small town also occupied by the humble Maggaraian people. If you want to reach Wae Rebo without missing daylight, I would suggest staying for a night in Denge and start hiking in the early mornings. We stayed at a homestay called Wae Rebo Lodge. They offered us a room and some food. The lodge is strategically placed with views of ricefields and mountains. Just a few minutes walk, you can reach the beach with the sound of the ocean. Staying a night here, allows you to get some fresh air and clean up from the long journey you took to get here. The hiking trail The hiking route to Wae Rebo is easy to recognise. Just follow the route slowly and you will get to Wae Rebo eventually. As you begin your trek, you will be approached by some people on motorcycles offering you a ride for a fee. They said they could get us up to the village on their bikes. A few of the other people got on the bikes with the right gears from this store and off they went. Unfortunately, I turned them down because my Asian instincts raised a few flags but Fann got annoyed at me for refusing these gentlemen’s generous offer. We continued our hike with an angry Fann. We took our sweet time slowly hiking up the mountain. Panting and panting. After a 15 minute hike, we reached a bridge and here we saw the same group of bikers again. The few who paid them now had to get off the bike. The bikers signalled that this is the furthest they could go and then rode off after getting their money. I was relieved I didn’t accept their “too good to be true” offer. Fann then realised the scam and I saw her happy face again. We continued our hike up the village slowly and steadily. We were lucky to have a local guide to lead the way. He helped me to carry my drone and that eased the hike for me. After about 3 hours, we finally saw the hut that welcomes you with a banner that says “Welcome to Wae Rebo”. At the hut, you will see the coned shaped houses and this is when we got extremely excited. Reaching The Village View from the hut Once you reach the “Welcome to Wae Rebo” hut, you have to ring the bamboo bell. After signalling the bell, you have to wait for a response. The villagers will ring back and only if they ring back are you allowed to head down to the village. After that, you need to head to the largest coned shape house and pay a visit to the village chief. Here, the chief will do some prayers to ask the spirits to keep us safe during our stay here and our journey out. After that, you can head out and admire the amazing village. The village chief Food We stayed in one of the cone shaped houses that was catered for tourists. Staying here which I highly recommend costs 325,000IDR. This includes a sleeping mat, a pillow and a blanket. They also offer dinner, breakfast and of course their famous coffee. The common area was in the center and where we had our meals. We all sat around and shared the simple but delicious food that was offered by the villagers. We were allowed to roam around the village. We visited some of the houses and had a good look at how these people lived their lives here. Every house has 8 rooms that houses a different household. They share the common area in the center. Each of the houses has 5 levels and each level is used as a storage for different things as you can see in this image above. The people of Wae Rebo are farmers and they are famous for harvesting coffee beans like Arabica and Robusta. One of the other popular things they grow are cinnamon. That’s where we met an old man who was proudly showing us his cinnamon harvest. As the day gets later by the hour, clouds will slowly move in. That’s where Wae Rebo gets its most amazing picturesque look. We enjoyed our stay in Wae Rebo and we definitely hope that everyone would too. It would be great to visit this place as soon as you can. With the fast development of tourism in Indonesia, in a short few years, once a road is paved and hiking time is cut short to half. Who knows what would happen to the authentic and beautiful Wae Rebo village. Tips Bring tons of water when you are hiking up to Wae Rebo village. The 3 hour hike may be worth every effort but getting there safe and hydrated is most crucial. Respect the village rules and the village good hiking shoes and bring a spare. I broke my shoe halfway hiking up the mountain hereTry their amazing coffeeDon’t forget to take as many pictures as you can. Those of you who have been to Flores or any similar remote tribal island, may argue what does it even mean the last traditional Manggarai village? In a region where most settlements consist of 20 bamboo huts, 100 people and 50 buffaloes, where the population mixes simplified Christianity with animism, where the most famous dance form is actually a martial art using a whip as a weapon, how can it get more authentic? Well, it can. The bamboo huts, for example, have replaced the traditional Manggarai conical houses, mbaru niang. Animist rituals and caci, the whip dance, can still be seen, but you would have to be lucky to find them. Caci is sometimes staged for tourists, but it is not the same one. In Wae Rebo, on the other hand, mbaru niang dominates the central square, and Penti ceremony, a full-scale spirit worship festival, is held annually in November. A caci tournament is part of the festival. After all, there must be a reason this village in Flores received the Top Award of Excellence from UNESCO in 2012.© Mark LevitinUp in the cloudsWae Rebo occupies a strategic position near the summit of a tall hill, at 1100 m asl. After slogging all the way up there on a stony path, you will probably call it a mountain. Up until now, there is no way to reach the village other than hiking. The reason for such placement may have been defensive, but nowadays it means great views and morning mists, which are actually low clouds stuck at this natural obstacle before evaporating. Most common houses and agricultural plots spread on the slopes above the cluster of mbaru niang, and the panoramic vistas at sunrise or sunset will keep a photographer busy for quite a while. It is, of course, a good idea to add extra cultural experience by arriving in time for Penti.© Mark LevitinPenti in Wae ReboEssentially a typical animist ceremony, unlike those easily seen in other tribal settlements around the globe, Penti feels special due to two factors the unique setting and the fully authentic procedure. Christianity, and the last few centuries in general, are temporarily forgotten. It starts in the morning with a large procession led by the head shaman to a sacred stone just outside the village. Rice and eggs are sacrificed in a rather elaborate ritual. Then the people return to the main square, and the rest of the day is dedicated to festivities, mainly caci. Fighters put on traditional costumes, wrap sarungs around their heads to protect the face, pick up whips and leather shields, and commence the duels. Traditionally, two types of whips are used one of the warriors brandishes the offensive variety, similar to the usual horse-riding implement, while the other – the defensive, with a longer, curved shaft and a short lash, designed to block and entangle the attacker. The tournament comes to an end in the late afternoon, when the village elders and shamans climb to the cemetery to sacrifice the chicken to the ancestors. Finally, they descend to the village square, where more chicken is slaughtered, and the divination is performed.© Mark LevitinPracticalitiesTo reach Wae Rebo, you will have to get to Ruteng first. It is a small town in West Flores, accessible by bus from Labuan Bajo, and the last place where you can get any necessary supplies. From there, things get more interesting. Once a day, if you are lucky, and with no schedule – ask around – an oto kayu passenger truck departs for the village of Denge. Sometimes the truck stops a few km short of it – you will have to hike the rest. More hiking awaits as you begin to climb up the mountain – count on 3-4 hours and expect a pretty bad trail, especially if it had been raining recently. Upon entering the village, tourists are supposed to undergo a ritual introduction to the guardian spirits and to pay for it. You can negotiate to minimize the ceremony and reduce the fee slightly, but not to zero. Wae Rebo is becoming quite famous, and the Manggarai community wants to profit from it. Otherwise, they are as friendly as you would expect Indonesians to be. Accommodation is in a homestay, which may be an ordinary hut or a traditional mbaru niang. There is no cellular signal and limited electricity. For the best views, climb to the upper houses or above them at sunrise. © Mark LevitinWae Rebo, FloresSatar Lenda, West Satar Mese, Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara, IndonesiaWe recommend to book your stays in East Nusa Tenggara in advance as it can get booked up quickly during certain periods. If you use this link, you pay the same price and we get a small commission - thanks for your support!I am Mark, a professional travel photographer, a digital nomad. For the last four years, I am based in Indonesia, spending here roughly half a year and travelling around Asia for the other half. Previously, I spent four years in Thailand, exploring it from all perspectives.

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