Viewtop-quality stock photos of Wae Rebo Village In Indonesia Milky Way. Find premium, high-resolution stock photography at Getty Images. Accordingto Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Wae Rebo Village: 3 days to Wae Rebo (From S$426.90) 6 days in Flores (From S$967.61) Maumere to Labuan Bajo Flores Land Tour inland Car 7 Days (From S$971.16) 2 Days Wae Rebo Tour Private (From S$693.84) Wae Rebo Traditional village and Turtle conservation 4D3N (From S Connectwith Milky Way Cocktail Bar, Local Business. Find Milky Way Cocktail Bar reviews and more. WaeRebo village in south-western Indonesia, has seven conical houses and its 50 residents live close to nature. To get to the village, reporter Fabian Koh braved a seven-hour car ride through Dimalam hari, pengunjung dapat menyaksikan indahnya langit Wae Rebo. Berupa milky way yang sangat sulit dilihat di dataran rendah. Dari sini begitu jelas dan begitu indah, membuat mata terpana akan keindahannya. Untuk tempat menginap, telah disediakan ruangan di rumah adat dengan alas dan bantal seadanya. Kegiatan Warga desa Wae Rebo Theserene village. via Instagram/ ali_olfat. Wae Rebo is located at the highland in the southwestern part of Flores. The easiest access is via Ruteng, the capital of West Manggarai Regency. Ruteng is accessible via air from several big cities in Indonesia, the closest one is Denpasar in Bali. From Ruteng, you have to go to Denge or Dintor village. Thefirst ancestor came from West of Sumatra, he had established a village named Wae Rebo, which has 7 traditional houses, they are 1,200 years old till now. There are only 200 people population (132 families) in this village. The name of the traditional house is called "Niang" which has triangle shape like 'Pyramid'. WaeRebo village consists of 7 traditional circular and cone-shaped buildings called Mbaru Niang, which means in the Manggarai language "Drum houses". You stay the night in this village and have plenty of time to see the local way of life. Most people here work from early morning until the dusk in the gardens, harvest coffee or are busy Day2: Wae Rebo Village - Denge village - Narang village - Lembor village - Labuan Bajo (B,L). on the second we are having a Simple breakfast at Wae Rebo village - see and enjoy the Wae Rebo village, by interacting with the local community to learn about their way of life and their unique culture before leaving the village - trek MilkyWay is located at 1886 Centre Street, open seven days a week from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. The latest from Time Out Montréal - 17 best things to do in Montreal this weekend: August 20 to 22, 2021 lW6Q4. 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. Wae Rebo Village Wae Rebo is a small and very out of the way village. It is on around 1,100 meters above sea level and approximately 3 -hour trekking from Denge Village. Wae Rebo village is completely in the middle of panoramic mountains and the dense Todo forest. Certainly, this tropical forest is rich in vegetation, where you will find orchids, different types of ferns and hear the chirping of many songbirds. There is also no mobile coverage in this village, and the electricity is only available from 6 to 10 pm. The air is relatively cold, especially in the dry season, so don’t forget to bring your jacket if you’re planning to visit the village. The History of Wae Rebo Village Flores Indonesia The traditional village of Wae Rebo is in the district of Manggarai on the island of Flores. The Village got the Top Award of Excellence from UNESCO in the 2012 and UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards, in Bangkok on 27 August 2012. This small and isolated village was recognized for its rebuilding of the traditional Mbaru Niang. It is traditional house based on the spirit of community cooperation towards a sustainable tradition. while at the same time improving its village welfare. The founder of the village was Empu Maro. Today, the inhabitants are his 18th generation descendants. The Characteristics of the Unique House in Wae Rebo village Wae Rebo’s main characteristics are their unique houses, which they call Mbaru Niang. Those are tall and conical in shape and are completely covered in lontar thatch from its rooftop down to the ground. It appears that at one time such kind of houses were quite common to the region. But today, it is only this village that continues to maintain the typical Manggarai traditional house. The house has five levels. each level designed for a specific purpose. The first level, called lutur or tent, are the living quarters of the extended family. The second level, called lobo, or attic, is set aside to store food and goods. The third level called lentar is to store seeds for the next harvest. The fourth level called lempa rae is reserved for food stocks in case of draught. And the fifth and top level, called hekang kode, which is held most sacred, is to place offerings for the ancestors. One special ceremonial house is the community building where members of the entire clan gather for ceremonies and rituals. They are predominantly Catholic but still adhere to old beliefs. In this house are stored the sacred heirloom of drums and gongs. How the People live there The Wae Rebo village comprises 7 houses with a small population of around 1,200 inhabitants. The staple diet of villagers is cassava and maize. But around the village they plant coffee, vanilla, and cinnamon which they sell in the market around 15 km. away from the village. However, Wae Rebo is popular as a tourist destination for international ecotourism enthusiasts. And it is good for the economic welfare of the village. The people of Wae Rebo warmly welcome visitors who wish to see their village and experience their simple traditional life. Interesting Things you need to know about Wae Rebo Village The village of Wae Rebo in Flores, East Nusa Tenggara is like heaven above the clouds. It takes a struggle to reach this village. However, what you will get when you arrive at the location is certainly comparable to the journey taken. It is truly a beauty that is difficult to describe in words, a traditional village with towering thatched roofs in the middle of a stretch of green hills. Well, behind this beauty, it turns out that Wae Rebo Village has many interesting facts and things that you can find in this village. Here are few interesting things you need to know about Wae Rebo. One of the Highest Villages in Indonesia. Wae Rebo Village is in the list of the highest villages in Indonesia. It is at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level masl. Wae Rebo is often decorated with a thin fog every morning that slowly descend from the surrounding hills and cover the entire village. Because of its location at this altitude, it is another challenge to reach Wae Rebo Village. You have to do trekking for two or three hours through quite difficult terrain. We recommend to hire a guide to assist you along the trek path. And it is good to spend a night at Wae Rebo to enjoy its uniqueness longer and also to save energy for return trekking. The Village with Seven Main Houses The traditional Mbaru Niang house in Wae Rebo Village is considered very rare and is located high up in the mountains. It has a fairly unique shape, which is like a cone barn and there are only seven of them. Each house is inhabited by six to eight families. Mbaru Niang consists of five floors with palm leaf roofs and covered by palm fiber. Every visitor who comes will enter a Mbaru Niang which is specially to welcome tourists who come on a trip. You will get a banquet in the form of Flores Coffee as a welcome drink at Mbaru Niang. For those of you who want to spend the night, you can stay at Mbaru Niang. Complementary blankets and pillows are available. Have a special day every November Residents in Wae Rebo Village celebrate the Penti Traditional Ceremony. The celebration to express gratitude for the harvest that is obtained in a year and ask for harmony and protection. During the celebration, the residents will wear traditional clothes complete with accessories. For those of you who are planning to visit this village, you should match your schedule with this traditional ceremony so that the visit is more meaningful because you can see more attractions and values. The people of Wae Rebo are of Minang descent Although Wae Rebo is a village in West Manggarai, NTT, it turns out that the villagers claim that they are of Minang descent from West Sumatra. Empo Maro, Wae Rebo ancestor from Minangkabau who migrated to Flores and moved from place to place until finally settled in the area which is now Wae Rebo Village. Although they are of Minang descent, the names of the inhabitants are not like the names of most Minang people. Flags on Traditional Houses When Independence Day, there is always a ceremony to commemorate it. Uniquely, the residents of Wae Rebo will place the Indonesian flag on top of the cone-shaped traditional house during the flag ceremony. Several people helped each other to make sure the flag was standing firmly. There is no cellphone signal In the Village of Wae Rebo and suroundings, there is no cellphone signal or internet connections. So, never expect to share your moment right away to the world from Wae Rebo village. Those are interesting things about Wae Rebo that you need to know. Being in a remote location doesn’t necessarily make this village empty of visitors. On the other hand, many tourists are willing to travel far away to enjoy the beauty of every corner of Wae Rebo Village. About Author You Might Also Like This 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.