How to Visit Wae Rebo Village, Indonesia

How to visit Wae Rebo village, Indonesia. Nestled high in the mountains on the island of Flores, Indonesia, visiting Wae Rebo village was an absolute highlight of my trip. Well worth the long bumpy car ride followed by motorcycle and then hiking uphill through the jungle! This secluded mountain village is a last vestige of an ancient Indonesian way of life.

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History of Wae Rebo Village

Known as the “village in the clouds”, Wae Rebo was occupied for many generations, before eventually being abandoned. However, in the 1920s people slowly moved back and repaired the traditional conical buildings. In the 1990s, Wae Rebo started to attract attention as a tourist destination. In 2012, UNESCO Asia Pacific gave Wae Rebo village Cultural Heritage Conservation status.

How to Reach Wae Rebo Village

The most common way to reach Wae Rebo village is to base yourself in Labuan Bajo and then book onto a group tour. It is possible to visit independently, generally via the village of Ruteng, but this is a bit more difficult. The roads in this part of the world are pretty sketchy and quite narrow which makes for an interesting experience when you meet trucks coming in the opposite direction! I was glad that we had a local driver to do all the hard work!

The group tours from Labuan Bajo will generally put you into a group of 4 people in one car, then drive you most of the way, and then the final stretch to reach the walking track needs to be done by motorcycle.

How to book a tour to Wae Rebo

Personally, I just wandered along the main street in Labuan Bajo and popped into all the travel agents there and asked for their prices, so that I could compare and find the best deal. I haggled a bit and secured a discount for booking both Wae Rebo and a Komodo National Park boat trip together at the same agency. It is possible to book in advance via a third party provider if you’re more pressed for time, but note that this will likely be more expensive.

Hiking to Wae Rebo Village

The last bit of the journey needs to be done by foot. The hike itself takes around 1-3 hours depending on your level of fitness. You’ll walk though dense jungle, surrounded by lush vegetation and the sound of monkeys swinging through the trees. Once you reach higher ground the views will open up and you can see for miles. You’ll know once you’ve reached Wae Rebo as you’ll see the unique rooftops peaking through the trees.

What to Expect at Wae Rebo Village

When you first arrive at Wae Rebo village, you need to attend a welcome ceremony with the elders. You’ll then be shown to the tourist sleeping hut which is basically one big room with a whole load of mattresses (with nice thick blankets) around the outside. The bathroom section is behind the sleeping hut and is pretty basic. If you want to shower there is a tap and a bucket – the cold water is actually pretty energising after the long hike in the heat! You’ll be fed dinner on the evening of your arrival and breakfast the next day. There is no phone signal.

What to Pack to Visit Wae Rebo Village

Most visitors only stay one night so you won’t need to bring too much with you. Some specifics I recommend are:

Hiking boots or sturdy trainers
Sliders / sandals / flip flops to wear between the huts / bathrooms etc.
Something warm to sleep in (it gets pretty chilly at night)
Small cash to buy knick-knacks like bracelets from the villagers
Snacks

Sustainable Tourism at Wae Rebo Village

Sustainable tourism is a key focus of Wae Rebo village. A lot of importance is placed on protecting their unique cultural heritage as well as the environment of their natural surroundings. A traditional ceremony is held each year to give thanks for the harvest. The number of tourists visiting Wae Rebo is limited by the number of beds available for the night. This protects the village from over-tourism. The villagers work in tandem with their local ecosystem, taking care of the forest and rivers which they rely on for wood and drinking water.

The preservation of traditional cultures can be an awkward path to tread in the face of global modernization, as the culture you are trying to protect can become a caricature of itself. This is often the case in tourist destinations that now feel more like a “Disneyland-esque” parody of what they used to be. But I’d say that Wae Rebo treads this path well. They are resilient in protecting their culture while at the same time being realistic about their interaction with the ever-changing modern world.