West Sumba Undiscovered

📍 Tambolaka Airport – Lamboya (55km): approximately 2 hrs.

Upon arrival in Tambolaka Airport in Sumba Island, be met by the local guide and driver and receive a private transfer to the resort. On the way, keep an eye out for traditional Sumba-style houses for a unique first-impression.

Recommended flights (Not included and quoted separately– Tariffs and schedule subject to change without prior notice): Garuda Indonesia from Denpasar to Tambolaka GA460 departing at 13:05 and arriving at 14:15.  

After checking into the resort, the remainder of the day is free at leisure. Explore the beautiful area surrounding the resort or simply relax by the pool.

Overnight at Sumba Nautil Resort

Inclusions:

📍 Waikabubak – Anakalang (25 km): approximately 30 min. Anakalang – Lamboya (45km): approximately 1h15 min.

After breakfast in the morning, be picked up by the guide and driver and drive to Waikabubak, the small capital of West Sumba. Just above the city centre, visit the twin villages of Tarung and Waitabar for an up-close look at the unique architecture of Sumba and their charming and distinctly exotic-looking high thatched roofs.

Enjoy an early lunch at the restaurant of the Mandarang Hotel in Waikabubak. From here we make a short drive to Anakalang, an area known for its unique funeral traditions.

According to anthropologists, Sumba culture is the closest approximation of a living culture to the cultures that existed during Neolithic and Bronze Ages. To this day, burial methods remain similar: using stone megaliths. Their techniques to transport and carve the stones also retains distinct similarities. Take a look at these unique practices up-close with visits to the Royal Tombs in Pasunga & Gogali Villages.

Next, drive to the remote village of Praiijing, which is considered one of the most beautiful villages in the Waikabubak area. The village consists of three parts spread out over a large area and, to see them, take a short and soft trek from the upper to the lower parts of the village. Meanwhile, listen to the guide describe the unique Marapu religion of locals.

Continue to Lamboya area in the Southern part of West-Sumba : The drives in between villages passes stunning panoramas over valleys and the Indian Ocean, and allows one to see pristine examples local life that exists mostly unchanged over centuries.

Afterwards, return to the resort and spend the rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight at Sumba Nautil Resort

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

📍 Lamboya – Waikabubak (43 km): approximately 1 hour Waikabubak – Tambolaka (41 km): approximately 1 hour Tambaloka – Kori – Mandorak Beach (45 km): approximately 1hour 30 Wainyapu – Kori – hotel in Tambolaka (60 km): approximately 2 hours

Today, after breakfast and check out from the hotel, be picked up by the guide and driver for the start of the day’s program.

The first stop of the day is a local market in Waikabubak. Here, check out the fascinating array of exotic fruits and other interesting goods on sale here. Afterwards, visit a local art shop to see how locals create famous ikat weavings.

Next, hop in the car again and drive back to Tambolaka where we pick up lunch boxes on the way to Mandorak Beach, located in the Kodi area in the northwestern end of the island.

Kodi is a region rich in traditional villages, funeral sites and beautiful pristine beaches -some of them famous for their legendary waves. The narrow road passes through maize and cassava fields as well as cashew nuts and teak plantations.

Kodi is another stronghold of Merapu culture. The region is famous for its Pasolas. A “Pasola” is a unique and impressive ritual joust performed by Western Sumbanese where two groups of men from two clans (usually between 50 to 100 men per group) ride local horses and demonstrate their strength and warrior skills by throwing wooden spears to their opponents. Pasolas are usually held in February or March to celebrate the rice planting season. Unfortunately, exact dates are only released a few days before the event.

Enjoy the picnic lunch at the Mandorak House, a relief project from European travelers to help the Kodi tribe preserve their culture and way of life. The house overlooks a beautiful pristine beach where there is an opportunity to swim and relax.

From Mandorak continue to nearby Wainyapu, the most impressive traditional village in the Kodi region: This amazing village, built on a cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, is notable for the height of its thatched roofs made of bamboo. Ask one of the friendly locals permission to look inside one of their houses, they will be proud to show their unique and charming homes.

Afterwards, drive back to Tambolaka and check in at the hotel located on Pantai Kita, a 5 kilometre-long idyllic and still very virgin white sandy beach.  

Overnight at the hotel in Pantai Kita near Tambolaka. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast, 🥘 Lunch

After breakfast, meet with the guide and private car at the hotel and transfer to the airport for a flight to Bali.

Recommended flights (Not included and quoted separately– Tariffs and schedule subject to change without prior notice): Garuda Indonesia from Tambolaka to Denpasar GA461 departing at 11:20 and arriving at 12:25. 

Inclusions:

☕ Breakfast