How To Visit Wae Rebo Village In Flores, Indonesia

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Wae Rebo is a pleasant little conventional village you can go to by mountaineering into the mountains of Flores, Indonesia.

I visited Wae Rebo lately and loved it. It takes some effort to get there, however you’ll be able to keep an evening in one of many huts and it’s a enjoyable and distinctive expertise. The persons are pleasant, the surroundings is fantastic, and the cone-shaped huts are nice for photographs.

It’s not too removed from Labuan Bajo, the gateway to the Komodo islands, however due to the highway situations and driving distance, you want 2 days and 1 night time to get the complete expertise.

This journey information will clarify get to Wae Rebo with or with out a tour, and every little thing else you want to know earlier than you go!

How To Get To Wae Rebo

• Step 1: Flying To Flores Island

Start by flying to Komodo International Airport (LBJ) in Labuan Bajo.

This is the closest airport to Wae Rebo, and there are each day flights from Bali, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur for very cheap costs.

You can store for flights on Skyscanner.

 

• Step 2: Driving To Denge

Next, you’ll want transport to Denge village, the place to begin for the trek. From Labuan Bajo, the drive takes about 5 hours by automotive as a result of the roads are in unhealthy situation.

Your choices are to hire a scooter and drive your self, rent a non-public driver with a automotive, or be a part of an organized tour.

I wouldn’t suggest driving your self, as a result of the roads are unusually tough and it’ll take a very long time to get there by bike, even when you’ve got expertise.

I visited Wae Rebo as a part of a highway journey by Flores island, so the pure selection for me was a non-public driver. It prices about 1 to 1.5 million Rupiah for a a technique switch from the Labuan Bajo airport to Wae Rebo.

I employed Emanuel Saman for this journey, and had a fantastic expertise with him. His automobile is nice and he’s a cautious driver. He additionally speaks English and you’ll contact him by WhatsApp at ☎ +62 821-4543-6263.

After Wae Rebo, I continued highway tripping by the island of Flores, visiting sights round Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, and extra. I’ll be writing about my complete expertise on the weblog quickly.

However, in the event you’re not doing an prolonged highway journey throughout Flores and simply wish to see Wae Rebo solely, then an organized tour is usually a good possibility.

Here’s a 2 day tour that features transportation from Labuan Bajo, charges, meals, and an English-speaking information. It’s in all probability the best and most handy approach to go to Wae Rebo.

We’ve used this firm for plenty of excursions and actions all over the world, they usually’re nice. Highly really helpful!

 

• Step 3: Driving To The Trailhead

Once you attain Denge village, there’s yet another part of highway to achieve the parking zone and trailhead for the hike.

Unfortunately, this highway is simply too slender, tough, and steep to be satisfactory by vehicles, so it’s a must to go together with a bike taxi for a small charge.

The drivers are expert and it solely takes about quarter-hour, nevertheless it felt longer as a result of the highway is sketchy and felt a bit harmful.

I knew about this forward of time and requested for a helmet, which I used to be glad to have. Hopefully they patch up this part of the highway ultimately earlier than somebody will get damage!

 

• Step 4: Hiking To Wae Rebo Village

The path to Wae Rebo is simple and simple to comply with, and a information isn’t wanted. It could be exhausting to get misplaced.

I hiked on my own within the rain and nonetheless reached the village in lower than 2 hours. The first half of the path is all uphill, however the second half is generally flat and simple. You’re in a forest, so it’s principally shaded from begin to end.

Some of the path is cobblestone, which is good, however the remainder could be muddy and slippery after rain. And rain it might! I acquired caught in an absolute downpour throughout the hike, in order that wasn’t enjoyable.

You can use this map from AllTrails to information your self on the hike. If you’re a member of AllTrails Plus, you’ll be able to even obtain the map and use it whenever you’re offline.
 

Quick Stats*

• Distance: 10 kilometers (6.2 mi)
• Elevation Gain: 750 meters (2,460 ft)
• Max Altitude: 1,250 meters (4,100 ft)
• Duration: 3 – 5 hours
• Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

*These are roundtrip stats for the hike when ranging from the primary parking zone

 

Wae Rebo Village: What To Expect

When you arrive at Wae Rebo village, clearly the very first thing that strikes you is the view. It’s superior.

The huts are surrounded by lush, inexperienced mountains on all sides, and despite the fact that you’ll be able to inform the village is getting a bit touristy, the surroundings continues to be timeless and fantastic.

For new arrivals, there’s a fast welcome ritual and then you definitely’re proven your quarters. These are communal huts, so that you’ll be sharing one huge room with different guests for consuming and sleeping.

My hut had a few dozen different guys and women staying in it: principally Indonesian vacationers, with a handful of foreigners too.

       

The villagers present easy meals for breakfast, lunch, and supper that embody rice, eggs, veggies, bananas, and perkedels (potato fritters).

The huts are primary inside, with picket flooring, however they do have pillows, sleeping mats, and sufficient blankets to maintain you heat when the temperature dips at night time.

There are additionally ceiling lights and electrical retailers, because of a mix of photo voltaic panels and turbines within the village.

Outside, they’ve squat bogs and chilly bucket showers, however I didn’t use them as a result of I used to be afraid I’d freeze. It is value stepping exterior at night time to see the celebs, although!

I slept okay, however don’t anticipate something superb, since you’ll be woken up very early by the sound of roosters crowing and the footsteps of everybody going exterior to see the dawn.

That’s okay, as a result of Wae Rebo continues to be a fantastic expertise. For me, the setting within the mountains was sufficient to make it particular.

 

Wae Rebo Visitor Fees

As of 2025, these are the present charges per particular person for visiting Wae Rebo:

• Hiking Guide (Optional): 200k IDR
• Welcome Ritual: 50k IDR
• Day Visit (No Overnight): 200k IDR
• Overnight Stay w/ Meals: 325k IDR

I feel that is cheap. Keep in thoughts the village is distant, so any provides must be introduced by mountaineering.

 

Is A Guide Or Reservation Required?

Guides should not required for mountaineering to Wae Rebo. I went with out one, and nobody ever requested me to rent one.

They additionally don’t have a reservation system, and there’s no restrict to the variety of guests per day who can hike and keep on the village. That means you don’t must e-book something upfront.

I hope they do begin limiting visitors or elevating costs in the event that they get close to capability. It’s already clearly at a degree the place the villagers would be capable of present a greater and extra private expertise for guests in the event that they weren’t getting so many day by day.

The excellent news is, I didn’t see hardly any trash on the path or on the village. Let’s hold it that manner! Please keep in mind to pack out any trash you carry into the village.

       

 

What To Bring

• Water. They present tea and low within the village, however you’ll wish to carry some bottled water for the hike there and again.
• Outerwear. The climate within the mountains will get a bit chilly at night time, so you may want a hoodie.
• Cash. Like most locations in Indonesia, money is king. There are not any ATMs in Denge or the encompassing space, so that you’ll wish to have cash available for the village charges. Your final likelihood to seize money is in Labuan Bajo, or Ruteng in the event you cross by there on the best way.
• Flashlight. Even although you gained’t be mountaineering at night time, a small gentle is helpful in case you want to do something within the village after darkish.
• Bag Cover. It’s a good suggestion to have a water-resistant bag cowl like this one to guard your bag in case it rains.
• Ear Plugs. If you’re delicate to loud night breathing, these could possibly be helpful. People had been loud night breathing loud.
• Snacks. Even although there are meals supplied within the village, they weren’t tremendous filling, so that you would possibly wish to carry some snacks of your individual, particularly in the event you keep longer.
• Power Bank. This could be helpful, nevertheless it’s not a should. People within the village will share their chargers with you in the event you want them.
• Walking Stick. There’s no must carry your individual, however you’ll be able to hire one on the trailhead for a small charge if you wish to use it whereas mountaineering.

 

How Long To Stay

This will rely upon the particular person, however I used to be pleased to remain 2 days and 1 night time in Wae Rebo. I feel that might be sufficient for most individuals.

There’s not an entire lot to do within the village besides take photographs and chat with the locals. If you keep longer, there are some waterfalls and brief trails you’ll be able to discover close by as nicely.

A sooner or later journey to Wae Rebo is feasible with out staying the night time, however I wouldn’t suggest that since you gained’t get to spend sufficient time within the village.

 

Other Tips For Wae Rebo

• Cell Service. There’s no telephone reception on the village or anyplace within the mountains right here.
• WiFi. I do know you aren’t coming right here for the web, however there’s Starlink WiFi within the village for a small charge in the event you want it.
• Leeches. Some individuals have reported leeches on the hike, however I wore shorts and sandals, and nonetheless by no means noticed any. Maybe I used to be simply fortunate.
• Mosquitoes. I acquired buzzed by mosquitoes within the huts whereas attempting to sleep, however I sprayed myself and fortunately managed to keep away from getting any bites (sure I slept lined in nasty bug spray). There are not any mosquito nets for the sleeping quarters, however hopefully they get some ultimately.
• Malaria: According to this Lancet research from 2018, there’s been a serious discount of Malaria in Flores, together with the western a part of the island, which is nice. I didn’t take Malaria capsules for this journey.

 

Best Time To Visit

The excellent time to go to Wae Rebo is throughout Indonesia’s dry season, from roughly May to October.

During these months, you’re much less more likely to have moist and muddy path situations, and also you’re extra more likely to have a transparent view of the mountains.

Weekdays are additionally greatest if you wish to keep away from the worst crowds. Try to not go on a weekend, as a result of there will probably be much more vacationers.

I could have been unfortunate, as a result of once I went on a Saturday in May, the village was completely filled with Indonesian vacationers. Everyone was pleasant, however the crowds dampened the vibe and made it really feel much less distant and particular.

 

Best Time To Take Photos

I anticipated morning to be one of the best time to {photograph} Wae Rebo, nevertheless it’s really backlit by the dawn. It’s good, however not excellent.

During the afternoon, the village and mountains are normally lined in clouds, in order that’s not excellent both.

That means the proper time to take photos needs to be within the afternoon on a transparent day, however you continue to must be a bit fortunate with the clouds.

 

More Indonesia Travel Guides

Thanks for trying! I hope you loved this information for go to Wae Rebo village in Flores.

Don’t overlook to take a look at my different journey guides for Indonesia earlier than you go!
 

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