Wae Rebo Village
Wae Rebo Village
4.5
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
299 reviews
Excellent
198
Very good
66
Average
20
Poor
12
Terrible
3
Ama M
10 contributions
Sep 2023 • Friends
It is an amazing village located in a beautiful spot. The hike to get here is a bit hard for some people, around 1h30/2h going up, but fortunately it’s in the forest, so it’s not too hot. When you get there they charge you a fee entrance, for which they give you lunch, and they ask for a mandatory “donative”, for which the spiritual chief of the village blesses you and your travels. The people are very welcoming and nice. They have a special house for the tourists who want to spend the night, which seemed comfortable, although we had other plans and didn’t stay.
For me, this was the best experience in Flores.
For me, this was the best experience in Flores.
Written 1 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JorgeA
Emirate of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates174 contributions
Jul 2023
Quick intro for our guide, Stefan (+62 812-4610-7187) who is the go-to person for the Wae Rebo Village tour. Having completed tourist school, he possesses the knowledge and expertise to ensure a memorable experience. Moreover, Stefan is known for his trustworthiness, kindness, and attentiveness, prioritizing our well-being and safety. Another big advantage was that we dealt with Stefan directly, eliminating any middleman/agency which saved us time and money.
Transport and Hiking:
- Our guide picked us up at 7:30 from our hotel in Labuan Bajo.
- We took a lunch break in Lembor (local restaurant Joyo Pangestu) during our journey.
- Despite the challenging road conditions, we covered 100 kilometres in approximately 4.5 hours.
- Motorcyclists hired by our guide transported us from Dengue Village to the hiking point.
- At the hiking point, we obtained hiking sticks from a friendly elderly man for a small fee of 10,000 IDR. We appreciated the assistance and were glad to support a member of the local community.
- We embarked on a 4.8-kilometre hike without any breaks, maintaining an average pace of 23 minutes per kilometre, completing the hike in just under 2 hours. The first 3 kilometres were challenging, but the rest of the trail became easier.
- We remained cautious of leeches but encountered no major issues.
In the Village:
- We were escorted to the village's central house, where a warm and welcoming ceremony took place.
- The Wae Rebo Chief led the ceremony, requesting our protection during our stay.
- Another village member provided us with interesting information about the village, its unique houses, and daily life in English.
- We were informed about the do's and don'ts to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience in the village.
- Later, we were taken to the house where we would spend the night, immersing ourselves in the local community.
- After freshening up, we joined a delightful communal dinner with fellow guests from various parts of the world. The meal consisted of simple, locally produced food like rice, vegetables, and eggs, and we savoured the organic coffee and tea.
- Unfortunately, cloudy skies prevented us from stargazing, so we retired for the night, anticipating the sunrise.
- We woke up at 5:30 in the morning to witness a breathtaking sunrise and captured dozens of memorable photographs.
- We had a simple breakfast including rice, vegetables, rice crackers, omelettes, and the same cup of coffee.
- Before leaving, we purchased several of the village's locally-made products.
Back to Labuan Bajo:
- The hike back down was quicker, as expected.
- From Dengue village we took the same (rough) road through Lembor, avoiding the long road through Ruteng.
- On the way, we had the opportunity to try Tuaq (10,000 IDR for 500ml) and Sopi (25,000 IDR for 500ml), local drinks that added to our cultural experience.
- We arrived at Ayana Resort, our Labuan Bajo hotel, at 5 PM.
Transport and Hiking:
- Our guide picked us up at 7:30 from our hotel in Labuan Bajo.
- We took a lunch break in Lembor (local restaurant Joyo Pangestu) during our journey.
- Despite the challenging road conditions, we covered 100 kilometres in approximately 4.5 hours.
- Motorcyclists hired by our guide transported us from Dengue Village to the hiking point.
- At the hiking point, we obtained hiking sticks from a friendly elderly man for a small fee of 10,000 IDR. We appreciated the assistance and were glad to support a member of the local community.
- We embarked on a 4.8-kilometre hike without any breaks, maintaining an average pace of 23 minutes per kilometre, completing the hike in just under 2 hours. The first 3 kilometres were challenging, but the rest of the trail became easier.
- We remained cautious of leeches but encountered no major issues.
In the Village:
- We were escorted to the village's central house, where a warm and welcoming ceremony took place.
- The Wae Rebo Chief led the ceremony, requesting our protection during our stay.
- Another village member provided us with interesting information about the village, its unique houses, and daily life in English.
- We were informed about the do's and don'ts to ensure a respectful and enjoyable experience in the village.
- Later, we were taken to the house where we would spend the night, immersing ourselves in the local community.
- After freshening up, we joined a delightful communal dinner with fellow guests from various parts of the world. The meal consisted of simple, locally produced food like rice, vegetables, and eggs, and we savoured the organic coffee and tea.
- Unfortunately, cloudy skies prevented us from stargazing, so we retired for the night, anticipating the sunrise.
- We woke up at 5:30 in the morning to witness a breathtaking sunrise and captured dozens of memorable photographs.
- We had a simple breakfast including rice, vegetables, rice crackers, omelettes, and the same cup of coffee.
- Before leaving, we purchased several of the village's locally-made products.
Back to Labuan Bajo:
- The hike back down was quicker, as expected.
- From Dengue village we took the same (rough) road through Lembor, avoiding the long road through Ruteng.
- On the way, we had the opportunity to try Tuaq (10,000 IDR for 500ml) and Sopi (25,000 IDR for 500ml), local drinks that added to our cultural experience.
- We arrived at Ayana Resort, our Labuan Bajo hotel, at 5 PM.
Written 3 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paul S
Bandung, Indonesia2 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Happy memories of the climb up the pathway - then the friendly reception and community gathering, enjoyed their own production of coffee, tenun manggarai oleh mama katerina, armbands. Worth the excitement...
Written 19 April 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gilan Glow
Melbourne, Australia18 contributions
Jan 2023 • Couples
You need to take a scooter and then hike for about 1.5 to 2 hours to get to this well preserved village of Wae Rebo.
The hiking path is well paved for the first half of the trail. The remainder of the trail though not paved is pleasantly manageable.
Because it rained whilst we were there, we found the trail slightly slippery in certain sections with a lot of leeches.
When we arrived at the village, we were escorted to meet the chief whereby a simple ceremony to welcome and bless our short stay here was performed. A brief history about the village was given in English.
We spent a night in one of the traditional (adat) homes with other guests. Dormitory style with blankets and pillows provided. Please bring along some insect repellent as we were all swarmed by mosquitoes throughout the night making sleep almost impossible. According to our guide, it was his first encounter with mosquitoes so far, still good to be prepared.
Dinner and breakfast of eggs and rice was provided.
A good experience, worth the visit.
The hiking path is well paved for the first half of the trail. The remainder of the trail though not paved is pleasantly manageable.
Because it rained whilst we were there, we found the trail slightly slippery in certain sections with a lot of leeches.
When we arrived at the village, we were escorted to meet the chief whereby a simple ceremony to welcome and bless our short stay here was performed. A brief history about the village was given in English.
We spent a night in one of the traditional (adat) homes with other guests. Dormitory style with blankets and pillows provided. Please bring along some insect repellent as we were all swarmed by mosquitoes throughout the night making sleep almost impossible. According to our guide, it was his first encounter with mosquitoes so far, still good to be prepared.
Dinner and breakfast of eggs and rice was provided.
A good experience, worth the visit.
Written 13 January 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Julie H
Greater Adelaide, Australia2 contributions
Oct 2022
Our driver Stefan (+62 812 4610 7187) was fantastic - I highly recommend his services. He drove us to Manggarai via a warung for lunch and along the beach. The drive was about 5 hours long including the lunch break and we arrived in the local village and met scooters. We took scooters for about 20 mins to get to the base of the mountain and hiked a few kilometres up to the traditional Wae Rebo Village. The hike was steep and hot but evened out a little bit more about half way. It was well worth the sight upon arrival where we met with the chief of the village and then were free to explore. The boys played volleyball with the local men and we stayed in the visitor hut with about 25 people from all over the world. We had rice and eggs for dinner and a slightly different version for breakfast. The experience was amazing and by boys 14 and 11 thoroughly enjoyed the experience also.
Written 10 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabriela F
11 contributions
Aug 2022
I was greeted by Ofan, one of the local people who has really good English skills. There are western toilet, you are given a mattress and blanket to sleep with the other guests in one of this amazing "houses" (ngurai). At 10pm the electricity cuts so the star gazing starts. It looks like the myst starts early (12pm) so it is likely that you will not have the perfect view at first, but the next day (7 to 10 am) there were no clouds.
To go with no motorbike (solo female traveller):
You can take the local bus (around 100.000 rupiahs) from Labuan Bajo to Ruteng. In Ruteng I stayed in Cha Cha dorm guesthouse, a real highlight. They have an amazing restaurant too and it is really worth visiting them. They can organize a shared car (with local people, 100.000 rp) to Denge, to Blasius Guesthouse. There also are trucks, but I have the feeling it would take much longer. I arrived quite late to Blasius so I spent the night there (250.000rp for a room with cold shower, like a losmen). Blasius and his family are also really lovely. From Blasius you can walk 3km or take the motorbike taxi. I recommend the last as it really is a lot to walk up.
It was really worth it. They sell their own coffee and crafts, I also recommend buying from them as it is clearly made by them. For my way back I again stayed at Blasius, who organized a shared car (100.000 rp) to take me to the Transflores highway. From there you can stop a shared car or bus to take you to Labuan Bajo (100.000).
To go with no motorbike (solo female traveller):
You can take the local bus (around 100.000 rupiahs) from Labuan Bajo to Ruteng. In Ruteng I stayed in Cha Cha dorm guesthouse, a real highlight. They have an amazing restaurant too and it is really worth visiting them. They can organize a shared car (with local people, 100.000 rp) to Denge, to Blasius Guesthouse. There also are trucks, but I have the feeling it would take much longer. I arrived quite late to Blasius so I spent the night there (250.000rp for a room with cold shower, like a losmen). Blasius and his family are also really lovely. From Blasius you can walk 3km or take the motorbike taxi. I recommend the last as it really is a lot to walk up.
It was really worth it. They sell their own coffee and crafts, I also recommend buying from them as it is clearly made by them. For my way back I again stayed at Blasius, who organized a shared car (100.000 rp) to take me to the Transflores highway. From there you can stop a shared car or bus to take you to Labuan Bajo (100.000).
Written 5 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Grey
2 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
Great Culture and Nature lige ,and Nice people please keep this place on Natural and do not distroy them.
Hope come back next time .
Hope come back next time .
Written 3 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fuzert
London (UK)49 contributions
Apr 2022 • Solo
It is an interesting traditional village high up in the mountains. Takes quite some effort to get there from Labuan Bajo, with a long, very bumpy ride on the road, a scooter taxi ride from Denge, then a 5 kilometres mostly uphill hike in the forest. When you arrive there you are rewarded with a stunning view of seven, traditional houses.
The people in the village welcome you with a little introduction which then you can follow with a little walk around in the village. This whole thing of exploration doesn’t take more than an hour and half even if you look into the tiniest details. I bet most people would be over it within half an hour. But until this point I actually really enjoyed the tour.
However it’s supposedly an overnight program. And that’s where the challenge starts. I still have no idea what can one do there for 16-18 hours even with sleep and two meals involved. Particularly that the night isn’t exactly convenient. All guests sleep in one of the big traditional houses, in an open hall, with about 25-30 mattresses around. There isn’t much bedding just a straw-mattress and a dirty blanket used by who knows how many people before. You have no option but to use it because the night is very cold and there are hundreds of mosquitoes flying around.
My recommendation is that only stay there for overnight if you are really keen to have this box ticked on your bucket list. There is literally nothing else there than just an inconvenient sleep and a light breakfast. By all mean, visit the village, it’s beautiful. But if you can sleep elsewhere
The people in the village welcome you with a little introduction which then you can follow with a little walk around in the village. This whole thing of exploration doesn’t take more than an hour and half even if you look into the tiniest details. I bet most people would be over it within half an hour. But until this point I actually really enjoyed the tour.
However it’s supposedly an overnight program. And that’s where the challenge starts. I still have no idea what can one do there for 16-18 hours even with sleep and two meals involved. Particularly that the night isn’t exactly convenient. All guests sleep in one of the big traditional houses, in an open hall, with about 25-30 mattresses around. There isn’t much bedding just a straw-mattress and a dirty blanket used by who knows how many people before. You have no option but to use it because the night is very cold and there are hundreds of mosquitoes flying around.
My recommendation is that only stay there for overnight if you are really keen to have this box ticked on your bucket list. There is literally nothing else there than just an inconvenient sleep and a light breakfast. By all mean, visit the village, it’s beautiful. But if you can sleep elsewhere
Written 30 April 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Eliana Maria
Jakarta, Indonesia497 contributions
Dec 2021
If you come here from Labuan Bajo, you need to drive around 3.5 - 4 hours through bumpy roads to get to Denge. From there you must take ojek (motorcycle) to reach the hiking start point, continue with a 3-hour hike on foot. The hiking path started with smooth pavement for the 1st hour and soil & stones for the next 2 hours. Make sure you are physically fit before you commit to going here because there's nothing else you can find if you decided not to hike. Don't forget to rent a bamboo stick. It's your life saviour for the journey.
In the village, you will stay in a shared house that can fit 30 people. Mats (tikar), blankets, and pillows are provided. The bathroom is very modest and the water is cold. They serve rice and chicken eggs as dinner and breakfast. The coffee is a must try!
In the village, you will stay in a shared house that can fit 30 people. Mats (tikar), blankets, and pillows are provided. The bathroom is very modest and the water is cold. They serve rice and chicken eggs as dinner and breakfast. The coffee is a must try!
Written 25 December 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LMilich
Jakarta196 contributions
Dec 2020
Certainly interesting to visit people nominally living a traditional lifestyle, far enough removed from modernity to be refreshing. But that's the operative word - nominally. Despite being off any mobile network (for the time being, anyway), locals walking downhill while we were clambering uphill had a mobile phone in their pocket, blasting music. Ah well. Speaking of uphill: it's a 450 m vertical ascent and yes, at least a 2-hour hike from the vehicle parking area to the village - don't be misled by locals who don't know a meter from a hole in the ground, and who'll tell you it's only 2.5 km. It's a hot, sweaty ascent - amazing that the locals shoulder and carry 50-100 kg loads of cinnamon down this trail. There is one stream crossing the trail on the way up to the pass to stop momentarily to cool down, and then 3 more on the downhill leg. Once arriving in the village, you'll be expected to pay (50,000 Rp) for a traditional "ceremony" and then 200,000 Rp per person for the visit, which does include lunch. An overnight stay is 325,000 Rp per person, I assume meals included (we were day visitors). Overall, well worthwhile, if you can communicate with the locals. I assume the best time to visit would be weekends, when the kids who are during the week away from the village at school return home.
Written 13 December 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lyndenyoung51
New Delhi, India19 contributions
Where do you mean go down to the docks and what time
KUFan452
Virginia37 contributions
Hi! Has anyone done the overnight in the village recently? I'm planning a visit in mid-July. I wonder about the common sleeping grass mats, blankets & pillows with no separation with Covid. I'm concerned about getting sick or eaten alive by mosquitoes. I understand there is a common drop toilet. Are there options for hand-washing? After the long hike, is there drinkable water if I stay overnight? Thanks!
Isaac Diving
Ibiza, Spain24 contributions
Hola, Tengo una pregunta, fuisteis hasta ruteng en bus, llegasteis sobre el mediodia imagino, luego como fuisteis hasta denge ? las maletas las dejaste en el hotel de ruteng o como hiciste ?
Stephen Anthony
Bajawa, Indonesia76 contributions
You can leave your luggage in the car if you hire car rent..or you can leave it at the Denge home stay at starting point..chat my whatsapp +6282244499249 for more information
Hola!! Me podrías pasar el contacto del guía?
Saludos =)
Komodo Miracle Tours
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia13 contributions
Hello, could you mint to search our website on internet?
Whatsapp to +6281 337 844 648
Good morning,
how did you book the lodge? I am backpacking with a friend and we really would love to stay at the lodge, yet find no information how to book it. I would very much appreciate any help!
Best.
Iris
Stephen Anthony
Bajawa, Indonesia76 contributions
There's no internet conection,just go dirrect to Waerebo.. if you need an overland tour driver chat me +6282244499249. Thanks
Maria Z
Melaka, Malaysia1,259 contributions
Hi Nicholas,
I will visit Waerebo 1st, if I will go to Ruteng, are there have public bus from Denge to Ruteng ?
Thank you
Mei B
Singapore, Singapore32 contributions
Hi Maria,
There’re 2 options of public transports from Denge to Ruteng. But it’s not hourly, one is with big truck and the other one is with a van and they have limited access.
I suggest you to take or share a private car with local guide.
Cheers
mika5131
Nagoya, Japan
I don't need a guide but I need a bike taxi from Ruteng to the hiking point.
I also need it next morning from hiking point to Ruteng.
Is that easy to find a bike taxi?
How much does it cost?
Thanks
Komodo Miracle Tours
Labuan Bajo, Indonesia13 contributions
Hi, have you come?
Sarah B
Palm Beach, FL22 contributions
How do I make a reservation to visit, and how can I find a guide for the hike? Thanks for the help!
SwaneeGan
Singapore79 contributions
I make my way to Ruteng and then used public transport (oto kayu) to Denge with the help of a local. From where I alighted at Denge, I took an ojek (motorbike taxi) to the start of the trail. There, I met a group of four locals who were going home to Wae Rebo with their groceries from their marketing trip in Denge. I walked up with them. They can help to carry your bag for a fee. (They need the money.)
I did not make any reservation at all. I “walked in” because it was the low season in November last year.
You can easily book a tour to Wae Rebo from Labuan Bajo or ask the staff at the guesthouse/ hotel in Ruteng about tours there. But the tour can be expensive if there isn’t anyone else going that way and u have to bear the cost of transport and guide all by yourself. Happened to me because I was there during the low season and two ladies backed out last minute; so I decided to travel like a local - oto kayu truck and ojek - to the trail head.
It takes about six to seven hours to get to the trail head from Labuan Bajo and so it makes sense to stay overnight at Ruteng and start from there.
However, if u want to be fully guided from Labuan Bajo, u can go to Alexander Tours and speak to Yunita, the agency owner. She can help.
There is no need to make any reservation because all guests sleep in the same guest house - big space without partition - which can accommodate a fairly large number of people.
There are visitors who do it as a day trip but I would highly recommend an overnight stay as u get to see the traditional way of life thatnis still being practised in this village. Standard price for overnight stay: 325,000 Rupiah per visitor (charged by the village) and this includes meals and local coffee, a mattress and a blanket (for overnight stayer)
I learned that it could be noisy during high season because there are travellers who snored. Remember: it is one big hut without partition nor curtain. U must be comfortable sleeping next to strangers during high season. Low season while I was there? There were only three of us in the big hut.
If there is any other info u need, just let me know.
U will like the place and the people. It is one of the most well-organised and sustainable tourist-centered village that I have visited in Flores.
I was lucky that I met many “angels” along the way and I did it the local way because I was running out of cash and credit cards are of no use except for withdrawing expensive cash at ATMs. 🤣🤣🤣IT WAS THE MOST MEMORABLE PART of my three week stay on the island.
Benzeenees
Wamboin99 contributions
We are are a 70 year old couple. We plan a trip to Wae Rebo but would like to know what the sleeping arrangements are. Unfortunately I'm a 'princess' when it comes to sleeping eg. do I need to bring a roll-up sleeping mat for my old bones? What are the 'Bathroom" facilities? I'd like to come prepared.
martineclaire94
Paris, France36 contributions
Hi Benze,
We stayed in one hut,slept in a mat, blanket and pillow is provided. There are about 40 people in one hut once we slept there. The hut is not attached with private bathroom but it a shared bathroom with all guests. It is located about 15 meters and 60 meters. Dinner and breakfast is provided.
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