THE VILLAGE OF WAE REBO

Perched at an altitude of around 1,100 metres, Wae Rebo is a traditional Manggarai village nestled between mountains and tropical forests. This picturesque village is distinguished by its large Mbaru Niang huts with conical roofs thatched from top to bottom.

In 2012, Wae Rebo was honored by UNESCO with a prize for excellence in the preservation of Asia-Pacific heritage, in recognition of the faithful restoration of the Mbaru Niang houses, a symbol of the community's cooperative spirit.

The village, which comprises 7 houses, can be reached from Ruteng by a 3-hour drive on winding, fairly damaged roads, followed by a hike of around 1? to 2 hours. It's well worth the effort to get there, and you'll enjoy spending the night here, for an enriching and authentic immersion.

On arrival, don't count on a welcoming ceremony, but go directly to the village chief, the largest hut, to receive his blessing. This blessing is necessary to be able to spend the night. A small contribution is greatly appreciated.

The guest hut is equipped with a dozen mattresses and thick blankets, for very rudimentary comfort. Pleasantly and surprisingly, the village, as touristy as it may be, offers no entertainment or souvenir stores. You'll be visitors to a village living at its own pace. The locals take no notice of you and go about their daily business, weaving, brewing coffee, farming and building.