Traditional Villages
As a country with over 350 cultural ethnic groups, the cultural diversity of Indonesia deserves to be explored. Discover unique cultures and witness traditional life in Indonesia with a visit to one of the many traditional local villages where residents maintain indigenous cultures, living just as their ancestors did centuries ago. Spread throughout Indonesia, traditional villages offer the chance to experience something uniquely Indonesian, places where traditional beliefs and rituals, practices still dominate daily life. The traditional communities and cultural groups who live in these villages still practice their ethnic rituals, customs, produce exotic arts and crafts and wear traditional clothes. The main attraction of these villages is the chance to see and experience distinctive cultures which remain free from influences of modernisation. A visit to a traditional village is an unforgettable experience and offers the rare opportunity to embrace a purely village atmosphere.
Bulukumba: Phinisi Boat Building Industry and Tanjung Bira Beach Resort
Located at the most southern tip of South Sulawesi’s peninsula, 153 kilometers south of Makassar, lies the district of Bulukumba , holding hidden marvels in its pristine beaches, underwater gardens, and unique maritime culture. The district is also known as Butta Panrita Lopi or ‘the land of the phinisi schooners” for its long tradition in building these majestic crafts, the pride of the Bugis people. According to...
Location: Sulawesi » South Sulawesi » Kab. Bulukumba
THE ASMAT: Papua’s famed Woodcarvers
The wide south-east swath of land of the Indonesian part of the island of Papua comprises flat plains overgrown with mangrove forests serrated by many rivers. These plains lie so low that at high tide during the rainy season, sea water penetrates some two kilometers inland and flows back out to two km to sea at low tide. During low tide the plains are muddy and impassable. This is the largest alluvial swamp in the world, a low-lying territory of...
Location: Papua » Papua » Kab. Asmat
Ruteng: Capital of Manggarai, hub to fascinating Flores attractions
Ruteng, capital of the district of Manggarai, in the western part of the island of Flores, is a pleasant, busy town backed by a range of mountains. Located some 1,200 meters above sea level the air is cool. Surrounding the town are green rice fields that provide the staple for the population on this predominantly dry island. Coffee grown around here is also most invigorating. Ruteng is some 4 hours drive from Labuan Bajo, the town where tourists...
Location: The Nusa Tenggara Islands » East Nusa Tenggara
The Village of Boti and the wisdom of the ancient Timorese
Obscured from the complexities of the modern world and sheltered by nature’s generosity, time stands still at the village of Boti in the high mountains of Timor Island, as its people still retain the same way of life as their ancestors did hundreds of years ago. Situated in the rugged mountains about 40Km from the town of Soe, capital of South Central Timor Regency, - and quite a distance away from Kupang, capital of the East Nusatenggara...
Location: The Nusa Tenggara Islands » East Nusa Tenggara » Kab. Timor Tengah Selatan
Sumba: Powerful Surf, living megalithic culture and fine ikat cloths
Facing the wide Indian Ocean, the island of Sumba in the province of East Nusatenggara is a surfer’s paradise. The large rolling Sumba barrels usually appear between May through October when waves can be either very high and strong or very flat as breaks are directly exposed to wide open ocean swells. This kind of powerful surf, however, though very challenging, should only be ventured by professionals. However, throughout the year, swells...
Location: The Nusa Tenggara Islands » East Nusa Tenggara » Kab. Sumba Barat, Kab. Sumba Timur
The ancient Village of Ke’te Kesu’ in the heart of the Toraja highlands
Kete Kesu is a quaint, traditional village concealed in the mountainous region of TanaToraja, South Sulawesi. It sits amidst a vast expanse of rice fields, and is the oldest village in the Sanggalangi district. The village is over 400 years old, and is said to have not changed at all in the last 400 years. KeteKusu functions as a sort of living museum, where one can experience first-hand the culture and traditions of the ancient Torajan people....
Location: Sulawesi » South Sulawesi » Kab. Tana Toraja
Pulau Wangi-Wangi in Wakatobi
Wangi-wangi is one of the four main islands that make up the Wakatobi Archipelago off the coast of Southeast Sulawesi, and is the gateway to the Wakatobi Marine National Park. The name Wakatobi is derived from the four largest islands of Wangi-Wangi (WA,) Kaledupa (KA,) Tomea (TO,) and Binongko (Bi,) and are part of a larger island chain called TukangBesi. The islands are nestled in the heart of the fabled Coral Triangle, and boast 942 species of...
Location: Sulawesi » South East Sulawesi
.jpg "Kedisan Village at the foot of Mt. Batur")
Kedisan Village at the foot of Mt. Batur
Kedisan is a small rural village nestled at the foot of the Mount Batur on the island of Bali, at the edge of Lake Batur, the largest lake in on the island. The village sits amidst the panoramic setting of the crescent shaped lake and the majestic volcano filling the skyline above. It is one of 15 villages in the Kintamani Region, about 2 hours north from Denpasar, capital city of Bali. Located between Lake Batur’s shore and the...
Location: Bali » Bali, Kab. Bangli