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.
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
Candirejo Village : experience rural Java’s traditional life
When visiting the impressive Borobudur Buddhist Temple in Central Java, the temple itself is not the only place of interest in the area. Not far from Borobudur is an interesting little village called Candirejo that is definitely worth a visit. For a break from “modern” life, designate a few days to watch, learn and experience life in this this quaint town, where ancient traditions are still followed, and indeed the village is best...
Location: Java » Central Java, DI Yogyakarta » Kab. Sleman, Kota Yogyakarta, Kab. Magelang
Woloan Village: Industry in Knock Down Traditional Minahasa Houses
Some 3 km from west from the town of Tomohon, or about 28 km from Manado is the village called Woloan, which has become famous for its industry in traditional knock-down houses that can be transported and re-assembled anywhere in the world. These are not dolls houses or souvenirs, these are actual houses to live in.Orders have arrived from as far away as Argentina, Norway, Poland, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines and the United States, and of...
Location: Sulawesi » North Sulawesi » Kota Tomohon
The Traditional Village of Wae Rebo on the island of Flores
The traditional village of Wae Rebo in the district of Manggarai on the island of Flores, East Nusatenggara, has recently received the Top Award of Excellence from UNESCO in the 2012 UNESCO Asia Pacific Heritage Awards, announced in Bangkok on 27 August 2012. This small and isolated village was recognized for its rebuilding of the traditional Mbaru Niang traditional house based on the spirit of community cooperation towards a sustainable...
Location: The Nusa Tenggara Islands » East Nusa Tenggara » Kab. Manggarai
Dompu , charming town on the road to Mt. Tambora or Lakey Beach Surf
Not many have heard of the town of Dompu on Sumbawa. But for avid mountain climbers Dompu is a small attractive town on the trek leading up north to Mt. Tambora, the supervolcano on Sumbawa, whose mega explosion on 11 April 1815 caused the “Year without Summer” in far away Europe the following year. For surfers, the town of Dompu lies on the road to some unbelievable left hander surf at Lakey Beach and Hu’u by the...
Location: The Nusa Tenggara Islands » West Nusa Tenggara » Kab. Dompu