How To Visit Wae Rebo Village In Flores, Indonesia

180

Wae Rebo is a nice little traditional village that you can visit by hiking into the mountains of Flores, Indonesia.

I visited Wae Rebo recently and enjoyed it. It takes some effort to get there, but you can stay a night in one of the huts and it’s a fun and unique experience. The people are friendly, the scenery is wonderful, and the cone-shaped huts are great for photos.

It’s not too far from the town of Labuan Bajo, which is the gateway to the Komodo islands, but because of the road conditions and driving distance, you need 2 days and 1 night to get the full experience.

This travel guide will explain how to get to Wae Rebo with or without a tour, and everything else you need to know before 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 daily flights from Bali, Jakarta, and Kuala Lumpur for very reasonable prices.

The flight from Bali only takes 1 hour. You can shop for flights on Skyscanner.

 

• Step 2: Driving To Denge

Next, you’ll need transport to Denge village, the starting point for the trek. From Labuan Bajo, the drive takes 4 or 5 hours by car because the roads are in bad condition.

Your options are to rent a scooter and drive yourself, hire a private driver with a car, or join an organized tour.

I wouldn’t recommend driving yourself, because the roads are unusually rough and it’ll take a long time to get there by motorbike, even if you have experience.

I visited Wae Rebo as part of a road trip through Flores island, so the natural choice for me was a private driver. It costs about 1 to 1.5 million Rupiah for a one way transfer from the Labuan Bajo airport to Wae Rebo.

I hired Emanuel Saman for this trip, and had a great experience with him. His vehicle is good and he’s a careful driver. He also speaks English and you can contact him by WhatsApp at ☎ +62 821-4543-6263.

After Wae Rebo, I continued road tripping through the island of Flores, visiting sights around Ruteng, Bajawa, Ende, and more. I wrote about my whole experience on the blog if you want to read it.

However, if you’re not doing an extended road trip across Flores and just want to see Wae Rebo only, then an organized tour can be a good option.

Here’s a 2 day tour that includes transportation from Labuan Bajo, fees, meals, and an English-speaking guide. It’s probably the simplest and most convenient way to visit Wae Rebo.

We’ve used this company for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great. Highly recommended!

 

• Step 3: Driving To The Trailhead

Once you reach Denge village, there’s one more section of road to reach the parking lot and trailhead for the hike (map here).

Unfortunately, this road is too narrow, rough, and steep to be passable by cars, so you have to go with a motorbike taxi for a small fee.

The drivers are skilled and it only takes about 15 minutes, but it felt longer because the road is sketchy and felt a bit dangerous.

I knew about this ahead of time and asked for a helmet, which I was glad to have. Hopefully they patch up this section of the road eventually before someone gets hurt!

 

• Step 4: Hiking To Wae Rebo Village

The trail to Wae Rebo is straightforward and easy to follow, and a guide isn’t needed. It would be hard to get lost.

I hiked by myself in the rain and still reached the village in less than 2 hours. The first half of the trail is all uphill, but the second half is mostly flat and easy. You’re in a forest, so it’s basically shaded from start to finish.

Some of the trail is cobblestone, which is nice, but the rest can be muddy and slippery after rain. And rain it may! I got caught in an absolute downpour during the hike, so that wasn’t fun.

You can use this map from AllTrails to guide yourself on the hike. If you’re a member of AllTrails Plus, you can even download the map and use it when 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 starting from the main parking lot

 

Wae Rebo Village: What To Expect

When you arrive at Wae Rebo village, obviously the first thing that strikes you is the view. It’s awesome.

The traditional huts called ‘Mbaru Niang’ are surrounded by lush, green mountains on all sides. Even though you can tell the village is getting a bit touristy, the scenery is still timeless and wonderful.

For new arrivals, there’s a quick welcome ritual and then you’re shown your quarters. These are communal huts, so you’ll be sharing one big room with other visitors for eating and sleeping.

My hut had about a dozen other guys and girls staying in it: mostly Indonesian tourists, with a handful of foreigners too.

       

The villagers provide simple meals for breakfast, lunch, and supper that include rice, eggs, veggies, bananas, and perkedels (potato fritters).

The huts are basic inside, with wooden floors, but they do have pillows, sleeping mats, and enough blankets to keep you warm when the temperature dips at night.

There are also ceiling lights and electric outlets, thanks to a combination of solar panels and generators in the village.

Outside, they have squat toilets and cold bucket showers, but I didn’t use them because I was afraid I’d freeze. It is worth stepping outside at night to see the stars, though!

I slept okay, but don’t expect anything amazing, because you’ll be woken up very early by the sound of roosters crowing and the footsteps of everyone going outside to see the sunrise.

That’s okay, because Wae Rebo is still a great experience. For me, the setting in the mountains was enough to make it special.

 

Wae Rebo Visitor Fees

As of 2025, these are the current fees per 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 think this is reasonable. Keep in mind the village is remote, so any supplies have to be brought by hiking.

 

Is A Guide Or Reservation Required?

A guide is not required for hiking to Wae Rebo. I went without one, and no one ever asked me to hire one.

They also don’t have a reservation system, and there’s no limit to the number of visitors per day who can hike and stay at the village. That means you don’t need to book anything in advance.

I hope they do start limiting guests or raising prices if they get near capacity. It’s already clearly at a point where the villagers would be able to provide a better and more personal experience for visitors if they weren’t getting so many every day.

The good news is, I didn’t see hardly any trash on the trail or at the village. Let’s keep it that way! Please remember to pack out any trash you bring into the village.

       

 

What To Bring

• Water. They provide tea and coffee in the village, but you’ll want to bring some bottled water for the hike there and back.
• Outerwear. The weather in the mountains gets a bit chilly at night, especially in the dry season, so you might want to bring a hoodie and pants.
• Cash. Like most places in Indonesia, cash is king. There are no ATMs in Denge or the surrounding area, so you’ll want to have money on hand for the village fees. Your last chance to grab cash is in Labuan Bajo, or Ruteng if you pass through there on the way.
• Flashlight. Even though you won’t be hiking at night, a small light is handy in case you need to do anything in the village after dark.
• Bag Cover. It’s a good idea to have a waterproof bag cover like this one to protect your bag in case it rains.
• Ear Plugs. If you’re sensitive to snoring, these could be handy. People were snoring loud.
• Snacks. Even though there are meals provided in the village, they weren’t super filling, so you might want to bring some snacks of your own, especially if you stay longer.
• Power Bank. This can be handy, but it’s not a must. People in the village will share their chargers with you if you need them.
• Walking Stick. There’s no need to bring your own, but you can rent one at the trailhead for a small fee if you want to use it while hiking.

 

How Long To Stay

This will depend on the person, but I was happy to stay 2 days and 1 night in Wae Rebo. I think that would be enough for most people.

There’s not a whole lot to do in the village except take photos and chat with the locals. If you stay longer, there are some waterfalls and short trails you can explore nearby as well.

A one day trip to Wae Rebo is possible without staying the night, but I wouldn’t recommend that because you won’t get to spend enough time in the village.

 

Other Tips For Wae Rebo

• Cell Service. There’s no phone reception at the village or anywhere in the mountains here.
• WiFi. I know you aren’t coming here for the internet, but there is Starlink WiFi in the village for a small fee if you need it.
• Leeches. Some people have reported leeches on the hike, but I wore shorts and sandals, and still never saw any. Maybe I was just lucky. I did see one leech crawling on the floor inside a hut.
• Mosquitoes. I got buzzed by mosquitoes in the huts while trying to sleep, but I sprayed myself and thankfully managed to avoid getting any bites (yes I slept covered in nasty bug spray). There are no mosquito nets for the sleeping quarters, but hopefully they get some eventually.
• Malaria: According to this Lancet study from 2018, there’s been a major reduction of Malaria in Flores, including the western part of the island, which is great. I didn’t take Malaria pills for this trip.

 

Best Time To Visit

The ideal time to visit Wae Rebo is during Indonesia’s dry season, from approximately May to October.

During these months, you’re less likely to have wet and muddy trail conditions, and you’re more likely to have a clear view of the mountains.

Weekdays are also best if you want to avoid the worst crowds. Try not to go on a weekend, because there will be a lot more tourists.

I may have been unlucky, because when I went on a Saturday in May, the village was absolutely packed with Indonesian tourists. Everyone was friendly, but the crowds dampened the vibe and made it feel less remote and special.

 

Best Time To Take Photos

I expected morning to be the best time to photograph Wae Rebo, but it’s actually backlit by the sunrise. It’s nice, but not ideal.

During the afternoon, the village and mountains are usually covered in clouds, so that’s not ideal either.

That means the perfect time to take pictures should be in the afternoon on a clear day, but you still have to be a bit lucky with the clouds.

 

More Indonesia Travel Guides

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this guide for how to visit Wae Rebo village in Flores.

Don’t forget to check out my other travel guides for Indonesia before you go!
 

See Also

• 12 Day Flores Road Trip Itinerary: Best Things To Do & See
• Komodo Travel Guide - Islands, Dragons, & Beaches
• Most Beautiful Indonesian Islands - Best Places To Visit In Indonesia
• Best Hikes In Indonesia - Volcanoes, Jungles, & Waterfalls
• Indonesia Beach Guide - Best Beaches In Indonesia
• Indonesia Waterfall Guide - Best Waterfalls In Indonesia
• Best Things To Do In Indonesia - What To Do In The Islands
• Indonesia Travel Guide - Tips, Info, & Photos