Wae Rebo Village in Flores which is located at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level is like a paradise that is above the clouds. It takes a struggle to be able to achieve it, but what is obtained when it gets to the location is proportional to the journey traveled.
The natural scenery in the form of mountains combined with 7 traditional conical houses will give a distinct impression for every visitor who has ever come to Wae Rebo Village.
Wae Rebo Village is in the southwest of Ruteng, Manggarai Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. To get to the location is indeed not easy because it is located on a mountain. It takes extra energy to travel on foot for approximately 3 to 4 hours. Depending on physical conditions because trekking to the village of Wae Rebo hike as far as 7 km.
According to people, Wae Rebo Village is the most beautiful village in Indonesia, and this village has absolutely no cellphone signal. Wae Rebo Village in terms of tourism is very well managed, because this village is accompanied and given guidance on Tourism by the Indonesia Ecotourism Network.
The aim is to advance villages that were previously less attention to being a tourist village that many people want to visit. Visitors who want to go to Wae Rebo Village in Flores must start from Ruteng. If from Denpasar (Bali), you can go directly to Ruteng via air.
If there is no flight to Ruteng, you can use a bus or travel from Labuan Bajo, the capital of West Manggarai Regency, which takes about 6 hours. After arriving in Ruteng, the journey continues to the village of Denge or Dintor for approximately 2 hours which is the last village that can be accessed by vehicle.
As for facilities, in Denge Village there is a home stay that can be used for overnight stays. Not far from home stay there is an information center and library. When you arrive at Wae Rebo Village, you can hitch a ride in a traditional house belonging to the local community if you want to stay overnight. Here there is no home stay or special lodging because it only consists of 7 traditional houses.
In addition to the beautiful scenery, we will be welcomed by the friendliness of the residents when they arrive at Wae Rebo Village. Here we can find traditional houses that only consist of 7 pieces which have survived for 19 generations. This is also an attraction for tourists, especially from abroad. They are generally curious to see first hand the traditional house called Mbaru Niang. Made of wood with a thatched roof. Mbaru Niang’s shape is pursed upwards, a traditional architecture that is very unique.
These seven Mbaru Niang gather in the vast green area decorated with beautiful hills around it, the weather is still very cool because it is surrounded by forest. Wae Rebo Village is a historic place that became a world cultural heritage site by UNESCO in 2012.
In addition to the traditional house which is the main attraction, the life of the community is also very interesting to know. Some people farm and women make weaving.
There is also a coffee garden, usually visitors will be served delicious coffee typical of Flores. The combination of local cultural wisdom with 7 traditional houses located on the top of a green hill makes this place like a paradise above the clouds. But it is unfortunate, in fact this beautiful place is still foreign to the people of Indonesia even though it is very well known in foreign countries.
