Explore Sumba is most recommended trip to do in East Nusa Tenggara
Sumba has balanced tour between beautiful nature sight, traditional villages and handicraft such as the wonderful ikat weaving. Sumba is indeed the recommended destination to visit. The island has beauty of nature, rich of culture and the hospitality of its people. The waterfall trip can be an unforgettable trekking experience, including Matayangu, Lapopu, and Waimarang.
Currently, Sumba Island is a hotspot for local tourists. Indonesians have started exploring Sumba to escape the tourists on the more popular islands. International tourists follow suit and discover the stunning unspoiled natural landscapes of Sumba. The island is in East Nusa Tenggara province of Indonesia. It is south of Bali, and west of Flores Island.
Sumba has 2 parts of territory: East and west of the island, each of which has its own airport. The island is divided into four regencies, each home to the main town, Tambolaka in Southwest Sumba, Waikabubak in West Sumba, Waibakul in Central Sumba, and Waingapu in East Sumba.
The more popular of Sumba is the west part. The tourists prefer to explore the beautiful Lake Weekuri, the beautiful coastline and the traditional villages. You can start your journey from Tambolaka Airport. There’s nothing that you can enjoy around this airport, so you should continue on your trip to Waikabubak, east of Tambolaka. This is one of the central areas in Sumba. If you’re backpacking through Sumba and want to visit a traditional village, Waikabubak is a great place to stay. There are several lodging and restaurant options here, and you can also find public buses that depart from West Sumba to East Sumba.
A glimpse of eastern Sumba: East Sumba does not have as many inhabitants as the west. It’s dry and arid, and you can drive for miles without seeing anything. Seaweed cultivation is common in the southeastern part of the island and it is said that there are crocodiles in these waters. And, East Sumba Airport is in Waingapu.
Explore Sumba Beaches
Most of the beaches on Sumba are paradise tropical climates. White sandy stretch and turquoise beach water are inherent features of all beaches. Walakiri Beach is one of the iconic beaches in Sumba. With a unique view of the mangroves, this beach is perfect for you to enjoy the sunset and take pictures. Sunset is the best view of this beach.
Other beaches are Mananga Aba which is also often called Kita Beach, Tarimbang beach which has nine rolls of a wave for great surfing, Watu Parunu which is the most picturesque beach, and Bwanna beach as the most instagram-able beach. The beaches on Sumba are simply stunning, with beautiful panoramas and beautiful sand.
The Iconic Lake
Weekuri, this iconic lake in West Sumba is one of the main attractions on the island. It is 45 minutes away from Tambolaka airport and you will most likely have the beautiful Weekuri Lake all to yourself. Don’t forget Wai Marang, this beautiful waterfall is located in the east of Sumba Island, near Rende Village. You will walk 10 minutes through open plains, before reaching the forest. It is here that you have to descend to the foot of the waterfall.
Best Time to Visit
The best time to visit Sumba is during the dry season which runs from May to October. You can also travel to Sumba during the rainy season from November to April, but it will rain every day.
How to Reach Sumba
Sumba is a large island, twice size of Bali. It has 2 airports, one to the west, Tambolaka Airport, and the other to the east, Waingapu Airport. Make sure you know where you want to go before you book your flight to Sumba. The distance from one side to the other is over 7 hours of travel, and a taxi to get between the two is more expensive than the flight ticket itself. Most flights to Sumba depart from Bali, so if you are in another city make sure to go to Bali first or get a connecting flight. Garuda Indonesia, Wings Air and Nam Air serve daily flights between Bali and Tambolaka. Wings Air also serves daily flights between Bali and Waingapu, while NAM Air operates Bali-Waingapu flights 3 times a week. There are also flights from Kupang and Ende in Flores to Waingapu served by Garuda Indonesia, Wings Air and NAM Air. Sumba Island is also accessible by ferry from Aimere in Flores to Waingapu in East Sumba.
