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.
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
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
The Island of Flores
Flores is the most fascinating and beautiful island. Long hidden in the shadows of its more famous neighbor Bali, the island of Flores is finally emerging as a unique destination of its own. So, after visiting the lair of the Komodo dragons, take time to marvel at some of the wonders of Flores. Here you can swim in pristine lakes and waterfalls, dive at one of the 50 spectacular dive sites, go kayaking among craggy coasts and mangrove...
Location: The Nusa Tenggara Islands » East Nusa Tenggara
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
THE TRADITIONAL WHALE HUNT of LAMALERA on FLORES
Around the world, the village of Lamalera on the island of Lembata on Flores is known as the home of traditional whale hunting. Portuguese documents dating back to 1643 already mention that these heroic hunts were sighted then. In Lamalera, villagers hunt large sea animals, like whales, manta rays and sometimes dolphins to provide food and a living for the entire village, which they undertake on simple sailboats and following ancient...
Location: The Nusa Tenggara Islands » East Nusa Tenggara » Kab. Flores Timur
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
The Wamena Highlands
Many have been captivated by the story of Shangri La. It is intriguing, appealing, and almost mystifying when chatting about it among travelers. Hidden among the rising 2,500-meter mountains in the Baliem Valley in central Papua, the town called Wamena, was hailed as the other Shangri La. Among advanced travelers, this is the other ultimate trekkers’ rendezvous.Here Wamena awaits as the starting point to a remarkable journey, prior to...
Location: Papua » Papua
Traditional Life at Lingga Village
Explore indigenous Karo Batak culture with a trip to the traditional villlage of Lingga where ancient culture continues to be preserved today. A short trip from Brastagi, Lingga is one of the most popular places for visitors to come and discover what traditional Karo life was and still is like. Here you will see the distinctive Batak houses with their horned roofs. Some of these houses are still occupied.There are regular opelet to Lingga from...
Location: Sumatra » North Sumatra