The Striking Contrasts of Sumba

Across the savannah landscapes and coastal edges of Sumba, this multi-day journey reveals an island shaped by strong traditions and striking natural contrasts. In East Sumba, visits to villages such as Wunga and Prailiang introduce megalithic burial sites and the art of ikat weaving, a textile practice closely tied to identity and ceremony. These communities reflect the enduring presence of ancestral customs within daily life.

Travelling west, the landscape opens to rolling hills, viewpoints, and quiet stretches of coastline. Stops at Wairinding’s grass-covered ridges and Lapopu Waterfall highlight the island’s varied terrain, while village encounters offer insight into the Marapu belief system, an indigenous faith centred on ancestor worship. Time is also spent at Weekuri Lagoon and Mandorak Beach, where calm waters and secluded shores provide moments of rest, before the journey concludes beneath Sumba’s wide, light-filled horizons.