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Voykit pocket guide · Indonesia
Waikabubak
Spend 2 days in Waikabubak to see the Pasola festival (Feb–Mar) and visit nearby villages; reach it from Tambolaka in 1‑2 h by shared car.
Waikabubak is the second base of western Sumba, offering the Pasola horse‑jousting festival in February‑March and several walkable villages. A short stay lets you experience the culture and stay in local hotels before heading east to Waingapu or back to Tambolaka.
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best months
- Feb–Mar (Pasola season)
- Stay
- 2 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- IDR
- Money
- Rupiah (Rp) in small notes for warungs, parking, offerings and drivers; large cards are common in tourist restaurants but not everywhere.
- Daily spend
- Budget Rp70,000–100,000 excl. bed · Mid Rp100,000–150,000 excl. bed · High Rp150,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Telkomsel, XL and Indosat sell tourist SIMs at airports; foreign phones must be IMEI-registered if staying over 90 days — check.
- Emergency
- Police 110 · General emergency 112
- Plugs
- Types C, F · 230 V · 50 Hz · European round pins.
- Tipping
- Warung: Nothing.; Restaurants: Often 10% service + tax on the bill; nothing more needed.; Drivers and guides: Rp50,000–100,000 a day.; Spa: Rp20,000–50,000.
- Water
- Not drinkable from the tap; refill stations common in Bali.
- Toilets
- Western in hotels and cafés; squat toilets with a water scoop elsewhere; paper in the bin.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Shared car (Travel) from Tambolaka | Rp50,000 per passenger |
| Public bus seat | Rp15,000 (check for extra fees) |
| Bemo ride into town | Rp5,000 |
| Tarung Village entrance donation | Rp20,000 per person |
| Prai Ijing Village entrance fee | Rp50,000 per person |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- TMC · Umbu Mehang Kunda Airport (Tambolaka)
- Shared car to Waikabubak about 1‑2 h
Typical fares
- Tambolaka → Waikabubak (shared car)
- about Rp50,000 per passenger, 1‑2 h
- Bemo into town
- Rp5,000
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Flag a bemo or ojek for short trips; most sights are walkable. Public bus from Tambolaka is cheap but often full.
See and do
Known for
- Pasola festival
- Tarung Village
- Prai Ijing Village
- Hotel Manandang
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Tambolaka | Shared car (Travel) about Rp50,000 per passenger, 1‑2 h road | ≈2 h |
| Waingapu | Road, 3‑4 h by car or bus | ≈4 h |
Sleep
- Hotel Manandang
- Rooms from Rp325,000 per night (2026 estimate)
- Hotel Pelita
- Rooms from Rp250,000 per night
- Sutomo Homestay
- Rooms from Rp175,000 per night
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Maafmaaf |
| Thank you | Terima kasihterima kasih |
| How much is it? | Berapa harganya?berapa harganya |
| Where is the toilet? | Di mana toilet?di mana toilet |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Light handshake then hand to chest; smile; avoid: Firm grips
- Left hand: Give and receive with the right; avoid: Passing anything with the left
- Temples: Sarong and sash; step around offerings; avoid: Standing higher than priests
- Keeping calm: Patience; indirect requests; avoid: Anger in public
- Pointing: Thumb; avoid: Index finger
Scams and watch-outs
- Public bus may be overcrowded and only departs when full; have cash for extra fees.
- Pasola dates vary each year; confirm the schedule for February‑March before travel.
Waikabubak is generally safe; petty theft is rare but keep valuables secure, especially on buses and in crowded markets.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Waikabubak yet. Suggested stay: 2 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Pasola festival
- Tarung Village
- Prai Ijing Village
- Hotel Manandang
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Waikabubak coordinates: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123456
- Wikivoyage: Waikabubak, revision 4987494 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4987494
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/waikabubak). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.