Bena Village travel guide will take you to a beautiful tourist spot from the megalithic era. The old way of life among the megalithic stone structures and classic thatched houses of Bena Traditional Village will captivate you.
The villagers communicate with their ancestors through ancient stone altars, primarily through animal sacrifice. There’s also a massive pile of stones that served as a court, where village clans resolved legal disputes.
Aside from that, you can discover the indigenous culture from the friendly locals and purchase domestically woven fabrics dyed in decorative patterns. The scenery is stunning and exotic, set at the foot of a hill – home to a shrine devoted solely to the Virgin Mary with Mount Inerie as a backdrop.
The Location
Bena traditional village is located in Tiwuriwu Village, Jerebu District, Ngada Regency, East Nusa Tenggara. This traditional village is about 19 kilometers from the heart of Bajawa City and can be reached by two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles with good road access.
It has over 40 traditional houses facing each other and extending from the north, which serves as the village’s entrance, to the south, the peak that ends with a steep cliff.
There was no admission fee to enter the traditional village, and the local community will ask you to donate or pay contributions as you like. But today, there is an entrance fee that will be charged.
How to Get There
It is relatively easy to get to Bena village. Depending on where you’re coming from, you can get there by air, land, or water.
From Denpasar/Bali
- From Bali’s Ngurah Rai Airport, take a flight from the Denpasar-Labuan Bajo route.
- Get off at Komodo Airport.
- Then take a plane on the Labuan Bajo – Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa Soa Airport.
- Take a travel major in the Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa City.
- Take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
From Jakarta
- Take the flight route Jakarta Sukarno Hatta – Labuan Bajo, get off at Komodo Airport.
- Then take a plane on the Labuan Bajo – Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa Soa airport.
- From there, take a travel major on the Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa City.
- Take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
From Kupang
From El Tari Kupang airport:
- Take the Kupang – Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa Soa Airport.
- Take a travel major in the Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa City.
- Then take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
From the Kupang Bolok Ferry port:
- Take the Kupang – Aimere ferry route, get off at the Aimere ferry port.
- Then take the Ruteng – Bajawa route, get off at Watuaji Terminal.
- Take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
From Labuan Bajo
From Komodo Labuan Bajo Airport:
- Take a plane from Labuan Bajo – Bajawa, get off at Bajawa Soa Airport.
- Then take a travel major in the Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa City.
- Take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
From Labuan Bajo Terminal:
- Take a bus bound for Labuan Bajo – Ruteng, get off at Ruteng.
- Then take a bus bound for Ruteng – Bajawa, get off at Watuaji terminal.
- Take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
From Darwin (Australia)
- From Darwin Airport, take the Darwin – Denpasar route (Indonesia AirAsia / Jetstar Airways) and get off at Ngurah Rai Airport.
- From Ngurah Rai Airport, take the Denpasar – Labuan Bajo flight, get off at Komodo Airport.
- Take the plane from Labuan Bajo – Bajawa, get off at Bajawa Soa Airport.
- Take a travel major in the Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa City.
- Take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
From Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Take the KLIA – Denpasar route, get off at Ngurah Rai Airport.
- From there, take the Denpasar – Labuan Bajo plane, get off at Komodo Airport.
- Then take the plane from Labuan Bajo – Bajawa, get off at Bajawa Soa Airport.
- From there, take a travel major on the Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa City.
- Take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
From Singapore
- From Changi Airport, take the Singapore – Denpasar route, get off at Ngurah Rai Airport.
- From Ngurah Rai Airport, take the Denpasar – Labuan Bajo flight, get off at Komodo Airport.
- Then take the plane from Labuan Bajo – Bajawa, get off at Bajawa Soa Airport
- From there, take a travel major on the Bajawa route, get off at Bajawa City.
- Take a motorcycle taxi to Bena Village.
Amenities
Parking lots, tourist information for registration, public toilets, and several small kiosks selling food and drinks are now available around Bena Village. Below are some of the amenities available:
Lodging
Due to its remote location at the foot of the hill, you may find it difficult to find lodging or hotels in the area of the Bena traditional village. Tourists typically choose to stay in the city of Bajawa. Aside from the abundance of hotels and inns, the distance between the town and Bena village is also short.
Interestingly, you can stay in traditional houses owned by the locals. Even with basic accommodations, such as sleeping on the floor, you will be treated as a guest. During your stay, they will prepare food and drinks for you.
Restaurant
There is also no big restaurant within this area. The majority are grocery stores that sell food and soft drinks. Try to explore the cuisine at the heart of Bajawa city. Or you can simply contact the Bena village travel guide for recommendations on the best restaurants in the area.
Parking lot
Only two-wheeled vehicles are permitted to enter the traditional house directly. Cars are now being directed to park to the north of the village. The parking lot is quite large.
Public Restroom
Several public restrooms with toilets are available at the far end of the village. You can make a donation in class in the box provided.
Souvenir shop
The majority of the women in Bena village weave cloth with traditional Bajawa motifs, commercialized and sold to tourists. The conventional fabric can be worn as clothing.
Best Time to Visit
If you are interested in or planning a trip to Bena Village, here is our best time recommendation:
Visiting hours
Tourists are welcome to visit between the hours of 08.00 and 17.00 WITA. After you’ve finished exploring this village, you can continue to Komodo Island or Labuan Bajo. Of course, you can also visit the Bena village comfortably by staying overnight in Bajawa.
During the Traditional Ceremony
If possible, come when there is a Reba festival. It is a meaningful occasion for all family members and relatives to gather there. This event is meant for every tribe or clan in Bena village, as it is where they will discuss all problems and plans in each core house. This ceremony is also an expression of gratitude to God for providing them with a year’s harvest. Furthermore, this ceremony is a blessing request for a more excellent gardening process in the future.
There is also the most famous traditional festival from the Bena traditional village, namely the inauguration of the conventional house. It is very lively because it will invite representatives from other tribes outside the Bena village. Each representative will bring tribute in livestock as a form of sacrifice to the ancestors. The livestock sacrificed can range from 10 buffaloes to 80 pigs!
Bena Village Travel Guide Tips
Here are some clues to keep in mind when visiting the Bena tourism village:
- If you are asked to donate, please provide the appropriate amount. Also, since coins are not used by the people of Ngada district, it is preferable to use paper money.
- If you intend to stay in Bajawa City, bring warm clothing because the weather in Bajawa is quite cold, particularly at night.
Bena village has been nominated as a world heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 1995. The naturalness of the village provides a memorable experience. Some foreign tourists like to spend the night to learn more about the lives of the people in this village. Bena village can also be used as historical evidence because Flores’ indigenous people are still alive and preserved.
Consider using the services of Bena village travel guide for a more enjoyable and memorable trip. As additional information, Bena Village is open to tourists from 08.00 WITA to 17.00 WITA. The entrance ticket is IDR 20,000 per person for local tourists and IDR 25,000 for foreign tourists.
