Sumba
Sumba is a dry Indonesian island known for stone-tomb villages, hand-woven ikat and the Pasola horse ritual. It suits travelers who want culture over resort comfort.
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Sumba is a dry island in East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, lying south of Flores. Travelers come for its villages, where traditional houses with steep thatched roofs stand near large stone tombs, and for ikat, a cloth patterned by dye-resist weaving that local communities still make by hand. West Sumba is the usual base for both, with Waikabubak as the main town for stays.
Pasola, a horseback ritual tied to the harvest, is the main reason to plan around the calendar. The south coast has surf breaks and quiet beaches, but distances are long and roads are slow, so a driver is the practical way to get around. The dry season, roughly April to November, is the most comfortable time to visit, and the island suits travelers who want culture more than resort comfort.
Sumba in five
- Hire a driver for the whole islandPublic transport is thin and distances are long on rough roads. A driver with local knowledge makes the villages and beaches reachable in a few days.
- Visit villages with a guideThe traditional villages of West Sumba are living communities. Go with a guide, ask before taking photos, and offer a small donation the way your guide suggests.Nusa Tenggara
- Plan around Pasola, but do not count on a dateThe Pasola ritual battle in West Sumba falls in the early months of the year, with dates set by local priests. Ask a guide closer to the time, and never book around a guessed date.
- Bring cash for homestays and fuelATMs outside the main towns are rare. Withdraw in Waingapu or Tambolaka and carry small notes for entry gifts and meals.Money in Indonesia
- Combine Sumba with Flores or West TimorFlights link Sumba to Bali and Kupang, which makes it easy to pair with Komodo, Flores or Timor on a longer Nusa Tenggara trip.Flores
Things to do in Sumba
See all attractions in Sumba
Need to know
- Airport
- Tambolaka (TMC) in the west; Waingapu (WGP) in the east
- Getting there
- Flights from Bali and Kupang, with changes
- Getting around
- Car with driver; scooters on quiet roads
- Best base
- Waikabubak or Tambolaka for villages; a south-coast stay for beaches
- Time needed
- 4–6 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Wet, greenJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 284 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, green
- FebruaryRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Wet, Pasola nearbyFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 238 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, Pasola nearby
- MarchRain25 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Pasola seasonMarchRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 229 mm
- Rainy days
- 25
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Pasola season
- AprilRain14 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Drying outAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 111 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- MayPartly cloudy7 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°Dry, quietMayPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, quiet
- JuneClear5 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°Dry, coolerJuneClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 13 mm
- Rainy days
- 5
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, cooler
- JulyClear3 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Dry, busyJulyClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 12 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- AugustClear2 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°Dry, dustyAugustClear
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 7 mm
- Rainy days
- 2
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, dusty
- SeptemberClear3 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°Dry, hotSeptemberClear
Best
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 10 mm
- Rainy days
- 3
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, hot
- OctoberClear7 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Hot, dryOctoberClear
Good
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, dry
- NovemberRain18 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Showers startNovemberRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 126 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers start
- DecemberRain24 rainy daysHigh31°Low25°Wet seasonDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 215 mm
- Rainy days
- 24
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet season
Average daily high and low in Waingapu, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Sumba
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
22
- Feels like
- 26°
- Humidity
- 92%
- Wind
- 4 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 80%
Sumba
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today31°22°80%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 80%.
- Wed31°22°24%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 24%.
- Thu31°22°73%Thursday: Thunderstorms. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Fri32°22°73%Friday: Thunderstorms. High 32°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 73%.
- Sat31°22°99%Saturday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Sun31°22°95%Sunday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 95%.
Updated 12:58 AM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Weekuri lagoonabout 1 hour by car from TambolakaA saltwater lagoon beside the sea, best on a calm day.
- Ratenggaro and the west coast villagesabout 1–2 hours by car from TambolakaClan houses with tall thatched roofs and megalithic tombs.
- Flores and Komodoby flight via Bali or Labuan BajoA pairing for a longer Nusa Tenggara trip.Read the guide
Before you go to Sumba
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Rules for Sumba, checked
- Check Indonesia's entry rules, including visa-on-arrival and e-visa eligibility and passport validity, with the Directorate General of Immigration (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly.
- Indonesia's quarantine authority checks food, plants and animal products on arrival, so check what you may bring before you pack.
- Ask a village head or your guide before entering a traditional village or photographing people, and stay out of ceremonies unless you are invited.
- Indonesia's drug laws are strict and apply even to small amounts, so check your embassy's travel advice before you fly.
Plan around Sumba
The island chain from Lombok to Timor
Read the guideFloresKomodo, Labuan Bajo and the Ruteng hills
Read the guideWest TimorKupang, Rote and the dry highlands
Read the guideLabuan BajoGateway to Komodo National Park
Read the guideVisas and entryWhat to arrange before you fly
Read the guideAll of IndonesiaIslands, entry rules and getting around
Read the guideSumba FAQ
Is Sumba worth visiting?
Yes, if you want traditional villages, handwoven ikat and quiet beaches, and you accept rough roads and few comforts. It is not a resort island.
How do you get to Sumba?
By air to Tambolaka or Waingapu, usually from Bali or Kupang with a change. Check schedules early, because flights are few and seats fill quickly.
What is the Pasola festival in Sumba?
A ritual mock battle between horsebackers in West Sumba, held in the early months of the year. Dates are set by local priests and move, so ask a guide near the time.
How many days do you need in Sumba?
Four to six days gives time for West Sumba villages, a beach or two and some road time. More days suit travelers who want surf or weaving visits.
Do you need a car in Sumba?
A car with a driver is the practical choice, because public transport is limited and distances are long. Scooters work only on short, quiet stretches for experienced riders.