|
The influx of tourists to the Ngada region has led to a booming guide industry in Bajawa. For Rp15,000 a day per person (minimum four people), a guide will arrange transport, entrance to all the villages and often a traditional Bajawan meal. A day-tour should include Langa, Bena, Bela or Luba, which are close by, as well as Wogo and the hot springs at Soa. Most guides speak good English, and among the best are Phillipus, Max and Lukas, who can be contacted at the Restaurant Camellia. From Bajawa, the easiest Ngada village to visit is LANGA , which sits under the dramatic shadow of Gunung Inerie . Tourists pass through here every day and you'll be asked to sign a visitors' book and pay at least Rp1000 to take photographs, though you're advised to save your film for Bena. If you want to scale Inerie you'll have to set out very early from Bajawa. The guide fee of Rp50,000 (minimum two people) includes a taxi from Bajawa to Langa. From Langa it's about 10km, mostly downhill, to BENA (Rp2500), another village that's very popular with tourists. You'll probably have to walk, though occasional trucks ply the route. Here they have nine different clans, in a village built on nine levels with nine Ngadhu/Bhaga couplings. It's the central village for the local area's religions and traditions, and one of the places to see festivals such as weddings, planting and harvest celebrations Some of the finest megaliths and Ngadhu can be found at the twin villages of WOGO . To get here, take one of the regular bemos from Bajawa to Mataloko (30min; Rp1000), then walk south along the road for about 1km to Wogo Baru. There are some distinctly eerie megaliths set in a clearing about 1.5km further down the road in Wogo Lama; local kids will lead you to them. On Saturdays, Mataloko has a decent market selling sarongs and Bajawan knives. The most popular destination near Bajawa is the hot springs at SOA . The Australian-run Flores Paradise bungalows (under $5) are easily the best place to stay in the area. The springs themselves, set in magnificent surroundings, are a joy, especially in the chilly late afternoon. Buses and bemos from Bajawa bemo station run to Soa village (1hr; Rp1000), from where it's a two-kilometre walk to the springs.
Your Tip for Ngada villages
Help other backpackers! Write your own guides and backpacking tips to Ngada villages - they will appear instantly on this page - Please only write a tip/guide to Ngada villages - visit the main Ngada villages forum to ask a question!
Please do not post links to your site here (they won't work) - please use the Ngada villages webguide section below! Thanks.
| 
