We spent two nights in Bajawa, in the highlands of Flores, Indonesia, using a rented scooter to explore the traditional villages around the town.
Our main focus was visiting Bena Traditional Village and Gurusina Traditional Village, two places where we could experience the traditional culture of the Ngada people while travelling through the mountain scenery around Bajawa.
There are also hot springs, waterfalls and other attractions around Bajawa, but we did not visit them during this short stay. This guide focuses on the places we actually visited, along with our scooter rental, food and accommodation experience.
🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む：Bajawa観光｜バイクで巡るBenaとGurusina伝統村
Renting a Scooter in Bajawa
We rented an automatic scooter directly from our guesthouse in Bajawa.
The price was IDR 100,000 per day, and two helmets were provided.
Having our own scooter made it much easier to explore the area at our own pace, particularly as Bena and Gurusina are outside Bajawa and involve travelling through the surrounding hills.
However, the road conditions were not always easy. There were plenty of potholes on the way to Bena, so we took our time rather than trying to ride quickly.
Fuel in Bajawa
Petrol is commonly sold in bottles around Bajawa, particularly along the roadside.
Rather than looking for a petrol seller ourselves, we asked the guesthouse owner to arrange some fuel for us, which was much easier.
If you rent a scooter in Bajawa, it is worth checking the fuel level and tyre pressure before setting off. Also check the brakes!
Our scooter actually needed more air in the tyres, and we stopped at a village on the way to Bena to have them inflated.
Riding from Bajawa to Bena Traditional Village
Our first stop was Bena Traditional Village, one of the best-known traditional villages in the Bajawa area.
The journey from Bajawa was part of the experience. Although the road had plenty of potholes and some sections were in poor condition, the mountain scenery was beautiful.
The views along the way made the slower ride worthwhile.
Bena Traditional Village Entrance Fee
When we visited, the entrance fee for Bena Traditional Village was IDR 25,000 per person.
Visitors also write their names in a visitor book when entering the village.
Meeting the People of Bena
One of the things I enjoyed most about Bena was the friendly atmosphere.
As we walked around the village, we saw local women sitting outside their homes and weaving traditional ikat textiles.
This made the visit feel like more than simply seeing traditional houses. Bena is also a living community where people continue their everyday lives and traditional crafts.
Visiting Gurusina Traditional Village
After Bena, we continued further into the hills to Gurusina Traditional Village.
Gurusina felt noticeably less developed for tourism than Bena.
There was no fixed entrance fee when we visited. Instead, visitors could make a donation. As at Bena, we were asked to write our names in the visitor book.
Perhaps the biggest difference was the lack of other visitors. When we arrived, there was nobody else there apart from us.
That gave Gurusina a particularly quiet and peaceful atmosphere.
We also heard that there is accommodation operated by the village community, which could be an interesting option for travellers who want to spend more time experiencing village life.
Bena or Gurusina: What Was the Difference?
Both Bena and Gurusina offer an opportunity to see traditional Ngada village life, but our experiences were slightly different.
Bena was more established as a visitor attraction and had more of a tourism presence. However, it still felt like a living village, and seeing people weaving ikat textiles was a memorable part of our visit.
Gurusina was much quieter. When we visited, there were no other tourists, which made the experience feel more intimate and less commercial.
For me, visiting both was worthwhile because they offered slightly different perspectives on traditional village life around Bajawa.
Other Things to Do Around Bajawa
Bajawa has more to offer than traditional villages.
The surrounding area is also known for hot springs and waterfalls, among other attractions.
We did not visit these places during our two-night stay, so I cannot give first-hand information about them.
If you have more time in Bajawa, combining the traditional villages with some of the area’s natural attractions could make for a fuller itinerary.
Where We Ate in Bajawa
We tried two quite different places to eat during our stay.
Anugrah Resto
Anugrah Resto serves a mixture of Chinese-Indonesian and Indonesian food.
It was a little more expensive than a typical local warung, but we thought the food was excellent and plentiful.
It is a useful option if you want something a little different from the simple local eateries around town.
Warung Makan Margojoyo
For a more typical Indonesian eating experience, we also visited Warung Makan Margojoyo.
This is a simple local warung serving affordable Indonesian food.
If you are travelling on a budget, places like this are an easy way to keep food costs down while eating locally.
Where We Stayed: Marcelino Homestay
We stayed at Marcelino Homestay for our two nights in Bajawa.
It also proved convenient for exploring the area because we were able to arrange our scooter rental through the guesthouse.
Having a scooter made visiting Bena and Gurusina much easier and gave us the flexibility to travel at our own pace.
Our Bajawa Experience
Our two nights in Bajawa gave us a good introduction to the highlands of Flores and the traditional Ngada villages around the town.
The combination of mountain roads, spectacular scenery and traditional village life made the scooter journey itself part of the experience.
Bena offered a more established visitor experience, while Gurusina was much quieter and felt less affected by tourism.
The roads require some care, particularly because of the potholes, but travelling by scooter allowed us to explore both villages independently.
We did not have enough time to visit the hot springs and waterfalls around Bajawa, so those will have to wait for another trip.
For us, however, Bena and Gurusina were the highlights of our short stay in Bajawa.
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