How much does a trip to Sumba cost?
What you will spend on in Sumba and how to plan your budget.
Sumba is less developed for tourism than Bali, and that shapes the budget: there are fewer cheap options in some areas and transport takes a bigger share.
Getting there
Flights to Tambolaka (TMC) or Waingapu (WGP) usually go via Bali (Denpasar) or Kupang. Book early around holidays, and check baggage limits: small planes often have lower allowances.
Getting around
The biggest daily cost for most visitors is a car with a driver. Prices depend on the season, the car and the distance, so agree the price, the hours and what is included (fuel, the driver's meals) before you start.
Day to day
Local food in warungs is inexpensive. Village visits, waterfalls and some beaches ask for small entrance fees or donations: carry small notes in rupiah. ATMs are in Waingapu, Waikabubak and Tambolaka, not in remote areas.
Money tips
Bring enough cash for remote days. Cards are accepted in few places outside the towns. Keep some money for tips to guides and drivers.
Guides
Best time to visit Sumba and what the weather is like
Dry season, rainy season and what each means for beaches, waterfalls and roads.
How to get to Sumba and get around the island
Airports, flights from Bali, ferries, distances and why most visitors hire a car with a driver.
Respect and etiquette in Sumba's villages
Marapu, guestbooks, photos and gifts: how to be a welcome visitor.
Sumba in 3 days: a route for the west
Three days around Tambolaka, Kodi and West Sumba: lagoons, megalithic villages and waterfalls.
Sumba in 5 days: west and east
Five days crossing the island from Tambolaka to Waingapu, with the highlights of both sides.
Sumba in 7 days: the complete route
A full week to see Sumba slowly, including the remote south and north coasts.
Surfing in Sumba: where and when
Reef breaks, empty bays and what to know before paddling out in Sumba.
Pasola: Sumba's horseback spear ritual
What the Pasola is, where it happens and how to watch it respectfully.
Sumba ikat: how it is made and how to buy it well
The island's famous hand-woven textiles, and how to support the weavers.
Health and safety in Sumba
Hospitals, insurance, mosquitoes, the sea and the roads: what to know before you go.
Sumba or Bali? An honest comparison
Crowds, flights, healthcare, culture and nature: where each island wins.