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.
Sumba has two main airports: Tambolaka (TMC) in the south-west, the gateway to West and Southwest Sumba, and Waingapu (WGP) in the east. Both have flights from Bali (Denpasar), and there are connections via Kupang. Schedules change often, so always check with the airlines before you book.
By sea
Ferries link Sumba with neighbouring islands through the ports of Waikelo (west) and Waingapu (east). Services and timetables change with the season and the weather: check locally a few days before.
Getting around
Sumba is bigger than it looks: driving from Tambolaka to Waingapu takes most of a day. There is little public transport for visitors, so most people hire a car with a driver, who also knows the villages and the etiquette. Main roads are paved; side roads to beaches and waterfalls can be rough.
Practical
Fill up when you can and carry cash: fuel stations and ATMs are concentrated in the towns, and there can be purchase limits on fuel. Mobile coverage is good in towns and patchy in the hills and on the south coast.
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.
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.
How much does a trip to Sumba cost?
What you will spend on in Sumba and how to plan your budget.
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.