Never heard of Sumba until one of the world’s 50 best hotels (and let’s be honest, most expensive) decided to pop up there? Same. Suddenly, this mysterious island was on my radar, and the only questions were: What’s there to see? and When do we go?

In Singapore, nobody knew where Sumba was. When I mentioned it to friends, I got the “are-you-okay?” loke, like I was about to spend a week in the middle of nowhere doing absolutely nothing.

So what did I expect? Empty beaches, untouched landscapes, and zero tourists.

Reality check: I wasn’t alone. Turns out, Sumba is trending on TikTok. Yes, my secret paradise has gone viral. But despite the sudden fame, it still feels wild, raw, and wonderfully remote — just not completely deserted.

If you are keen to explore, here’s a great 5-day itinerary:

Day 1: Hills, Waterfalls, &Trees That Dance

Palindi Piarakuku Hills: Started with the hills for some sunrise vibes and landscape shots.
Waimarang Waterfall: 20-min walk to a beautiful blue pool. If you go on a Sunday, get there early—local teens turn it into a cliff-jumping arena (or join them but trust me its scarier than it looks).
Walakiri Beach: Famous for its “dancing trees.” Smaller than expected (we were at high tide) but totally magical at sunset. Warning: They don’t really dance ! 😉

🏠Where to Stay: Sacca Residence & Resto

Day 2: Waterfalls, Wild Savannah & Secret Beaches

Tanau Hills:The road there? Let’s call it adventurous.
Kambera Beach & Savannah: Stunning, vast white sand beach. Nobody in sight. Wear shoes though—coral alert. We drove through savannahs full of horses, quite depaysant for Indonesia.
Tanggedu Waterfall: Gorgeous spot. Easy to climb around for pics, but warning : Dry mud + water = accidental splits. I found that out the hard way. You can easily find a quiet spot upstream to chill away from the crowd.
Wandairing hills. No crowd, just glowing sunset and silence.

Day 3: Forest Birds, Tickets Scam & Waterfall Swim

Crossed from East to West Sumba — it’s a drive, but worth it. We made a few stops to spot endemic birds. Bird nerds, bring binoculars!
Prai Ijing Village : Beautiful traditional village with good photo spot at the top of the village and friendly locals. (25.000 IDR/pax)
Lapopu Waterfall : Lovely waterfall. Go swim under the fall it will give you an even better view of this impressive fall. (150.000 IDR/pax + parking) Tip: Don’t let them charge you extra 50K for a guide. The waterfall “hike” is literally 5 minutes down. If you have time, Matayangu Waterfall is an option, but the trail is long (1h???) and reportedly steep. We were too late and had to pass.
Rua Beach: beautiful beach with white sands and few local who will let you snap a picture of their horses!

🚗Tour: Explore Lapopu Waterfall and Matayangu Waterfall Full-Day

Day 4: Villages, Lagoons & Cliff Drama

Ratenggaro Village: & Beach Free entry (for now). Tall roofs, sea views, and a few cows and horses walking around. Check the nearby beach for great views of the village.
Lunch at NINO (Arya Hotel): First proper meal of the trip — 300K IDR for two courses. The tuna was amazing!
Weekuri Lagoon: Tiny but stunning. You can “swim” in it or walk around like a majestic flamingo. Spoiler: it’s a 15-minute walk for the lagoon loop , not an hour.(25.000 IDR/pax + parking)
Mandorak Beach: Gorgeous cliffs, angry ocean and turquoise waters. You cannot swim, it’s dangerous. They tried to charge us 100.000 IDR on the way out. Bargained down to 50.000 IDR. Still a scam!

🚗Tour : West Sumba: Highlights Tour with Ancient Villages

Day 5: Rice Fields, Grotto Mystery & Wild Waterfall Fun

Wee Kacura: Stunning rice terraces with pool filled with turquoise water. You can swim if you want to literally soak in the landscape. (20.000 IDR/pax + parking)
A few steps away is a mysterious cave pool (follow the pipe it is worth it). Tourists swim… Locals don’t! We followed the locals’ lead (better safe than sorry).
Lokomboro Waterfall: No other tourists in sight. This one’s a hidden gem. The trek included balancing (or not…) on logs and boulders. Very Indiana Jones. Swam back downstream, amazing! Strong currents, pure adrenaline, absolute fun.(50.000 IDR/pax + parking). Tip: Be careful of rapids!
Watu Bella Beach: Dramatic cliffs, and peaceful vibe. Bring your picnic blanket and a beer to enjoy the sunset (20.000 IDR/pax).

Logistic & Tips

Ask your hotel for airport pick up and drop off, it may save you some $$$ from scammer.
Always ask your hotel or food stall nearby to pack you a lunch box, there is not much choices when you are swimming thru a waterfall or hiking hills.
When to go? As soon as possible ! but if you really want to be alone avoid the summer vacation i.e. July/August.
What to pack? light close but don’t forget to bring a jacket, the weather was pleasantly not that warm! Wear shoes and short that enjoy water, you will end up having your feet soaked (sometimes way more than your feet) on multiple occasion.
How to get around? you can join tour (👉West Sumba: 4D3N Private Tour) or book a private driver for around ~800k/day – price may vary on the road (and your bargaining skills )

Final Thoughts: Is Sumba Worth It?

YES— but with some disclaimers:

✅ Fewer tourists than Bali or Lombok. The peace and space feel incredible.
❌ Infrastructure hasn’t caught up yet. Expect some rough roads and limited food/hotel options.
❌ It’s not cheap. Thanks NIHI Resort (3K SGD a night, no big deal 🙄). Locals assume tourist = billionaire.
❌ Entry fees everywhere. Some reasonable, others… not so much. Always ask first.

And those galloping wild horses on the beach? Yeah, those are… staged. Courtesy of the NIHI resort. In real life, the horses just hang out and chew grass.

Despite the TikTok hype, Sumba still feels wild, raw, real and ridiculously beautiful. If you’re craving real adventure, big landscapes, and small crowds—go now, before everyone else does.

Happy Adventures !

Travel is Adventures.com

Sumba – A TikTok Trend or a Hidden Gem?