Sumba is known as one of the best holiday destinations in Indonesia, offering captivating natural beauty and rich cultural charm. But you might be wondering, how do you get to Sumba? Don’t worry, there are plenty of travel options you can take, from air and sea routes to exciting land combinations.
In this article, you’ll find a complete guide on how to get to Sumba, including estimated ticket prices for each route. This information can be a helpful starting point as you plan your adventure to this exotic island.
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How to Get to Sumba
Sumba is an island located in East Nusa Tenggara Province, covering an area of 10,710 km² with its highest point at Mount Wanggameti, which stands at 1,225 meters above sea level. It borders the island of Sumbawa to the northwest and is known for its diverse range of tourist attractions, ranging from beaches and natural landscapes to waterfalls, hills, and rich cultural heritage.
It’s no surprise that many travelers are eager to visit Sumba. If you’re one of them, it’s important to first understand the travel routes to get there. Given its remote location, especially if you’re coming from Jakarta, the journey requires some planning. Most trips to Sumba involve one or more transit stops before reaching the island. Below, we’ll walk you through the different ways to get to Sumba, whether by air, sea, or land.
1. How to Get to Sumba by Air
Air travel is the most practical and fastest option for many people planning a trip to Sumba. Today, there are several flight routes with convenient transit options that make it easier to reach the island, especially from major cities in Indonesia like Jakarta and Bali.
a. From Jakarta to Sumba by Plane
Flying to Sumba from Jakarta isn’t a direct journey, you’ll need to transit in Denpasar, Bali.
There are two main airports in Sumba that are commonly used as arrival points: Tambolaka Airport (TMC) and Waingapu Airport (WGP). If you’re joining an open trip with IndonesiaJuara, make sure to book a flight to Tambolaka Airport (TMC), as this is the designated meeting point for the Sumba trip.The estimated travel time from Jakarta (CGK) to Tambolaka (TMC), including the transit, is around 3 hours and 40 minutes, with ticket prices starting from approximately IDR 2 million. Several airlines operate on this route, including NAM Air, Super Air Jet, TransNusa, Batik Air Indonesia, Citilink, and Garuda Indonesia.
If you opt for a private trip package, you have more flexibility, you can choose to fly not only to Tambolaka Airport but also to Waingapu Airport (WGP) as an alternative arrival option. The estimated flight duration from Jakarta (CGK) to Waingapu (WGP), including transit, is around 5 hours and 50 minutes, with ticket prices starting at approximately IDR 3.5 million. Airlines serving this route include Super Air Jet, Batik Air Indonesia, and Lion Air.
b. From Bali to Sumba by Plane
So, how long does it take to fly from Bali to Sumba? Similar to the Jakarta route, if you’re joining an open trip with IndonesiaJuara, you’ll need to book a flight to Tambolaka Airport (TMC). The flight duration from Bali (DPS) to Tambolaka (TMC) is approximately 1 hour. Ticket prices are generally more affordable, starting from around IDR 1.1 million, with airlines such as NAM Air and Wings Air operating this route.
If you’re joining a Private Trip Sumba, there’s another option available, you can fly to Waingapu Airport (WGP) instead. This route takes a bit longer, with a direct flight duration of around 1 hour and 50 minutes, and ticket prices starting from approximately IDR 2.5 million. Airlines operating this route include Wings Air and Lion Air.
2. How to Get to Sumba by Sea
In the discussion of how to go to Sumba via the sea, it will be explained through the west and east directions. So, you can adjust where the departure is from. Here’s the full review.
a. From the West
If you’re traveling from western Indonesia, such as Jakarta, you can reach Sumba by ferry. However, you’ll need to transit at Tanjung Perak Port in Surabaya, as there are no direct sailings from Jakarta or Semarang to Sumba. From Tanjung Perak, you can continue your journey by Pelni ship to Sumba. The most common Pelni ships serving the Surabaya–Sumba route are KM Awu, KM Lawit, and KM Egon. The journey takes approximately 3 to 5 days.
While it’s a long trip, the cost is more affordable compared to flying. The estimated total cost from Jakarta to Sumba is around IDR 822,000, with the breakdown being Jakarta (Tanjung Priok) to Surabaya: IDR 301,000, and Surabaya to Sumba: around IDR 521,000.
The tickets usually include three meals a day, and there are also minimarkets or food stalls onboard, so you won’t need to worry about getting hungry. To make the trip more enjoyable, Pelni ships also offer various forms of entertainment, such as karaoke, a mini cinema, and more. You can even access the internet via onboard WiFi.
For boat ticket reservations, you can visit PT Pelni’s official website https://www.pelni.co.id/reservasi-tiket
b. From the East
You can also reach Sumba from the eastern side, especially if you’re based in Labuan Bajo, East Nusa Tenggara. From there, you can take a Pelni ship for a direct sailing to Waingapu, with ticket prices starting from around IDR 100,000. However, Pelni ships don’t operate daily, so it’s important to check the sailing schedule in advance on their official website.
3. Getting to Sumba from Jakarta via Land
If you take the land route, it will certainly be more difficult and take longer to get there. In addition, there will be more stop-offs. However, this will be an exciting and challenging trip.
For those of you who like adventure, maybe a trip to Sumba via land is the right choice. Below will be given details regarding stops and transportation from Jakarta to Lombok.
- Jakarta to Surabaya by train.
- Surabaya to Banyuwangi by train.
- Banyuwangi to Bali (Gilimanuk Port) using ship.
- Gilimanuk Port Bali by bus to Benoa Port Denpasar.
- Benoa Port Denpasar to Lembar Port Lombok by ship.
- Lombok Lembar Port to Lombok Mandalika Terminal using bus.
Here are the details of the next trip from Lombok to Sumba.
a. From Kayangan Port Lombok to Poto Tano Port Sumbawa
The time required to get there is about 1 hour by ship. Meanwhile, the cost starts from IDR 75,000.
b. From Pototano Port Sumbawa to Bima City (Bus Station)
At this step, you must take a bus to Bima City in Sumbawa. The cost is around IDR 150 to 200 thousand depending on the offer. Meanwhile, the time required is about 5 hours through the village paths and uphill. If you leave at 12 PM, you can arrive in Bima at 5 PM. So, you have to stay overnight in Bima City. This is because the ship will depart at 8 AM.
You can look for lodging in Bima for the night. The cost is quite cheap, which is around IDR 100 to 150 thousand. However, do not look for lodging far from the terminal because the bus usually leaves at 5 AM.
c. From Bima Terminal to Sape Port
Buses from Bima Terminal to Sape Port generally depart at 5 AM. The cost is around IDR 30,000 rupiah with a travel duration of around 3 hours.
d. From Sape Port Bima to Waikelo Port Southwest Sumba
From Sape, there will be ships sailing to Tambolaka City, Southwest Sumba, at Waikelo port. The cost to Waikelo is very cheap, starting from IDR 65,000. Meanwhile, the travel time will be around 10 hours.
That is the route of travel via land and the range of ticket costs to Sumba.
Although it takes a long time and is quite expensive, the landscapes that can be seen during the trip will be more numerous and beautiful. If you arrive in Sumba, all your exhaustion will be paid off by the unique and beautiful tourist destinations there.
Read more: How Many Days to Visit Sumba? Here’s the Recommendation!
Are You Ready for A Vacation to Sumba?
If you’ve already imagined the beauty of Sumba and can’t wait to explore it, now is the perfect time to start planning your trip. To save yourself the hassle of organizing everything on your own, you can join a Sumba tour with IndonesiaJuara Trip.From local transportation to a well-curated itinerary of top destinations, everything is taken care of for you. Choose between an Open Trip Sumba for a fun experience with new friends, or a Private Trip Sumba for a more flexible and personalized holiday. Let’s Make your Sumba getaway truly unforgettable with IndonesiaJuara Trip.
