The Sandalwood horse
Status, bridewealth and ritual, in an animal that adapted to the savanna.
Marapu Sumba
The island still runs on its own calendar
Sumba is one of the last places in Indonesia where an animist religion still orders daily life. Cloth, horses and a sea worm all belong to the same system.
Ask on WhatsApp- To weave one ceremonial cloth
- 3-6mo
- Villages on the four-day route
- 2
- Notice given for Pasola
- 1-2wk
- Staged performances
- 0
Written up
Three threads
Each of these is the reason a stop on the route matters, rather than a separate excursion you can book.
Ikat weaving
UNESCO-recognised, three to six months a cloth, made around Waingapu.
Pasola
A ritual spear-throwing festival whose date a sea worm decides.
Frequently Asked Questions
Travelling around a ceremony?
Tell us your dates. We will be straight with you about what can and cannot be planned around.