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Island of Indonesia
Photo: Faber Daud Butar Butar, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Rote (or Roti) is an island in Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. It is an off-the-beaten-path destination mainly popular with Australian surfers for its world-class surf breaks. But there's no reason Rote should be restricted to surfers (nor Australians): there is plenty to see and do for the active traveller, and no shortage of secluded beaches and sleepy villages for those seeking peace and tranquillity. You just have to figure out how to get there.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Telaga Nirwana, locally known as Dano Dale
A stunning turquoise lagoon connected to the ocean by a 300-metre-long channel. It is filled with starfish and lovely to swim in. You can rent a kayak to get there, or you charter a small boat.
Mulut Seribu
Take a boat tour through the forested islets and rock formations of the Thousand Mouths area, drifting over clear turquoise and emerald-green waters.
Batu Termanu
A beautiful rock formation and a great place to watch the sunset. There are two approaches, the beach route and the hill route. The beach route is only accessible at low tide.
A unique and gorgeous mangrove where lush green trees grow out of brilliant turquoise water.
Bukit Mando'o or Bukit Tangga 300
Nearly 500 stairs up to the top of a hill with fantastic views over the island. (It used to have only 300 stairs and was called Bukit Tangga 300 meaning "300-stair hill"; the name has stuck.) It is difficult to get to by road and the stairs are in poor condition... be careful!
A traditional Rote house and household. The Manggi Family still lives here; be respectful.
Padang Janda
A splendid field of purple globe amaranth flowers (Gomphrena globosa) on Nuse Island. Peak flower season is March through June.
Filled with colourful fishing boats that make for a picturesque scene. Many are still built without motors because the 1974 MOU Box agreement with Australia preserves fishing rights for Indonesian fishers using traditional methods within Australia's Exclusive Economic Zone.
There's little to see here, other than a ruined lighthouse and a concrete marker. But, hey, you'll have been to the southernmost point of Asia! To visit Ndana Island, you must first obtain a permit at Kampung Merah Putih Desa Oeseli in Oeseli. Ask around about chartering a boat. Once you arrive on the island, you must register with the island authorities.
The famous surf beach, although not the best for swimming, as it is only possible at high tide and tends to have a lot of seaweed.
A beautiful white sand beach and a great surf spot. Swimming possible, even at low tide.
A good beach for swimming and snorkelling, although it can have a bit of a rubbish problem on the shore if the adjoining resorts haven't got around to cleaning it up.
A visually stunning beach and rock arch formation. It'll likely be just you and the horses set against the crystal clear water. You can climb up around the arch to the west and view Ndana Island and the southernmost point of Asia. Unfortunately quite a bit of plastic rubbish has washed up on shore, particularly on its western end.
Not much of a sandy beach but a good place to rent kayaks to paddle around the serene turquoise waters or charter a boat to Lake Nirvana.
A white sand beach on the northwest corner of Rote, most notable as the launching point for boats to Nuse Island.
A tranquil beach with soft white sand on the north coast of the island.
Tolanamon Beach, Pantai Perawan
A rocky coastal area with secluded beaches squeezed in between the cliffs.
A pristine beach with mushroom-like rock formations sticking out of the turquoise waters. Absolutely no food or services.
The Dead Sea
A brackish water lake where you can snorkel with stingless jellyfish. No services, bring your own gear.
A tiny island off of Rote's south coast with some excellent snorkelling and diving.
Indonesian and western food. Good place for sunset.
Javanese cuisine.
Seafood, Indonesian food and pizza.
A nice warung that feels somewhat upmarket with its pleasant seating area, though it retains warung prices.
Small warung selling chicken and meatball noodle soups.
Breakfast and Indonesian food.
Cheap and tasty Indonesian food.
Seafood restaurant. Choose your fish and they grill it for you.
Indonesian food, burgers and pizza.
Good breakfast spot and bakery.
Excellent seafood. Try the grilled fish with mango salsa.
Healthy food restaurant. Good coffee.
High-quality Indonesian food.
Large menu, mostly western/international food, but famous for its pizza.
Restaurant at the 81Palms resort with a Spanish-inspired menu and run by a Michelin-rated chef.
At the Seed Resort. Great Thai food.
Italian restaurant with Italian chef. Excellent pizza.
At the Casa Narrow Villa. Indonesian and western food.
Beachfront. Friendly service.
No frills beach bar. Cold beer and sunsets.
Great view. Cold beer. Questionable service.
Probably the best you're going to get in Ba'a. A/C. Hot water. Mini-fridge. Shuttle service. Good breakfast. A bit remote.
Extremely basic. Squat toilet, cold open-pipe shower. Decent breakfast included, good restaurant on site. Marginal wifi, marginal A/C. Probably the cheapest serviceable accommodation in Nembrala.
Charming and artsy homestay. No A/C, only fan rooms. No breakfast.
Newly renovated. Spacious rooms with A/C. No breakfast. Garden.
Spacious and clean rooms with A/C. Shared kitchen. No breakfast.
Rooms have A/C and are cleaned every day. Perhaps the best wifi on the island (although far from perfect). The private bathroom is outdoors, cold shower. Meagre breakfast included.
Rooms have A/C and include a kitchenette. Breakfast included.
Rooms with A/C and terrace. Lush garden. Excellent restaurant but simple breakfast.
Waterfront bungalows at Oeseli Beach. Good for activities like Kayaking. Breakfast included.
On a hill above Bo'a Beach. Prime sunset location. Rooms with A/C. Some rooms have kitchen facilities. Includes breakfast.
One of the less expensive full service resorts on Rote. Good family resort. Good food (buffet).
Beachfront rooms with A/C and kitchenette. Swimming pool. Simple breakfast included.
Good for families. Swimming pool. Full-service bar. Breakfast included.
EcoLodge set in the forest east of Nembrala. Excellent views. Infinity pool, restaurant, bar and outdoor fireplace.
Surf resort that does diving expeditions as well. Open hut design. Swimming pool, spa, restaurant, bar. A bit dilapidated.
Beautiful rooms with modern furniture. Excellent restaurant and great breakfast. Good value.
Surf resort catering to families. Swimming pool. Restaurant with full-service bar.
Large family lofts and villas. All rooms have A/C and full kitchens. Breakfast included. Decent wifi for Rote.
Large, elegantly decorated family rooms with terraces overlooking the sea or the gardens. Swimming pool, spa facilities, restaurant, bar. Everything quite pricey.
Thatched-roof bungalows each with an outdoor seating terrace. Swimming pool. Excellent food.
Beachfront resort offering family rooms. Infinity pool. Garden. Superb restaurant and bar.
Secluded clifftop resort above Bo'a Beach. Incredible view.
Beachfront resort to the south of Nembrala. Large rooms with beautiful views.
New five-star resort on Bo'a Beach. Honeymoon stuff. Despised by surfers as the resort has attempted to privatise and cordon off the beach.
The largest store on the island with most daily necessities.
The market closest to Nembrala. Produce, 2nd-hand clothing, etc.
The largest market on the island. Not tourist-oriented at all. Excellent prices compared to Nembrala.
The only market open daily on the island.
A collection of traditional fabric weavers. Bargaining is encouraged, but know that high quality pieces are pricey.
By plane
The flight from Kupang takes 20-30 minutes.
By ferry
There are three ports on the island, although only two are regularly used by passenger services.
By sailboat
If arriving from outside of Indonesia, immigration and customs formalities must be completed in Kupang, West Timor, before heading to Rote.
By taxi
Taxis generally require that you pre-arrange pickup.
By motorbike
Your hotel will be able to arrange motorcycle or scooter rental. Prices tend to be reasonable on Rote, even more reasonable than the rest of Indonesia in a lot of cases.
By car
There are plenty of car rental agencies on Rote, particularly in Ba'a. Popular ones include:
By bicycle
Many hotels offer bicycles for rent, which is a great way to get around Nembrala given that it is oriented along one long paved road.
On foot
Rote is hot and its towns and villages tend to stretch out along a single main road, making walking undesirable for anything but short distances.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Kupang · Regional · KOE
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