Pasola Festival 2027: Dates, Locations and How to Attend
The Pasola festival 2027 will fall somewhere in the February–March window, as it does every year, but no fixed 2027 calendar date exists yet — and…
7 min read
Sumba Horse
Journal
Notes on the island — routes, seasons, villages and the practical detail that decides a trip.
The Nyale Ritual Explained: Sea Worms, Priests & Why Pasola Has No Fixed Date
Pasola has no fixed date because it is scheduled by Sumba’s Marapu priests — the Rato — who wait for the seasonal arrival of nyale sea…
7 min read
Marapu: Understanding Sumba’s Ancestral Faith Behind Pasola & the Horse
Marapu is the ancestral belief system of Sumba, Indonesia: a faith built on keeping harmony between the living and the spirits of the ancestors who came…
8 min read
How Sandalwood Ponies Are Trained: From Wild Savanna to Gentle Trail Horse
Sandalwood pony training on Sumba is a slow, trust-first process that turns a free-roaming savanna horse into a calm partner capable of carrying a complete beginner…
7 min read
Getting Ride-Fit: How to Prepare Your Body for a Multi-Day Sumba Horse Trek
Four weeks of targeted training — no horse required — is enough to get most reasonably active people ready for a multi-day horse trek across Sumba.…
7 min read
Full Moon Calendar Sumba 2027: Every Date for Night Rides & Low Tides
Sumba has 12 full moons in 2027, falling on 22 January, 20 February, 22 March, 20 April, 20 May, 19 June, 18 July, 17 August, 15…
7 min read
Ethical Horse Riding in Sumba: 9 Welfare Checks Before You Book
Ethical horse riding in Sumba comes down to nine welfare checks you can make before booking: a written rider weight limit, horse rotation and daily working…
8 min read
East vs West Sumba for Horse Riding: Savannas, Beaches & Pasola Compared
Choose East Sumba if you want golden savannas, wild horses and wide-open emptiness; choose West Sumba if you want Pasola culture, jungle-backed beaches and easier resort…
7 min read
7 Best Savanna Viewpoints in Sumba: Wairinding, Tanarara & Beyond
The best savanna viewpoints in Sumba are Bukit Wairinding, Bukit Tanarara, Savana Puru Kambera, Bukit Persaudaraan, Bukit Tenau, Bukit Lendongara, and the remote Mbinudita hills —…
7 min read
Sumba for Experienced Riders: Gallops, Endurance Routes & No-Nanny Rides
If you can ride a forward canter on a loose rein and you are tired of nose-to-tail trail rides, Sumba is one of the few destinations…
7 min read