Liang Bua Cave (Hobbit Cave) — Attraction in East Nusa Tenggara

I couldn't put 0 star but I would have if I could. I've been travelling around South East Asia for the past 3 months and this is the biggest tourist trap I've seen.

You arrive and they dress you up with their traditional clothing (which look brand new) without giving you any explanation of why and in which circumstances they/we need to wear it.

You then go in one of their huts for a little ceremony which felt forced and awkward. The person explained at the end of the ceremony that there was an optional donation which felt forced and not optional at all. You have to write your name on a book and say how much you want to give, we could see that all the people before us gave 100k so we felt obliged to give the same amount.

We then have been offered tea and coffee which was nice and went to visit the first cave. Normal cave, nothing special to say.

After that we've been asked to pay 80k to visit the Hobbit Cave and as a previous person said in the reviews it does say on the official Indonesian Tourism website that the entrance fee for foreigners is 20k. That means that they keep 60k for themselves.

We went to see a museum first with what is supposed to be a skeleton they found years ago but you can clearly see that the skeleton is made of plastic and is a 3D replica. It's kept in a plastic box that anyone can open.

We then went to the Hobbit Cave with a local who didn't speak English and couldn't give us any information. Which sounds crazy when you've paid an 80k fee entrance. Again the cave was normal and there was nothing interesting to see apart from maybe the part where they found the skeletons years ago which is now covered with bags.

The whole experience felt forced and fake. I don't recommend this place, it's a waste of time and money. Unfortunately until people keep going there, this will...

*New Rules at Liang Bua cave

The new rules at Liang Bua are not a scam, but rather an effort to enhance the visitor experience. The site is now managed by a local community group, offering a chance to learn about not only fossils and ancient humans but also the local customs and traditions.

The IDR 80,000 entrance fee for foreign tourists is reasonable, considering the services provided by the local community. An additional fee for traditional welcoming rituals is also appreciated, given voluntarily by visitors.

The package includes:

Traditional clothing rental Local guide services Local food and snacks Original local coffee

Visitors can enjoy these amenities while sitting and taking in the scenic view of the rice fields from the front of Liang Galang. The local community is warm and welcoming, treating guests like family.

A Memorable Experience

I highly recommend visiting Liang Bua to experience the rich culture and traditions of the local community. The site offers a unique opportunity to learn about the local way of life and enjoy the natural beauty of the surrounding area.

Key Highlights

Learn about local customs and traditions Enjoy local food and coffee Take in the scenic views of the rice fields Experience the warm hospitality of the local community

Overall, Liang Bua is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in culture, history, and...

Hello travellers,

Just want to inform you about the situation at the Liang Bua Cave (Hobbit Cave).

The road from Ruteng is fine for motorcycles apart from the last 1km, where the path suddenly becomes rather challenging. Take care.

What surprised us was several people stopping us (LITERALLY STANDING IN THE ROAD/PATH AMD BLOCKING FURTHER PASSAGE) about 300m ahead of the cave, dressed up in what they called traditional sarongs telling us to park here. They were super welcoming and nice to us as we followed them to a newly built shelther. There they explained that there are actually two caves (one they called "home" and the other is the famous Hobbit Cave). They gave us their blessing, handing over a token, giving us tea/coffee and several bananas, asking for a contribution. We thought this contribution would include the payment to enter both caves. HOW WRONG WE WERE!

After contributing they took us to the first Cave and after that they asked for another payment, this time 80 000 IDR per person for the Hobbit Cave entrance.

Would much rather contribute to something that would help to conserve this area. This felt like a scam.

My recommendation is to just pass them and park right at the Hobbit Cave, since there is nothing these "locals", as they call themselves, can do about it.

Also, the museum is...