Sade Village
Sade is a traditional Sasak village on the main road between Praya and Kuta, and it is the cultural stop on almost every south Lombok itinerary. Around 150 families live in *bale tani* houses with bamboo walls and thatched *alang-alang* roofs, arranged around a compound layout that has not changed in generations.
The detail everyone remembers is the floors. They are packed earth sealed with buffalo dung, polished smooth and re-applied periodically. It sounds unpleasant and is not — the surface is hard, clean and odourless, and it repels insects, which is the point.
The other thing to see is weaving. Sasak women work backstrap looms in the compounds, producing *songket* cloth in patterns specific to the village. A large piece can take weeks, which is worth remembering when you see the price.
Here is the part most guides leave out: Sade is heavily commercialised and the sales pressure is real. Entry is by donation with an assigned guide, and the tour ends among stalls where the approach can be persistent. It is not a scam — the village is authentic and lived-in — but it is a managed experience.
If that puts you off, ask your driver for Ende village a few kilometres away. Same architecture, same weaving, a fraction of the traffic.
Travel tips for Sade Village
- Ask for Ende instead if you want it quieter. It is a few kilometres away, architecturally the same, and far less visited.
- Entry is by donation with an assigned local guide — IDR 50,000–100,000 per group is a fair rate.
- Expect a sales push at the end. Decide beforehand whether you want cloth; a polite, repeated *tidak, terima kasih* is fine.
- Buy weaving directly from the woman at the loom if you do buy — the money goes further and the piece has a story.
- Dress modestly. This is a lived-in village, not a museum.
- It is 20 minutes from Kuta on the Praya road, so it slots easily into an arrival or departure day.
Popular tours here
- Sasak Cultural Tour: Villages, Weaving & Pottery
- Lombok Day Tour: Waterfalls, Sasak Villages & Beaches
- Lombok Private Tour with Local Guide & Driver
Frequently asked questions
What is Sade Village?
A traditional Sasak village in south Lombok where around 150 families live in bamboo-and-thatch houses with the customary compound layout still in daily use.
Why are the floors made with buffalo dung?
Packed earth sealed with buffalo dung dries hard, smooth and odourless, and repels insects — it is a practical building technique, not a ritual one.
Is Sade Village touristy?
Yes — it is authentic and lived-in, but it is also the most visited village on the island and the sales pressure at the end of the tour is persistent.
Is there a quieter alternative to Sade?
Ende village, a few kilometres away, has the same architecture and weaving with a fraction of the visitors.
How much is entry to Sade Village?
There is no fixed ticket — a donation of roughly IDR 50,000–100,000 per group, which includes a local guide, is the normal rate.