Somewhere deep in the highlands of Banten, there is a village that still speaks in the language of silence and balance. No electricity, no gadgets, no rush, just the rhythm of footsteps on soil, the sound of bamboo swaying, and the calm voices of people who have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. This is Baduy, a community where modern life slows down and where visitors are invited not to tour, but to learn.
The Baduy people or Urang Kanekes, are known for their simple lifestyle and deep connection to the land. They live in two main groups, Baduy Luar (Outer Baduy) and Baduy Dalam (Inner Baduy). While the Outer Baduy are slightly more open to the outside world, the Inner Baduy strictly preserve their ancestral traditions, refusing modern technology, plastic, or even the use of soap in their rivers. Visiting them isn’t about sightseeing, it’s about sharing a moment in their way of life.
Through several curated trips by Jalur Travel, Travel Buddies, and Pandooin Travel, travellers can explore the many sides of Baduy life, trekking through forested hills, crossing bamboo bridges, staying overnight in traditional wooden homes, sharing meals cooked over fire, learning local crafts, and joining quiet evening conversations with the community. Each journey offers a chance to slow down, reconnect with nature, and understand how the Baduy people live in harmony with the land, without electricity, gadgets, or modern distractions, but with a richness that comes from simplicity and balance.
Visiting the Baduy is not like visiting a tourist attraction, it is stepping into another rhythm of life. There are no cars, no signals, and no selfies with ring lights. Instead, visitors will find peaceful trekking routes through hills and bamboo forests, opportunities for cultural learning such as weaving, natural crafts, and local wisdom talks, warm hospitality from Baduy families who open their homes, and moments of reflection in a world untouched by noise. It is important to respect all customary rules, including no gadgets, no littering, and no use of chemicals in the rivers. As the locals say, “Kami menjaga alam, alam menjaga kami,” which means “we protect nature, and nature protects us.”
Whether you seek a short escape or a deep cultural immersion, there is a path for everyone. Jalur Travel offers cultural learning and immersive stays through the Saba Budaya Baduy program, Travel Buddies provides friendly open trips with comfortable pacing, and Pandooin Travel focuses on day trips and craft-based cultural workshops. Each trip begins from Tanah Abang or Rangkasbitung, with prices starting from IDR 260K to 270K per person. Booking early is recommended, as slots are limited and trips pause during the Kawalu months when the Inner Baduy community observes a period of sacred retreat.
To visit the Baduy is to unlearn hurry, to remember stillness, and to feel the earth again under your feet. You won’t leave with photos of monuments but with stories told by silence, stories of resilience, simplicity, and balance. Baduy is not just a place to visit, it’s a way to see how to live in harmony and how to find peace in the quietest corners of the world.
