Lakey Beach and the Cultural Awakening of Dompu

TheIndonesia.co - On the far southeastern shore of Sumbawa Island, where the sun brushes the sea each morning with golden light and the waves curl into perfect crescents, lies a place that quietly pulses with energy. Lakey Beach, in the Dompu Regency of West Nusa Tenggara, has long been known among surfers as a hidden jewel—remote, raw, and blessed with some of the most consistent surf breaks in Indonesia.

But now, Lakey is stepping into a new role. No longer just a paradise for wave chasers, it’s becoming the heart of a cultural and creative renaissance, fueled by the spirit of its people and the rhythm of its traditions.

That spirit came alive like never before in July 2025, when Dompu hosted its most ambitious cultural celebration yet: Festival Lakey, themed Inspiring of Lakey. What was once a local event has become a national stage for performance, innovation, and the colorful expressions of life in this part of the archipelago. Over nine days, visitors were invited to see Dompu not only for its natural beauty but for its soul.

According to diskominfo.dompukab.go.id, the festival offered everything from music and craft exhibitions to surfing competitions and traditional fashion shows. But it was one performance that captured the hearts of all who were there—and even those far beyond: Tarian Ou Balumba, the traditional dance of Dompu, performed by over 21,000 people in unison along the shores of Lakey Beach.

It was a moment as breathtaking as it was historic. Men and women, students and civil servants, dancers from local studios, and villagers from surrounding communities gathered together in carefully choreographed harmony, moving in waves that echoed the ocean beside them. The music was fast, the energy contagious. The spectacle not only mesmerized but also earned a place in the Museum Rekor Dunia Indonesia (MURI) for the largest coastal traditional dance performance in history.

The dance—Ou Balumba—is more than just a performance. It is a living story, passed down through generations, a ritual of strength and unity. Watching thousands move as one along the sweeping coastline, it became clear: this was Dompu’s declaration. Not just to Indonesia, but to the world.

A Festival of Spirit and Identity

The success of Festival Lakey was more than a tourism highlight; it was a signal of a deeper transformation. The Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy has now officially recognized Dompu as a creative district in the making. Minister Teuku Riefky Harsya described the festival as “not just a cultural stage, but the engine of a creative economy,” emphasizing how local identity and innovation can build a sustainable future.

Lakey's waves have always drawn surfers. Now its people, art, and traditions are drawing the world.

The festival’s lineup was a dynamic blend of past and future: the Festival Kopi Tambora celebrated the rich coffee grown on the slopes of Mount Tambora; Festival Timbu showcased regional cuisine, such as bamboo-steamed rice and fish curries steeped in yellow coconut broth. There were fashion shows featuring Muna Pa’a, a distinctive Dompu weaving tradition, as well as a thriving creative bazaar where young entrepreneurs sold crafts, clothing, and herbal teas.

And throughout it all, the beach was alive—not just with music and markets, but with the echoes of history and the pulse of community.

The Surf That Started It All

Well before the stages were set and the dance rehearsals began, Lakey Beach was quietly carving out a name for itself among surfers in the know. Its reef breaks—Lakey Peak, Lakey Pipe, Periscopes, and Cobblestones—are known for their variety, power, and near-perfect form. Each wave has its own character: some are fast and hollow, others long and playful. And yet, what all share is consistency—wave after wave rolling in from the Indian Ocean, shaped by offshore winds and reef geography into ideal surf.

The beach's remote nature has preserved its authentic charm. There are no high-rise hotels here, no endless lines of beach bars or tourist traps. Instead, you'll find small bungalows, friendly warungs, and surf shacks where stories are shared over grilled fish and strong Lombok coffee.

Locals have embraced the surf culture, not as outsiders, but as collaborators—teaching, guiding, and welcoming. For many in Dompu, surfing is not just a tourist draw; it has become a shared language between visitors and community.

A Place of People and Pride

If the waves brought the world to Dompu, it’s the people who will make them stay. There's a quiet pride here, one born not from spectacle, but from resilience and deep cultural roots. The people of Dompu are farmers, fishermen, weavers, musicians, and now—thanks to the festival’s creative economy push—entrepreneurs and storytellers.

At the heart of this cultural awakening is the desire to preserve what makes Dompu special. Elders teach children the songs and dances of their ancestors. Artisans are reclaiming traditional weaving methods and natural dyes. Dancers rehearse tirelessly to keep the movement of their ancestors alive in their limbs. And in every village, you’ll find the same guiding principle: we honor the past to shape the future.

This spirit of collaboration is being nurtured through a government-supported “hexahelix” model—connecting local businesses, artists, academics, government, media, and financial institutions. It’s not just about showcasing Dompu to tourists; it’s about building a creative infrastructure that benefits locals first.

A Princess and an Island: The Charm of Moyo

Not far from Dompu, and easily reached through a ferry ride or short flight, lies another jewel of West Nusa Tenggara—Moyo Island. Tucked just off the northern coast of Sumbawa, this tiny, unspoiled paradise has long captivated travelers seeking something quieter, more intimate. Among its most famous visitors was Princess Diana, who came in the late 1990s seeking refuge from the eyes of the world. She found it here—on an island wrapped in soft beaches, jungle silence, and the gentlest sea breezes.

Moyo has a dreamlike quality. The coral reefs just offshore bloom with life, making it a snorkeling and diving haven. Inside its forested interior, waterfalls like Mata Jitu cascade down mossy stone, forming emerald pools where you can swim in silence. It’s a place of deer, birdsong, and simplicity.

For those who venture here after Lakey, Moyo offers contrast—surf and sand give way to calm and canopy. But the connection is real: both places thrive not because they chase mass tourism, but because they protect what matters most.

The Majesty of Tambora and Beyond

If your journey through Dompu continues, you’ll find yourself drawn inland to another icon—Mount Tambora. Towering over the landscape, Tambora is more than a volcano. It is a monument to one of history’s most powerful eruptions, the 1815 event that changed global weather patterns and reshaped entire civilizations.

Today, Tambora invites hikers and adventurers to climb to its crater rim, where a surreal landscape stretches out beneath the clouds. The mountain also holds archaeological mysteries—villages buried under ash, cultures lost and rediscovered.

Dompu, it seems, is a district of thresholds. From beach to volcano, surf to summit, dance to silence.

Getting There

Reaching Dompu and Lakey Beach is a journey, but a worthwhile one. Most travelers arrive via Bima Airport (BMU), which is accessible by daily flights from Bali or Lombok. From Bima, it's a scenic 2.5–3 hour drive to Dompu, followed by another 45-minute drive to Lakey Beach.

If you’re arriving from Sumbawa Besar, the road to Dompu takes about six to seven hours. From there, you can continue eastward to the port town of Sape, where ferries connect to Flores and Komodo National Park, adding more chapters to your island journey.

To reach Moyo Island, ferries or speedboats can be arranged from Sumbawa Besar, and several eco-resorts also offer transfer packages.

A Rising Model for Indonesia’s Creative Future

The story of Lakey Beach and Dompu is not just a travel tale—it is a case study in how community, culture, and creativity can build something lasting. With support from the Ministry of Creative Economy, plans are underway for Dompu to establish its own Creative Economy Department, ensuring that festivals, artisans, and cultural educators receive the infrastructure they need to thrive.

Minister Riefky put it best when he said that the creative economy must be a collective movement, rooted in place and powered by innovation. And here, in this quiet corner of Sumbawa, that movement is taking form—through dance, through waves, through song and craft and connection.

Not just a surf spot, Lakey Beach offers the cute things

Lakey Beach is no longer just a secret surf spot. It is a living, breathing cultural renaissance. A place where over 21,000 dancers move in rhythm by the sea. A coastline where tradition is celebrated, not as nostalgia, but as momentum. Where a surfboard and a sarong share space under the same sky.

Whether you come for the waves, the festivals, or the soft silence of Moyo Island, you’ll leave with more than pictures—you’ll leave with the memory of a people who dance.