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Nihi Sumba Island

NIHI Sumba Island

Sumba, Indonesia

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We've hand-selected a range of tours and stays across the world that go above and beyond to be a force for good by supporting local businesses, educating staff, challenging local norms, or promoting conservation and biodiversity efforts. Your Responsible Choice helps increase the positive impact of your trip.

Situated on one of the most remote indigenous islands in the Indonesian archipelago, Nihi offers an experience of a lifetime by combining sophistication with the rugged outdoors. What was once just small surfing huts is now one of the most highly-rated hotels in the world. The heart of the property sits on an untouched beach, offering one of the best and most consistent surfing breaks in the world. Whether or not you are enjoying the breaking wave early in the morning, the resort offers something for everyone. It can be a quiet escape from life, or it can be the most adventurous island yet. Spend your days relaxing by the beach or make every day an adventure by booking horse riding, kitesurfing or perhaps paddleboarding with water buffalo. There is an excellent spa available, as well as a gym, family pool, yoga pavilion, and chocolate factory to indulge in during your stay.

The resort has 11 different villas. All feature en suite bathrooms with rain showers, separate tubs, outdoor rain shower, tea and coffee making facilities, Bluetooth speakers, complimentary minibars, outdoor day beds and loungers, outdoor kitchenettes and a private pool, all accessed through glass sliding doors.

The villa locations range from more private villas nestled in the trees or for those that want to see and smell the salt breeze from their room, a number of villas offer a full ocean view. The Mandaka Estate offers an added level of space and sophistication, located at the heart of the property. The five-bedroom estate is a good option for a full family.

Ombak is the resort’s signature restaurant offering dishes to please everyone. From fresh catches of the day to filets. The restaurant also has an extensive vegetarian menu for all. Breakfast and dinner will be served daily á la carte at Ombak restaurant, overlooking the waves crashing from below. Every Thursday night there is a special 'jungle themed' dinner with a traditional Sumbanese performance. The lunch restaurant, Nio Beach Club, is more casual as you enjoy your meal with your feet in the sand. Some of the most-liked dishes include freshly caught tuna poke bowls and the warm flatbread pizza. The Boat House is Nihi’s signature bar where everyone comes together to enjoy some sundowners in a communal manner before dinner.  There are no nearby dinning restaurants, however Nihi continues to invite new chefs from all over the world to mix things up with new and fresh local ingredients.

The Sumba Foundation is supported by Nihi and works to provide local villages with access to educational opportunities, clean water, and fighting malaria. Over 90% of hotel staff are from the local area.

OUR OPINION:

A stay at NIHI Sumba Island is a truly unique experience with an unbeatable location and a fantastic range of activities and excursions. Couple this with luxurious villas, beautiful seclusion and friendly service from the Sumbanese staff and you have a very special stay. There is a minimum stay of five nights, but the most reliable flights in and out of Sumba are once a week, so it is worth staying a full seven nights.

OUR RATING: Deluxe

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Rooms

The 28 villas are spread across the hillside. Hand built using local materials, the villas offer a feeling of understated luxury in keeping with their rustic, undeveloped setting with crisp white linen and hand finished furniture from local craftsmen.

All villas have a pool and veranda with outdoor living space (the Kasambi One Bedroom Villas have a shared pool) but vary in size from comfortable one bedroom villas perfect for couples to two, three, four or even five bedroom residences ideal for extended families or groups of friends traveling together. 

Many of the villas enjoy far reaching views of the beach that the resort sits on although some of these are partially obscured by the lush vegetation.

Location

NIHI Sumba Island has a wonderfully secluded and undeveloped setting on the southwest side of Sumba, an island in eastern Indonesia to the south of Flores and Komodo. A remote idyll, there are a handful of local villages in an area that is incredibly beautiful and peaceful.

Flights from Bali to Sumba take around 90 minutes and the resort is a further 90 minutes’ drive from the airport passing through Sumbanese villages and rolling hills.

NIHI Sumba Island sits on 2.5 km of private beach with a beautiful stretch of golden sand perfect for long walks. Conditions are great for surfing but swimming in the sea is advised for stronger swimmers only and at some times may be too rough for any swimming.

Behind the resort lies 567 acres of unspoilt natural reserve.

Food and drink

Breakfast and dinner are served in Ombak, a lovely open-air restaurant with sand underfoot and spectacular views of the long stretch of beach. Once a week there is a communal barbecue dinner with grilled meat, seafood and salad from the organic garden. Throughout the rest of the week an eclectic mix of both western and eastern food is on offer, at both Ombak and Nio Beach Club.

Each of the resort’s villas have the minibar replenished daily with soft drinks and beer, and at the start of your stay your room is provided with three carafes full of spirits. Cocktails are available at both Ombak and Nio Beach Club. 

Families

The hotel is great for families with children. There is a children's pool overlooking the beach and conveniently located next to The Boat House. Adults and especially children will love a visit to NIHI’s own original Chris & Charly’s Chocolate factory. Although there is no children's club there are many activities to keep children busy all day, including hikes, snorkeling, fishing trips and arts and crafts.

Facilities and activities

Facilities on site include an infinity swimming pool, Jacuzzi, children's pool, fitness center, yoga pavilion, chocolate factory, spa and a horse stable. You will have an opportunity to partake in daily activities such as a visit to The Sumba Foundation, daily yoga, snorkeling, kitesurfing, NIHI’s signature Spa Safari and more. The hotel is also affiliated with a dive and surf center so you can enjoy diving and surfing.

Environmental and social responsibility

Since its foundation, NIHI Sumba Island has been fully committed to supporting the people of Sumba. Over 90% of the workforce is local Sumbanese and the resort works closely with The Sumba Foundation which is working to alleviate the effects of poverty with village-based projects on health, education, clean water and income generation while respecting the culture and traditions of the Sumbanese people.

The close relationship of the resort and its guests has enriched the lives of many indigenous Sumbanese people and the resort encourages guests to get involved with visits to a local water project, a health clinic fighting malaria or volunteering one morning at the school lunch program.

Local excursions

NIHI Sumba Island offers an excellent and wide range of excursions to help you discover the landscape and culture of Sumba including a handful of signature experiences that stand apart.

One of the these is the Spa Safari, an early morning trek to a private beach at Nihioka Beach where you can enjoy unlimited spa treatments with sweeping panoramic views of turquoise waters. Other experiences include treks to spectacular waterfalls or through rice fields, visits to local villages and stand-up paddleboard excursions along the river.

Spa Facilities

While there is no spa building at NIHI Sumba Island, there are plenty of private outdoor options where you can enjoy a spa treatment. Choose one of the private, open-air bales dotted around the resort or enjoy a treatment in your villa. The signature spa experience is the resort's Spa Safari where guests trek to a private beach to enjoy unlimited spa treatments with sweeping panoramic views of turquoise waters.

Tour ideas in Sumba

Our itineraries are there to spark ideas for how you could include a stay at NIHI Sumba Island as part of your trip. Treat them simply as suggestions, because every aspect of the trip we create for you will be yours to define.

Location & places nearby

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    Where possible, we like to offer a range of accommodation for each stop of your trip, chosen by our specialists as some of their favorite places to stay. To help you make the right choice, we give each property a rating based on its facilities and service, but we also look for hotels with distinct character or a location that can't be bettered.

    Sumba and nearby places