NIHI Sumba Island

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 travelling 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, snorkelling, fishing trips and arts and crafts.

Facilities and activities

Facilities on site include an infinity swimming pool, Jacuzzi, children's pool, fitness centre, 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, snorkelling, kitesurfing, NIHI’s signature Spa Safari and more. The hotel is also affiliated with a dive and surf centre 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 programme.

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.