Why we love NIHI Sumba

Set on a remote stretch of Indonesia’s Sumba Island, NIHI is one of those rare places that lives up to every word-of-mouth recommendation, glossy magazine article and dreamy Instagram post and yet, somehow still surprises you.

Voted the World’s Best Hotel twice by Travel + Leisure, NIHI is more than a hotel. It’s a fully immersive experience in nature, culture and barefoot luxury; the kind that manages to feel both wild and intentional, a typically tricky combination.

We love it because it isn't trying too hard; the thatched villas are tucked into the landscape like they’ve always belonged there. The beach is vast and untamed. The soundscape is not a curated playlist but crashing waves and the occasional rustle of palm leaves. The luxury is there, of course, but it’s not about chandeliers or pillow menus. It’s about space, stillness and an astonishing sense of place - increasingly rare entities in today's world.

So, what makes NIHI unforgettable?

1. Sunrise rides along an empty beach

Where else in the world can you ride horses through the surf before breakfast?

2. The Spa Safari

A half-day journey through coconut plantations and lush rice paddies to a private clifftop haven where therapists and fresh fruit smoothies await.

3. Villas you’ll never want to leave

Each thatched villa is a masterclass in understated design: we love the outdoor showers, plunge pools and ocean views that go on seemingly forever.

4. Surf, serenity & Sumbanese culture

From legendary waves at Occy’s Left to guided visits to nearby villages, NIHI balances soulful seclusion with connection to the island’s heritage, dip in for as little or as much as you like.

It’s rare to find a place that truly lets you disconnect not just from Wi-Fi but from everything you didn’t realise you needed a break from. We send clients to Nihi Sumba because it manages to create the kind of trip that changes you... not with fireworks but with a quiet shift - a deeper exhale, a clearer mind, a relaxed body.

James, our founder, recently returned from NIHI Sumba and gave it an unflinching 10/10. There are many wonderful properties on Sumba Island, but NIHI remains in a league of its own.

And there’s more to come. NIHI Rote, the vibrant new sister property to NIHI Sumba, is set to open in April 2026 on Bo’a Beach - a wild, ocean-facing stretch of land on the lesser-known island of Rote. Expect world-class surf, a yoga deck above the sea, garden spa rituals, reef diving and salt-air suppers at Ombak Restaurant.

With wellness, water sports, and cultural exchange at the Rote Hospitality Academy, NIHI Rote promises the same soulful, off-grid elegance that NIHI is known for with a saltier, surfier twist. We’ll be watching closely and likely booking early.

Ready to escape?

Explore our tailor-made Indonesia itineraries or get in touch to create something truly unforgettable.