NIHI Sumba... Indonesia’s Most Romantic Island Hideaway

9 days from £9,100 for 2025 per person

• Seminyak, Bali
• Sumba Island

Just an hour’s flight from Bali, but a world away in rhythm and reverence, NIHI Sumba is a revelation. Tucked on the remote western edge of Sumba Island, this exclusive, award-winning hideaway is one of Indonesia’s most extraordinary offerings, a place where wild luxury meets purposeful living.

Set across 175 hectares of jungle, rice terraces and open grassland, and fronted by 2.5 kilometres of private beach, NIHI is cinematic. The sea here is legendary with world-class surfing, diving and deep-sea fishing all just steps away, and inland, wild horses roam free and waterfalls tumble into emerald pools. It’s not a hotel for idle indulgence, but for active immersion; horse rides at sunrise, treks to local villages, waterfall picnics, yoga in jungle pavilions or spa treatments in cliffside nests open to the breeze.

The villas are tucked discreetly into the landscape, with private pools, expansive decks and views over a sea that glows gold at dusk. Interiors are a tactile mix of thatch, stone and teak, and outside, the only soundtrack is the hush of waves and the whisper of wind through the palms.

Though full board, meals feel anything but predictable. The menu includes line-caught fish grilled over coals, coconut curries, sun-ripened fruit and beach barbecues beneath the stars. It’s barefoot dining at its most refined, where conversation and connection matter more than wine lists or white tablecloths.

NIHI has earned its cult following by striking the rare balance between utter seclusion and deep engagement. At its heart is a commitment to community. Many of the team are from the island and profits support the Sumba Foundation, which funds healthcare, education and clean water projects. The entire property is guided by an ethos of sustainability.

NIHI Sumba is especially perfect for honeymooners and romantics, those looking for privacy and moments of magic. It’s a true one-stop tropical escape, but also pairs beautifully with wider Indonesian itineraries, one could easily combine with the temples of Java, the rice fields of Bali or the coral atolls of Raja Ampat.

This itinerary is purely a starting point to creating your own perfect journey; you can book it just as it is, or use it as inspiration to shape something entirely your own. For more ideas, take a look at our curated collections of Honeymoons, as well as our favourite Beach, Scuba Diving and Fly & Flop itineraries.

Travelling is like flirting with life. It's like saying, 'I would stay and love you, but I have to go; this is my station.
Lisa St. Aubin de Teran