Nihi Sumba
Sumba / IndonesiaWhether you’re swimming with horses in the sea or trekking through the verdant countryside hills to reach the resort’s cliff-side spa, staying at Nihi Sumba is all about adventure and self-rediscovery. From its dreamy Sumbanese-styled villas to its stop-and-stare vistas of the Indian Ocean, this Indonesian paradise is a place made for real connection, while its Sumba Foundation is committed to providing life-changing humanitarian aid and resources to the local villages.
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What to love
- Visitors can partake in stand-up paddle boarding along the river, spearfishing, kitesurfing, sunset horse riding and more.
- The resort is home to a unique spa safari: take a 90-minute trek to reach the resort’s beautiful spa resort.
- Whether its Indonesian dishes in the open-air Ombak restaurant, or sushi at the beachfront Kaboku bar, dining at Nihi Sumba is a unforgettable event.
- Each of the 28 villas has its own personal Sumbanese style, whether you opt for the beachside plunge pool or the treetop hideaway.
What to know
- The Sumba Foundation has been established to reduce the effects of poverty on the island and provide humanitarian aid to the local villages.
- The owner of Nihi Sumba Resort handles the administration costs of the Sumba Foundation, meaning all guest donations go directly to the projects.
- Whether you’re travelling as a couple, with family or with friends, the resort has accommodation types to suit all needs.
- The minibar, laundry, yoga lessons, Wi-Fi and select excursion activities are included with the accommodation price.
Description
The humanitarian work of The Sumba Foundation, which lies at the heart of this breathtaking resort, cannot be understated. Since its establishment at the start of the millennium, it has helped to build health clinics, dramatically reduce the effects of malaria, provided local villages with clean water and thousands of children with education. Alongside these community projects, the preservation of Sumbanese tradition is also considered paramount.
The culture of this Indonesian island, an hour’s flight from Bali, runs through the heart of this stunning idyll. You’ll find it in any one of its 28 villas, each with a unique design influenced by Sumbanese architecture; some are set high in the jungle trees, ushering in widescreen panoramas of the Indian Ocean, while others are a few steps from the beach, with stone paths leading to your private plunge pool. There’s also a plethora of local flavours to be found in the delicate seafood and spectacular barbecues of the Ombak restaurant, to be devoured in the restaurant’s picturesque open-air, sandy-floored setting (the Nio beach club and Kaboku sushi bar are also great spots for lunch or a snack.)
Step down to the beach and you’ll find where this island gets its reputation as a postcard paradise. Watch pro-surfers hit the waves (the island is known worldwide for its excellent surfing conditions) over breakfast, or maybe take a lesson yourself. Then again, if surfing doesn’t float your boat, there’s a range of activities including paddle-boarding, guided spear-fishing, mountain-biking and yoga. The indigenous horse population is an emblem of Sumba, and once a day there’s the opportunity to swim with these tamed beasts in the ocean or hop on a saddle for a trip along the golden sands.
For those looking for something a little further afield, a trip to the island’s chocolate factory is an excursion as unexpected as it is delightful. While the resort’s spa safari is a signature highlight. Take-off on a 90-minute trek that takes in the lush hills, rice fields and a local village, before arriving at the cliff-side spa hub for a well-earned cold-stone massage or natural-salt body scrub. And don’t worry, there’s a car to make the trip back to the resort.
