Nihi Sumba Island

Myself and my family have just returned home from a week at NIHI. Normally when we stay somewhere there is something we would change, but this place was perfect for all of us. It’s a small hotel, but has plenty on offer so we never felt bored. We rode on the horses in the ocean, trekked to the offsite spa, played pickle ball, played pool and table tennis, walked the length of the hotel’s private beach (5km), played Padel, went deep sea fishing and the kids made chocolate in the chocolate factory. They have a turtle hatchery on site - 107 turtles hatched whilst we were there, so we got to see them being released into the ocean. We also visited the Sumba foundation and a local school. Surfing is obviously a big draw to the hotel as well. The meals were excellent with so much variety - we never went hungry. Probably the best meal was when we ate the fish that we had caught that morning. The Spa is the best one we have been to - instead of a 90 minute massage it was a 2.5 hour treatment consisting of a combination of whichever 5 elements we chose - including massage, reflexology and body scrubs. The setting is stunning, on a cliff top in an open air room. Each room at the hotel is assigned a ‘guest captain’ or two, who communicate with you throughout your trip via WhatsApp. We were assigned Yulius and Petrus who were also excellent. Nothing was ever too much trouble and they made suggestions for us throughout our stay. Our kids got to know them and felt very comfortable with them. Thanks guys! One thing that really struck us was how clean the ocean was compared to Bali. We swam every day and it was crystal clear. On a 5k beach walk I picked up about 4 pieces of plastic which had washed up - virtually nothing. Another great thing is that the hotel never felt busy - the pool area always had plenty of sun loungers available so we never felt we had to ‘reserve’ one. Getting to the hotel is part of the adventure. The flights to Sumba are pretty unpredictable - both of ours changed with our outbound flight being 5 hours delayed and our inbound flight to Bali being brought forward an hour. We stayed at the Novotel at Bali airport for our first night which had a pool and spa so wasn’t too bad with the delay. We used NAM air to get to Sumba which was a pretty old plane, next time I’d probably use Batik air which have newer planes according to other guests we spoke to. Once at Tambolaka airport we were collected by NIHI staff and driven to the hotel in the open air safari style jeeps. This was fun - it takes 90 minutes. I guess something that could enhance the stay even more would be the option for a helicopter transfer, as the scenery would be amazing and the transfer much quicker. All in all a great holiday, and already looking at going back next year.

Our stay at NIHI Sumba was truly one of the most unforgettable travel experiences we have ever had. From the moment we arrived, every detail was handled with such warmth, professionalism, and genuine care. As the owner of a travel agency and an independent travel design consultant myself, I truly appreciated the exceptional level of service and attention to detail throughout our stay. A very special thank you to our guest captains, Anggri and Doris, who went completely above and beyond to ensure our stay was everything we had dreamed of and more. Anggri especially cared for us with such a nurturing, motherly presence that she truly made us feel at home every single day. Her beautiful warm heart, kindness, attentiveness, and genuine care left such an impression on us that we honestly wanted to take her home with us. Doris was equally wonderful, and together they made us feel incredibly welcomed, supported, and cared for throughout our entire visit. We also want to recognize Kentt, who was in charge of guest experiences during our stay. He was an exceptional host, provided outstanding communication and support, and took the time to personally show us several of the other villas on the property so we could better understand the different accommodations for future clients back home. His insight and hospitality were greatly appreciated. The horseback experiences were absolutely magical — riding horses along the beaches at sunset, swimming in the ocean with the horses, and participating in Reiki equine therapy with Lena, whose calming and beautiful energy made the experience deeply special and meaningful. Grace, who oversees the stables and horseback riding experiences, was beyond amazing. Her warmth, personality, and passion for the horses truly stood out, and her assistant Eggy did a wonderful job sharing and explaining the Sumbanese culture and traditions with us. Lastly, we met a young man named Titus in the stable lounge who was such a standout employee. He consistently went above and beyond to make sure we were comfortable and taken care of, and we genuinely enjoyed spending time talking with him and learning more about his culture and life on Sumba. NIHI Sumba is far more than just a luxury resort — it is a place filled with heart, culture, unforgettable experiences, and extraordinary people. We will never forget our time here.

a beautiful place to vacation with family or partner..

Thank you Ayu and Upi for this amazing holiday! You look so well after us. Together with the entire team we will keep you in our hearts and we hope to be back in Nihi soon.

Spent 6 days at Nihi Sumba. My overall impression is that Nihi is perhaps "The best place in the world" The facility is incredible and they left no stone unturned. Everything you could want is there at least 2x3 times over. The staff is incredible, Aris the am Bartender had epic coffees ready for us daily. Pauline was perhaps the most well organised, attentive, accommodating hotel manager we have ever encountered. She has great energy, kept us informed and entertained. The people plus environment is unparalleled. Definitely going back. The surf is also epic!