Sumba

Sumba lies south of Flores: a large, sparsely populated island of limestone hills, rolling savannah and long, empty beaches, quite unlike the volcanic islands to its west. West Sumba is the greener, more fertile side, with rice fields, waterfalls and some of the most consistent surf in the region. Its villages keep a distinctive culture: traditional houses with tall, peaked thatched roofs, carved stone megalithic tombs that are still raised today, and hand-woven ikat textiles known throughout Indonesia.

Horses are part of everyday life, and a ride along the ocean at sunset is one of Sumba’s classic experiences. The dry season runs roughly from May to October or November, when the savannah turns golden; the wet months are greener and quieter. Sumba suits surfers, honeymooners, riders and travellers drawn to remote landscapes and a culture that is still lived day to day.