About this hotel
General information
NIHI Sumba stretches along Nihiwatu Beach in Wanokaka, West Sumba — an island twice the size of Bali that sees only a fraction of its visitors. Thirty-one villas and estates sit between jungle, gardens and the Indian Ocean, many under the soaring thatched roofs and four central pillars of traditional Sumbanese houses, and no two are alike. Every villa comes with its own Guest Kapten, a personal host who shapes the days.
The stay is all-inclusive: three meals a day with non-alcoholic drinks, a minibar restocked daily, laundry, airport transfers, a daily happy hour at the Boathouse Bar, group yoga, padel, paddleboarding and snorkelling. Life follows the island’s rhythms — horses swimming along the shore at dawn, a famous left-hand surf break right in front of the resort, old hilltop villages inland — and the resort works with the Sumba Foundation, whose community projects in clean water, school meals, education and local livelihoods guests can visit.
Location
The resort lies on Nihiwatu Beach in Wanokaka, West Sumba, facing the Indian Ocean. The journey begins in Bali: daily morning flights from Bali’s international airport in Denpasar reach Tambolaka airport on Sumba in about an hour, with further connections from Surabaya and Labuan Bajo. From Tambolaka, a scenic transfer of about 90 minutes in an open-air safari vehicle — included in the stay — climbs through hills, forests and rice fields past the market town of Waikabubak; private cars and helicopter charters can also be arranged.
Spa
Nihioka Spa lies 15 minutes from the resort in a secluded valley of some 40 hectares, where rice fields and jungle run down to the ocean, with two hidden beaches and a freshwater infinity pool above the sea. The signature Spa Safari starts with the journey itself — a two-hour coastal trek, a 90-minute ride on horseback or by bike, or a short drive in an open safari vehicle — followed by breakfast on a treehouse platform over a private cove and a half or full day of treatments in one of six clifftop pavilions. The menu draws on Sumbanese tradition: a healing massage that includes the stomach, a deep-tissue massage worked with a buffalo horn, hot-and-cold stone therapy and four-hands massage, alongside wraps, scrubs, organic facials and the resort’s own Sumba 7 oil, macerated on the island from seven botanicals such as ginger, turmeric and mangosteen.
Sports & leisure
Days revolve around the ocean, the horses and the island:
- surfing the famous left-hand reef break in front of the resort, limited to 15 registered surfers a day; beginners’ lessons on Nihiwatu Beach or in the sheltered bay of Coconut Cove, and Surfari trips to other breaks 30–60 minutes away by car or boat
- snorkelling along the coral wall of the reef in front of the resort, stand-up paddleboarding, fishing and spearfishing, and private boat charters along the coast for sport fishing — among them a full-day trip that ends with the catch cooked over an open fire at the secluded coastal retreat of Konda Maloba
- riding from the resort’s own stables: beach rides at dawn or dusk, trail rides and lessons for every level, swimming with the horses in the sea and polo by the sea
- padel (the only court on Sumba) and pickleball, an air-conditioned gym in the Menara Gardens with personal training, and daily group yoga and meditation in the beachfront yoga pavilion
- mountain biking and guided hikes to the Lapopu and Blue waterfalls, through rice fields, along the Wanokaka river and into the Lamboya highlands
- a weekly cultural programme: a Sumbanese stone-carving workshop, an evening of island storytelling, a visit to the traditional villages of Waitabar and Tarung and a cooking demonstration in the garden; plus cooking classes, a Japanese cooking class and chocolate making
- a tour of the Sumba Foundation’s community projects
For children
NIHI Wildlings, the kids’ club for ages 4–12, runs daily from 9am to 4pm with a different theme each day — beachcombing and marine life with the Boathouse team, pony care at the stables, Indonesian cooking and pizza making, chocolate making, Sumbanese stories, dress and dance, clay modelling, treasure hunts and kids’ yoga. Younger children can join with a parent or nanny, and early breakfast supervision can be arranged. The Kids Pony Club at Sandalwood Stables (ages 3–11) teaches grooming, feeding and gentle riding, surf lessons are open to all ages with tandem surfing for the youngest, there is a child-friendly pool, and babysitters can be booked with a few days’ notice.
Restaurants & bars
Much of the produce comes from the resort’s organic gardens and the surrounding land and sea, cooked over flame, slow-cooked or wood-smoked; meals can also be served in the villa or set up as a private dinner under the stars:
- Ombak Restaurant — open-air restaurant and bar on a wooden deck above the beach, serving breakfast and dinner à la carte with local and far-flung flavours, often with live entertainment
- Nio Beach Club — beachfront pavilions beside the main pool for long lunches: fresh fish, salads, dishes from the grill and wood-fired pizzas
- Kaboku Restaurant — an intimate sunken, air-conditioned room for a seven-course omakase paired with Japanese sake and whisky, for six guests at a time
- Boathouse Bar — the social hub by the water, with cocktails, light bites and a daily happy hour at sunset
- weekly themed dinners, among them an open-fire barbecue at the Sandalwood Stables and a Saturday White Party
Swimming
Nihiwatu Beach, 2.5 km of white sand, lies at the foot of the resort, with a coral reef just offshore for snorkelling when the surf is small. By the sand, Nio Beach Club has a 20-metre infinity lap pool overlooking the ocean, and almost every villa has its own pool, from plunge pools to long lap pools. At Nihioka Spa, guests also have a freshwater infinity pool and two secluded beaches.
Rooms
Thirty-one villas and estates — from one-bedroom hideaways to a four-bedroom family estate and a three-bedroom treehouse — are spread across the hillside, the gardens and the shoreline; most pair traditional Sumbanese architecture with indoor-outdoor living, ocean views and a private pool. Several neighbouring villas can be combined into larger estates for families and groups.
Every villa has air conditioning and a ceiling fan, a minibar restocked daily, a safe, Wi-Fi, a hairdryer, bathrobes, sandals, a beach bag, a yoga mat and insect repellent, plus the services of a personal Guest Kapten.
Raja Mandaka
The principal residence of the Mandaka Estate above the Boathouse: the main bedroom has its own deck over Nihiwatu Beach, the second faces the lap pool and the ocean, and behind them are a fire-heated outdoor tub and a waterfall pool. A library, living room, kitchen, cold plunge pool, barbecue, pizza oven and table tennis complete it; for four adults.
Marangga Family Estate
A four-bedroom family villa high above the surf break, under soaring thatched roofs on four pillars, with a pool running the length of the house and views over the ocean and the organic gardens. Three king bedrooms and a twin family room each have an outdoor soaking tub, one of them fire-heated; for eight adults and two children.
Marangga
A single-level one-bedroom villa right on the coast in its own grounds, with a plunge pool, outdoor shower, large soaking tub and open-air dining. At the garden’s edge a clifftop pavilion with a king-size daybed can be set for private dinners, spa treatments or a night under canopy netting; for two adults.
Kanatar Sumba House
A two-bedroom duplex at one of the highest points of the resort, above the gardens and the ocean. Upstairs, the main suite has a canopy bed and an ocean-facing balcony with a bathtub; downstairs, a second bedroom and a living area open onto a wide deck and a private infinity pool; for two adults and two children.
The Treehouse
Three circular glass bedrooms with king beds sit high in the trees at the edge of an ancient forest, linked by raised walkways, each with its own bathroom and an ocean-view balcony. Below are open-air living areas, an infinity pool among the trees, a private spa treatment room and a path to the beach; for six adults.
Mandaka Sumba House
One of three two-storey, two-bedroom villas on a gentle jungle slope of the Mandaka Estate, with ocean views and a private pool — in one of them a waterfall pool. Upstairs, the main bedroom has an elevated outdoor shower and a balcony with a bathtub; downstairs, a separate family room suits children, rest or work; for two adults and two children.
Putri Wamoro Jungle
A two-bedroom duplex in an elevated central spot near Menara, with ocean views, high ceilings and king-size canopy beds in both rooms. The upper bedroom leads to an open-air dining deck, the lower one to a deck with an infinity-edge plunge pool, and a waterfall pool fills the garden with the sound of water; for four adults.
Mandaka Surf
A compact one-bedroom villa among the trees of the Mandaka Estate, with a private path down to the Boathouse, an outdoor bathtub, a gazebo and a plunge pool overlooking the ocean. It can also be added to a Raja Mandaka stay as a guest villa; for two adults.
Puncak Bawa
A one-bedroom villa at the resort’s highest point, with private car access, panoramic ocean views, a plunge pool and a shaded gazebo, facing Nihiwatu Beach and the rice fields. For two guests.
Puncak Dete
A one-bedroom villa at the resort’s highest point, with private car access, panoramic ocean views, a plunge pool and a gazebo, looking out over the famous surf break. For up to three guests.
Raja Puncak
A three-bedroom villa at the resort’s highest point, with panoramic views over the full 2.5 km of Nihiwatu Beach: the main suite fills the top floor with a balcony and soaking tub, and an attached duplex adds two more en-suite bedrooms, one with its own plunge pool and gazebo. A lap pool, lawn and gazebo, private parking and a dedicated buggy complete it; for six adults.
Putri Hillrise
A two-bedroom villa on one of the resort’s highest points, with 270° views over Nihiwatu Beach and the ocean, an open living and dining space and a fully equipped kitchen. The main suite opens onto a lap pool and terrace, and the en-suite second bedroom suits children or guests; private road and parking; for two adults and two children.
Hillrise
A hilltop one-bedroom villa with 270° views over Nihiwatu Beach and the ocean, its spacious suite holding a lounge, workspace and generous bathroom. Outside are a deck with an infinity-edge plunge pool, a shaded gazebo and an outdoor bathtub facing the sunset; for two adults.
Wulla Marapu
A two-level, three-bedroom villa in a central spot next to the arrival area: upstairs, two en-suite bedrooms look over the full length of Nihiwatu Beach from bed; downstairs, open-air living and dining flow to a private pool, with a third bedroom for children or guests. For four adults and two children.
Putri Wamoro Beach
A two-bedroom villa between jungle and coastline above Nio Pool, with high ceilings and three walls of windows in each bedroom. At its heart are a large infinity pool facing Nihiwatu Beach and an open-air pavilion with a dining area, bar and kitchen; for four adults.
Putri Lantoro
A two-bedroom villa above Nio Pool with beach access, each bedroom with its own ocean-facing balcony. Downstairs, an open-air bar and dining area adjoin a large pool; it can be combined with one or both neighbouring Lantoro villas, each with its own entrance; for four adults.
Marangga Lawn Villa
A single-level one-bedroom villa close to the shoreline, with a private lawn facing the ocean, a deck with a daybed, a teak cabana and a plunge pool. Inside there is a bathtub, outside a sea-facing shower; Ombak Restaurant, the Boathouse and the beach are close by, and it can be connected with a neighbouring villa for families or friends; for two adults.
Putri Kasambi
A two-bedroom villa above Nihiwatu Beach facing the famous surf break, set in gardens around a large infinity pool. A central living and dining room separates two en-suite bedrooms, the main one with a large tub overlooking the beach; a poolside bar, kitchenette and a path to Nio Pool and the beach complete it; for four adults.
Lulu Amahu Saudara
A two-bedroom family villa in gardens above Ombak Restaurant, with ocean views and a private pool: the master bedroom has an en-suite and an outdoor soaking tub, the children’s room twin beds and its own bathroom with an outdoor shower. A shaded living space opens onto the pool and a pavilion with a large daybed; for two adults and two children.
Lantoro
One of two one-bedroom villas close to the beach, with its own entrance, landscaped garden, plunge pool and Indian Ocean views; a garden path leads to Nio Pool and the beach. For two adults.
Kanatar
A one-bedroom villa on two levels near the Boathouse and Ombak Restaurant: upstairs, a suite with a canopy bed, outdoor shower and ocean-facing balcony; downstairs, an open-air living area and a wide deck with a private pool. For two adults.
Lulu Amahu
A one-bedroom villa at the centre of the resort, in gardens on a slope above Ombak Restaurant, with ocean views, a living room, an outdoor bathtub and its own plunge pool. For two adults, with an extra bed possible.
Kasambi
A one-bedroom villa within the resort’s gardens, with a private plunge pool, ocean views, an outdoor shower and an open deck within earshot of the waves; a path leads to Nio Pool and the beach. For two adults.
Kasambi Suite
A more pared-back one-bedroom villa without its own pool but with a private garden of jasmine and frangipani, an ocean view from the bedroom, an outdoor shower and a deck for morning coffee. A path through the palms leads to Nio Pool and Nihiwatu Beach; for two adults.
Photos are for illustrative purposes only. Actual room layout, furnishings, décor, views and amenities may differ from those shown and may vary between rooms of the same category. Hotel and room descriptions are based on information provided by the property and are believed to be accurate at the time of publication, but are not guaranteed. The hotel may renovate or change its rooms, facilities, restaurants and services at any time without notice. The final details of your stay are confirmed at the time of booking. See our Terms of Use.