Review: NIHI Sumba

Published Mar 8 2025, 3:10 PM, Updated Mar 9 2025, 11:46 AMAt the edge of the wildness, where rugged luxury meets the freedom of palm-fringed, white-sand beaches, you will find NIHI Sumba, a remote eco-luxury retreat offering barefoot luxury in an untouched paradise. With private beachfront villas, world-class surfing, horseback riding on the beach, yoga and spa safaris, it’s perfect for adventure seekers looking for luxury on a deserted beach.

Location

Although the island of Sumba in Indonesia is less easily accessible than the more well-known Bali, it is more than double the size of Bali. Sumba is just an hour’s flight from Bali, and it takes over an hour by car to reach the resort. You should book transfers before you arrive as no taxis await the plane’s arrival.

The journey is well worth the effort as this exclusive resort sits on an empty private beach surrounded by a lurid green tropical jungle. While the resort is remote for Westerners, it is within walking distance from the nearest village, and you can drive or ride (horses) to discover the local area, including many more authentic villages.

Style & Character

If you imagine a paradise setting for your own private villa hideaway, you are imagining the offering at NIHI Sumba. Azure blue pools front magnificent thatched villas. The beach is picture-perfect. This is barefoot luxury with a large helping of smiles. The ambiance couldn’t be more welcoming.

Rooms

The accommodations at Nihi Sumba consist of stand-alone villas, each designed for ultimate privacy and comfort. Villas are split into one, two, three, and four bedrooms, each with their own private pool. In addition, you can stay in the owner’s Estate and the Secret Villa. In total, there are more than 27 uniquely designed villas. Each villa offers breathtaking views of the Indian Ocean and Nihiwatu Beach.

Scattered across a lush, jungle-clad hillside, some are perched higher up with panoramic views, while others sit right on the beach, offering direct access to the soft sands. Many feature open-air bathrooms, spacious wooden decks with vibrant lime-green loungers, and private plunge pools. The larger villas also include outdoor lounge areas with plush seating for relaxation. A standout option is the unique treehouse villa, an elevated retreat with three bedrooms, two swimming pools, and breathtaking ocean views.

Inside, the villas exude rustic elegance, with rich wooden flooring, expansive windows framed in timber that showcase sweeping jungle and sea views, and beds adorned with airy mosquito nets, giving them a four-poster aesthetic.

Guests will be pleasantly surprised by the resort’s high-speed WiFi—an unexpected luxury in such a secluded destination—and the complimentary minibar, which is stocked with snacks, soft drinks, and a selection of spirits, including beer, vodka, gin, and whiskey.

While not all villas include private pools, the smaller ones compensate with inviting deck areas featuring lounge chairs and daybeds. Those located along the shoreline provide an unparalleled experience, allowing guests to step straight onto the beach and into the water. In many ways, they offer Indonesia’s closest alternative to the overwater villas of the Maldives.

Service & Facilities

Swim with the Sumba Sea horses or explore uncharted waterfalls and stand-up paddling on rivers that wind through picturesque Sumbanese villages.

Butlers will help you arrange sunset horse rides and wellness activities like yoga. Beach fun also includes paddleboarding, fishing, and surfing for beginners and those with experience. The infinity pool by the boathouse is perfect for relaxing.

Perched above the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean, the resort also boasts an award-winning Spa Safari™ Nihioka, an experience not to be missed, offering a range of endless treatments from sea salt scrubs and mud wraps to coconut water hair washes and signature NIHI massages, from sun-up to sundown. Or find your zen in the Yoga Pavilion, with breathtaking 360-degree views atop the ridge of the resort, with an open-air platform for private or group lessons.

Other activities include from surfing, horseback riding, yoga sessions, and a scenic hour-long beachside hike for those looking to stay active. However, most visitors simply unwind on the pristine 2.5-kilometer stretch of beach. With its golden sands, crystal-clear waters, and a backdrop of lush rice fields and dense forest, the setting is nothing short of postcard-perfect.

Food & Drink

The resort offers various unique open-air, feet-in-the-sand restaurants, which make for the perfect, magical dining experience. The hotel staff makes it all possible, from weddings to birthdays to romantic dinners on the beach. For something more relaxed in the evening, the bar shack offers the perfect venue for a sunset drink.

Conclusion

NIHI Sumba is how beachside boutique hotels should be. Private villas are hidden up heavily scented, meandering jungle paths. An infinity pool gazes out over a perfect bay. Sandy beaches generously provide surfable waves for all levels, and the staff are some of the most welcoming in the world. NIHI Sumba is a unique and hidden gem you want to return to.

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