Inside the extraordinary hotel that put a remote Indonesian island on the map

NIHI is the hotel that first put Sumba on the map. This and surfing. 

In the 1980s, clued-up wave chasers flocked to the Indonesian island for a point break now known as Occy’s Left, sleeping in basic accommodation behind the beach. Although these days it’s very different — there are 27, gorgeous thatched villas, inspired by local architecture, four-poster beds and kaptens (butlers) who send WhatsApp messages about whether the sea conditions are favourable for snorkelling — the freewheeling surfer spirit remains. 

Staying here — in all 567 acres of it — feels like gaining membership to a very special and secret club — one where the crowd is interesting (bio-tech investors; fashion industry start-up entrepreneurs) and impossibly glamorous (Hollywood royalty). 

Lunch is served at the sand-between-the-toes Nio Beach Club (tempura soft shell crab, nasi goreng, and pomelo and prawn salad); frozen dragon fruit dispensed by the Boathouse Bar come afternoon soothes flushed faces. Rescue horses live out their second lives like kings at Sandalwood Stables, and take daily dips in the ocean before galloping up into the hills to graze. Wake up with the sun and you’ll see local fishermen waiting patiently in waist-deep water for the day’s catch. 

To reach the Nihioka Spa, you will need to trek through rice paddies and villages (if you plan on stopping off in one, make sure to take some sirih pinang (betelnut) as a gift; a packet of cigarettes won’t go amiss, either).

One of the most defining aspects of this near-pristine Indonesian island is its isolated way of life and unique Marapu faith, an ancestral religion, in which Sumbanese people worship the spirits of their ancestors, whom they believe live around them. ‘It’s why the roofs of our homes are so tall. This is a sacred space reserved for the spirits of our ancestors,’ explains Anggi, one of the resorts driver.

The hotel was built in 1988 by Claude and Petra Graves, who were on a mission to honour the island’s beauty and way of life. Since then, little has changed. Bar a few small boutique properties, the next big arrival is Cap Karoso, a much-anticipated 67-room resort. It’s set along the island’s little explored, wild western fringes. A project from first-time hoteliers Fabrice and Eve Ivara, the modern design-led property will focus on food with ingredients grown on the resort’s organic farm.

For the moment, NIHI, which is now owned by American financier Chris Burch and South African hotelier James McBride, remains a magical place — and not only for its setting alongside a private one-mile stretch of pristine palm-fringed beach (which is famous worldwide on social media for the wild horses that like to gallop along the water's edge). Days here can be as active or relaxed as you wish: sunset horse rides along the surf or lazy afternoons by the pool.

A new Wild Wellness concept launches this Spring and includes equine retreats and the Sumba 7 Detox, a pick-and-mix style treatment menu scribbled out on a wooden board. 

There’s no singular part of NIHI Sumba that’s helped propel it to a type of stardom normally bestowed upon the people who stay here—it just nails it all and has true soul.

Best time to go

The best time to visit Sumba is during the dry season, which runs from May to October. You can visit during the rainy season, but expect daily showers.

How to get there

Twice the size of Bali, Sumba is a big island. There are two airports: Waingapu on the east and Tambolaka on the west — which is where most visitors tend to head to, as this is where NIHI and Cap Karoso are. The drive from one side of the island to the other can take up to seven hours — and the cost of a taxi will be more expensive than the flight itself—so make sure you know where you want to go before booking your flights. There are ferries to and from nearby islands, Sumbawa and Flores, but most people tend to fly from Bali on Lion Air or Nam Air.

Scott Dunn offers four nights at NIHI Sumba from £4,337 per person on a full board basis. The price includes water activities around Nihiwatu Beach, yoga and meditation classes and a complimentary minibar, refreshed daily, return flights and private transfers, as well as a complimentary tour of projects by The Sumba Foundation.

Additional words by Lauren Ho