Bali is a place of endless postcards: emerald rice terraces, ancient temples, and sun-drenched shores. But for those who crave something more, such as a sense of wonder, freedom, and real connection, the journey doesn’t end there.
Beyond Bali’s well-worn paths (and a mere 50 minute flight from the bustling island) lies NIHI Sumba, a breathtaking destination that brings you into lavish landscapes, once in a lifetime encounters, and tropical adventure.
If Bali is where your dream begins, Sumba is the hidden gem where it expands. What awaits you is not a checklist of tourist sights. It is an invitation to explore Sumba through water, land, culture, and spirit activities. Each experience is designed for you to enjoy at your own pace.
Flow: Things to Do in the Water
In Bali, water draws travelers in, whether for surfing its iconic breaks, lounging on warm beaches, or visiting sacred springs and waterfalls. It’s central to the island’s culture and a big reason so many come here in the first place. But just beyond Bali, Sumba’s water is pristine, less crowded, and more untouched. Sumba’s ocean experiences are shaped by the flow of nature, not hectic schedules.
Here are just a few of Sumba’s many ways to immerse yourself in water.
At the heart of NIHI Sumba is Nihiwatu Beach, a two-and-a-half-kilometer stretch of golden sand. Framed by cliffs and jungle, this breathtaking shoreline promises joy and relaxation. Whether you rise early for a beach ride, paddle out to chase waves, or simply feel the pull of the tide as you walk barefoot at dusk, Nihiwatu is the kind of place that doesn’t ask anything of you, yet gives everything back.
Surf Legendary Waves at NIHI
You can ride Occy’s Left, one of the world’s most coveted left-hand waves. For experienced surfers, it offers a rare mix of challenge, power, and solitude. For newer surfers, gentler waters at Nihiwatu or at Coconut Cove provide the perfect introduction with instruction and support from the NIHI team.
Swim with Horses
This isn’t an entertainment show or a lesson, but a healing equine experience in the sea. You can wade into the warm water of Nihiwatu Beach to swim on horseback, and experience movement, trust, and joy like never before.
Snorkel At A Vibrant Reef
Just offshore, colorful coral walls host an ever-shifting gallery of stunning marine life. Snorkeling at NIHI is an intimate adventure, with ideal conditions on calmer days when the sea opens up in crystal clear clarity and reveals bright, beautiful colors.
Dive deeper into the rhythm of the sea, and explore all of NIHI’s ocean adventures here.
Where Bali’s inland trails often lead to curated views and bustling landmarks, Sumba invites you into something more unfiltered. Here, paths aren’t just routes—they’re stories. Follow them through rice paddies,
past thatched-roof villages, and into landscapes shaped not by tourism, but by tradition, labor, and time.
These grounded experiences, representing just some of what NIHI Sumba’s has to offer, allow you to slow down, connect with the island’s culture and beauty, and see the world differently. Keep an eye out for Sumba’s exotic wildlife along the way, such as long-tailed macaques, reticulated pythons, Nusa Tenggara paradise-flycatchers, or citron-crested cockatoos.
Discover Hidden Waterfalls
Sumba’s waterfalls are exquisite. Trek through protected jungle to reach the turquoise basin of Matayangu at Blue Waterfall, or climb beside the mossy rocks of Lapopu as water roars and mist rises. Each route reveals not only stunning scenery, but a total tropical immersion that stays with you for life.
This two-hour journey moves from beach to valley, tracing a path through NIHI’s neighboring valley where farmers tend their crops by hand and water buffalo graze nearby. It’s not a tour, but an experience of local life that ends with a quiet picnic overlooking rice paddies in a place few travelers ever reach.
Follow the Highland Path
In the Lamboya Highlands, the island opens wide. Drive to the ridge, hike down toward the river, and pass through hilltop hamlets nearly untouched by time. Pause to take in the view, or continue on toward the elevated jungle of “Rice Island,” where presence replaces pace.
Trek to Coconut Cove
Ascend through palm forest, visit Sumbanese homes, and arrive at a secluded cove where sea and sand wait with quiet welcome. This half-day adventure is less about the destination and more about who you meet, what you notice, and how the land leaves its mark on you.
Discover NIHI’s full range of treks, trails, and nature encounters here.
Sumba’s culture is rich with spirit. Unlike Bali, where cultural performances frequently cater to travelers, Sumba’s traditions are lived. Its people continue to practice ancestral rituals, from megalithic burials to sacred festivals, in villages where time moves a little differently. While change touches the island, it does so gently—seamlessly woven into the ancient atmosphere.
At NIHI, you’re not just observing from a distance. Culture is something you step into, whether by picking up a loom, joining a school visit, or learning what spices belong in the village’s favorite dish.
Learn the Ancient Art of Ikat Weaving
Step into the world of ikat, a traditional dyeing and weaving technique that takes months, and often years, to master. Sit beside Sumbanese women as they transform hand-spun thread into vibrant, symbolic patterns that speak of ancestry, status, and protection. Each piece is a story, and you’re welcomed into the conversation.
Teach English at a Local School
Travel with The Sumba Foundation to a nearby school where NIHI guests are welcomed into lively English lessons. Through song, games, and laughter, you’ll help students grow their confidence and curiosity. It’s a chance to give back—and to receive a genuine connection in return.
Learn to Cook Traditional Indonesian Dishes
Sumba’s culinary roots stretch across Indonesia’s diverse traditions, remaining grounded in local gardens, sea harvests, and slow, purposeful preparation. Join NIHI’s chefs for a class that begins in the organic gardens and ends at the stove, where you’ll craft Indonesian dishes full of the Island’s delicious flavors.
Step into the story of Sumba. Learn more about NIHI’s many cultural offerings here.
Some destinations offer wellness as a limited program. At NIHI, it’s something you experience your whole visit. Here, the land itself invites you to slow down, breathe deeper, and return to yourself. Whether through active movement, stillness, or connection with the island’s natural inhabitants, Sumba opens space for wellness that feels as natural as the tide.
Embark on a Spa Safari
Tucked into a remote corner of the island, Nihioka is more than a spa; it’s a natural sanctuary. Begin your journey with a trek, horse-ride, or open-air car ride along rice fields and cliffside paths, arriving at a cluster of open-air bales facing the sea. Treatments are unhurried and elemental: massage, reiki, reflexology, bodywork, and more.
Retired Sumba sea horses graze nearby, lending their calm presence to the space. These gentle companions are not only part of the scenery, they also participate in NIHI’s equine wellness offerings, including reiki with horses, massage with horses, yoga with horses, and equine connection sessions.
Whether you stay for just an hour or linger all day, time here feels suspended… and you are sure to leave feeling fresh and rejuvenated.
Join a Visiting Guru
NIHI welcomes global wellness leaders throughout the year, including osteopaths, bodyworkers, meditation experts, movement therapists, hypnotherapists, and more. Their talents, combined with the island’s natural energy, create space for deep rest and new perspectives. No two residencies are alike, and that’s the point: healing here is meant to meet you where you are.
Explore the Healing Power of Horses
Sumba’s native Sandalwood horses are more than majestic creatures. They’re active participants in NIHI’s equine wellness sessions. These refreshing experiences blend touch, movement, and energy work, inviting you to engage in massage, yoga, and reiki alongside a very special herd of Sumba’s horses.
Go Deeper With a Guided Retreat
Throughout the year, NIHI hosts curated retreats that go deeper than typical wellness offerings. Led by expert practitioners, these immersive programs allow guests to explore movement, stillness, creativity, and self-inquiry in community with others. Whether it’s the Equine Intuitive Awareness retreat or a leadership-focused journey into the island’s wildness, each retreat is shaped by the energy of Sumba itself. You’ll have the opportunity to restore, reveal, and renew.
Reconnect with the wild within. Discover the variety of transformative wellness offerings at NIHI.
You’ve felt the pull of Bali’s shores. Now follow it a little farther to a place where horses swim, rivers carve secret trails, and every moment prompts you to live a little less scripted. At NIHI, adventure doesn’t come with an itinerary. It begins with curiosity and unfolds from there.
To start planning your trip, email us at [email protected] or reach out to +62 811-3821-2910.
Feel free to contact us if you need any further information
