Indonesia’s Best 5-Star Hotels Beyond Bali: NIHI Sumba


Sumba: Your 5 Star Hotel Escapes – NIHI Sumba

Five-star hotels in Bali promise paradise: private villas, seamless service, and iconic views. Yet with so many resorts offering the same polished comforts, it’s easy for each experience to feel interchangeable. Instead of standing out, every stay starts to blur together, and the sense of genuine awe slips away.

True five-star hospitality appears in places where the landscape is a living part of your stay, where every day feels distinct, and where hospitality is guided by curiosity, warmth, and the joy of sharing a remarkable place with others.

Let’s explore how NIHI redefines five-star hospitality for travelers seeking something truly original.

Sumba’s Version of Five-Star: Crafted by Nature, Guided by Adventure

The island of Sumba lies just east of Bali, yet feels a world apart. Here, island rhythms, not crowds of tourists, govern the day. Rolling hills tumble into wide open coastlines. Forest paths wind toward hidden waterfalls. The pace of life softens as soon as you arrive, inviting you to move a little slower and see a little deeper. 

At the heart of this untamed island, NIHI offers a five-star hotel experience shaped not by glittering excess, but by the land itself. Privacy here is found in the gentle hush of the surf, attentive service arrives with sincerity and a smile, and every moment is created to let you reconnect: with nature, with others, and with yourself.NIHI Sumba is a return to the pleasures of moving, resting, and exploring, all free from distraction. Every detail, from the warmth of Sumbanese hospitality to the slow, sensory pace of each day, sets NIHI apart from other similar resorts. This is luxury that feels personal, grounded, and alive. A journey to a new destination and a new way of being.

private villa lush poolside

Private Villas, Thoughtful Inclusions

At the heart of NIHI Sumba’s stays are its private villas, each one a sanctuary designed for space, ultimate comfort, and connection to the landscape. Spacious layouts and sweeping ocean views come standard, with private pools, open-air lounges, and interiors that blur the boundaries between inside and out. Every villa feels like its own world, inviting you to settle in, breathe deeply, and let the island’s rhythms guide your days.

NIHI offers a villa for every kind of traveler. Couples find intimacy and seclusion in Marangga, while friends and families can spread out in spacious multi-bedroom estates like Mamole Treehouse or Putri Kasambi. Those on a solo journey may settle into Kanatar or Lulu Amahu villas, enjoying privacy and space to pause and reflect.

Each stay is enhanced by thoughtful inclusions, ensuring comfort and ease from the moment you arrive:

  • Full board meals and all non-alcoholic drinks
  • Daily minibar restock, laundry, and high-speed Wi-Fi
  • Happiest Hour with complimentary house wine and domestic beers each evening
  • Scheduled yoga and meditation classes
  • Padel, pickleball, and a range of sea activities (weather permitting)
  • Roundtrip airport transfers in NIHI’s signature safari car
  • Community project tours in partnership with The Sumba Foundation
  • Complimentary Weekly Activities

Experiences That Define Your Journey

At NIHI Sumba, the essence of a five-star escape comes from the sense of possibility that lets every guest shape their own adventure. Each day brings something unexpected, honest, and meaningful. Nothing here follows a script. Whether you seek adventure or reflection, what sets NIHI experiences apart is the ability to immerse fully and freely in the wild, welcoming spirit of this place. 

Here are just a few of the many incredible experiences waiting for you.

Land and Water 

From world-class surfing on Occy’s Left to the playful exploration of rock pooling along the tide-washed shore, NIHI’s adventures invite you to connect with the island on its own terms. Seek out hidden waterfalls, paddle into the sunrise, or swim with horses in the Indian Ocean. Drift down the Wanukaka River, observing village life come into view along the banks, or set out from the Boathouse for a day of fishing and spearfishing in vibrant tropical waters.The land and sea together offer endless discovery.

Craft and Culture


Sumba’s lifeblood is creativity and tradition. Join an ikat weaving class or set out on a village tour to meet local artisans and witness daily life. Trek to Coconut Cove for a glimpse of Sumbanese community, or join a cooking class to discover the island’s distinctive flavors and stories. NIHI’s weekly Cultural Immersion program brings these experiences together, inviting guests to connect through hands-on workshops, storytelling evenings, and walks with the sacred Sandalwood horses. Each encounter reveals a deeper connection to Sumba’s living culture.

Community Connection

NIHI’s difference is also in its relationship with Sumba’s people. Join a tour of Sumba Foundation projects to see how every stay supports clean water, education, and healthcare for local families. This commitment has grown even deeper with the establishment of the Burch Family Foundation, created by Chris Burch and his family to expand and sustain NIHI’s philanthropic vision. Today, the Foundation stands as the heart of NIHI’s impact, guiding a constellation of community-driven initiatives and ensuring that giving back remains a meaningful part of every journey.

beach yoga, horses nearby – bali hotels 5 star

Wellness on the Wild Side: NIHI’s Signature Approach

Here, wellness rises above the expected five-star standard. It becomes a journey guided by the rhythms of nature and designed to awaken every sense. Instead of shutting out the world, NIHI invites you to step deeper into it, finding renewal in the land, the sea, and the culture that makes this place so special and dreamy.

Here, wellness rises above the expected five-star standard. At NIHI, wellness is a journey guided by the rhythms of nature and designed to awaken every sense. Rather than creating distance from the world, NIHI encourages you to engage with it, discovering renewal through the land, the sea, and the vibrant culture that make this place truly remarkable.

Signature experiences reveal how wellness can go far beyond the ordinary:

  • Spa Safari & Nihioka Spa: Begin your day with a scenic trek, horseback ride, or drive along the coast, arriving at Nihioka Spa, a clifftop sanctuary where open-air bales overlook the Indian Ocean. Here, restorative treatments happen to the rhythm of wind and waves, with every massage and ritual designed to immerse you in nature’s wild serenity.
  • Yoga & Meditation: Practice on NIHI’s beachside yoga deck, with the surf as your soundtrack and the horizon as your view. Sunrise sessions invite clarity and deep presence, shaped by the energy of the land and sea.
  • Equine Wellness: Soulful bonding sessions with Sumba’s wild horses build trust, joy, and emotional balance. Offerings include mindful groundwork, gentle grooming, and yoga with horses. Each activity is designed to foster calm and authentic connection.
  • Active Wellness: Days might bring hiking along remote trails, trekking through lush forests, or practicing underwater meditation, each moment reconnecting you with the island and yourself.

NIHI’s approach continues to evolve, with visiting practitioners and retreats opening pathways from physical wellbeing to deeper mindfulness. Every guest is invited to find their way toward renewal, supported by the raw beauty and healing spirit of Sumba.

Explore all of NIHI’s Wild Wellness options to start planning the trip of a lifetime.

Step Into a New Kind of Five-Star Escape

At NIHI, five-star living is personal, spacious, and deeply rooted in local culture. Every detail invites you to slow down and experience something uniquely beautiful  and far from the ordinary.

If you’re seeking more than familiar comforts, this is the ultimate luxury vacation destination for you.To begin planning your journey, email [email protected] or contact +62 811-3821-2910.