Make your dream of riding a horse with confidence and ease a reality at NIHI Sumba. Whether you’re new to riding or returning after years away, NIHI’s equestrian team at Sandalwood Stables will meet you where you are.
Private sessions begin on the ground — developing trust and feel before anything else. As the connection builds, lessons naturally move from the arena toward the shoreline and along Nihiwatu Beach.
At Sandalwood Stables, every lesson starts with understanding. Our team builds the foundation first — developing feel and confidence on the ground before you ever reach the saddle.
Helmets and boots are provided; leggings or long trousers recommended.
For younger guests, see Children’s Horse Riding Lesson and Kids’ Pony Club.
DURATION
1 hour
NOTES
Weight Limit: 85kg.
Additional fee required for photographer
Horses are integral to the soul of Sumba and NIHI®’s exceptional equestrian facility, Sandalwood Stables, offers a range of exceptional equine experiences for horse lovers, beginner through to advanced riders. Our team has handpicked our beautiful herd of local horses, ready to carry you off into the sunset and beyond. The original breed of the local Sumba pony comes from Mongolian and Arab bloodlines, brought to Sumba for trading in exchange for sandalwood and spices. Though a small breed, their genetic makeup makes for an extremely agile and highly spirited horse.
We are deeply honoured to share that NIHI Sumba has been awarded the prestigious Michelin Three Keys for the second year in a row, recognising NIHI as an extraordinary trip of a lifetime stay, the ultimate in comfort, service, style, and elegance.
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We are proud to be one of only three hotels in Indonesia to receive this prestigious accolade.
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Our heartfelt thanks to our incredible team for their dedication, passion, and spirit.
No, this is not AI. This is NIHI.
Here, horses are at the heart of the culture, carrying generations of tradition, ceremony and an enduring sense of freedom.
Across the island, local Sumbanese people bring their horses to the sea to bathe and swim. At NIHI, our horses also enter the ocean daily, swimming or simply standing in the shallows as the cool water washes over them.
One of the comments we receive most often is that these scenes must be AI. But no, everything you see on this page is real, authentic and unmistakably Sumba.
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Arrive at NIHI by helicopter, just 17 minutes from Tambolaka Airport. Take in the beauty of Sumba from the air and see the island from an entirely new perspective. Soar above rugged coastlines, rolling savannahs and untouched landscapes on the way to NIHI.
To explore even further, private helicopter tours and picnics in some of the island’s most remote and beautiful locations can also be arranged on request.
A very special night for NIHI.
We are incredibly proud to celebrate two incredible honours at The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026.
James McBride @bapakjames has been named the 2026 SevenRooms Icon Award winner, recognising more than three decades spent reimagining hospitality and shaping NIHI into what it is today.
And NIHI Sumba has been named No. 35 in The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2026, once again standing among the very best hotels in the world.
A huge thank you to our incredible team in Sumba, our community, and everyone who has visited, supported and been part of NIHI’s story over the years.
Reformer Pilates has arrived at @nihi with The Pilates Project.
Move to the sound of the ocean, overlooking Nihiwatu Beach as NIHI’s horses gallop along the shore. A morning that feels almost too magical to be real.
Probably the most beautiful place in the world for Reformer Pilates.
At NIHI’s Ride & Racquet Club, it’s not uncommon to see a few familiar faces wandering past the tennis court as they make their way to the stables. Just another morning at NIHI.
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#nihigram by @alifeiimagined
Simple quiet mornings at NIHI. Everyday life unfolds along the beach, with horses wandering the shoreline against this incredible landscape. A genuine glimpse of Sumba in a truly magical setting.
The magic of Nihiwatu Beach lies in the local life that unfolds before your eyes. A meeting place for hundreds of villagers, the beach is a source of food, a place to fish in the morning and hunt for squid at sunset, to wash ponies in the ocean, walk buffalo along the shore and race horses with friends.
Raw and unfiltered. It is simply life in Sumba, natural and shaped by traditions that have lived on here for generations.
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#nihigram @alifeiimagined @tarashupe @lina_jyoga
Not just an ordinary hotel.
Wake to uninterrupted ocean views from your bed, where morning light dances across the water, mist rises from the hills, and Nihiwatu’s white-sand beach awaits below. Discover an island shaped by deep-rooted culture, soulful traditions and the warmth of its people.
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#nihigram by @lucaspinhel
A wellness experience unlike any other awaits at Nihioka Spa.
Five kilometres from the resort, the journey begins on foot, horseback, or by safari Jeep through traditional villages and rolling hills. Your first glimpse awaits at the Nipi Lima Wishing Hand, where NIHI Spa appears between the rice fields and the ocean below.
Set across 100 acres of Nihioka, this is wellness shaped by nature. Design your own experience with open-air treatments that unfold over hours, carried by ocean breezes and skilled hands.
Equine massage, reiki, hidden coves, and even a private villa stay are all part of the magic awaiting you at NIHI Spa Safari.
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