Your journey with us extends far beyond the comfort of your villa. Each day offers a new opportunity to discover Sumba’s culture, landscapes, and traditions. Our complimentary weekly activities offer hands-on craftsmanship and storytelling experiences designed to connect you with the spirit of the island in meaningful and memorable ways.
Ancient Craftsmanship
Explore the ancient art of Sumba stone carving in this hands-on workshop. Learn about the cultural significance of traditional motifs and techniques as you create your own piece, guided by local artisans who preserve this timeless craft.
TIME
10:00 AM
LOCATION
Chocolate Factory
Sumba’s Living Legends
Step into the heart of Sumba through storytelling and folklore. This engaging session brings the island’s history to life, sharing tales of its ancestral traditions and the people who continue to shape its cultural legacy.
TIME
6:45 PM
LOCATION
Ombak
Discover the Heart of Sumba
Journey beyond the resort to two of Sumba’s most iconic ancestral villages. Gain insight into traditional architecture, community life, and enduring customs that reflect the soul of the island.
TIME
10:00 AM
LOCATION
Waitabar & Tarung Village
PLEASE NOTE
Pre-Booking Required
A Taste of Sumba
Join our chefs for a traditional cooking demonstration set in a lush garden environment. Discover local ingredients and culinary techniques as you learn to prepare dishes that celebrate the flavours of Sumba.
TIME
10:45 AM
LOCATION
Organic Garden & Menara
PLEASE NOTE
Pre-booking Required
Sandalwood Horse & Grazing Adventure
Uncover the story of Sumba’s revered Sandalwood horses before walking alongside them as they graze freely. This gentle and intimate experience offers a unique connection to the island’s living traditions and natural beauty.
TIME
7:00 am
LOCATION
Stables
PLEASE NOTE
Pre-booking Required
Sumbanese Ikat Bracelet Weaving
Discover the art of Sumbanese ikat as you learn to create your own woven bracelet. Guided by skilled artisans, you’ll work with traditional patterns and techniques, creating a small piece to take home while learning more about the craft and its place in Sumbanese culture.
TIME
10:00 AM
LOCATION
Sumba Market – Menara
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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