With Love. For the people.
A rare and fascinating tale that began when Sumba’s ancestors, the ‘Marapu,’ landed on its secluded beach centuries ago.
Beliefs about their powers vary, but the Marapu spirit has remained a benevolent force on the island, protecting the way of life and attracting custodians whom honor and carry forth the heritage and stories of the Sumbanese people, past and present.
The same beach attracted Claude and Petra Graves in 1988, in search of the perfect wave. From this adventure emerged a vision to create a resort that would preserve and share the breathtaking beauty of Sumba with those who would truly appreciate it. The beach of Nihiwatu, meaning “mortar stone,” was named by early settlers for its isolated rock formation along the tide. The Graves aptly called the resort Nihiwatu for its surrounding legacy.
By 2012, stories of the unregulated freedom and beauty of NIHI reached renowned brand-building American entrepreneur Christopher Burch, who was told Claude was looking for help to expand the resort. Burch called on a friend from New York’s The Carlyle Hotel—South African-born hotelier James McBride, who was President of YTL Hotels in Singapore at the time—to visit Sumba.
Later that year, Burch’s trip with his three sons proved to be a milestone, as he acquired NIHI in partnership with McBride. The acquisition enabled substantial investment with the single priority to evolve NIHI into one of the best resorts in the world, an example of a sustainable operation in harmony with the environment and the Sumbanese people. Travel + Leisure readers globally have voted NIHI as the number one hotel in the world, in all categories, for 2016 & 2017 World’s Best Awards.
Chris Burch
OWNER
Chris Burch, founder and owner of Burch Creative Capital, has been an entrepreneur and active investor across a wide range of industries for forty years. Not only is he an extraordinary business man and creative mind, he is also the driving force of philanthropy where NIHI® is located, funding all operation costs, and giving back to the people of Sumba Island.
Chris Burch
OWNER
Chris Burch, founder and owner of Burch Creative Capital, has been an entrepreneur and active investor across a wide range of industries for forty years. Not only is he an extraordinary business man and creative mind, he is also the driving force of philanthropy where NIHI® is located, funding all operation costs, and giving back to the people of Sumba Island.
Where rugged luxury meets unregulated freedom, Burch Creative Capital invests in the human experience for travelers and locals alike. This naturally led to the establishment of The Sumba Foundation. A foundation committed to providing humanitarian aid, clean water, and creating educational programs, for the local community of Sumba, Indonesia.
“Chris’ kindness and care has touched the hearts of thousands of children and families in the constant quest for eradicating malnutrition for children, malaria by 90 %, and providing water wells to villages amongst many others. During the virus he supported the well being of thousands of people with his huge heart and exceptional generosity.” – James McBride, Partner & CEO, NIHI®.
James McBride
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
A global hotelier who has been at the helm of some of the world’s leading hotels during his thirty-five-year career. Known for his limitless creativity, clever marketing techniques, and exceptional hotel experiences, he has raised the bar in the hospitality industry.
James McBride
CO-FOUNDER & CEO
A global hotelier who has been at the helm of some of the world’s leading hotels during his thirty-five-year career. Known for his limitless creativity, clever marketing techniques, and exceptional hotel experiences, he has raised the bar in the hospitality industry.
James McBride started his journey at The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, where he remained for fourteen years. He then spent a further nine years leading preeminent properties, before transitioning to hotel entrepreneur when he partnered with long-time friend and investor Christopher Burch on the acquisition of Nihiwatu, a coveted surf destination in Indonesia at the time.
For the past twelve years, James has not only ensured that NIHI® Sumba has consistently received top industry awards like Best Hotel in the World by Travel & Leisure for two consecutive years and x place on the inaugural World’s 50 Best Hotels list, he is enthusiastically working on the expansion of the brand to realize further opportunities grounded in NIHI®’s doctrine, Edge Of Wildness™, including two new properties, in Costa Rica and Rote Island, Indonesia.
Press & Awards
Across the last 20 years, NIHI Sumba stands alone as the only hotel to be crowned Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Hotel in two consecutive years. In 2024, we were named Indonesia’s Best Hotel by Condé Nast Traveler and ranked #10 by The World’s 50 Best Hotels. In 2025, we proudly won the inaugural Forbes Travel Edge List, embodying the Edge of Wildness.
Nihigram
Morning begins with palm tree shadows stretching across the sand. Day-old turtles make their first journey to the ocean while the surf rolls in. As the sun sets, locals wash their horses in the sea, and life moves to the rhythm it always has.
These are the moments that make NIHI more than a destination, they’re the memories you’ll carry long after you’ve left. 🤍
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#nihigram by @scottybauer_
Mornings begin with horses running freely along the shoreline, mist drifting over the hills, and the gentle rhythm of the ocean in the distance.
A refreshing swim, breakfast by the sea, and nowhere else to be but here.
It’s the kind of place that reminds you to slow down, breathe a little deeper, and soak up the beauty around you.
Perched above the Indian Ocean, Raja Mandaka is the owner’s private villa and the crown jewel of NIHI. Designed for complete privacy, it overlooks Nihiwatu Beach, where horses gallop free on the white sand and sunsets melt into the horizon.
From sunrise swims to evenings spent listening to the waves below, every moment here feels worlds away.
@nihi’s padel game just went up a level as professional padel player @denise.hoefer.3005 takes to the court. Surrounded by lush tropical beauty, and with our herd of horses as her audience, Denise shows us how to have fun on the Edge of Wildness.
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#nihigram by @hafido_hk
Wake to horses wandering the shores of Nihiwatu Beach, spend your afternoons by your own private pool in your villa retreat, rally beneath the golden glow at the Ride & Racquet Club, and watch the sun catch the magic of @nihi as it melt into the horizon.
@nihi takes you beyond the resort and connects you with the soul of the island. By exploring the traditional villages and experiencing a rich and unique culture that harks back to a forgotten time, you’ll find a forever place in your heart for Sumba.
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#nihigram by @tarashupe
An evening rally at @nihi’s brand new Ride & Racquet Club, where tennis meets equestrian life. Passing horses become your audience as you play surrounded by Sumba’s wild beauty while listening to the sound of the ocean nearby in between serves.
Some mornings, the horses leave more than footprints. They leave silhouettes that stretch across the sand, fleeting works of art shaped by the morning light. Another unforgettable day at the Edge of Wildness.
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#nihigram by @childsphotos
Your day at NIHI begins with a little bit of magic. A refreshing morning swim, the sound of waves rolling in, and the sight of NIHI’s horses galloping freely along the shoreline below.
On some mornings, a local farmer’s herd of water buffalo wanders across Nihiwatu Beach, while newly hatched sea turtles make their first journey to the ocean. These are the moments that make life on the Edge of Wildness so extraordinary, where nature quietly sets the rhythm of the day and no two mornings are ever quite the same.
The sheer magic of @nihi. Watch as a herd of horses wanders past the main pool and into the ocean, creating one of those beautiful NIHI Sumba moments you can completely lose yourself in. Be immersed in days like no other, and spellbound as the evening sun begins to descend.
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#nihigram by @catalinavonbonin @jonaways
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