Connecting to Bali
To reach Sumba, you will first fly into Bali (DPS), where you will connect onward to Tambolaka (TMC). Flights to Tambolaka operate daily on a morning schedule, departing Bali at 9:00 AM. As such, we recommend considering a one-night pre-stay in Bali to ensure a seamless and relaxed connection.
For travelers from the United States, the most seamless connections to Bali are with Singapore Airlines, Emirates, and Qatar Airways.
Singapore Airlines offers non-stop flights from Singapore to Bali, with arrivals at 9:30 AM and 11:05 AM. Qatar Airways operates a non-stop service from Doha, arriving in Bali at 8:15 AM.
DIRECT CONNECTIONS INTO BALI ARE ALSO AVAILABLE FROM:
Asia Pacific: Singapore, Jakarta, Tokyo, Manila, Taipei, Seoul, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Shenzhen, New Delhi, Bangkok || Australia & New Zealand: Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Auckland || Middle East & Europe: Dubai, Doha, Istanbul.
All foreign travelers to Indonesia need at least six months remaining on their passport as well as one full clean page for the visa on arrival stamp. This is strictly reinforced: Guests will not be allowed to board the plane in their departing country if this is not adhered to. Kindly contact our Travel Designers at [email protected] if you require any information to enter Indonesia.
Please note that airlines can change their flight schedules, and these changes are beyond our control.
Please note that airlines can change their flight schedules, and these changes are beyond our control.
Direct Flights to Sumba
There are daily flights from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar (DPS) to Sumba Island’s Tambolaka Airport (TMC). Please see the flight schedule and airline options below, which are SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Denpasar, Bali (DPS) to Tambolaka, Sumba (TMC)
NAM AIR (IN-640)
Days Operation: daily
BATIK AIR (ID-6324)
Days Operation: daily
Tambolaka, Sumba (TMC) to Denpasar, Bali (DPS)
BATIK AIR (ID-6325)
Days Operation: daily
NAM AIR (IN-641)
Days Operation: thursday
NAM AIR (IN-641)
Days Operation: tuesday, saturday
NAM AIR (IN-641)
Days Operation: monday, wednesday, friday, sunday
Surabaya (SUB) to Tambolaka, Sumba (TMC)
NAM AIR (IN670)
Days Operation: thursday
NAM AIR (IN670)
Days Operation: tuesday, sunday
Tambolaka, Sumba (TMC) to Surabaya (SUB)
NAM AIR (IN671)
Days Operation: thursday
NAM AIR (IN671)
Days Operation: tuesday, sunday
Tambolaka, Sumba (TMC) to Labuan Bajo (LBJ)
WINGS AIR (IW-1917)
Days Operation: tuesday, friday, sunday
Labuan Bajo (LBJ) to Tambolaka, Sumba (TMC)
WINGS AIR (IW-1916)
Days Operation: monday, thursday, saturday
We are happy to secure the return flights for you with your choice of airline at US$595.
This price includes economy Domestic flight DPS – TMC – DPS, a VIP service upon your international arrival in Denpasar, Bali, use of the VIP lounges at Bali and Tambolaka airports, a baggage allowance of up to 20kg with Wings Air, airport taxes, baggage handling, roundtrip airport transfers from Lede Kalumbang airport – NIHI® Sumba – Lede Kalumbang airport (shared car).
Round-trip transfers from Lede Kalumbang Airport, Sumba (formerly Tambolaka), to the resort are included in your nightly rate. The 90min journey is a scenic experience through the stunning Sumbanese landscapes in one of our open-air safari vehicles (shared cared).
Alternatively, if you prefer a more private option, you may book a private car transfer at US$666 per car (maximum of 4 guests).
A private helicopter may be chartered directly from Bali to Sumba Island, or from Sumba Tambolaka airport to NIHI resort. Please note there is a strict weight restriction in terms of passengers as well as hold and hand luggage.
NIHI can organize for luggage to be sent overland. Please contact our reservations team for more details.
A private plane may be chartered from Bali (DPS) to Sumba (TMC). Please contact the reservations team for more details.
Some journeys are simply about getting there. Others become part of the destination.
Experience Sumba from an entirely new perspective as you soar above rugged coastlines, rolling savannahs and untouched landscapes that few ever witness. What once took hours by road becomes a seamless journey, allowing you to spend less time travelling and more time immersed in the island.
Whether arriving from Tambolaka Airport or connecting from further afield, helicopter transfers offer an effortless way to experience the extraordinary beauty of Sumba from the moment your adventure begins.
Edge of Wildness
The journey from the Airport to the Resort
Your immersion into Sumba life starts with the one and half hour journey from Tambolaka airport, leaving the bustling streets of Bali behind for a more Africa-meets-Asia experience. The journey starts at sea level and climbs to the Rijewa mountain ranges at 500 metres.
The spectacular scenery from peak to sky is framed by teak and mahogany plantations and thick Sumba deciduous forests. The road stretches down to Waikabubak passing through traditional settlements, the Sewah waterfalls and offers a canvas of rich green verdure; structured rice fields to river valleys and thick dense forests eventually leading to a glimpse of the Indian Ocean.
The traditional market town of Waikabubak is situated 400 metres above sea level on a plateau and guests can often see water buffalo driven through the town on an evening drive. For the final part of the journey, you have magnificent views of the vast Wanokaka River Delta populated by local tribesmen grassing the rice fields, traditional swords in hand and wearing Ikat head scarves, winding through local villages to arrive at the magical setting of NIHI.
Nihigram
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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