Exploring Sumba’s Equine Heritage with these experiences packages
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.
For novices eager to discover the power of horses, Ride and Recharge provides introductory experiences such as lessons from experienced staff, captivating sunset, and sunrise rides, and the famed Swimming with Horse’s activity.
Sunrise Splash
Includes
- 1x Swimming with Horses
- 1x Sunrise / Sunset Beach Ride
- 1x Riding Lesson
Made to Ride
Includes
- 1x Swimming with Horses
- 1x Sunrise / Sunset Beach ride
- 2x Riding Lesson
- 1x Bush to Beach
Sumba Quest
Includes
- 1x Swimming with Horses
- 1x Sunrise Beach ride
- 1x Sunset Beach ride
- 2x Riding Lesson
- 1x Bush to Beach
- 1x Ride to Nihioka Spa
Extra rides or Wellness treatments on request
Riders with more experience and confidence in the saddle can embark on an adventure tailored for intermediate to advanced riders. Traverse scenic landscapes on exhilarating treks, creating lasting memories as you canter through the shallow water, get stuck in a buffalo traffic jam, climb up steep jungle trails and ride through the local villages where we stop for a tasty coconut.
Island Freedom
Includes
- 1x Swimming with Horses
- 1x Sunrise / Sunset Beach Ride
- 1x Bush to Beach
Sumba Explorer
Includes
- 1x Swimming with Horses
- 1x Sunrise / Sunset Beach Ride
- 1x Bush to Beach
- 1x Ride to Nihioka Spa
- 1x Coconut Cove Ride
Elite Ride
Includes
- 1x Swimming with Horses
- 1x Sunrise Beach Ride
- 1x Sunset Beach Ride
- 1x Bush to Beach
- 1x Ride to Nihioka Spa
- 1x Coconut Cove Ride
- 1x River and Ricefield Ride
Extra rides or Wellness treatments on request
More Offers
A Romantic Escape
Equine Experience Package
Closer to the Wildness
Ultimate Indonesian Adventure
Asia’s Luxe Adventure
The Best of Both Islands
Awaken To Magic
The Great Escape
The NIHI Passage
Nihigram
Start your day with a friendly game of tennis at NIHI’s new Ride & Racquet Club. Listen to the sound of the ocean as you play, while horses wander freely past the court, a morning that could only happen at NIHI Sumba.
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
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