NIHI Sumba

From the second we arrived, we were blown away. The service is unreal—you get your own dedicated experience people (shout out to Asna & Lian) who somehow anticipate everything before you even think to ask? They pack and unpack you!!! People even take your stuff through airport security. The surf? Jetskis to paddle you and people to wax your board. Jason to catch you in that barrel. They just made everything feel effortless. The experiences and activities are endless. I kept trying to pre-plan village and authentic experiences, but they had it all covered... Teaching English, playing sports with local kids, and cooking classes for real Sumbanese food (shout out to Angela). The best sunsets, free mini massages, horse races, horses free roaming, turtle hatching, everything. And the food? Every meal was incredible. We’re talking freshly caught fish, wood-fired pizzas, the best sambal I’ve ever had, and somehow every dinner managed to top the one before. They even remembered how I liked my coffee or chocolates. And they were so good with ALL our dietary restrictions, including a no-seed-oil diet. The surfing—this was the highlight for us. The jet skis made our sessions like 2 hr+. My husband is a total beginner, and I was a bit nervous, but the instructor—Monty—was incredible, getting him on insane waves even with it being such a fast, advanced wave. Monty always knew where to put us, and we never got caught. They got him out on the infamous Occys left every single day. And meeeee—absolutely stoked. TY to Jemma and Richard as well. Beyond the resort, we made time to visit some local villages, and I’d really recommend bringing stuff to donate—clothes, school supplies, anything. It was honestly one of the most memorable and grounding parts of the trip. Sumba is beautiful in this untouched, raw way. Outside of the resort, there are no tourists, no Instagram—just real life and insanely kind people and stories and culture. Also, Nihi isn’t just sitting pretty—it’s doing a ton of meaningful humanitarian work. You can tell they’re deeply involved in the community and not just checking a box. It made staying there feel even more special. This will definitely be our new spot.

We had a truly unforgettable stay at NIHI Sumba, celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary, and we were thrilled to share the experience with our three kids. It was a special trip for all of us—our children said it was one of the best vacations they’ve ever had! From the seamless check-in process in Bali to the warm and personal welcome upon our arrival in Sumba, every detail of the journey was thoughtfully orchestrated and deeply enjoyable. To our delight, we were upgraded to the beautiful Villa Putri Wamoro, a spacious and spectacular retreat overlooking the ocean—thank you, NIHI, for this generous gesture. The villa’s setting and comfort exceeded all expectations. We’re especially grateful to our guest captains, Lauru and Doris, who went above and beyond to make our stay comfortable and memorable. Their attentiveness and genuine care made a lasting impression on our entire family. One of the highlight of our trip was our first-ever surf lesson with the wonderful Jemma. She was incredibly patient and encouraging, turning what could have been a clumsy first attempt into a truly fun and empowering experience. The kindness and attentiveness of every staff member truly elevated our entire stay. We truly hope to return one day—it was an experience we’ll always treasure.

One of the best trips I've had so far, the beach was just amazing unlike any other beach in the world. Took us only 1 hour flight from bali yet we arrived on a very different island unlike bali here at sumba. Horses are so cute and just made the trip perfect. Foods are nice and the rooms as well. The team that handled us Petrus, doris and Dinda are the MVP super friendly and literally available 24/7

Very good hospitality, and also i’m feel like back to home … and make we want to go back and go back again… love NIHI Thank you

They are so warm. We have the captains of the room; Doris, Petrus and Dinda. they were all great and helpful Will come back, soon.

Everything is perfect. the place, the view and also the people. it gives truly warm touch to the heart. Thank you for Doris, Petrus and Dinda as our Captains for always ready for the help