good for you

Few people have heard of Sumba Island in Indonesia. Lying 400km east of Bali, this little visited and undeveloped settlement is as mysterious as it is stunning.

It's an island blessed with unspoiled beaches, breathtaking sunsets and perfect surf breaks. It's also a place where tribal cultures are still intact and traditional ways of living are still practiced.

Tucked away within this colourful medley of natural and anthropological delights hides the beautiful island hideaway of Nihiwatu. There are only seven luxury bungalows and three two-bedroom villas here, all beautifully decorated and hand-built by Indonesian craftsmen using local materials.

There's also massage and beauty treatments, a yoga studio, a reception and meeting hall built according to traditional Sumba spirit-house design, a restaurant and bar, and possibly the best placed infinity pools in the world. With excellent surfing, diving, horse riding and white sandy beaches; activities abound.

It's certainly not easy getting to Sumba, hence the reason why the resort asks for a minimum five night stay. But once you do arrive it's guaranteed you will never want to leave.

good for indonesia

Nihiwatu was set up by an American Claude Graves and his German wife, Petro who first arrived on the island in 1989. It took several years for them to gain the support and trust of the locals, which was essential to the project, and they now donate a huge amount of time (and cash) to supporting the local communities.

They founded the Sumba Foundation to channel tourist-generated funds into community development projects that would directly benefit the locals. These projects have brought medical supplies, sanitary conditions, education and clean water to nearby villages. Moreover, the foundation has assisted in eradicating malaria, once one of the main causes of death on the island, by setting up three clinics.

Rooms

Food

The restaurant and open air dinning pavilions overlook the sea and beach. The chefs' daily blackboard creations use only fresh homegrown vegetables, imported meats and the catch of the day. Guests enjoy a sampling of local and international cuisine including savoury soups, barbequed fish, and fresh fruits. Coffee, tea and cakes are available at anytime and anywhere you want. The resort is usually able to accommodate special diet needs if guests give adequate advance notice. Breakfast and lunches are served throughout most of the day but dinner is a special affair. Appetizers are served at the bar and when everyone sits down at the long tables for dinner they all take part in what often becomes very interesting conversations. Meal-time really becomes a gathering of friends.

The bar is dramatically positioned on the cliffs edge with sweeping views of the sea, surf and the spectacular sunsets. The bar is fully stocked with a wide range of spirits and a selection of fine wines from Europe, North and South America and Australia. At sunset it becomes the pre-diner meeting place where guest share their exploits and adventures of the day and after dinner it's a great place for a night cap.

Features & Facilities

• Restaurant & Open Air Dining Pavilions
• Bar
• Swimming Pool & Plunge Pool
• Jungle Spa & Hilltop Spa - full massage, facials, beauty and body treatments
• Yoga, Pilates & Meditation
• Satellite Phone & Internet Service (Business Centre)
• Laundry service
• Shop
• Communal TV with DVD player
• A/C in bedrooms
• Full range of organised activities.

See Local Info for more detailed information.

Local Info & Activities

At Nihiwatu you can do as much or as little as you like. For those of you with an unbridled sense of energy and the need for activity look no further because there's a huge range of land and sea based adventures for you to choose from. Local guides can take you to spectacular areas that are so remote that they can only be accessed by trekking or boat. There are breathtaking waterfalls, fabulous beaches and incredible Stone Age villages for you to visit. Alternatively you may choose to sit by the beach or relax in the swimming pool.

fishing

Exceptional fishing grounds are only minutes away in a fully equipped deep-sea fishing boat. Here you have the best chance in Indonesia of catching all kinds of big fish.

The sea around Nihiwatu provides anglers with a great range of big game and reef fish for sport or table. Large Marlin, weighing more than 300 pounds and Yellowfin Tuna over 150 pounds migrate close to the coast during the months of August though January, but there are masses of sizeable Sailfish, Spanish Mackerel, Wahoo and Trevally in the area throughout the year.

The resort practices catch, take a snap and release bill fishing. Wahoo and Spanish Mackerel are brought home for the BBQ.

scuba diving

There are a large number of dive sites right in front of the resort or you may choose to head further afield with an experienced dive guide. Masses of large pelagic fish congregate on the seamounts and divers have even experienced close encounters with large Marlin, Sailfish and even Blue Whales. The resort's PADI dive centre is fully equipped and instructors are ready to offer easy introductory dives and full dive certification courses.

The visibility can be affected by large surf that generally occurs on the full and new moons, therefore the best dive conditions are usually the periods before or after the full and new moon cycles.

surfing

Just 100 yards off Nihiwatu beach is one of the world's most perfect waves. Nihiwatu faces southwest into the Indian Ocean and is ideally suited for picking up swell arriving from thousands of miles away; the surf here is very consistent. If the surf is flat here you can be sure it is flat just about everywhere else in the archipelago.

Many professional surfers have visited Nihiwatu over the years and several surf movies have been filmed here featuring the 1999 world surfing champion Mark Occhilupo. If you are seeking large double overhead surf the best times are during the months of May through October on the full and new moons. In between those times there are often perfect waves in the three to six foot range.

boating expeditions

The West Sumba coastline is absolutely stunning. Imagine perfect beaches and massive cliffs adorned with jungle and palms, all backed by distant mountains. At Nihiwatu, guests can take full day tours to remote areas by boat. These full day excursions can include fishing, snorkelling and delicious luncheon buffets under the trees on the beach.

horse riding

If the water doesn't interest you the countryside surely will. You can ride the resort's Sumba horses for as long and as far as you like and in any direction you choose. There are few roads, houses or fences to block your way.

For serious riders there are half and full day guided horseback tours to secluded beaches, through forested countryside and to traditional villages. Full moon rides along the beach are also on offer.

mountain biking

Mountain bikes are available to borrow for those wanting to get a work out while covering some interesting terrain.

trekking

There are beautiful waterfalls, fabulous beaches and incredible Stone Age villages you can visit. Local guides will take you there and prepare your lunch in a pristine and memorable setting.

overland tours

There are a number of full-and half-day jeep tours to beaches and important traditional villages and markets on offer. These can be customised according to guests' interests.

nature walks

There are many interesting walks starting from the resort. Naturalists are preparing maps to guide guests and inform them of the local animal and plant life along the way.

bird watching

With more than 300 species of birds Sumba is a birders paradise. The island is blessed with eight endemics found nowhere else on earth including hornbill, fruit dove, button quail and paradise flycatcher. Nearby to the bungalows and villas are a series of nature trails on which guests can view many of the birds in the area and special birding trips to more remote areas can be arranged. The resort also works with Project Bird Watch and with the local residents in creating awareness of the importance of protecting the natural resources on the island

visiting local villages

A visit to a Sumba village is one of the most interesting things you can do during your stay. The resort's policy is to take no more than six guests at any one time to a village. This not only provides a more intimate experience for guests, it minimises impact on village life. Guests can spend a full day in specially selected small traditional family villages. During this once in a lifetime tribal experience guests eat local fare, weave baskets and blankets, and press coconuts for oil while sharing a day in the life of their Sumbanese hosts.

pasola

This world famous ritual involves battles on horseback and occurs annually in February and March.

weaving

Sumba is world famous for its traditional "ikat" cloth. The resort offers traditional weaving lessons in the resort and also in the villages. Guests can take their cloth home with them when finished.

jungle spa & hilltop spa

An outdoor 'Jungle Spa' is positioned under the trees just above the beach to allow for privacy and great views. A full range of massage and body treatments are available which, when coupled with the sound of the surf that is only meters away, will definitely sooth both your body and soul.

Up high above the beach sits the 'Hilltop Spa', the ideal venue for a romantic experience. Here the "Ultimate Spa Experience" is offered; soak in a large scented tub and enjoy a chilled glass of wine or champagne with views to die for. Treatments including foot baths, massages, body scrubs and facials are on offer.

insider tips

There are no money changing facilities on the island. The resort accepts credit card payment for bar bills, shop purchases and activities at Nihiwatu but it is important that you change money elsewhere so that you have cash on hand for purchases of handicrafts from the villages.

It's worth bringing good insect repellent with you, sunscreen, medication and any other 'must haves' that you might need.

Do not bring gifts for villagers, its far better to help the local people by buying some handicrafts when visiting the villages or by contributing money, medicines or school supplies to the Sumba Foundation. Appropriate attire when visiting villages such as a shirt or t-shirt that covers the shoulders with shorts or a sarong is recommended.

There is a local hospital in Waikabubak, which is a 40 minute drive away from the resort. The facility is limited and not capable of providing the medical care you would be accustomed to. The resort does have comprehensive first aid supplies.

Malaria is common in most of Indonesia, and Sumba is no exception. The rooms have mosquito nets and are sprayed daily by housekeeping staff. If you are concerned it's recommend that you wear a light and loose long sleeved shirt at night with similar long pants, use insect repellent, and you should not have a problem. That said, it's recommended that you take anti-malarial tablets.

Sustainability

Sumba is one of the poorest islands in the Indonesian archipelago. Nihiwatu was set up by an American Claude Graves and his German wife, Petro who first arrived on the island in 1989. It took several years for them to gain the support and trust of the locals, which was essential to the project, and they now donate a huge amount of time (and cash) to supporting the local communities.

They founded the Sumba Foundation to channel tourist-generated funds into community development projects that would directly benefit the locals. The Sumba Foundation is dedicated to helping the indigenous people of Sumba by improving the quality of their lives through better health, education, clean water, malaria control and employment opportunities, a key component in achieving the long-term goal of lessening the oppressive impacts of poverty. Poverty means more than simply not having enough money; above all, it means not having the opportunity to make a better life for the future. The Sumba Foundation aims to be a force for positive change and to give the people much needed hope for a better future.

Ever since the opening in 2001, guests have donated over US$1.6 million to local projects, including clean water for up to 5,000 villages on the secluded island.

As the largest single employer on the island, the resort takes its responsibilities very seriously. Employee perks include two weeks' paid annual holiday and one month's salary bonus at the end of the year. Graves trains the staff in hospitality and teaches them English.

However, the Sumba Foundation aims to improve the living conditions and the quality of life of all local people - not just employees. It also aims to protect and support the unique culture of the Sumbanese.

awards

In 2005, Nhivatu Resort was the winner of the Best Hotel category of the Responsible Travel awards at the World Travel Market in London.

Getting There

Access is via direct flights from Bali with vehicle transfer to the resort. It is a two-hour drive from Tambulaka airport to the southwest enclave of Nihiwatu.

The weekly scheduled flight to Tambolaka Airport in West Sumba is on Thursdays; Tambolaka is the closest airport to Nihiwatu.

The resort will commit to chartering the plane whenever there are large groups that make a charter cost effective. On those flights the plane will be reconfigured so that more legroom is available and to have space for surfboards and excess baggage.

flight schedule

The weekly charter flight to Tambolaka will be every Thursday.

ETD Denpasar 09.30 ETA Tambolaka 10.45

ETD Tambolaka 11.05 ETA Denpasar 12.25

Price:

US$ 270 - Adult round trip

US$ 175 - Children under 12 years old round trip

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

full board accommodation

luxury bungalows

US$390 per night for two persons

US$335 per night for single occupancy

Extra adult bed US$125 per night

A child 13 to 16 years of age sharing the room US$80 per night

A child under 12 years of age sharing the room with parents is free of charge

nihiwatu villas

US$840 per night for up to 4 persons

Extra adult bed US$125 per night

An extra child 13 to 16 years of age sharing the room US$80 per night

An extra child under 12 years of age sharing the room with parents is free of charge

haweri villa

US$1,250 per night for 4 persons in the two bedroom villa

US$390 additional for two people in the luxurious bungalow

Extra adult bed US$125 per night

An extra child 13 to 16 years of age sharing the room US$80 per night

An extra child under 12 years of age sharing the room with parents is free of charge

terms & conditions

• These rates are valid from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008
• Minimum five night stay applies
• Rates include airport transfers in Sumba, all meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner, morning and afternoon tea) and all non-alcoholic beverages.
• Rates also include one welcome cocktail per guest, one complimentary full body massage at the Jungle Spa, a complimentary horse ride on the beach and a visit to one of the traditional villages located nearby Nihiwatu.
• Rates are subject to 11% government tax and 10% service charges.
• During the months of July through September 15th accommodations incur a surcharge of $40 a night for the luxury Bungalows and $80 a night for the Villas.
• All additional activities and excursions require an additional fee.
• Complimentary Shuttle Service to and from Tambolaka Airport in West Sumba. A surcharge of US$60 will be applied per car, seating up to 4 passengers, each way to and from Waingapu Airport in East Sumba.
• It's not recommended that infants and very young children come although they are welcome. There are no babysitting facilities.

booking & cancelation policy

• A 50% deposit is required to confirm the reservation.
• Balance to be paid in full 30 days prior to arrival.
• Cancellations 30 days prior to arrival are subject to a two-day stay cancellation fee.
• Cancellations within 30 to 14 days of arrival forfeit 60% of total payments made.
• Dates can be changed up to 14 days prior to arrival according to availability within up to a six-month period. A three-day stay administration fee will be applied.
• Cancellations 13 days to 7 days prior to arrival forfeit 100% of payments made.
• No shows require full payment

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.