If you’re thinking about a romantic and luxurious, yet off-the-beaten track vacation in Southeast Asia, chances are Nihi Sumba has been on your radar. The resort is nestled along a private beach on the Indonesian island of Sumba, where horses run free on the sand and the concept of a luxury island hideaway comes to life.
Sumba is about an hour’s flight from Bali, but it’s a relatively untouched island that is only recently seeing a boom in tourism. Part of Nihi’s appeal is this seclusion, for it’s not an easy journey to Sumba, but the reward is certainly a beautiful one. Here are our top tips for planning your trip to Nihi and how to get there. You can also find our full review of Nihi here.
During our trip, we were able to spend time with the Nihi team to tour the different villa types on property and understand all the activity offerings. Reach out to Sherman, who is a luxury travel advisor, if you’re interested in booking the property and want any guidance or perks for your stay.
When to Visit Nihi
Like many other island destinations, Sumba has it’s rainy seasons which you should definitely factor into the timing of your trip.
May to October are going to be the best time to visit Sumba. Dry season will allow you to make the most of your days and take full advantage of the activities offered.
Shoulder season is also a good choice, which is when we went. However rains would start to come in through the afternoon, and some activities like hikes and sunset horse rides would get impacted.
Tip: If you have more nights, staying during shoulder season may still allow you to enjoy all that Nihi has to offer. However we would not recommend making this trip with less than 3 nights, especially when there is potential for activities to get rained out!
Picking Your Villa Type
With 28 villas to choose from, Nihi does have something for everyone.
There are honeymoon villas located on the cliff bale, which are romantic and have a more secluded feel. Bigger families or parties may enjoy the 2 or 3-bedroom villas, or even the 9-bedroom owner’s estate.
Because the estate configurations are comprised of multiple villas, there are some villas that may feel less intimate than others (though all have a private feel). This is where it’s also helpful to consult with a TA to pick the best fit for you.
How to Get to Sumba
As previously mentioned, Sumba is a relatively short flight from Bali. However, flight schedules can be limited. International travelers will need to fly into Bali first, and then make their connection from there. There are two domestic budget airlines that service this route, Wings Air and NAM Air.
It is highly recommended to let the team at Nihi handle your flights. Their service includes flight booking, meet and greet at the airports, and transfers to/from the resort.
Tips on picking your flight: Flights from Bali to Sumba are in the morning, so it’s better to have spent the night in Bali beforehand. This is easy if you’re already planning a stay in Bali, but otherwise we recommend living near the airport so you don’t have to deal with the traffic!
Flights from Sumba to Bali are in the afternoon. If you take the first flight out, it’s possible to connect to a later international flight in Bali without having to stay another night there. This is what we did and it went very smoothly, but note that delays and even cancellations can happen.
What to Expect from Airport Services
DEPARTING FROM BALI
Your experience with Nihi Sumba will start at Bali airport (DPS). We were added to a Whatsapp group ahead of our departure and given instructions on where to meet the staff. They had luggage carts waiting for us, and promptly took us through the Departures process, even checking in for us while we sat and waited. The staff guided us all the way through to boarding.
Tip: Make sure to let your escort know if you have access to lounge through something like Priority Pass, and they’ll take you to the right place.
LANDING IN SUMBA
As you walk off the plane and into Arrivals at TMC/WATK, you’ll see a Nihi Sumba sign. The staff there take you into a lounge with snacks, water, toilets, while they wait for luggage and get your shared vehicle ready.
Vehicle Transfer to Nihi
Your adventure starts here, and the open aired cars are stocked with water, coconuts, and some snacks for the ~1.5hr drive to Nihi. These are similar to safari vehicles, and we shared the car with 2 other parties.
The drive itself feels like a cultural immersion, driving by schools and homes and rice fields, with many local children waving as you pass.
Once you arrive in Nihi, you’ll get settled either in your room or grab a bite at the restaurant.
Tip: Your luggage will arrive in a separate vehicle, so we recommend packing some essentials like a bathing suit or open toed shoes on you to have while you wait.
Activities at Nihi
It’s recommended to book your activities ahead of arrival, and Nihi will reach out to help with this. However, it’s very easy to adjust your itinerary or make final decisions once you’re there. You’ll have dedicated butlers who are very responsive and helpful via Whatsapp.
Some activity highlights:
- Horseback riding – You can choose from swimming, sunset/sunrise rides, or something longer for more advanced riders.
- Surfing – This is an incredible experience and the feeling of surfing a private wave with jet ski service is unparalleled. There are also surf lessons offered for beginners.
- Hiking – There are near and far excursions that take you to waterfalls and other sights.
- Spa Safari – Another must do, and one of the most luxurious spa experiences one could imagine.
Departing from Sumba
When it’s time to leave, you’ll transfer back to TMC/WATK airport in the same vehicles that stood waiting upon arrival.
There were no lounges on the departure side, but once you get back to Bali, you’ll be met with assistance there. Our Meet and Greet escorted us from the domestic terminal to the international terminal, and helped us get checked-in for a connecting flight before sending us on our way.
Hopefully this gets you excited about a trip to Nihi and helps demystify what you expect from the experience! We always recommend working with a travel advisor who can help look over the itinerary and get you extra perks at the property.
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