INTRODUCING THE DREAM INDONESIAN ISLAND OF SUMBA AND THE WORLD CLASS RESORT OF NIHIWATU

Sumba is a hauntingly beautiful Indonesian island 250 miles southeast of Bali - twice its size, yet undiscovered by mass tourism. It’s a magically pristine land of gorgeous beaches, tropical scenery and a fascinating tribal culture.

Locals are disarmingly friendly, despite tribal rituals that included headhunting until just 50 years ago! Even today the Sumbanese practise animism and enact a ferocious harvest festival on horseback, held in spring and called the Pasola. It’s an important part of the huge charm of this island.

A few lucky surfers and anthropologists have fallen under Sumba’s spell and two of them, American surfers Claude and Petra Graves, returned after a surfing trip in 1988 to create Nihiwatu. They found the perfect wave and founded the perfect resort. Nihiwatu was born out of a vision to protect and preserve the unique culture of Sumba and empower the local communities to support themselves and their families through The Sumba Foundation.  Nihiwatu was then acquired by friends James McBride, the prolific South African hotelier and formerly President of YTL Hotels and brand building entrepreneur Chris Burch in 2012.   Set within 560 acres of land (only 10% of which is developed) and one and half miles of pristine beach, the resort has been left entirely in its wild natural state, apart from its rustically luxurious accommodation and public areas: comprising private terraced villas, bar and restaurant pavilions, boathouse and jungle spa. 

On a sweeping bay facing the Indian Ocean, Nihiwatu’s 28 villas blend wood and thatch construction with lush gardens, amid the hundreds of acres of surrounding land ensuring total seclusion. The villas are built with Indonesian Alang Alang, teak and rattan. All have sand-floored bathrooms, private pools, and spectacular Indian Ocean views. The emphasis is on open plan living that reflects the simplicity and beauty of Sumbanese architecture.

The mile and a half long beach is bracketed by two rocky headlands and fronts one of the world’s great surfing waves that delivers left-folding tubes (and the surfers inside) to within a hundred yards of the resort’s boathouse; and Nio Beach Bar. Guests enjoy huge privacy and many activities, ranging from world class surfing, the best sport fishing in Indonesia, hiking through dramatic waterfalls, ancient villages and butterfly trails, stand-up paddling down the Wanukaka River, to spa treatments by the beach.

Since acquiring the resort, McBride and Burch have embarked on a major renovation programme and the resort reopened in March 2014 after a six month period of closure.  Works included the launch of Menara – a beautifully handcrafted outdoor Bale for families with games, books, table tennis, and an area for children’s movie night under the stars.  Plus the rebuilding the irresistibly convivial Nio Beach Club with a new cabana-style lounge area serving lobster and champagne and the Wavefront restaurant which now has a huge deck area with cantilevers over the ocean.

The resort’s iconic Boathouse, an adventure station by day and place to connect and converse over the nightly ritual of lighting the fire-pit as the sun sets, is now also home to Healey Water Operations. ‘Big Wave Surf Champion’, Mark Healey, and his team of specialist watermen offer a range of once-in-a-lifetime experiences: surfing, private surfing tuition, scuba diving, free-diving, sustainable spear-fishing, deep-sea fishing, stand-up paddle boarding and private charters. Surf times to experience the famous left-hand break which enjoys cult status need to be reserved in advance as only 10 surfers are permitted in the water a day - it is just such exclusivities that makes Nihiwatu such an intimate and untouched experience.

The ideal setting for life-changing and life-enhancing experiences, Nihiwatu has introduced a rolling calendar of in-residence Visiting Gurus. Each is invited to share their field of expertise – from much-admired hikers, world-class spear fishermen and pioneering surfers, to acclaimed artists, painters and poets.

In July 2014 Nihiwatu will introduce nine new villas to complement the existing 19 villas in the Estates – all hand-built by local craftsmen with material indigenous to Indonesia, including alang alang, teak and rattan. Tucked away amongst the trees, Nihiwatu’s new villas like the existing ones will overlook the Indian Ocean and offer the epitome of responsible, understated luxury.  Sandy-floored bathrooms, private pools and open-air, open-plan living, reflect the simplicity and beauty of Sumbanese architecture, allowing the wild natural surrounds to take centre stage.

The resort’s cuisine is overseen by award-winning Executive Chef Bernard Prim who brings a refreshing approach to both local and international menus.

Nihiwatu is a resort that takes its environmental and community credentials seriously. There is a daily limit of 10 surfers on the famous Nihiwatu wave for example, and it has engrained practical help by ensuring that 90% of resort staff are local. In addition, all profits funnelled into the Sumba Foundation, which Claude Graves founded in 2001, help various community-based projects. Over the last 13 years, the Foundation has set up 16 primary schools, built 48 water wells, five clinics and supplied 172 villages with clean water. Malaria has been reduced in neighbouring villages by 85%.

Nihiwatu is ideal for:

• Sybarites in search of a thrilling new destination
• Socially responsible travellers who appreciate the community involvement
• Surfers keen to try out Occy’s Left
• Families with a sense of discovery
• Anthropologically inclined travellers to learn of the island’s tribal culture
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The details:

Rates from $495 per person per night based on two sharing, on an all inclusive basis including return airport transfers, excursions, activities and wifi.

Getting there: Sumba is a one hour flight from Bali.  There are daily flights from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar.