Horseriding in the Ocean on Sumba Island

Horseriding in the ocean

As a native Indonesian, I often recommend my friends to go to Sumba and stay at Nihi Sumba because it’s one of those rare places that actually delivers on the hype instead of just marketing it well.

Sumba is a good destination because it still feels like a place that hasn’t been fully “discovered” yet, especially compared to nearby Bali. The landscapes are wide and dramatic—rolling savanna hills, cliffy coastlines, empty beaches, and big open skies that change a lot throughout the day. You don’t go there for a packed itinerary or nightlife; you go there for space, quiet, and a slower rhythm that’s hard to find in most tropical destinations now.

It also has a strong cultural identity that hasn’t been overly commercialized. You’ll still see traditional villages, megalithic tombs, and local weaving (ikat) that’s actually part of daily life, not just something staged for tourists. That gives the trip more depth than just “nice beach vacation.”

And then there’s the nature side—good surf, horseback riding on beaches, waterfalls inland, and long stretches where you feel like you have the island to yourself. It’s one of those places where the travel experience is less about ticking off attractions and more about how the place makes you slow down and reset a bit.