Nihi Sumba

For a long time Bali was the only island you needed to know in Indonesia, but as it’s built up, that secluded island feeling is getting harder and harder to find. An hour to the east, however, the island of Sumba remains far more wild, and it’s here that you’ll find the extraordinary Nihi Sumba. It’s been called the best hotel in the world — and while we would hesitate to go quite that far, it’s fair to say there’s a strong case to be made.

It’s set on hundreds of acres of waterfront land, between a glorious private beach and the edge of a truly untamed jungle. And while in its present incarnation it’s fantastically luxurious — its villas are the very picture of contemporary luxury elegance — it grew slowly from what was once a secluded surf shack, and there’s still something unpretentious about the atmosphere as a result.

It’s worth reiterating, of course, that it’s a surf shack no more; private infinity pools and butler service pretty much rule that out, as does the spa with its open-air treatment pavilions. Three restaurants serve everything from sushi to wood-fired pizza, and the dry-land activities range from yoga classes to horseback tours and mountain biking. The essential attraction, however, remains the ocean — fishing, diving, and paddle-boarding are all on offer, as is the surf break, Occy’s Left, that put this spot on the map in the first place.

How to get there:

Daily flights depart from Bali’s Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar (DPS) to Sumba Island’s Tambolaka Airport (TMC). There are additional routes to Sumba Island from Jakarta (CGK) and Surabaya (SUB) international airports, both on Java, flying through Kupang (East Nusa Tenggara); all in Indonesia.