For one week in Sumba, I’d keep the whole stay in the west and book six nights at NIHI Sumba. An
ocean-facing villa with a private pool gives you somewhere worth returning to after exploring, while
the resort can arrange guides and excursions into the surrounding countryside. Fly into Tambolaka on
day one and allow roughly ninety minutes for the road transfer. By the time you arrive, lunch and aone-
look around the grounds are plenty.
Start day two with a short guided walk through the rice-growing countryside, then return for an
afternoon by the pool. On day three, visit a nearby village with a Sumbanese guide and arrange to
meet an ikat weaver. Ask about the tall house roofs and the stone tombs, and listen to how the people
living there describe them. Buying a textile from its maker gives you something to take home with a
story you can actually explain.
Set aside day four for Lapopu Waterfall, allowing time for the drive and the walk over uneven ground.
Go with a guide, wear shoes with grip, and decide whether to enter the water based on the conditions
that day. This is the longer outing of the week, so a quiet dinner back at NIHI will feel well judged.
The following morning, take the coastal trek to Nihioka for NIHI’s Spa Safari. Breakfast comes before
a stretch of treatments overlooking the ocean, with time to enjoy the setting between appointments.
The walk takes about two hours, and a vehicle transfer is available if you prefer. Walking to a massage
is an arrangement I could get used to, particularly when someone else organizes breakfast.
Keep day six open. You might book a beach ride matched to your experience, or spend the morning at
the villa and venture out for sunset. Tell the riding team if you’re a beginner; there’s no prize for
discovering that halfway along a beach. On day seven, return to Tambolaka for your onward flight,
leaving room in the wider trip for an overnight connection in Bali if needed.
How to Spend One Week in Sumba
For a week centered on walking and outdoor activities, I’d aim for May through October. Arrange the
Spa Safari and any riding before arrival, carry small rupiah notes for village purchases, and cover
shoulders when visiting communities. Ask permission before photographing people, homes, or tombs.
Keep this itinerary within western Sumba; exploring the east deserves another stay and a different
base. If you’re planning a longer trip, my 15-day luxury Indonesia itinerary combines Sumba with the temples of Central Java and a stay at Bawah Reserve.