If luxury and seclusion is on the top of your list when it comes to booking a holiday, then look no further than the exquisite hideaway of Nihiwatu, a 27 villa estate located on Sumba Island, a mere 55 minute flight East of Bali.
Offering those who crave privacy and adventure in an un-touched and exclusive locale, Nihiwatu boasts spectacular scenery, sophisticated luxury, a romantic ambience and world-class fishing, surfing and diving literally at your doorstep.
This resort, which caters to discerning travellers who are “in the know”, is located in what is often termed the “Archipelago of the Extraordinary.” Located within a protected environment, Nihiwatu offers a plethora of outdoor activity like fishing, diving, horse-riding, boating, yoga and spa. Or just do nothing and soak in the tranquil and peaceful vibe which permeates throughout this stunning resort.
Recently acquired by entrepreneur J. Christopher Burch in partnership with acclaimed hotelier James Mc Bride, Nihiwatu’s 27 thatched private villas are set within a 580 acre estate comprising forested areas, open savannah and expanses of rice terraces of which only 65 acres are developed. The pristine, fine-grained pink and beige hues of Nihiwatu’s adjacent sandy beach extends to two and a half kilometres (1.6 miles) in length with cliff headlands at each end providing an exclusivity unmatched anywhere in Indonesia.
“Nihiwatu is a rarity today. The opportunity we have been given to continue the work of its creators Claude and Petra Graves is tremendous. We want to spread the word about this extraordinary place, the island of Sumba and its people for generations to come. Our aim is to evolve into one of the best resorts in world, whilst demonstrating a successful and sustainable operation with the environment and the Sumbanese people,” commented Chris Burch. One of today’s best possible examples of sustainable tourism (Grand Award for Environmental Tourism PATA & Best Responsible Hotel Development HICAP), Nihiwatu has captured the hearts and minds of its new owners who are entirely committed to continuing the work of the charitable trust, The Sumba Foundation. Established in 2001, the Foundation extends support to 20,000 islanders and provides clean water supply to villages whilst addressing malnutrition and education needs on Sumba. 90% of the foundation’s donations come from hotel guests and all of the distributions are made directly to the local Sumbanese community.
Nihiwatu’s origin has to some degree evolved around “The Wave,” recognised as one of the best left-hand surf breaks in the world. The founders of Nihiwatu, Claude and Petra Graves who arrived on Sumba in 1988 wished to protect it from becoming overpopulated and set about to carefully manage access to a maximum of ten surfers at any given time. As a result of protecting land and sea, Sumba has gained a cult status in the international surfing community.
It is rare for luxury in environment and philanthropy to co-exist in such perfect harmony; great care has always been taken to consult with the Sumbanese to ensure that everything at Nihiwatu is done to respect beliefs. Nihiwatu is also committed to being a carbon neutral resort and is one of the only hotels in the world powered by bio-fuel which is produced from coconuts at its own bio-diesel factory. Over 110,000 trees have been planted in deforested areas of Sumba since 2004 with an additional 20,000 trees planted each year.
From a historical and cultural perspective, Sumba is the home of one of the world’s last intact Animist cultures: to witness Sumbanese culture is like looking through a window to the past. One of the most culturally interesting places in the world, on Sumba faith in old traditions is very strong.
Nihiwatu is easily accessed through the many international flights into Bali’s Denpasar International Airport with a weekly charter to Tambolaka Airport in West Sumba via Nihiwatu private charter or through local flight connections via Lion Air, Merpati Airlines and Aviastar Airlines.
Room rates at Nihiwatu start at USD$595.00 per person (all-inclusive meals, drinks & selected activities) for double occupancy in a luxury villa or suite over a one week minimum stay valid until 31st October 2013. Rates are subject to a 21% tax and service charge. For reservations or enquiries, please email [email protected] or call (62) 361 757 149.
For more information, please visit www.nihiwatu.com
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