Bali and Sumba for Two

A journey for two that pairs the temples, palaces and rice terraces of Bali with the wilder island of Sumba, a short flight east. In Ubud, a water purification ritual at Gunung Kawi Sebatu guided by a priest and a painting class in Keliki village; on Sumba, a spa day reached on foot or on horseback along the cliffs, and a surf break open to 15 registered surfers a day.

Length: Eight nights
Pace: Two stays
Style: Romance, culture, beach, horses
Route: Ubud, Bali to Sumba

Ubud, BaliFour nights
SumbaFour nights

A stone path between ponds of lotus leaves leading to a carved temple gateway among trees.

Days 1 to 5 · four nights

Ubud, Bali

Met on arrival at Denpasar. A day around Ubud for the water palace, temples, art market and monkey sanctuary, a morning of cooking, a Balinese healer, a hike, rafting on the Ayung or cycling, and a day in east Bali among royal palaces, villages, ikat weavers and rice terraces. Mandapa can arrange Melukat, the sacred water purification at Gunung Kawi Sebatu temple, guided by a priest after you make a palm-leaf offering, and a class in Keliki painting village life in the miniature style of the 1930s. The subak rice terraces of Jatiluwih, a UNESCO site, with a local guide.

Where you stay

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Mandapa is set in Ubud where the jungle meets the Ayung River, with rice paddies running through the grounds and 35 suites and 25 private pool villas. A dedicated Patih, or butler, looks after each guest, and Kubu follows a zero-waste approach with ingredients from within 100 kilometres.

Aerial view of NIHI's long sandy beach curving along the coast, with surf breaking and villas set into the green hillside. — Photo: NIHI Sumba

Days 5 to 9 · four nights

Sumba

A flight from Bali to Sumba. Snorkelling, paddleboarding, yoga and the spa, with surf lessons, waterfall walks, ikat weaving and riding or swimming with horses along the beach. NIHI's Spa Safari begins with a two-hour coastal walk, a ride or a cycle to the Nihioka Valley, breakfast on a treehouse platform above the Indian Ocean and treatments in one of six open bale, and experienced surfers can book Occy's Left, which takes 15 registered surfers a day.

Where you stay

NIHI Sumba

NIHI Sumba lies on a 2.5-kilometre white sand beach at Wanokaka in West Sumba, facing the Indian Ocean. The Nihioka Spa is set above a secluded cove, Sandalwood ponies run along the shore, and the resort supports island communities through the Sumba Foundation.

Arranged on request

Melukat at Gunung Kawi Sebatu

After making Canang Sari, a palm-leaf offering, a sacred water purification ritual at Gunung Kawi Sebatu temple, guided by a priest.

Painting in Keliki

A guided class in Keliki village, where Balinese artists of the 1930s painted, making miniature paintings of village life, landscape and folklore.

Spa Safari at Nihioka

A two-hour coastal trek, a 90-minute ride or a cycle to the Nihioka Valley, breakfast on the treehouse platform, then a half or full day of treatments; six bale, two guests each.

Occy's Left

The left-hand reef break in front of NIHI, a ride of about 300 metres, limited to 15 registered surfers a day.

Konda Maloba

A morning fishing off Sumba's south coast, then the catch cooked over an open fire for lunch at an oceanfront retreat above Pantai Aili.

Subject to availability.

Ways to make it yours

An arak masterclass at Mandapa, followed by three courses at Ambar, each paired with the spirit.
A cooking class or an ikat class on Sumba.
A visit to the Sumba Foundation, to see its work on clean water, health care and school lunches across the island.

This is a sample. The hotels, the pace and the order are where we start, not where we finish: every journey is designed around the people taking it.

Made around you

Most travel is bought. This is designed.

Before anything is booked, we talk: who is travelling, how you like to spend a morning, and the hotel preferences below the obvious, from the kind of bath you like to the time you wake and how much daylight you need in a room. You see options where options matter and clean recommendations where they don't.

The same person remains your point of contact from the first reply to the trip after next. No handovers. No team.