Travelling these days frequently feels like a list of places to visit and things to do all the time. We urge you to try something new at The Sanubari: a slower, more deliberate way to travel.

The Sanubari, one of the Sumba Best Hotels, is a hidden gem on the beautiful coastline of Sumba, Indonesia. It represents the spirit of slow luxury. Every little thing here makes you more aware, more connected to the Sumbanese culture, to nature and of course to yourself.

Our resort is more than a holiday place to stay; it's a refuge where barefoot luxury meets intentional design. It covers 100 hectares of private land. Every area is created to encourage balance, healing, and regeneration, giving a retreat from the bustle of daily life.

Sumba Island is still one of Indonesia's last pristine treasures. It is an island full of old megalithic traditions and beaches that appear to stretch on forever. The Sanubari is a peaceful place to stay in the middle of all this natural and cultural grandeur. Guests may really relax to the sound of rolling waves and birdsong on the two kilometres of private beach that only a few villas are on.

This post talks about five of our most mindful places, each of which is meant to help you feel better and show how committed we are to calm, meaningful travel in the heart of Sumba.

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1. Beachfront Restaurant: A Sustainable Farm-to-Table Dining Experience

Our beachfront restaurant is where your daily rotation of meals is transformed into an immersive dining experience rich with sustainability and conscious consumption. Open daily from 7:00 AM until late, our dining space offers a delicious fusion of Asian and Western cuisines and a beautiful setting to hold meaningful interaction with your loved ones, nature, and new friends.

Our restaurant works on a simple yet meaningful principle: to support local farmers and fishermen while minimizing our environmental footprint. We source fresh line-caught fish directly from the Indian Ocean, which means every seafood dish you order comes directly from sustainable fishing practices. One of the highlights of our culinary offers is also the vibrant salads, herbs, and fruits harvested from our farm and organic orchards, situated right within the property.

Our food and beverage staff understands how to meet diverse dietary preferences of our guests, including yours. Guests are always welcome to request for a vegan or vegetarian alternative or any other dietary requirements. Our cooks will make a meal that is well-balanced and still tastefully adorned to satisfy your needs. 

Our farm-to-table idea means that when you dine at our restaurant, you are helping Sumbanese farmers and fishermen. We provide this farm-to-table eating style as a way to intentionally connect with Sumba, its people, nature, culture, and the people who are in charge of your food. We hope you will eat with us.

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2. Jungle Spa: Relaxation in the Midst of Sumba’s Nature

Guests who need to unwind and get well can use our Jungle Spa. The design of this facility is meant to integrate a custom treatment area with Sumba's natural surroundings. This way, you may enjoy restorative therapies while still being surrounded by the views, sounds, and smells of our resort's environment.

Our spa treatments are based on the idea of healing and restoration. They use natural Indonesian products prepared with components grown in the area and ancient methods that have been passed down through the years. Each spa treatment is tailored to meet the individual needs of each client. The menu includes options for relaxing muscular tension, rejuvenating skin, facials, and hair treatments.

The forest setting is a big aspect of the therapeutic spa experience. You can hear the waves crashing on the coast and the soft rustle of palm leaves. This place is close enough to Dassang beach that you may walk there. Overall, our jungle spa makes the experience more relaxing and thoughtful by using all of your senses.

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3. Yoga Shala: Finding Center in an Island Setting

Perched within our reserve, we are currently building a Yoga Shala that will provide a dedicated space for movement and meditation to our guests. Our yoga facility will offer the perfect environment for exploring moments of connection between breath, body, and spirit, an experience sought after by our intentional-minded guests.

The open-air design of our Yoga Shala ensures that your practice is accompanied by natural elements. Having an integration with nature transforms yoga from a simple exercise routine into a spiritual experience that aligns with the principles of a slow travel.

Regular yoga practice has been proven to reduce stress, improve flexibility and strength, enhance mental clarity, and promote overall wellbeing. These are all essential factors of a truly restorative getaway.

You will be able to practice according to your own schedule and preferences, whether that's greeting the sunrise with sun salutations, unwinding after a day of exploration with restorative poses, or simply using the space for personal meditation and reflection.

The yoga shala facility is in the last stages of construction and will be ready to utilize next year.

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4. Outdoor Calisthenics Gym: Fitness in Open Air

For travelers who maintain an active lifestyle, we have an outdoor calisthenics gym that provides a unique alternative to the more modern, sterile air-conditioned gym facilities found in your hometown. Our gym space is thoughtfully equipped with dumbbells, wooden weights, wooden barbells, bars, kettlebells, bench equipment, and spacious calisthenics area, and all these facilities set against the backdrop of our resort’s stunning backdrop, just walking distance between all villas and the beach.

Working out and exercising in fresh air, with natural light truly transforms a potentially mundane workout into a new and immersive fitness experience that will surely engage your muscles and senses. The use of wooden weights also adds this organic, earthy element that we feel is harmonious with our natural surroundings.

Slow travel doesn't mean abandoning healthy routines. On the contrary, it means integrating health and wellness practices into your getaway rhythm in a way that feels refreshing and enjoyable rather than obligatory. Our outdoor gym provides the tools and environment perfect for strength training, bodyweight exercises, or a combination of both, to maintain physical wellbeing while still fully embracing the relaxed pace of island life.

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5. Beachfront Bar and Bonfire: Our Memorable Happy Hour and Sunset Watching Spot

As the day draws to a close, our beachfront bar becomes this lovely gathering place for guests looking to savor the magic of Sumba's captivating sunsets. Like our restaurant, our bar opens from 7:00 AM until late and offers far more than your generic vacation cocktails; our bar menu offers a curated selection of housemade beverages crafted with creativity and local ingredients.

Our in-house mixologists have developed a variety of signature cocktail menus that enhance the use of local herbs and fruits grown right on our property. We don’t offer mass-produced cocktails, instead our menu tells a story of place and features flavors that are uniquely Sumbanese, with ingredients sourced locally from garden to glass. Alongside these special creations, of course, we also serve classic cocktails prepared with premium spirits and the likes of it.

You will enjoy moments of beautiful sunset watching and conversations at our beachfront bar. Guests often savour their cocktails while watching the sky transform through shades of amber, rose, and violet, and strike a meaningful conversation with other travelers and our friendly staff. Solo travellers also enjoy simply sitting in comfortable silence, immersing themselves in a barefoot beach setting and the warmth of the tropical evening settling around.

Daily activities like sunset watching, post-surf relaxation, post-horseriding activity, or unwinding after buffalo watching all encounter a perfect conclusion at our bar.

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What Makes The Sanubari So Special: Intentional Design for Holistic Wellness

The Sanubari stands apart in the landscape of island resorts because of our unwavering commitment to intentional and bespoke experiences. As a small-scale property, we have the freedom to prioritize guest wellbeing over mass tourism, creating facilities and services that genuinely support your journey toward restoration and balance. It’s this attention to detail that makes The Sanubari a true Sumba Best Hotel.

Every element of our resort facilities has been considered with our guests’ comfort and wellness in priority. We kept a distance with the cookie-cutter approach that characterizes many modern resorts in favor of creating beautiful retreat spaces that are personal, authentic, and welcoming. Our goal is to make our guests’ stay feel like coming back to a second home, a place where they can truly immerse in secluded nature and be themselves, where their personal needs and preferences are met and honoured.

This intentionality extends to our staff as well. Our staff of professionals are all about genuine connection, and are always ready to anticipate needs, to create an atmosphere where guests feel valued and deeply cared for. Other resorts may be more transactional and impersonal, however our resort strives to always offer an authentic hospitality rooted in Sumbanese warmth and cultural traditions.

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What You Can Expect from Visiting Sumba and Staying at The Sanubari

A trip to Sumba is unlike any other Indonesian travel experience. Sumba is unlike Bali, with its developed infrastructure and crowded beaches, and is not comparable to Java with its urban centers and tourist corridors. Sumba, to be precise, represents an increasingly precious appeal in our modern world: remoteness and the opportunity to witness a living heritage that has remained unchanged for centuries.

The Marapu traditions that define the Sumbanese culture are evident everywhere on the island, from the unique peaked-roof traditional houses to the fascinating funeral ceremonies and massive stone tombs that mark the landscape. As one of the world's last remaining megalithic cultures, Sumba offers travelers a rare glimpse into ancient ways of living that have wonderfully survived into the present day.

When you stay at The Sanubari, you will experience this remarkable island through a lens of uniqueness and sustainability. Our property serves as a base for land exploration, offering facilities for relaxation and also a launching point for unique cultural experiences. Beyond our five facilities highlighted above, our private reserve also includes stables and a horse grooming area for delightful equestrian experiences, a mini golf facility for casual time-killing, an outdoor kids playground for travelling families, organic farm and fruit orchards, and motor scooter and electric scooter hire for independent explorations.

The Indonesian ocean waves, which have remained uncrowded yet still accessible, break along our two kilometers of private beach and attract surfers from around the world. And when you're not riding waves, you might find yourself swimming in crystalline waters, beachcombing along pristine shores, or simply resting with a good book in your hands and the sound of the sea as your companion.

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The Sanubari Experience: Intentionality Meets Warmth

At The Sanubari, hospitality is largely about creating an environment where wellness happens naturally rather than feeling forced or scheduled. We provide structure and support when our guests require it, and space and freedom when they seek for solitude and balance on their own. This allows them to design each day according to their own rhythms and desires rather than conforming to a systematic resort program.

Our facilities work in harmony to support every aspect of our guests’ wellbeing. Begin the morning with meditation, followed by a nourishing breakfast at our restaurant. Mid-mornings are perfect for exploring the island on a hired scooter or leisurely walks. Options for a perfect afternoon vary from riding horses along the beach or a rejuvenating treatment at the Jungle Spa, and you can also dedicate a session of workout at our outdoor gym. Other sun activities to do are a surf session, or simply reading in the shade and having a beach picnic.

The beauty of our resort is that every guest's experience is unique and leisurely, shaped by individual interests, energy levels, and wellness goals. We provide the infrastructure and the warm hospitality that allows you to craft your ideal slow travel experience in Sumba.

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Plan Your Sumba Travel at The Sanubari

The Sanubari offers permission for you to slow down, to breathe deeply, and to reconnect with what nourishes your soul. Our array of mindful facilities, the farm-to-table restaurant, Jungle Spa, Yoga Shala, outdoor gym, beachfront bar, and more, represent just the beginning of what lies ahead for your trip on Sumba's pleasant shores.

Our commitment to intentional design, sustainable practices, authentic hospitality, and cultural experiences ensures that your trip will be a memorable one. We welcome guests who seek adventure, restoration through wellness-focused amenities, and even those who are simply seeking their own space and time to rediscover themselves away from daily chaos.

Book your stay at The Sanubari – Sumba Best Hotel and find out for yourself what it means to travel slowly, mindfully, and intentionally. Let us welcome you to our island paradise, where untouched beaches, ancient culture, and barefoot luxury blend to create an unforgettable island getaway for you and your loved ones. Your journey toward balance, wellness, and authentic connection starts now.

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