Nihi Sumba

Constructed to hug the cliffs and coastline of the island of Sumba, Nihi is a utopian hideaway with villas adorned in stone, teak and billowing white textiles. Stone paths are lined with hanging palm fronds and hibiscus flowers, and much of the restaurants’ produce is grown in the resort’s organic garden, which is fed by a clever composting and water-recycling system. Its Sumba Foundation impacts health, education and income generation—aside from lounging in the sun and horse riding on the beach, guests can tour the foundation’s facilities and take part in community projects. Through donations from the hotel and its guests, the foundation has spent millions on locally sourced products used to build and supply the resort, provided access to clean water and dramatically reduced malaria infections, while creating thousands of jobs.