NIHI Rote & Hospitality Academy

NIHI Rote & Hospitality Academy sits on Bo’a Beach on Rote Island, Indonesia’s southernmost island, close to Timor in the far south-east of the country. NIHI’s second destination after Sumba, it combines a remote Indian Ocean setting with a clear social purpose through the Rote Hospitality Academy, which is built into the daily life of the resort. Guests usually travel via Kupang in West Timor, followed by a short domestic flight to Rote and a 90-minute road transfer from D.C. Saudale Airport.

The resort consists of 21 villas looking towards the Indian Ocean. Each has a private pool and a Rotanese-inspired design, with carved wooden structures and coconut leaf roofs. Accommodation includes one-bedroom Ume Bo’a Garden and Ume Bo’a Beach villas, alongside two-bedroom Ume Leo and Ume Nanaru villas in garden and beach settings. The one-bedroom villas measure 130 square metres, while most two-bedroom villas measure 180 square metres. Ume Leo Beach is the largest option, at 270 square metres.

Bo’a Beach gives NIHI Rote a strong surf focus. The resort sits in front of Bo’a Barrel, a fast right-hand barrel and one of Rote’s best-known waves. Other breaks, including T-Land at Nemberala Beach, Suckies, Bommie, Squealers, Do’o and Dana Island, offer a range of conditions for experienced surfers and those still progressing, with some reached by boat. Diving is another significant part of the experience, with sites around Rote and nearby islets. Manta rays, pilot whales and whale sharks have also been sighted in the wider waters around the island.

Wellness is centred on the Spa Sanctuary, set in a quieter part of the property with garden paths, open-air bales and a pool. Treatments draw on Indonesian healing traditions, while NIHI Fit offers daily complimentary movement classes at Lontar, an open-air pavilion with ocean views. Yoga, strength work, contrast therapy and visiting practitioners through a partnership with Nirvana Life add further depth to the wellness offering. Dining is currently based around Nammo Beach Club on Bo’a Beach, serving seafood, charcoal-grilled dishes, rotisserie, wood-fired pizzas and salads for lunch and dinner. Further facilities, including Savu Restaurant, a Sunset Bar, infinity pool, Boathouse, pump track and Games Pavilion, are planned for 2026.

NIHI Rote & Hospitality Academy will suit guests who are comfortable with a more remote journey and want a stay shaped by surf, diving, wellness and a meaningful connection to local training and education. It should work particularly well for active couples, families with older children and travellers combining Rote with NIHI Sumba.