NIHI Rote

NIHI Rote stands at Bo'a, on the island of Rote, among the southernmost islands of Indonesia, in the province of East Nusa Tenggara, south-west of Timor and closer to Australia than to Bali. It comes from the team behind NIHI Sumba, led by the brand's chief executive and co-founder, James McBride, and opened in phases from May 2026. It has 21 villas and treehouses under coconut-leaf roofs, built by hand from carved timber in the techniques of the island.

A hotel that is also a school

At its centre is the Rote Hospitality Academy, a non-profit working school led by the resort's owner, Michael Schwab, which trains young people from Rote and from Timor-Leste in cooking, hospitality and sustainability; the President of Timor-Leste, José Ramos-Horta, has endorsed it. During the pre-opening phase, proceeds from guest stays went to the academy, and guests can take part in its English lessons and swimming sessions.

Surf at the door

Rote is a surf island. The Bo'a break peels just beyond the villas, the resort runs transfers to the village of Nemberala and daily boats to more remote breaks, among them T-Land and the waters around Dana Island, and the NAMMO Beach Club gives access to the sea. The main pool, the spa and the Ombak restaurant and bar were scheduled to follow the first villas in September 2026; check which facilities are open when booking. The island is about two hours and twenty minutes from Bali by air.

For the other end of the Indonesian archipelago, OKYTO's guide to Raja Ampat sets out the choice between ship and resort, and Komodo and Flores lie to the west of Rote along the same island chain.

Sources: Two Keys (May 2026); Newsweek (March 2026); NIHI.