Alamayah

Style

In-good-health hideaway

Setting

Jungle-adjacent sands

Sitting pretty between the jungle and the deep blue sea, Alamayah is an intimate six-suite stay on the Indonesian island of Sumba. The tucked-away villa takes Sumbanese tradition and its tropical surroundings as its twin guiding stars, with handcrafted teak furniture framed by sandy neutrals and bathed in lashings of natural light. The same goes for the restaurant, where health-savvy chefs work seasonal homegrown goodies into a hearty menu of vitamin-rich victuals. Revive your va-va-voom further at the Ayurvedic spa – you’ll need it, because the team of local staff have cooked up a hill-scaling, hidden beach-hunting roster of guided adventures to dive (or surf, or scooter) into.

Facilities

Rooms

Six suites.

Checkout

Noon. Earliest check-in, 2pm. Both are flexible, subject to availability.

More Details

Rates usually include an à la carte breakfast – think smoothie bowls, fresh-fruit platters and papaya-topped pancake stacks, plus plenty of classic Indonesian dishes. A 10% service fee per booking will be charged at check-out.

Also

Unfortunately, the hotel is not wheelchair-accessible.

Fitness Center

Free Internet Access

Laundry

Pool

On-Site Restaurant

Spa

At the Hotel

Spa; fitness room; billiards table; gardens; free-to-hire surfboards, paddleboards and snorkelling equipment; and free WiFi throughout. In rooms: air-conditioning, ceiling fan, minibar, tea- and coffee-making kit, and Alamayah bath products.

Our Favourite Rooms

For a soak with a sea view, opt for the Amu suite – the outsized tub takes pride of place on the private ocean-facing terrace.

Poolside

Peek through the palms to find the outdoor pool, complete with coconut-like cabanas to cosy up in. The pool is open from 6am to 8pm.

Spa

Take the tan-toned good looks of a Turkish hammam, stir in a sprinkling of Ayurvedic expertise and ta-da – you’ve got yourself Alamayah’s spa. Here, hand-picked botanicals, grown in the hotel’s gardens (where else?), are whipped up into ache-easing tinctures by the master therapists. Hit the hydrotherapy baths or herb-scented steam room, then treat yourself to a tailor-made treatment.

Packing Tips

Don’t go OTT on the toiletries. It’s much better to make use of Alamayah’s own brand of bath products, which spotlight the hotel’s homegrown botanicals.

Also

Have something to celebrate? Staff can organise a personal photography session and live music to soundtrack a special alfresco supper.

Children

All ages are welcome. Extra beds can be added to rooms for IDR1,000,000 a night.

Gallery

Food & Drink

Top Table

Pull up a pew at the communal table to digest the day’s adventures with your fellow guests. Prefer palms to people? Tuck yourself away on the terrace and you’ll have only the coconut trees for company.

Dress Code

Make the hotel’s sepia-toned style your moodboard: finespun natural fibres in chic neutral hues will fit the sartorial bill.

Hotel Restaurant

Jack in the juice cleanse – the chefs at Alamayah’s restaurant pack in ‘my body is a temple’-type nourishment without pulling their flavour punches. Loaded with local fruit and veg, the dishes here have been designed with wellbeing in mind. Don’t worry, though, there are no sad salads in sight here – the menu, which mixes Asian classics and Sumbanese takes on traditional Western tucker, is about as far from limp lettuce leaves as you can get. Order seven hours ahead to secure yourself the hotel's specialty, a whole chicken guling, rotisserie-roasted in a heady spice blend. The ‘conscious cuisine’ ethos looks out for the local community, too – whatever ingredients can’t be collected from the hotel’s gardens are sourced straight from local farmers.

Hotel Bar

The semi-circular bar is your one-stop shop for all types of tropical tipples, from seasonal smoothies to cocktails laced with locally-grown lime. This is nurturing nightlife, so tipsy spirits are tempered with bar snacks as wholesome as they are tempting – nibble on nutrient-packed nori rolls and poke bowls while you wait for your watermelon martini.

Last Orders

The bar is open from 6am to 9pm.

Planes

It’s a scenic two-hour drive from the island’s Tambolaka Airport, where daily flights touch down from Bali. The hotel can arrange private or group return transfers on request for an additional cost.

Automobiles

In case you fancy striking out solo, cars can be hired from the hotel – ask the staff for their favourite local-secret spots. Otherwise, there’s a highlight-hitting list of guided drives to choose from.

Worth Getting Out of Bed For

Tip your hat to the tropical morning with a turn about the permaculture gardens. The palm-canopied pool makes for a cooling-off spot with movie-star good looks – get your lengths in, then retreat to a cabana for a post-paddle kip. After a hard day’s island frolicking, follow the scent of essential oils to the Ayurvedic spa, where the steam room, hydrotherapy baths and ache-melting massages await. Bagsy the billiards table for some ‘best-of-three’ bonding with your fellow guests; sofa-based spectators can set up camp in the lounge. Settle the score in time for dinner on the terrace – or see if the chefs can’t rustle up a fiery alfresco supper on the barbecue. After a day spent surrounded by Sumba’s natural bounty, nights are best rounded out with a tropical fruit-based tipple (or two) at the bar.

The island’s Lamboya region is rich with hidden beaches, jungle-clad hills and carefully preserved culture. When you’re ready to strike out, the hotel’s staff can curate a personalised agenda of local-led adventures. A palm-shaded stroll from the hotel, Kerewe Beach is your golden-sand gateway into local life. It’s a focal point for villagers going about their daily business, and the waters here are also home to endangered dugongs and sea turtles. Head west to Marosi, a tucked-away beach and one of the island’s most seductive swimming spots. For a comprehensive supply of local-secret beach tip-offs, the hotel staff have you covered. The southwest is Sumba’s surfing hotspot; borrow a board from the hotel or book a beginner-friendly lesson. Paddle-boarding, snorkelling and scuba-diving gear and guided excursions are also on offer, so you’re not short of coast-skirting capers.

Get your feet back on dry(-ish) land with a guided waterfall trek. The Matayangu route takes in a triptych of falls on a pulse-raising hike through the national park. For a gentler jaunt, pack a picnic and head out for a family-friendly paddle under the Waikelo Sawah falls. Other excursions take in the region’s rice paddies, jungles and verdant valleys – on foot or from the comfort of a four-wheel drive. Local life in Sumba is steeped in vibrant, century-spanning traditions. Visit the nearby fishing village for insight into ancient festivities and intricate ikat weaving. When dusk descends, see out the day in style with a private sunset-watching experience way up above the white Watubela cliffs.

Earn or Redeem Points with World of Hyatt

This Mr & Mrs Smith hotel participates in the World of Hyatt loyalty program. As a member, you can earn and redeem points and enjoy exclusive benefits for qualifying nights. .