Nihiwatu Resort

For a real Robinson Crusoe-style vacation, head to this rustic, eco-conscious beachfront hideaway on the island of Sumba (250 miles east of Bali and a one-hour flight from Denpasar). The island encompasses 4,306 square miles of high plateau, forests, and untouched beaches; Nihiwatu itself has 437 acres of protected tropical forest and a 1.5-mile beachfront with its own challenging surf break. The simple but comfortable accommodations include seven one-bedroom raised bungalows with balconies, and three larger villas that sleep four. All are decorated sparsely but comfortably, with rustic rattan furniture and simple white bamboo beds with mosquito nets. Nihiwatu’s resident guest-relations manager Peter Jones, a yoga master and bodywork specialist, teaches private or group classes in the property’s yoga pavilion. He can also set up fishing, surfing, and diving excursions as well as intimate cultural exchanges with local Sumbanese—one of the last surviving cultures to practice animist religion. All meals—mostly simple, tasty servings of fresh fish, rice, and local fruits and vegetables—are shared family-style in an open dining pavilion with a sand floor.

Tip: Take the daylong excursion to Sumba’s waterfalls in Wanukaka Valley.

Room to book: Bungalow No. 4, for its porch with perfect wrap-around sea views.