Sudamala Resort Seraya — Hotel in East Nusa Tenggara

We stayed at Sudamala Seraya for 5 nights from 18th - 23rd June 2025, at the tail end of a two-week trip around Flores, choosing it specifically to unwind in luxury whilst celebrating our 7th wedding anniversary and it delivered on every front.||We booked directly for a Beach Bungalow on the bed & breakfast package, drawn by several key features: its house reef, the ideal size of the resort (intimate but not too small), its proximity to Labuan Bajo (under an hour by boat) and the promise of barefoot luxury. It ticked every box.||Room: The beach bungalow was beautiful - spacious, clean and thoughtfully equipped with flip flops, robes, refillable water bottles, a reasonably priced mini bar, hairdryer and all the little touches you'd expect from a luxury property. The view from the room was idyllic, with every room facing the sea. Our only (minor) gripe was that the bungalow is semi-detached and we could hear conversations from the room next door, so if total privacy is important, we’d suggest upgrading to a fully detached villa. Still, we didn’t spend much time indoors so it didn’t affect our overall experience.||Facilities: The spa deserves a special mention - I had a 90-minute massage that was honestly one of the best I’ve ever had. The gym was small but well-equipped and modern, although the air con took a while to kick in. The beach was pristine, cleaned every morning by staff and we much preferred it to the pool (which was mostly used by children). The grounds were beautifully maintained throughout.||Service: The staff truly made our stay unforgettable. Every single team member we interacted with was kind, warm and attentive. It’s clear they are treated well, many have been there for years and it shows in how they care for guests. A few names we’d like to shout out: Alfonso, Jimmy, Nardi, Selis, Indry (wait staff), Richard (Duty Manager), and Huberth (GM) - they were all exceptional and a true credit to Sudamala!||Food: Being on a remote island, we dined exclusively at the resort, but never felt limited. The breakfast was a highlight - generous and varied with options like salmon croissants, mie goreng, fresh bakery baskets, granola, coffee and fresh juice. For dinner, the beef rendang and nasi goreng were standouts for us. Overall, the food was flavourful, fresh and well-balanced across local and international options. Also, I have to recommend the orange and pineapple crushed ice drink - so refreshing in the heat.||Activities: We didn’t book any tours since we’d done plenty earlier in our trip, but snorkelling the house reef right in front of the resort was some of the best we’ve ever done. One day we borrowed kayaks (free from the hotel) and paddled to Hatamin Island, just over a mile away. We had the beach entirely to ourselves, snorkelled with black tip sharks and saw vibrant coral and fish. Highly recommended. Also, don’t miss the sunset bar at the resort from 5pm - great views but bring mosquito repellent!||Sudajiva Soul Series – A Personal Highlight: During our stay, I joined the Sudajiva Soul Series, a three-day wellness program hosted by Sudamala Resorts in honour of International Yoga Day. Although I was the only guest to sign up, the team still delivered the full experience with such care and attention. It turned out to be one of the most magical, educational and fulfilling experiences of the trip. From sunrise yoga and sound healing to a sunset Yoga Nidra ritual with wellness canapés and an interactive spa workshop, every session was beautifully curated. I felt deeply connected, grounded and incredibly grateful to Sudamala Seraya for going ahead with it just for me - a truly special and rare experience I’ll never forget. THANK YOU Ardani!

First, to categorize this as luxury is debatable.

Actually, the place is pretty, but if you are used to the word "luxury" in the real sense, don't expect too much. And if you love nice bathroom, this is not the place to go. If you want to experience the island, one night is sufficient. Do not stay in the room near the kitchen. With the good and the minus, it's a 3 star resort that comes rather expensive for the things/services offered.

The layout and ambience of the room is luxurious, also the bedding, however, they are using cheap materials for the building and the finishing is ugly. The wall is very thin - gypsum I think, so you can pretty much hear a lot of things.

The worse bathroom I've ever seen. When it rains, you can't go without getting wet. Millipedes roaming around is fine, but molds are disgusting. I also don't fancy the amenities, smells cheap; especially the hand soap.

The food and drinks in the restaurant are good, presentation is luxurious. Rather overpriced.

Safety is not being paid attention to. And this is crucial. They let us use the canoe, but they don't tell us where not to go. We went to the end of the island, and when we went home, the room manager told us that there is a current going that way. I'm not sure if anybody supervises anything. I did see a hotel employee sat at the pier but he basically just sat there.

Location wise, it's super beautiful, also since we went there when it's lush, so we didn't see barren hills. We got I think the best positioned room, that is in the middle, so nothing in our way to enjoy the beautiful island across, the sea, and don't forget to wake up in the morning around 5:30-6.00 to enjoy the beautiful sunrise.

The pickup from the harbor was nice. Not exactly on time, but the staffs and the boatman are very prompt in their communications.

The staffs, some are very accommodating and prompt, but there are also clueless ones. The person at the canoe station was rude telling my husband to return to canoe to the station - it was in front of our bungalow temporarily because I was getting something inside. Could've said it nicely, and in fact, he could've taken it himself if someone wants to use it. And perhaps this is my preference, but if a hotel categorize itself as luxury, less asking personal question is the MO, and rather perhaps it's discouraged. Worse thing is, when I made a call to the number provided, someone in the head office answered and ended up asking me so many personal questions: where I live, what I did - and invited me to come to their facility in Sanur. Terrible.

One minus as well is they only told us about the hotel underwent renovation just before our departure. They didn't state it in their website, and put the price as non-refundable. This practice is not right, again, if one wants to say "luxurious". They did offer refunds (but some percentage being cut for the transfer or whatever, which is again ridiculous) and offered the mainland facility with a lot of perks. I appreciated it, but mainland and island has a huge difference. This is very unthoughtful as well considering people has schedule. I was so looking forward at the beginning, but the reality as not as pretty. I couldn't cancel my flight last minute, also booked another hotel in another island.

The sea - the water is nice, warm, can dip there for hours, but we got quite some trash from the other island. Not the hotel's mistake. They do cleanups in the afternoon. The cleanliness of the water, I'm not exactly sure. The underwater scene for snorkeling is okay, nothing extraordinary. If you've seen great coral reefs, this is not great.

Also, I was looking forward to explore the island, which I couldn't do, since the hotel said it's not safe, there are some debris. So, we are locked in only in the resort. We didn't take trips since we've done that before. Also, as the hotel was having some renovation, it wasn't that tranquil. Still we can see builders running around. Even we can't hear the sound, the sight is...

Our journey to Sudamala Seraya began with the quiet excitement of exploring somewhere new, yet familiar. Having experienced other Sudamala properties before, my partner and I arrived with admittedly high expectations. What we discovered was a resort that not only met these expectations but transcended them in ways I hadn't imagined possible. From the moment we set foot on the island, we were embraced by both the breathtaking landscape and the genuine warmth of the staff. This wasn't just another beach getaway—it was an immersion into the rich Manggarai culture that Sudamala so thoughtfully incorporates into the experience.

Our accommodation journey started in a beach bungalow but we changed to a private beach bungalow—a decision I wholeheartedly recommend to anyone considering their options. The management team mentioned upcoming renovations for the standard beach bungalows, which will address the only minor issue we encountered: sound carrying between the rooms in the shared beach bungalow room. All rooms offer comfortable charm and proximity to the shore. Each room showcased tasteful decoration that reflected the local heritage while providing thoughtful amenities. The international plug sockets were a practical touch, and the mosquito nets added both function and a touch of romance to the setting. One of my personal highlights was the outdoor bathroom, I enjoy the feeling of showering under the open sky as it enhances the island experience. The signature Sudamala toiletries, as always, were a lovely finishing touch.

Dining at Sudamala Seraya was always a delight. The main restaurant blends Sudamala's signature offerings with local Manggarai cuisine, creating a menu that feels both familiar and excitingly new. For breakfast, I found myself repeatedly drawn to the bubur ayam. Throughout our stay, the variety of lunch and dinner options kept our meals interesting. What struck me most was the staff's willingness to accommodate custom requests whenever possible, their flexibility and desire to please was evident in everything they did.

As the day began to wind down, the Sunset Bar became a staple of our stay. It’s perched nicely to capture the sunset spectacle, this space offered an ideal intimate setting to transition from day to evening. With refreshing drinks in hand and comfortable seating, we watched the serene scenes of the sky transforming through various shades of orange, pink, and purple.

Beyond our room and meals, the resort facilities exceeded our expectations. The gym surprised us with its comprehensive equipment—new machines, free weights, and a treadmill provided everything needed for maintaining holiday fitness routines. I particularly appreciated the no-shoe policy in the restaurant area, which contributed to the immaculate cleanliness throughout the property. The meticulous care taken to maintain the Sudamala section of the island was evident everywhere we looked.

But the true star of our experience was the island itself. Words fail to capture the ethereal beauty of Seraya. The coral reefs surrounding the island created an underwater wonderland that left me speechless. Even for those who don't consider themselves swimmers, I urge you to don a life jacket and witness this underwater spectacle—it's truly unforgettable. The beach sand felt soft and luscious, reminiscent of my experiences in Cape Verde.

What ultimately made our stay transcend from wonderful to extraordinary was the people. The entire staff—from kitchen to maintenance to the Aquaria Dive Centre—created an atmosphere of genuine care that touched our hearts. Nardi, Robert, Jimmy, Alfonso, Richard, and Jeffrey deserve special mention for the connections we formed with them and their contributions to making our stay particularly memorable.

As we reluctantly departed Sudamala Seraya, we carried with us not just photographs and souvenirs, but a profound appreciation for this special corner of the world where natural beauty and human kindness create something...