The island of Nias or Tano Niha lay in about 125 kilometers off the west coast of North Sumatera. It is a fairly isolated, remote island and just 100 kilometres north of the equator. It is part of a long chain of islands which together from the western boundary of Indonesia. Nias island is fairly small, only 130 kilometres long and 45 kilometres wide. Nias, shaped like an elongated square, has an area of 4,772 square kilometres. The percipitous west coast is not easily as steep, has calm bays with coral reefs and there are a few natural harbours from which trade is carried on, mainly with Sumatera. Since ancient times, the mountainous interior has been covered with impenetrable, tropical rain forest, criss crossed by deep ravines through which fast flowing rivers swirl their way to the sea.

Nowadays, travelling to Nias has been made much easier through government effort to upgrade the island infrastructures particularly access to the shoutern part. Daily flights are operate between Medan and Gunung Sitoli, Nias capital two imes to there a week. The capital is also connected by some smaller aircraft to Sinabang, Meulaboh, Padang and Aek Godang. A daily ferry boat also links Sibolga to Gunung Sitoli and Teluk Dalam. Nias has become a regular destination for cruise ship whose western passengers interested in Nias megalithic "Stone Age" culture which is considered to be oldest megalithic culture in Indonesia.

The village Bawomatoluwo or "sunhill" is well known for its massive flight of stairs at the main entrance gate. Located in this village is the oldest and large Omo Sebua or large house of this indigenous warlike Nias tribe. The house is 22 metres high and some of its pillars are more than a metre thick. It has exquisite wallcarvings that commemorate great ritual feasts held for the smithing of golden head ornament. Massive horizontal and vertical carved stones are found in front of the house in the shape of tables, chairs and ships, weighing up to 18 tons each.

Hilisimaetano is also spellbinding viallage to visit, Visitors can see the adat house or the hall of tribal chief built from geant wooden logs. Visitors can see witness performances of the trditional Nias tribal warrior dance and the thrilling traditional high-jump sport, i.e. people making dangerous leaps over 2 metres high stones columns. These performance can be seen in Bawomataluwo Hilisimaetano in other surrounding villages. Typical scenes are dancers in their traditional tribal costumes with bird feathers or their heads pieces and the frightening, primitive look of their cuirass warrior's jacket made of black ijuk palm and bark cloth fiber, carrying spears and shield.

Nias is also very famous in the world surfing. As one of the best ten wave in the world, the wave of Sorake beach on Lagundri bay is well-known as "The most notorious right hand reef breaks". This is why Nias holds such incredible allure for surfers the world over.

It has been described by aficionados as "the best seven seconds of your life" and the promise of riding inside the deep round belly of its tubes draws wave riders further than the wildest winds of travel would normally ever blow them. The international surfing events are held annually at Lagundri bay including the prestigious World Professinals Qualifying Series.