How to Get to Lombok
How to Get Around Lombok
What to Do in Lombok
Where to Stay in Lombok
Lombok has been one of our favourite places to visit in all of Indonesia. Like its neighbour Bali, Lombok encompasses unique landscapes from dreamy beaches, heavenly waterfalls, vibing islands and fearless mountains. But unlike its popular neighbour, you can experience most of these destinations without the crowds. We spent almost 2 weeks exploring the island from Kuta in the south, Senaru in the north and The Gili Islands in the west.
Northern Lombok experienced 2 earthquakes in 2018, and are still experiencing financial struggles and rebuilding what was lost. Now, more than ever, this island needs the support of tourists to continue visiting.
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HOW TO GET TO LOMBOK
There are 2 options to reach Lombok from Bali, by air or by sea.
Flying to Lombok
This flight from Denpasar Domestic Airport only takes 30-45mins and can sometimes be the same price as taking a ferry. We chose to fly direct to Lombok with Garuda Indonesia for 500K IDR ($50 AUD), and we even had free food and water on the flight. Some of the cheaper airlines were flying for as little as 300K IDR ($30 AUD).
Ferry to Lombok
Ferries to Lombok from Bali leave from Padang Bair Port, which is about a 1-2hour drive from the Denpasar Airport. You can either take a ferry or a speedboat depending on your preference. A ferry will take about 5 hours and a speed boat will take about 2 hours.
Check out all ferry and boat prices to Lombok below.
HOW TO GET AROUND LOMBOK
Scooter:
Scooter hire in Lombok ranges from 50-60K IDR ($5-6 AUD) per day. We found the roads very scenic and safe to drive on. However, please note that there are no cars or scooters on the Gili Islands and the only mode of transport is by bike. There are horse-drawn carts everywhere, but we recommend not supporting this activity as the horses are not treated well. A bike will cost roughly 50K IDR ($5 AUD) per day.
Driver:
If you aren’t confident in riding a scooter, then hiring a driver in Lombok is super easy and the average cost for a car per day is 500-600K IDR ($50-60 AUD). We also used a driver to get us from one side of the island to the other, as the journey was too far for us on a scooter with our luggage.
WHAT TO DO IN LOMBOK
There is so much to see in Lombok and that is why we spent 2 weeks exploring the island, and still plan to come back and see more. We will separate what to do in Lombok into North, South, Central and The Gili Islands.
WHAT TO DO IN NORTHERN LOMBOK
There are two main things to do in Northern Lombok and both are located around the town of Senaru, visiting waterfalls and trekking Mt Rinjani.
Waterfalls in Northern Lombok
Senaru is adjacent to a massive valley which has a trail of waterfalls throughout. Two of the waterfalls are easily accessible from the town, but make sure to take a local guide with you as some of the paths were destroyed in the 2018 earthquakes.
Check out our Lombok Waterfalls blog here.
Mt Rinjani Trek in Northern Lombok
The second and most prominent thing to do in Northern Lombok is trek Mt Rinjani. Trekking Mt Rinjani was not originally on our itinerary as we had ruled it out due to the wet season and most of the track being destroyed in the earthquake. But after stumbling across a local guide who convinced us to spend one night up in the mountain, we are so glad we changed our minds!
Check out everything you need to know about trekking Mt Rinjani here.
WHAT TO DO IN SOUTHERN LOMBOK
The southern Lombok coastline is laced with beaches, all with white sand and their own uniqueness. We stayed in the town of Kuta (not to be mistaken with Kuta, Bali), and beach hopped to the east and west of the southern Lombok coastline.
Check out the Best Beaches around Kuta Lombok here.
WHAT TO DO IN CENTRAL LOMBOK
For us, central Lombok was merely just a stop over from the North to the South. Only a 1-2 hour drive from Kuta lies a string of waterfalls amongst the mountains. We visited two waterfalls in particular, Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu.
Check out The Best Lombok Waterfalls blog here.
WHAT TO DO IN THE GILI ISLANDS
No matter what island you choose to stay in the Gili Islands in the north-east of Lombok, you will be able to do most of the same activities on all three. We snorkelled with turtles and the famous underwater statues, relaxed beachside with a massage, rented a bike, swung on the many sunset swings and island hopped.
Check out everything you need to know about the Gili Islands here.
WHERE TO STAY IN LOMBOK
If you plan on seeing all of Lombok, then we recommend breaking your trip into Northern Lombok, Southern Lombok and The Gili Islands.
Where to stay in Northern Lombok
We stayed in the town of Senaru, the closest village to the waterfalls and to access Mt Rinjani. Below is a list of sustainable accommodation options near Senaru.
Rinjani Beach Eco Resort – This resort offers spectacular views in the north-west of Lombok, of the Gili Islands and Mt Rinjani. This Eco Resort is perfectly situated between the islands and the mountains. A great location to access both attractions, whilst also supporting sustainable practices. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Hotel Tugu – Hotel Tugu in Lombok is also located in the north-west of the island near Mt Rinjnai and the Gili Islands, along a pristine white beach. They have a farm to table concept in their restaurant, as well as zero waste and plastic free initiatives. All decor and amenities are natural by local artisans, and they employ locally whenever they can. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Pondok Indah Senaru Cottages – This eco-friendly guesthouse is centrally located in Senaru and has an amazing view. We love supporting local homestays and guesthouses, as it is not only affordable, but we know our money is going straight back into the local community. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Where to Stay in Southern Lombok
We stayed in the town of Kuta (not the Kuta in Bali), and was a central location for beach hopping to the east and west and had many options for food and entertainment. Below is a list of sustainable accommodation options in Southern Lombok.
Lombok Eco Homes – Located not too far out of Kuta, Lombok Eco Homes have implemented sustainable design and sustainable living to contribute to a low carbon future. They also have a vegetarian cafe and bakery. FIND OUT MORE HERE.
Origin Lombok – If you are looking for a wellness and yoga retreat in Lombok, then look no further than Origin Lombok. A short shuttle ride out of Kuta, on the pristine Tanjung San Beach, Origin is a perfect getaway! FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Gili Asahan Eco Lodge – Amongst the Gili Archipelago in the south-west of Lombok, is Gili Asahan, a perfect off the beaten path island getaway, no too far from Kuta. This eco lodge has yoga and a restaurant using seasonal and local produce. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Where to Stay in The Gili Islands
The are many Gili Islands around Lombok, but the most popular are the three islands of Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air, all only a 15min boat ride between them, and all with their own atmosphere and vibe. There is an island for every type of traveller!
Gili Trawangan, the bigger and most popular of the 3, is the party island, with many beach clubs around the whole circumference.
Gili Meno, the smaller of the 3, is the honeymoon island and much more secluded.
Gili Air is somewhere between the two and the island that was perfect for us!
Below is a list of sustainable accommodation options in the Gili Islands.
Gili Eco Villas – Located on Gili Trawangan, Gili Eco Villas have a bio-degradable waste-water treatment system, minimal plastic usage and rubbish recycling. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Manta Dive Gili Air – Manta Dive is one of the most popular dive resorts in the Gili. They offer a range of packages, and their bungalows are made from traditional wood. FIND OUT PRICES HERE.
Gili Meno Eco Hostel – This camping hostel on the beach in Gili Meno is perfect for all budgets. They offer a range of accommodation, from hammocks and tents to a dorm bungalow and a beachfront penthouse. Their facilities include Eco-friendly compost toilets and roomy bamboo showers. FIND OUT MORE HERE.
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FINAL NOTE
If you are planning a trip to Indonesia, and want to explore outside of the tourist hub that is Bali, then add Lombok to your itinerary. Only a short hop over the sea and you will find yourself immersed in a completely different culture, and an abundance of activities to do and landscapes to explore.
We cannot recommend visiting Lombok enough, and encourage all tourists to continue visiting the area to help the locals rebuild what was lost during the 2018 earthquakes.
CHECK OUT OUR LOMBOK VIDEO BELOW
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