7-Day Itinerary Lombok
Lombok is Bali´s unexplored sister island. With white sandy beaches, great surf breaks, rice fields, waterfalls and mount Rinjani, Lombok has much to offer for everyone. Whether you are traveling alone, as a couple or as a family, Lombok is truly a dream destination to not miss. If you can stay longer than 7 days, then obviously please do! This itinerary is simply an option that you can adjust to your own wishes and timeframe.
Photo: Aaron Thomas via Unsplash
Day 1. Getting to Lombok and visit Kuta
You have different options to get from Bali to Lombok: fly, take a fast boat or take a slow ferry. Flying is the fastest and most convenient way and the airport is close to Kuta, one of the main towns in Lombok (and not to be confused with Kuta in Bali). From the airport it is a 30 minute ride into the town which is located on the south of the island. It has a laid-back surfer vibe and there are several nice places to have breakfast, lunch, dinner and drinks. You can spend the afternoon exploring the town and/or enjoying the hotel.
Day 2. Exploring Kuta
Kuta is also close to some of the best beaches in Lombok. Some of them are Seger Beach, Tanjung Aan Beach, Pink Beach and Mawun Beach. The best way to go around is by renting a scooter, or get a private driver for the day. Some beaches have good surf breaks, so if you are into surfing, check with a local (surf school) where to go! Seger Beach and Tanjung aan are a 15-minute drive from Kuta. Seger is surrounded by beautiful hills and at Tanjung Aan you can find plenty of warungs, small Indonesian eateries, that offer nasi goreng (Indonesian fried rice), fresh fruit and drinks. Pink Beach is a bit further out and in a less developed area, but it is totally worth the 1.5/2 hours drive and is also a great spot for snorkeling.
Day 3. Sekotong
Today it is time to drive to Sekotong which takes about 2 hours. Sekotong Pensinsula is a bit off the beaten path and is a hidden paradise in Lombok and is located on the Southwest side of the island. While everyone has probably heard of the Gili islands, not many have heard of Sekotong. To me Sekotong is way better though, because it is not yet that crowded and nature is beautiful here. Expect white sandy beaches on untouched islands with plenty of snorkeling and diving opportunities. There is even a tiny island – Gili Kedis - that you can walk around on in 1.5 minutes! Other islands in this area are Gili Layar, Gili Rengit and Gili Tangkon. You can enjoy the afternoon relaxing on the beach or at the pool of your hotel.
Day 4. Sekotong boat tour
Take a boat tour along the different islands. There are plenty of local operators who can take you around. Snorkel on colorful reefs, enjoy grilled fish on the beach and relax under the palm trees.
Day 5. Tetebatu
Visit Tetebatu rice fields (bring luggage). These rice fields are a unique area in Lombok, with its beautiful green fields and views of the Rinjani volcano.
Day 6. Waterfalls trip
Visit Waterfalls (bring luggage). Although there are many waterfalls, the main ones to visit are Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile. The waterfalls are located near the town of Senaru in the north of Lombok. To get to the waterfalls you need to do a little bit of hiking.
Day 7. Relax
Spend the day relaxing before you head back to Bali by plane (or fast boat).
Add-ons
If you have some more time, I´d highly recommend you adding some more time and fun stuff! Here are two options:
Trek Mount Ringani. You can choose different trekking tours, but overall, the difference is the amount of days: 2 days and 1 night or 3 days and 2 nights. There are several tour operators offering this trek for which you need to be in good health and have good physical condition.
Cruise to Komodo. If you want to extend your stay and want to explore more of Indonesia, an excellent option is to make a cruise to Komodo National Park, where you can see the famous Komodo Dragons. Along the way you´ll see beautiful beaches and islands where you can enjoy snorkeling and swimming.
Gili Islands
I have not included the three famous Gili Islands - Air, Trawangan and Meno - on purpose, because in my opinion there are places in Lombok that are much more beautiful, and more importantly, less crowded. However, the snorkeling and diving here is amazing.
Places to eat
Kuta
Milk Great coffee, smoothies bowls and avocado toast.
Satu Lagi Mexican Cantina with tasty margaritas, cold beers and delicious tacos.
Kenza Wide selection of breakfast items, such as coffee, fresh juices, açai bowls and sandwiches all made with intentional locally sourced ingredients. Also open for lunch and dinner.
Gratitude Breakfast, lunch and dinner, with several vegan and vegetarian options.
The Hut International cuisine and coffee from 08.00 to 22.30. Homemade food with plenty of vegetarian and healthy options.
Bara Pool hangout by day and bar by night. Offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Places to stay
Kuta & Surroundings
Luxury boutique resort with tropical gardens and koi fish ponds very close to Kuta center. The hotel offers rooms, and villas with private pools, spa treatments and tours. It features a beautiful pool area and the grounds are peaceful and lush.
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Five star hotel in Kuta Mandalika, a secluded bay on Lombok's southern coast. The beachfront resort is surrounded by verdant hills and spectacular Indian Ocean views. All rooms, suites and villas are designed with local heritage touch featuring outdoor terrace, garden or balcony with modern equipment.
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Located in between the main town of Kuta and Tanjung Aan, Origin is surrounded by lush nature in a serene environment. Origin offers you a resort style vacation with an amazing pool area, spa treatments and water sports.
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North side of the island
Luxury 5-star resort with 24 acres of tropical gardens, outdoor infinity pool and 3 restaurants, located in Medana Bay, close to the Gili Islands. The Oberoi offers rooms and villas with private pools, with garden view or ocean view. The hotel has an onsite PADI dive center and offers snorkeling and water sports from their private jetty. Other activities are painting, wood carving and swimming classes for kids, among others.
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Hotel Tugu is located on the white sand beach of Sire, on the northwest coast of the island. The hotel incorporates colonial influences and is filled with antiques. Spacious bungalows are built around shaded walkways and beautiful tropical gardens.
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Sekotong
The Suites Lombok
The Suites Lombok is located on a small beach in Sekotong, on the southwestern side of the island. The small hotel offers suites and villas with (plunge) pools and has a beach front infinity pool and restaurant. Kayaks are free to use for hotel guests.
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Cocotinos Sekotong
Cocotinos Sekotong is a 4-star boutique beach resort and spa, set amidst a coconut grove in Sekotong Bay, on the southwest corner of Lombok Island. The resort faces the 3 islands of Gili Nanggu, Gili Tangkong and Gili Sudak.
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Senggigi
Qunci Villas is a beachfront 5-star boutique hotel, offering peace and tranquility in a stylish, tropical setting. The hotel offers accommodation from ocean and garden view rooms to an expansive 3-bedroom private villa. Services include a spa, yoga classes and three pools.
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Katamaran Hotel & Resort is located on the beach front of Mangsit Beach in Senggigi. The hotel features a glass infinity pool and two other pools, a spa, two restaurants and a wide variety of activities.
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Quick Facts:
Best time to visit: during the dry season, which is between May and September. The wet season is from October to April with intense tropical downpours almost daily. These showers only last an hour or two and if you don’t mind this kind of weather, you’ll find cheaper hotel rates.
Language: Bahasa Indonesia
Currency: Indonesian Rupiah
Religion: Mostly Islam
Credit Cards & ATMs: At higher end hotels and restaurants and bars, you can pay with your credit card. At local shops and markets, you will need to pay with cash. In Kuta and bigger agglomerations, you will find ATM´s but in smaller villages you won´t.
Plugs: The plugs in Indonesia are type C. The standard voltage is 230 V, and the standard frequency is 50Hz.
Safety: Lombok is a very safe place to visit, but it’s always a good idea to take extra precautions and keep your eye on your belongings.
Are you ready to explore Lombok? Send me a message to arlette.diederiks@fora.travel and I´ll help you plan your next unforgettable trip!
Photo credits: Weseektravel, Gili Island Fast boats.