With its dramatic landscapes, distinct culture, and untouched beauty, the island of Lombok is an Indonesian jewel just waiting to be discovered. A true diamond in the rough, this rugged island boasts lush jungle waterfalls, pristine white sand beaches, and the second largest volcano in Indonesia, Mount Rinjani.
While the neighboring island of Bali has all the fame and glory of being a trendy oasis for influencers and socialites alike, it’s now turned into exactly that. An overcrowded, westernized tropical hub for Americans, Australians, and Brits looking for an “exotic” vacation. While Bali is still beautiful in its own refined ways, there’s a lot more to Indonesia than just this single island.
In fact there are over 18,000 islands all together that make up this southeast Asian country. While most people spend their sun soaked holidays on Bali, I’m here to encourage you to venture off the beaten path, take a few risks, and expand your horizons to experience the real and authentic side of Indonesia.
Welcome to Lombok. I’m glad you’re even curious enough to think outside the Bali box and consider this lesser-known (and in my opinion better) tropical escape.
In this guide, I’m going to be covering where to eat, where to stay, and what to do on Lombok Island and the surrounding areas. By the end of this article, I’m confident you’ll be convinced to pencil this dreamy island into your Indonesian travel itinerary!
What to Pack For Lombok, Indonesia
Before packing your backs and boarding your flight to Lombok, make sure you’re fully prepared by adding these products to yours suitcase.
- Bug repellent
- Body sun screen
- Face sun screen
- Water shoes
- Beach towel
- Backup phone battery
- Reusable water bottle
- Day backpack
- Waterproof bag
- Waterproof phone case
Where to Stay in Lombok, Indonesia
To start off, let’s take a look at some of the best areas to use as your home base when exploring this island. Below I will be diving into some of the best (and not so best) places for you to check out when booking your Lombok accommodations.
Also, I think something that’s important to note is that if you are not planning on renting a scooter or motorbike, try to stay as close to the center of town as possible. While you can always walk, some accommodations are located deep in the jungle and you may not feel comfortable trekking to the center for dinner, especially at night when there are no roads and only dirt paths.
Even if you are renting a bike, try to stay within a 10-15 drive from all the action, that way you don’t have to worry about driving on sketchy roads at night.
Kuta, Lombok
Not to be confused with Bali’s washed up and burned out town in Bali, Kuta is a town located in south Lombok and is one of the island’s best-kept secrets. In fact, this was by far my favorite spot when we visited. While the town itself may be small, it has everything you need for your stay. Its charming center is lined with vibrant and welcoming coffee shops during the day. As night falls upon the town, vibey restaurants and bars create a fun and social atmosphere. Unlike Canggu that´s known to be quite polished and put-together, Kuta has a more relaxed surfer vibe that can be seen both in the shops and by the people who visit.
If you are into surfing or are looking to check out some of the best beaches of Indonesia, I highly recommend staying in Kuta, Indonesia for at least 3 to 4 nights.
Hotels in Kuta, Lombok
Where i stayed: Porter Hotel
I could not recommend this hotel enough. I only had two nights here and I really wished I booked for longer. While it is about a 15 to 20 minute walk to Kuta Beach, it was still easy to get to all the restaurants and bars in the center of town.
Other Kuta, Lombok hotel options:
- Rascal’s Hotel
- Origin Hotel
- Luxury option: Somewhere Lombok
Restaurants in Kuta
For me, the best restaurants on the island were located in the center of Kuta. They had a nice mix of both local spots and western restaurants. Every night, locals and visitors alike crowded the main street, creating a fun and inviting atmosphere. Below were some of our favorite restaurants in Kuta:
- Bush Radio: By far my favorite spot for lunch, we came here twice in 24 hours
- KRNK Bar and Restaurant: Best burgers in town and had such a fun crowd
- Cantina Mexicana: Came just for the spicy margaritas
- Knalpot Restaurant & Bar: Fancier vibes and great for a date night
Senggigi 
Senggigi is another popular destination located in west Lombok. While Senggigi beach is not particularly stunning, the black sand coast still offers plenty of pockets of beauty. In this area, there are lots of accommodation options from budget-friendly to 5-star luxury.
When it comes to Senggigi, it’s important to know that you aren’t coming here for white sand beaches or turquoise waters, save that for Kuta or the Gili Islands. What I recommend is finding a nice hotel and using your time here to enjoy the accommodations, get a massage, and take a few day trips to do an island hopping tour to the Gilis or check out the amazing waterfalls up in North Lombok.
Where I stayed: Jeeva Klui Resort
This resort was absolutely stunning. The infinity pool overlooked the ocean and the rooms and entire property were designed in authentic balinese style. While it was not in the heart of Senggigi beach, we honestly preferred that as we spent a lot of time just enjoying the hotel.
Other Senggigi hotel options:
The Gili Islands
Just a short boat ride from northwest Lombok takes you to the Gili islands (Tiga Gili). The three islands include Gili Trawagan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno. While all of these spots are known for its turquoise waters and pristine white sand beaches, each one is known for having its own personality and charm.
- Gili Trawangan: Gili T is by far the most popular among the gilis. Not only is it the largest, but it definitely has the most fun as well. In fact, this island is known for its parties and beach clubs, drawing a younger crowd of backpackers and party goers from all over. If you are looking for a romantic or quiet beach trip, this is not the place for you. However, if you would like to party at night but then retreat to a beautiful and tranquil accommodation, you can find that more on the west side of the island (away from the port).
- Gili Meno: This tiny island is known to be the smallest and quietest of the islands. Aside from relaxing, many people come here for snorkeling and scuba diving. If you are looking to fully relax and get away from all the hustle and bustle, a romantic getaway to Gili Meno just might be the perfect option for you.
- Gili Air: Gili Air is known to be a happy medium between Gili Meno and Gili Trawagan. While it may not have a whole street lined with places to party, there are still plenty of restaurants and bars for a weekend stay. If you choose to stay on any of these islands for more than a night, I highly suggest jumping over to the others and exploring them as well.
When I was staying in Lombok, I visited Gili T just for the day. I took the first boat in the morning and came back to Senggigi by 5pm. For my personal preferences, this was enough time on the island. While it would have been nice to maybe have one night here to enjoy the nightlife, everything else you can see in a day. We rented bikes at one of the shops right along the port and explored the entire island within just a few hours. We even stopped to snorkel a few times and saw so many sea turtles.
With that being said, if you are single and looking to party, Gili T would be a fun place to stay for a night or two.
Bengal
Remember when I said I would also include places not to stay? Well, this is it. It may be tempting to stay in Bengsal because this is where the port is and where you will likely be taking a ferry to travel from Lombok to Bali. However, I would highly advise not to stay in this area. In all honesty, this was my least favorite area in all of Indonesia. People here were definitely not as friendly compared to all the other places we passed by. Especially when it came to buying ferry tickets, so many locals were trying to scam us and pressure us to buy more expensive tickets than what we needed.
While you will inevitably have to pass through here if you take a ferry from Bali, avoid it like the plague for the rest of your trip. Thank me later 😉
Things to Do in Lombok, Indonesia
Ready to explore Lombok? In this section, I’m going to be diving into some of the top activities Lombok has to offer. From beautiful beaches to spectacular waterfalls, here are some of the best things to do when visiting Lombok.
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Trek Mount Rinjani & Segara Anu Lake
One of the most popular things to do on the island is to go on a trekking tour to Mt. Ranjani. When in Senggigi, Bangsal, or Kuta, you will see lots of Lombok tour groups selling organized trips, which are typically 2 to 4 nights depending on what you want to see. Keep in mind that Mt. Ranjani is closed during the rainy season. If this is something you for sure want to do, come during the dry season between April and December.
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Sembalun Village
Don’t want to trek all the way up a volcano to enjoy stunning views? If this is your case, consider visiting Sembalun village. This quiet mountain town in Northern Lombok offers lush valleys lined with rice terraces, botanical gardens, and some of the best views of the surrounding mountains.
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Sendang Gile Waterfall
One of the most popular and stunning waterfalls in this area is the Sendang Gile Waterfall. What makes this cascade so special is its lush and green setting. Plus, if you continue on, you will also be able to see tiu Kelep, which is hands down the most popular waterfall in Northern Lombok.
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Tiu Kelep Waterfall
If there is any waterfall you should prioritize, it’s this one. Tiu Kelep is hands down the most beautiful waterfall I have ever seen.To get to this spot, you will have to hike for about 15 minutes in the jungle and do several river crossings. At the parking lot, there are several tour companies trying to get you to do a guided tour. Here they are trying to charge you a whole lot of money for something you can do yourself. In my opinion, tell them you will go alone. This is also a popular hike, so there will definitely be other tour groups that you cross by and can easily follow.
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Mangku Sakti & Mangku Kodek Waterfalls
If you’re looking to cool off from the hot Indonesian sun, consider visiting these waterfalls in the North of Lombok. Here you will find wide waterfalls with rock pools that you can swim in.
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Check out the Lesser known waterfalls
Lombok has SO many waterfalls, if I listed each of them, we’d be here all day. If you want to explore more low key spots, here are a few others to visit:
- Bale Salem Waterfall
- Jeruk Manis Waterfall
- Tibu Topat Waterfall
- Tibu bunter Waterfall
- Tibu Ronggek Waterfall
- Belang Kelambu Waterfall
- Benang Stokal Waterfall
- Benang Kelambu Waterfall
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Tangsi Beach (Pink Beach)
Tangsi Beach is definitely the most famous beach in Lombok. It’s one of 10 naturally occurring pink beaches in the world, making it worthy of a visit. While it may be a bit out of the way if you are staying in Kuta or anywhere in Central Lombok, consider booking a trip with one of the many Lombok tour groups.
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Day Trip to a Gili Island (or all three):
As I said before, if you are staying awhile in Kuta, I would highly suggest spending a day or two in the Gili Islands. While they can be a lot more touristy compared to Kuta Island, they are still beautiful to see and have a fun vibe.
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Selong Belanak Beach
Selong Belanak competes with Tangsi for the number one spot of most beautiful beach in Lombok. This stunning beach is famous for its white sand and vibrant blue waters. It is also a famous surf spot for beginners.
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Discover Lombok Beaches
One of my favorite days of the trip was when we got on the motorbike and spent hours going from beach to beach. Now, you may have to be selective on which beautiful beaches you choose depending on where you’re staying, but here is a list of some of the best beaches in Lombok:
- Tanjung Aan Beach
- Mawi Beach
- Semeti Beach
- Seger Beach
- Mawun Beach
- Desert Point (surfing)
Exploring Lombok: Indonesia’s Best-Kept Secret
For me, Lombok island was one of my favorite parts of my trip to Indonesia. With beautiful beaches, untouched beauty, and a wild terrain that truly feels like you’re on the ultimate adventure, Lombok was exactly what I was looking for when planning a trip to Southeast Asia.
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