Comparison · Lombok vs Palawan · Indonesia / Philippines
Lombok vs Palawan
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paxson Woelber, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Lombok for Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife; choose Palawan for El Nido lagoons and Island-hopping. Lombok is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,073 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,073 km
- Less expensive
- Lombok
- Best time for Lombok
- May–September
- Best time for Palawan
- January–April
Side by side
| Lombok | Palawan | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Philippines |
| Known for | Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani and Surfing | El Nido lagoons, Island-hopping and Coron wreck diving |
| Best time to visit | May–September | January–April |
| Ideal stay | 8 days | 9 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $70–$150 | $90–$200 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Affordable |
| Warmest month | October, 32°C (90°F) | April, 33°C (91°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | January, 31°C (88°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 4 |
| Beaches | Tanjung Aan | Nacpan Beach |
| Airports | LOP | PPS, USU, ENI |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Lombok for…
Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife. Lombok lies just east of Bali across the Lombok Strait, a larger, slower island shaped by the 3,726-metre volcano Mount Rinjani and its crater lake. The south coast around Kuta and the Mandalika area has horseshoe bays of white sand and surf breaks, the…
Choose Palawan for…
El Nido lagoons and Island-hopping. Palawan is a long, narrow island province of about 1,700 islands between the South China Sea and the Sulu Sea. Most visitors fly into Puerto Princesa, the capital, for the UNESCO-listed underground river, then head north by road to Port Barton and El Nido…
Top sights compared
| # | Lombok | Palawan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gili Trawangan | Puerto Princesa Subterranean River |
| 2 | Gili Meno and the Nest | Big Lagoon and Small Lagoon |
| 3 | Gili Air | Hidden Beach and Matinloc Shrine |
| 4 | Mount Rinjani trek | Snake Island and Tour B |
| 5 | Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls | Nacpan Beach |
Food compared
| Lombok | Palawan |
|---|---|
| Ayam taliwang | Chao long |
| Plecing kangkung | Kinilaw |
| Sate rembiga | Tamilok |
| Sate bulayak | Crocodile sisig |
Which is cheaper?
Lombok is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $70–$150 per person there, against $90–$200 in Palawan (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Lombok on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,073 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 18 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Lombok or Palawan cheaper?
Lombok is usually less expensive: about $70–$150 a day mid-range against $90–$200 (estimates).
+Is Lombok or Palawan better for a first trip?
Pick Lombok for Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, lower day-to-day costs and nightlife, or Palawan for El Nido lagoons and Island-hopping.
+How far is Lombok from Palawan?
About 2,073 km in a straight line.