Travel guide · Indonesia
Lombok travel guide
Surf bays, the Gili Islands and the volcano Mount Rinjani, east of Bali
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paxson Woelber, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
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 north-west coast has the car-free Gili Islands of Trawangan, Meno and Air, and the interior holds rice terraces, waterfalls and the villages of the Sasak people, who make up most of the population. Days revolve around beaches, diving, surfing and, for the fit, the multi-day Rinjani trek. Plan 8 days for a first visit; the best months are May–September.
Key facts
- Country
- Indonesia
- Best time to visit
- May–September
- Ideal stay
- 8 days
- Main airports
- LOP
- Mid-range daily budget
- $70–$150 per person (estimate)
- Known for
- Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, Surfing and Kuta and Mandalika beaches
Why visit Lombok
- The three Gili Islands offer snorkelling with green turtles, white-sand beaches and no motor traffic, a short boat ride from Lombok's north-west coast.
- Mount Rinjani, Indonesia's second-highest volcano, can be trekked over two to four days to its crater rim and the Segara Anak lake.
- South-coast bays such as Tanjung Aan, Selong Belanak and Mawun have wide white beaches and beginner-friendly surf.
- Sasak culture is visible in traditional villages, songket weaving and Lombok's own fiery cooking, from ayam taliwang to plecing kangkung.
- Lombok is less developed than neighbouring Bali, with quieter roads, beaches and resorts.
Top things to do
The six sights most first-time visitors build a trip around. See all 16 things to do.
Island · Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan
The largest of the Gili Islands has no cars or motorbikes, so visitors get around by bicycle, on foot or by horse cart.
- Time needed
- 1–3 days
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Active
Nature · Senaru
Mount Rinjani trek
At 3,726 metres, Rinjani is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia, with a vast caldera holding the turquoise Segara Anak lake and the young active cone of Gunung Barujari.
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Active
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
Island · Gili Meno
Gili Meno and the Nest
The smallest and quietest Gili is ringed by white sand and reef.
- Time needed
- Half a day to 2 days
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Island · Gili Air
Gili Air
Gili Air is the closest Gili to the Lombok mainland and has a sandy path around its edge lined with beach cafés, yoga studios and dive shops.
- Time needed
- 1–3 days
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · Senaru
Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls
Two waterfalls in the forest below Senaru: Sendang Gile, a short walk down a stairway from the village, and the taller Tiu Kelep, about 30–45 minutes further through the jungle and across streams.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · Kuta and Mandalika
Tanjung Aan
A pair of wide, sheltered bays east of Kuta with fine white sand and calm, turquoise water, separated by a rocky headland.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Photo spot
Where to stay
Kuta and Mandalika is the easiest base for a first visit. Compare all 8 areas.
$$ · Best for first-timers, beach, budget and nightlife
Kuta and Mandalika
The south-coast surf town, beach bays and the Mandalika resort zone
$$$ · Best for beach, couples, families and quiet stays
Selong Belanak
A long, gentle beach bay with a surf school and a few villas
$$ · Best for families, couples and quiet stays
Senggigi
The older west-coast resort strip, with sunset views towards Bali
$$ · Best for nightlife, solo travellers, beach and budget
Gili Trawangan
The largest, liveliest Gili, with dive schools, beach bars and sunset swings
What to eat
- Ayam taliwang — Lombok's signature dish: a young chicken flattened and grilled or fried, then coated in a fiery paste of chilli, garlic and shrimp paste, served with plecing kangkung and rice.
- Plecing kangkung — Boiled water spinach topped with a raw tomato-chilli sambal, lime and sometimes peanuts and bean sprouts; the classic side dish to ayam taliwang.
- Sate rembiga — Sweet-spicy beef satay from the Rembiga district of Mataram, marinated in chilli, palm sugar and shrimp paste before grilling over charcoal.
- Sate bulayak — Small skewers of beef or chicken served with a thick peanut-coconut sauce and bulayak, rice cakes wrapped in spiralled palm leaves.
- Nasi balap puyung — Rice with very spicy shredded chicken, fried soybeans and peanuts, originally from the village of Puyung in Central Lombok; a cheap, filling lunch.
- Beberuk terong — A fresh relish of raw chopped eggplant, long beans and tomato tossed with sambal, eaten as a side with grilled chicken or fish.
When to go
The best time to visit Lombok is the dry season from May to September, when skies are clear, seas around the Gilis are calm and the Rinjani trails are open. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months, so May, June and September offer the best balance. The wet season from December to March brings heavy rain and Rinjani's usual closure.
| Season | Months | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Late wet season | March–April | Rains fade, the countryside is at its greenest and prices are low; Rinjani trails usually reopen in April. |
| Dry season | May–September | Sunny, dry days, cool nights in the mountains, calm seas for diving and the best trekking weather; busiest in July and August. |
| Early wet season | October–November | Hot and humid, with storms building in the afternoons and fewer visitors. |
| Wet season | December–February | Heavy, frequent rain, rough seas on some crossings and Rinjani usually closed, though resorts are quiet outside the holidays. |
Getting there and around
Lombok International Airport is near Praya in the centre-south of the island, about 30 minutes by car from Kuta, about 1–1.5 hours from Senggigi and about 2 hours from the Gili boat harbours. Blue Bird taxis and fixed-price taxi counters operate in the arrivals hall, and hotels can arrange transfers.
Lombok has no public transport useful to most visitors, so travellers rely on private drivers, taxis, ride-hailing in the Mataram area and rented scooters. The Gili Islands have no motor vehicles at all, and boats link them to Lombok and Bali.
Plan your days
Four days allows two nights on the Gilis and two on the south coast. A week or more lets you add the Rinjani trek (two to four days on its own), the waterfalls of Senaru and Tetebatu, and island-hopping in the south-west around Sekotong.
Practical information
- Currency
- IDR
- Language
- Indonesian and Sasak
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and the refill stations common on the Gilis.
- Emergency number
- 112 (general emergency), 110 (police)
- Tipping
- Tipping is not expected in local warungs but is appreciated in tourist restaurants, spas and by drivers.
The main risks are natural ones: strong currents at some south-coast beaches and between the Gilis, scooter accidents on winding roads and steep, exposed sections of the Rinjani trek, where climbers should use licensed guides. Lombok lies in an active seismic zone, so note your accommodation's emergency information.
Flights to Lombok
Questions travellers ask
+How many days do you need in Lombok?
Four days allows two nights on the Gilis and two on the south coast. A week or more lets you add the Rinjani trek (two to four days on its own), the waterfalls of Senaru and Tetebatu, and island-hopping in the south-west around Sekotong. How to split your days.
+When is the best time to visit Lombok?
The best time to visit Lombok is the dry season from May to September, when skies are clear, seas around the Gilis are calm and the Rinjani trails are open. July and August are the busiest and most expensive months, so May, June and September offer the best balance. The wet season from December to March brings heavy rain and Rinjani's usual closure.
+What is Lombok known for?
Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani, Surfing, Kuta and Mandalika beaches, Sasak culture, Ayam taliwang and Mandalika circuit. The three Gili Islands offer snorkelling with green turtles, white-sand beaches and no motor traffic, a short boat ride from Lombok's north-west coast.
+Is Lombok expensive?
Lombok is affordable for international visitors: a mid-range trip costs roughly $70–$150 per person per day before flights (AMZBooking estimate). Costs and money-saving tips.
+Do you need a car in Lombok?
Not to drive yourself. A driver or taxi for longer journeys and a scooter for short hops cover most needs; on the Gilis you walk or cycle.