Outdoors · Lombok · Indonesia
8 best outdoor things to do in Lombok
Parks, viewpoints and open-air sights for the dry, bright days.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Suryanata budi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Start with Gili Trawangan, Mount Rinjani trek and Gili Meno and the Nest. Together the 8 picks below take roughly 19–25 hours across 6 areas; 3 are free.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 8
- Free entry
- 3
- Time to see them all
- 19–25 hours
- Areas
- Gili Trawangan, Senaru and Gili Meno
Outdoors in Lombok
Island · Gili Trawangan
1.Gili Trawangan
Rent a bicycle and ride the coastal path anticlockwise in the late afternoon to arrive on the west coast for sunset.
- Time needed
- 1–3 days
- Cost
- Low cost
- Iconic
- Outdoors
- After dark
- Active
Nature · Senaru
2.Mount Rinjani trek
Choose the Sembalun route for the crater rim and summit, carry warm clothes for near-freezing nights, and book only through operators licensed by the national park.
- Time needed
- 2–4 days
- Cost
- Expensive
- Iconic
- Active
- Nature
- Views
- Outdoors
Island · Gili Meno
3.Gili Meno and the Nest
Snorkel the Nest early in the morning, before group boats arrive, and look out for turtles along the drop-off to the north.
- Time needed
- Half a day to 2 days
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Nature
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Island · Gili Air
4.Gili Air
Walk or cycle the full circuit of the island, about 5 km, and stop for a swim at the quieter north-west corner.
- Time needed
- 1–3 days
- Cost
- Low cost
- Couples
- Kids
- Outdoors
Nature · Senaru
5.Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls
Wear sandals or shoes you can get wet, as the path to Tiu Kelep wades through a stream; local guides are available at the entrance.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Nature
- Active
- Outdoors
- Photo spot
Beach · Kuta and Mandalika
6.Tanjung Aan
Come in the morning for calm water and fewer hawkers, and combine it with sunset on Bukit Merese next door.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
- Photo spot
Beach · Selong Belanak
7.Selong Belanak
Book a lesson in the morning when the waves are smaller and the wind lighter.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Active
- Kids
- Outdoors
Beach · Kuta and Mandalika
8.Mawun Beach
Rent a sunshade at the beach stalls and bring cash; there is a small parking fee and few other facilities.
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Outdoors
- Kids
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Gili Trawangan | Gili Trawangan | 1–3 days |
| Senaru | Mount Rinjani trek and Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls | 2–4 days + 2–3 hours |
| Gili Meno | Gili Meno and the Nest | Half a day to 2 days |
| Gili Air | Gili Air | 1–3 days |
| Kuta and Mandalika | Tanjung Aan and Mawun Beach | Half a day + Half a day |
| Selong Belanak | Selong Belanak | Half a day |
Booking and timing
Of these 8, 3 free, 4 low cost, 1 expensive. Book ahead for Mount Rinjani trek. The longest visit is Gili Meno and the Nest; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Mount Rinjani trek: The national park usually closes the trails in the wettest months and limits daily climbers; book with a licensed operator well ahead for July and August.
How to fit them into 7 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Gili Trawangan and Senaru): Gili Trawangan → Mount Rinjani trek, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Senaru): Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Gili Meno): Gili Meno and the Nest, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 4 (Gili Air): Gili Air, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 5 (Kuta and Mandalika): Tanjung Aan, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 6 (Kuta and Mandalika): Mawun Beach, at least 3 hours.
- Half-day 7 (Selong Belanak): Selong Belanak, at least 3 hours.
The best months to be outside
- August: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 3 rainy days, very busy crowds. The driest, busiest month; book Gili rooms and Rinjani treks well ahead.
- July: highs of 30°C (86°F), about 4 rainy days, very busy crowds. Peak season on the Gilis and in Kuta, with dry, sunny days and cold nights on Rinjani.
- September: highs of 31°C (88°F), about 4 rainy days, busy crowds. Still dry and sunny with crowds thinning after the European holidays.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Kuta and Mandalika — The south-coast surf town, beach bays and the Mandalika resort zone
- Selong Belanak — A long, gentle beach bay with a surf school and a few villas
- Gili Trawangan — The largest, liveliest Gili, with dive schools, beach bars and sunset swings
- Gili Air — The closest Gili to Lombok, relaxed but with good cafés and diving
- Gili Meno — The smallest and quietest Gili, with an inland salt lake and the Nest sculptures
- Senaru — A highland village on Rinjani's northern slopes, start of treks and waterfall walks
More of Lombok
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Lombok?
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.
+Which of these are free in Lombok?
Tanjung Aan, Selong Belanak and Mawun Beach.