With kids · Lombok · Indonesia
Lombok with kids
Family-tested sights, a calm base and the practical details that make travelling with children easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Suryanata budi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Lombok suits families who want calm beaches and nature rather than theme parks. Gili Air and Senggigi have shallow, gentle beaches, Selong Belanak is good for first surf lessons, and the waterfalls make easy adventures. Top picks: Gili Air, Tanjung Aan and Selong Belanak. Families usually base themselves in Gili Air.
Key facts
- Family picks
- 5
- Best area for families
- Gili Air
- Rainy-day options
- 0
- Busiest months
- July–August
Best things to do with kids
Island · Gili Air
1.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. Shallow reefs off the north and east coasts are good for snorkelling straight from the beach.
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
Beach · Kuta and Mandalika
2.Tanjung Aan
A pair of wide, sheltered bays east of Kuta with fine white sand and calm, turquoise water, separated by a rocky headland. It is one of Lombok's most photographed beaches, with simple beach cafés and boat rides to the surf breaks offshore.
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
3.Selong Belanak
A long arc of soft white sand west of Kuta where small, rolling waves make it one of the best beginner surf spots in Indonesia. Surf schools and board rentals operate on the beach, and in the late afternoon local farmers often walk their buffalo along the sand.
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
4.Mawun Beach
Mawun is a deep, horseshoe-shaped bay enclosed by green hills, about 20 minutes west of Kuta. The enclosed shape usually keeps the water calmer than other south-coast beaches, making it good for swimming.
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
Garden · West Lombok
5.Taman Narmada
A royal water garden laid out in the 18th century east of Mataram, whose main pool was designed to represent Mount Rinjani's crater lake for a king too old to climb the mountain. Terraces, temples and spring-fed pools spread through the grounds.
Visit on a weekday, as local families fill the pools at weekends, and try the spring water said to keep you young.
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Cost
- Low cost
- History
- Kids
- Outdoors
Where families should stay
$$ · Best for couples, families and beach
Gili Air
Gili Air sits nearest the Lombok mainland and strikes a balance between Trawangan's energy and Meno's quiet. A sandy path circles the island past beach cafés, yoga studios and dive schools, and the shallow reef off the east coast is good for snorkelling.
- Good
- Relaxed but well served; Shortest boat ride from Lombok; Good snorkelling from the beach
- Watch out
- Some beaches are rocky at low tide; Limited nightlife
- Nearby
- Gili Meno, Bangsal harbour
Family travel tips
- Choose Gili Air or Gili Meno over Gili Trawangan for quieter nights.
- Bring reef shoes for children, as some beaches have coral and rocks at low tide.
- Use high-factor sunscreen and rash vests; the equatorial sun is intense.
- Car seats are rarely provided by drivers; bring your own if needed.
- Plan long drives in the morning, when roads are cooler and less busy.
Day trips for families
- Tetebatu (About 1.5 hours by car) — A village on the southern slopes of Rinjani surrounded by rice terraces, tobacco fields and forest with waterfalls such as Jukut.
- Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu waterfalls (About 1 hour by car) — A pair of waterfalls in the forest of Aik Berik in Central Lombok: Benang Stokel, a twin fall near the car park, and Benang Kelambu, where water seeps through moss and roots like a curtain.
When to go with children
The best months overall are May–September. July–August are the busiest, so book the big sights early. Weather by month.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Lombok good for kids?
Lombok suits families who want calm beaches and nature rather than theme parks. Gili Air and Senggigi have shallow, gentle beaches, Selong Belanak is good for first surf lessons, and the waterfalls make easy adventures.
+What can kids do in Lombok?
Gili Air, Tanjung Aan, Selong Belanak, Mawun Beach and Taman Narmada.
+Where should families stay in Lombok?
Gili Air: The closest Gili to Lombok, relaxed but with good cafés and diving.