In the province of the smaller islands of the western Sonde of Indonesia, you will find the Gili Islands, Mount Rinjani or the Sendang Gile waterfall, some places you cannot miss and have to see in Lombok. This island is known for its beaches and surfing and diving spots, particularly in Kuta and Banko Banko (in the south of Lombok).
It is also called “The island of pearls” due to the great quantity and business of this highly valued jewel. Although not as well known as Bali, and therefore not as touristy, its waterfalls, desert beaches, volcano and spectacular diving areas, make Lombok a perfect tropical paradise destination to spend a few days.
Must-see places in Lombok
1. Rinjani Volcano National Park
Park entrance fee is 10,000 rupees, and it includes trail service. The trekking season only runs from April through December. The rest of the year the park is closed due to rains and bad weather.
The park covers 41,330 hectares and within there you will find a magnificent volcano, incredible waterfalls and rice paddies.
2.Mount Rinjani
It is the island’s main attraction and the second highest volcano in Indonesia, behind Sumatra’s Kerinci volcano. It contains within it another crater that is still active and rises to the highest point of Lombok, from where you can see the central area of the island. The last eruption was recorded in 2016.
The ascent to the volcano can be done in 3 or 2 day tours. The ascent is 3,726 meters, and the daily routes last between 8 and 12 hours.
There is a belief that Queen Rinajani, whose body was thrown into the volcano’s crater lake, continues to appear to trekkers who ascend the sacred mountain.
In the volcanic cone you will find an emerald-colored lake with an area approximately 200 m long. The mountain is home to species such as the lutung or Java langur, lion-tailed macaque and Java rusa. The endemic Rinjani owl was also discovered here in 2003. On your way to the top of the mountain, you can see hot springs, fields of wild strawberries, and caves.
3. Lombok Waterfalls
When you visit Lombok, you have to see the waterfalls and waterfalls in the interior of the island. There are two waterfalls you must visit in Gunung Rinjani Volcano National Park:
- Sendang Gile: it has two levels of falls and 31 total meters surrounded by very abundant vegetation and tropical landscape. The popular culture of the area claims that the story of that waterfall involves a princess and a mad lion who wanted to kidnap her. The princess hid behind the waterfall to escape from the animal. It will only take you about 10-15 minutes to get to the base of the waterfall from the road. In addition, the trail is very comfortable and can be easily reached by taking a walk.
- Tiu Kelep: Legend has says that there is a cave behind the waterfalls, and whoever manages to cross the spectacular flow of the water will gain youth. Starting from Sendang Gile, the drive to Tiu Kelep will take you about 30 minutes to an hour.
4. Rice paddies
Senaru village is an area full of rice paddies. It is a traditional mountain village, which sits on the green slope of Rinjani Volcano National Park. Its inhabitants make their living by growing rice, coffee, cocoa and vanilla.
5. Prayer centers
The island of Lombok is mostly Muslim, although it is true that it has a past closely linked to Hinduism. Both religions coexist without any problem and in complete respect. The most important Hindu temples to visit would be the Pura Lingsar and the Pura Meru.
Among the many mosques on the island, the most famous would be the Masjid Bayan Beleq Mosque (the oldest mosque on the island) and the Great Mosque of Selong.
6. Sembalun Village
This is a small village a very scenic three-hour drive from Mataram. The trip, however, can be a bit challenging due to the steep climb. On your journey to reach the village, you will pass through lush green rice paddies and tropical gardens.
A visit to Sembalun Village is an opportunity to learn about daily life as a local. Whether you join in the harvesting of local communities, explore the still standing original houses or listen to the music of the local people. This visit will give you a greater understanding of Lombok’s cultural identity.
Travel Tip: To organize your trip we recommend using Passporter totally free. You can be inspired by the experiences of other travelers, choose the places that interest you most, create the travel route with a geolocated map, upload all important documents such as reservations and invite your friends so that everyone can participate in the organization of the trip.
Things to do around Lombok
1. Gili Islands
Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak and Gili Kedis are an archipelago of three islands off the northwest coast of Lombok. They are endless beaches of white sand bathed by intense turquoise blue waters.
You can book a snorkeling tour from any point on the Gili Islands. There are two modes: either a private boat tour or you can join one of the group tours offered by local agencies.
You can arrive at the Gili directly (and fast) from two of the main islands of the area: Bali and Lombok. The boats are taken in the ferry terminal of Bangsal, there are many daily departures and the trip lasts between 15 and 20 minutes. You can buy the ticket right there and it costs 12,000 rupiah, which is less than one euro.
2. Gili Meno Sea Turtle Sanctuary
On the islands you find the sea turtle sanctuary. If you are a fan of these animals, you can’t miss it. The Gili Islands are marked as an important area for the conservation of sea turtles.
The center is home to hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), classified as critically endangered globally, and green turtles (Chelonia mydas). Both thrive on the Gili Islands in Indonesia.
3. Pura Batu Bolong
Built in the year 1489, the Pura Batu Bolong Temple or the Temple of the Arch (Batu means stone and Bolong means hole) is a place that is often overlooked by many tourists who only associate this area with the Pura Tanah Lot Temple. The Temple as such is a small sanctuary built on a rock with a great arch and joined to the earth by a natural bridge, which breaks in a majestic way with the cliffs so typical of the area. You can visit this temple from Denpasar, Kuta or Jimbaran.
4. Mayura Park
Mayura Park is what remains of Bali’s Karang Asem kingdom. Interestingly, its architecture shows both Hindu and Islamic influences, while statues made of stone in the form of Muslim hajji are found around the site.
Mayura and Bale Kambang, built in 1743 by the Balinese Hindu dynasty, Anak Agung Gede Karangasem. It has now been converted into a recreational park and is used seasonally for music festivals.
What to do in a day in Lombok
The island is too big to tour in a single day, but we suggest several plans to visit and enjoy the nature and culture of Lombok.
The first option will be to visit the Rinjani National Park. As we have told you, it is a very extensive park that hides beautiful waterfalls and wildlife of the area. You won’t be able to tour it entirely because that would take days, but you can get close to the first waterfall and visit the crater lake.
The second plan will be the Gili Islands. This tropical landscape allows for scuba diving and snorkeling with sea turtles.
In one day you can also follow a cultural route through the Sasak villages. You can enjoy several traditional localities of this culture and tour two paradisiacal beaches of the island to relax and enjoy Lombok.
Where to stay in Lombok
- Rinjani Lodge: charming accommodation with a swimming pool overlooking the island’s greenery. It is located 1 km from Rinjani National Park and the traditional Sasak village of Dusun Senari. It offers restaurant and outdoor pool. It is a 20-minute walk from Sidang Gila Waterfall, a 40-minute walk from Tiu Kelep Waterfall, 120 km from Lombok International Airport and 60 km from Bangsal Harbour. The price per night is around €100.
- Rinjani Mountain Garden: Located in Bayan, 9 km from Tiu Kelep Waterfall, it offers accommodation with a restaurant, free private parking, bar and a garden. The property has a tour desk and barbecue facilities. This pet-friendly resort also features free Wi-Fi. Sindang Gila Waterfall is 10 km from the accommodation, while Umar Maya Waterfall is 17 km away. Overnight rates are around €30.
- Makarma Resort Lombok: Room costs from 9 euros and has a restaurant, bar, common lounge and garden in Senggigi. This 2-star hotel offers room service and tour desk. The hotel has an outdoor pool, 24-hour front desk and free WiFi. Popular points of interest near the accommodation include Batu Bolong Beach, Senggigi Beach, and Makam Batu Layar.
Where and what to eat in Lombok
- Pandan Resto & Bar: Located on the Gili Islands, it’s a disco club serving burgers, wok and assorted dishes by the shore, all enlivened by DJ music. Diners recommended the place as a locale for dining and an atmosphere with music and nightlife.
- La Cabaña Lombok: Spanish and Western food restaurant of very good quality and better taste. The menu offers a wide range of internationally influenced specialties, Spanish dishes such as “paella”, “patatas bravas” and “huevos rotos”, as well as authentic Indonesian delicacies such as “nasi goreng”. Diners recommended the paella, croquettes, gazpacho, vegetable wrap.
- Kenza Cafe & Restaurant Kuta Lombok: Its diners remark that they like the vegetarian cuisine at this restaurant. This place is one of those establishments with great delicacies for fair prices. They offer an appealing avocado toast, an amazing hummus and a tender Spanish omelet. If you go to Kenza Cafe & Restaurant Kuta Lombok, try their generous croissant, well-prepared pancakes or the unique blueberry cheesecake. Here you can order an excellent juice, a delicious cappuccino or some extraordinary fruit smoothies.
How to get to Lombok
Lombok is well connected to both neighboring Bali and Sumbawa. To go to both islands there are public ferries that connect them. From Lombok they leave from the east of the island ( Labuan Kayangan) and arrive at Pototano (western area of Sumbawa). The ferries run 24 hours a day.
From Bali the public ferry leaves from Padang Bai and arrives at Lembak, just in the south of the island. There are also options to go by faster ferry (speed boat or fast boats) from other destinations in Bali.
Besides, there is also the option of taking a flight from Bali to the Lombok International Airport.
What you should know before traveling to Lombok
- If Mount Rinjani is a must stop for you, you should know that the climb is tough and due to its altitude temperatures are usually low during the night. Organize your trip well for what you want to see in Lombok, and prepare a kit with basic mountaineering gear, sleeping bag, tent and above all, a mountain guide.
- Transportation on the island is not very well communicated, so it is advisable to hire a guide with a car or rent a motorcycle to get around.
- It is an island where it rains a lot, so if you are thinking about hiking plans, bring booties, as the rocks can be slippery and the path could be dangerous.
- On the trails you may encounter macaques. Close your backpack and keep your food safe, because they will do anything to get it.
- If you’re thinking of snorkeling on your own, be aware that the currents here are very strong (especially in the rainy season) and tourists die every year because of it.
How to prepare what to see on your trip to Lombok
Register on the website or download the free Passporter App and discover all its possibilities.
- Get inspired by other travelers’ experiences
- Create your own itinerary and add the app’s suggestions into it.
- Add the stops you are most interested in, as well as the restaurants and bars where you want to eat (you can use the points of interest we indicated in this post as a reference).
- Organize your itinerary by route days according to their location on the map (you can be inspired by the routes we present in the post).
- There are restaurants where they only accept cards.
- Check out the travel budget that the app calculates for you based on your travel stops, restaurants, and leisure activities.
- Make any modifications you need and you’ll be all set for your trip.
- Share your experience. Upload photos of the places you visited on your trip to the app and recommend to other travelers the things to do in Lombok.
If you want to know more about how to use the app, you can read our post: How to create your travel itinerary with Passporter.
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