Overview
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1. Tiu Kelep & Sendang Gile
The Tiu Kelep is probably the most famous waterfall on Lombok. On your way to this waterfall, you also pass the Sendang Gile, so you can easily combine a visit to both these waterfalls. Tiu Kelep is a giant wall of water in the middle of a beautiful, tropical lush green setting and definitely one of our favorite things to do in Lombok. Make sure you protect your belongings well, because you will get wet for sure from the spray of the falling water.
On the way from the waterfall back to the start, you can choose for a more adventurous option than just walking. You can slide back on a rubber band, along some sort of waterslide, that looks a more like a sewer. It is not for the faint-hearted or people with claustrophobia, because you actually slide under the footpath and through a narrow, dark tunnel. You can find more practical information in our Tiu Kelep & Sendang Gile Guide.
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2. Bukit Selong
Bukit Selong is a magical viewpoint of a big field with colorful patches like a patchwork quilt covering the area with the mountains in the background. There are various viewpoints on the hill from where you have this magical view. On the opposite side, you also have a view of the village and mount Rinjani.
The best time to visit Bukit Selong is at sunrise or sunset when the light is most magical. It is a short but steep climb to the top of the hill. Be aware of the monkeys on these hills, for it seemed as if they were not very pleased with the presence of people when you get too close.
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3. Benang Stokel and Kelambu Waterfall
Besides the Tiu Kelep waterfall, Lombok is home to even more impressive waterfalls. The Benang Stokel and Kelambu waterfall are two waterfalls not far from each other, making it easy to visit them during one trek. They are located at the foot of Mount Rinjani, almost in the heart of Lombok. Benang Stokel is a twin waterfall of around 20 meters high, located admits a tropical, lush green jungle environment. Only 15 minutes walk further, you find the Kelambu waterfall that normally consists of three streams of around 30 meters high, but when we visited, unfortunately only 2 were visible.
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Private tour
Discover the Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu waterfall in a unique way through our partner GetYourGuide.
4. Tetebatu Rice Terraces
Tetebatu is a lovely village, located in central Lombok. It is often referred to as the Ubud of Lombok, because you will also find beautiful rice terraces, a monkey forest and some nice waterfalls in the area. The difference with the rice fields in Ubud on Bali is that these rice fields are really used to provide the people with rice and not just for tourism. That is why you can only visit these fields with a guide during a tour. We highly recommend such a tour because it is simply super interesting!
During this tour, you stroll through the rice terrace, clamber along the rice field ledges, visit the most famous waterfall in the area and explore the monkey forest where you have the chance to see black monkeys.
Along the way, your guide will also tell you interesting information about the process of rice production and many other plants that you pass along the way. We thought it was a super fun and interesting experience! You find more information in our guide to exploring the Tetebatu Rice Terraces.
Tip: The best local guide for the Tetebatu Rice fields? That must be Edi. You can contact him on Whatsapp on +6282339168368 and send him greetings from Sarah & Cédric from Coordinotes. You can find more information about his tour on Tripadvisor.
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5. Mount Rinjani Trekking
A trekking on Mount Rinjani is probably one of the most famous and adventurous things to do on Lombok. During this trek, you climb up 3726 meters to the top of the Rinjani volcano, where you can spend the night on the volcano rim. There are different tours and you can choose to do a trekking of 2 or 3 days. It is a challenging trek, but it is definitely a unique experience and you’ll be rewarded with some incredible views along the way!
6. Gili Islands
If you are looking for the tropical island life, the Gili Islands are your place to be. These 3 islands are located right off shore in the north west of Lombok. They each have their own characteristics and are therefore a destination for every kind of traveler. The best activity to do on these islands is snorkeling, as the chances are very big you will see turtles along the shore! Gili Trawangan, or just Gili T, is the biggest and most famous islands. If you are looking for a little party, this is the islands you should go for. Gili Air and Gili Meno are perfect to spend some time relaxing on the beach!
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Discover the Gili Islands in a unique way through our partner GetYourGuide.
7. Bat Cave
A very interesting place to visit on Lombok is the Bat Cave in Kuta. There are actually three bat caves close to each other: Goa Bangkang Prabu, Goa Puwun and Goa Sumur. We visited the Goa Bangkang Prabu, but we are quite sure you’ll see thousands of bats in all three caves, so it doesn’t really matter which one you visit. The biggest difference between the caves is the size and the price. Goa sumur is the biggest but also the most expensive one. The prices are always including a guide who leads you through the caves. At the Goa Bagkang Prabu, we also got a helmet and a mask for the smell of the bat droppings which is really bad.
You might know these caves from the magical pictures on Instagram with the big beam of light shining in, but nothing is less true. The cave is full of thousands of bats, but you will also find large geckos, sometimes snakes and thousands of cockroaches walking across the floor, so be prepared for this. At the right time on a sunny day, a large beam of light shines into the cave, creating a kind of magical setting for a cool picture. Despite the fact that you come out full of bat droppings, we still thought it was a unique experience.
If you have the chance, you should definitely visit the cave at sunset when the thousands of bats fly out of the cave for tens of minutes!
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8. Kuta
Kuta is a wonderful town in the south of Lombok, mainly known for surfing. There is a very cozy atmosphere, with a lot of lovely bars and restaurants. You will find many beautiful beaches for a day of relaxing or surfing and you can enjoy a beautiful sunset at one of the many stunning viewpoints along the shore.
And for racing fans, there is a circuit nearby where international races are regularly organized.
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9. Tanjung Aan Beach & Bukit Merese
One of the beautiful beaches in Kuta is Tanjung Aan. It’s a stunning white sand beach with crystal clears waters, a restaurant and lounge chairs to enjoy some time on the beach.
After spending a day at the beach, you can walk for 15 minutes to Bukit Merese, next to Tanjung Aan. It’s a very popular hill from where you have a beautiful view of the coastline and can enjoy a wonderful sunset to end your day. It is known to be the best sunset spot of the island!
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Hotels in Lombok
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10. Pink beach
Pink beach is a beautiful beach on the Ekas Pensinsula of Lombok with, not surprisingly, a unique pink color. The beach gets its color because of the pink corals here. Pink beach is one of the most famous places on Lombok, but this does not make it the easiest to reach. From Kuta, you have to drive 1.5 to 2 hours and there is not much to do in the area besides the beach. Fortunately, the road there is in good condition and it is interesting to drive along the real local life of Lombok. You can either drive there yourself or you can go on a day trip from Kuta. Be sure to visit the beach on a sunny day, because on a cloudy day the beach does not look that pink.
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Practical Information
Best time to visit Lombok
Lombok experiences only two seasons: wet season and dry season. Due to its location, the island experiences high temperatures all year round.
The best time to visit Lombok is generally between April and October, during dry season. Know that the months of July and August are high season and that is when you can expect the biggest crowds. You can, of course, expect dry weather during dry season and also the beaches are cleaner in this period. Therefore, we recommend you to visit Lombok in the shoulder seasons April to May or September to October.
How to get around
The roads on Lombok are generally in good condition. One of the best, easiest and cheapest ways to discover the island is by scooter. Prices vary from 60.000 to 100.000 IDR per 24hours.
However, the distances between different interesting places are sometimes quite long. Depending on your planning, it is sometimes better or more pleasant to hire a private driver.
For travel between the different regions with your luggage, you can easily book a shuttle service with tour operators or even at your accommodation.
How many days for Lombok
Lombok is definitely not a small island and you can easily spend more than a week or two on this island. The minimum time we recommend for Lombok is at least 5 days. If you are planning to do a Mount Rinjani trek, it is better to allow an extra day or 2 to be sure you have enough time to see some of the other highlights as well. Ideally, we would say 7 to 10 days to explore at a leisurely pace.
Where to stay
Lombok is a large island and can be divided into different regions to stay. Depending on what you want to visit, there are different villages and towns where it is best to stay. In the south, Kuta is the best place to stay. This is a super cozy village, mostly known among surfers. In north Lombok Senaru is the best place to stay, especially if you want to a a Mount Rinjani Trekking. Don’t expect large luxury resorts here, but nice guesthouses, ideal for a Mount Rinjani trekking. The most famous place in the west of Lombok is Senggigi, where you will find the more luxurious resorts of the island.
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Win-Win for everyone
Did you know that, if you buy or book something through our links, we receive a small commission?
However, you still pay the same and therefore have no extra costs! So a win-win for everyone. This way, we can continue to add even more travel inspiration and tips to this blog for your next adventure. Thanks a lot!
