The Perfect Lombok Itinerary

If you are looking for a place with some impressive landscapes, lush green rice fields, powerful waterfalls and so much more that is not as touristy as Bali, Lombok is your place to be. There is so much to do on Lombok that you can plan a trip from as short as a week to as long as 3-4 weeks. To help you plan your trip through this beautiful island, we have already mapped out the perfect route. From trekking through the wonderful rice fields of Tetebatu to the most beautiful waterfalls, this itinerary covers it all!
08° 35′ S, 116° 21′ E​

Overview

Kuta

Kuta is a great place to start your Lombok itinerary. It 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.

Recommended time to stay

We recommend 2 to 3 days.

What to do in and around Senggigi

Visit Pink Beach on Ekas Peninsula

Explore the bat caves

Go Surfing

Hava beach day on tanjung aan beach

Watch the sunset from bukit merese

Pink Beach on Lombok
Pink Beach on Lombok
Bukit Merese viewpoint in Kuta
Bukit Merese viewpoint in Kuta
Goa Bangkang Prabu - Bat cave
Goa Bangkang Prabu - Bat cave
Goa Bangkang Prabu - Bat cave
Goa Bangkang Prabu - Bat cave
Tanjung Aan Beach
Unfortunately we had bad weather, but normally you have a real tropical feeling on Tanjung Aan Beach

Senggigi

Senggigi is a popular tourist area located on the west coast of Lombok. It has some beautiful beaches and a big range of accommodations, from luxury resorts to budget-friendly guesthouses. It is the perfect base to explore central Lombok and also a convenient base for visit the nearby Gili Islands. Boat services from Senggigi often provide transportation to these popular islands.

Recommended time to stay

We recommend 2 to 3 days.

What to do in and around Senggigi

Explore Nipah Beach and Pandanan Beach

Go on a day trip to tetebatu and Benang Stokel 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.

Benang Stokel Waterfall
The Benang stokel waterfall

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Gili Islands

Jump on a boat to the Gili Islands and spend a few days in paradise. The Gili Islands are your place to be if you are looking for the tropical island life. 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!

Recommended time to stay

We recommend enjoying the Gili Islands for 2 to 3 days.

What to do on the Gili Islands

Go snorkeling with turtles

Rent a bike and make a tour

White Beaches And Beach Bars​

We took our snorkeling gear and simply went into the sea from the beach. We spotted several turtles here. If you are lucky you can also see small sharks!

Go snorkeling with turtles
Go snorkeling with turtles

Since there is no motorized traffic on the Gili islands, you have to travel on foot or by bicycle. It’s great fun to take a tour around the island!

There is no motorized traffic on the Gili islands
There is no motorized traffic on the Gili islands

If you have ridden around by bike you will see that there are many white beaches around the islands. Treat yourself to a good cocktail at one of the beach bars and enjoy the peace and quiet that you can find on these islands.

Gili Islands
Gili Islands

How to get to the Gili Islands from Lombok: You can take a ferry from the port in Bangsal to one of the Gili Islands. You can book your ferry directly on 12Goasia Alternatively, you can book also book a one day trip to the Gili Islands from Lombok.

Activities

Discover the Gili Islands in a unique way through our partner GetYourGuide.

Senaru

You can end your trip through Lombok in Senaru. It is a picturesque village located in the northern part of Lombok and a popular starting point for perhaps one of Lombok’s most famous highlights: a trek to Mount Rinjani. This is the second-highest volcano in Indonesia and a significant natural landmark on the island. Several trekking routes start from Senaru and often includes camping, hot springs and breathtaking views of the surrounding scenery.

Besides being a starting point for the Mount Rinjani trekkings, Senaru is also the perfect base to visit the famous Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile waterfall and the Bukit Selong viewpoint.

Recommended time to stay

If you are going to do the Mount Rinjani trekking, you should allow 4 to 5 days. Without this walk, 2 days should be enough.

What to do in Senaru

Mt. Rinjani

Tiu Kelep and Sendang gile Waterfalls

BUtik Selong Viewpoint

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!

Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile are probably the most famous and spectacular waterfalls on Lombok. They are located close to each other, so you can easily combine a visit to both these waterfalls. It was definitely one of our favorite things to do in Lombok.

Tiu Kelep waterfall
Tiu Kelep waterfall
Sendang gile waterfall
Sendang gile waterfall

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.

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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 or join a day trip.

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.

How to get to Lombok

Lombok has its own international airport. It’s well-connected to major Indonesian cities like Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali) and Surabaya, as well as to some international destinations.

If you are coming from Bali, you can either take a plane from Denpasar, or you can come to Lombok by ferry or speedboat.

If you have the time and you are coming from Flores to Lombok, we highly recommend you doing the 3day-2night or 4day-4night boat tour along the Komodo National Park. It is a unique experience, a fun way to discover multiple islands in one tour and at the same time your transportation between the two islands.

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 the north and for the mount Rinjani Trekking, Seranu is the best place to stay. 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. 

Hotels in Lombok

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Last updated: April 16, 2024

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