Lombok & Gili Islands

A quiet island east of Bali: the three car-free Gili Islands with turtle snorkeling, Mount Rinjani trekking and surf beaches in the south, making it an alternative to Bali.

Lombok lies about 40 km east of Bali across the Lombok Strait, in West Nusa Tenggara province. It is similar in size to Bali but receives only a fraction of the visitors, and most islanders are Muslim Sasak people. The north of the island is dominated by Mount Rinjani (3,726 m), and off the northwest corner are the three Gili Islands (Trawangan, Meno and Air). The west coast has the earliest-developed resort strip of Senggigi and the capital Mataram, while the Kuta Lombok area on the south coast falls within the Mandalika Special Economic Zone, with surf beaches and a MotoGP circuit, and there are pink beaches in the southeast. You can plan it in three parts: the Gili Islands (snorkeling, turtles and a slow, car-free life, 2–3 nights); Rinjani (a 2–3 day trek, or a day trip to Senaru waterfalls); and the south (surfing, beaches and the circuit, 2 nights).

Climate: May–Oct is the dry season and the best time, with clear skies and calm seas; Jul–Aug and Christmas are peak season. Nov–Apr is the rainy season with afternoon showers, and Rinjani National Park usually closes the mountain in Jan–Mar.

Getting there and around: Lombok International Airport (LOP) is in the south-central part of the island, with flights from Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali (30 minutes), Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and more. From Bali, fast boats (departing from Padang Bai or Sanur, 1.5–2.5 hours) go directly to the Gilis and the west coast of Lombok. From the airport it is about 30 minutes to Kuta, 1 hour to Senggigi, and 1.5–2 hours to Bangsal Harbor (public boats to the Gilis). There is no public transport on the island, so rely on a chartered car (about Rp 600,000–800,000/day), a rented motorbike (Rp 70,000–100,000/day) or Grab (limited coverage). We suggest 5–7 days.

Good to know: Lombok is a Muslim community, so dress modestly away from the beach and avoid eating or drinking in public during the day in Ramadan. There are no lifeguards on the Gili Islands or the southern beaches, so beware of rip currents. Infrastructure has recovered since the 2018 earthquake, but keep an eye on volcano and earthquake warnings. Renting a motorbike requires an international driving permit, and roads are in poor condition, so take care.

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