Lombok is a diverse Indonesian island, home to mountain ranges, volcanoes, tropical islands, rural villages and remote surf beaches.
It is often seen as the quieter neighbour of Bali, however, don’t let that misguide you. Both islands are almost equal in size, and with the diversity Lombok offers, you could spend an entire month here and still not see it all.
If you have only one week in Lombok, then I recommend focusing on a certain area or aspect of the island. Trying to see everything will leave you spending most of your time on the almost two lane roads at just above walking speed.
In this one week Lombok travel itinerary we will focus purely on the south coast. This is an area perfect for surf breaks, remote sandy beaches flanked by mountain ranges and of course the odd water buffalo.
Kuta Lombok – 2 nights
Recommended Hotel: Rascals Hotel
Let’s kick off with a visit to Kuta, the second largest city on the island of Lombok after Mataram. However, don’t mistake this with Bali’s Kuta, as the vibe between the two couldn’t be more different.
Kuta Lombok is making name for itself with a wide range of Aussie inspired cafes and restaurants popping up along the main strip (Jalan Kuta). Brunch spots like Bush Radio, Bara, Kenza, and The Breakery are a good way to fuel your morning with local caffeine and tasty eats.
However, Kuta ain’t just about the Aussie infiltration of cafes. The nearby beaches are also world class. Note the fact that Kuta’s best beaches are “nearby” meaning a 15 to 45 minute drive from town.
Tanjung Aan Beach, a 15 minute drive east of town, definitely one of the most beautiful beaches I’ve ever visited. You better get here quick though, as the huge Mandalika development project will probably change this dramatically in years to come.
Head 30 minutes west and you’ll reach the more remote feeling Mawun Beach and Areguling Beach. Combine both for a great half day trip from town.
Kuta is in a phase of tourism growth. Lots of construction leaves the town feeling a little half complete, street trash is a problem like the rest of Indonesia, and the trash on Kuta Beach makes it almost not worth visiting. See beyond these points, and Kuta is a great spot for 2 nights upon arrival in Lombok.
Selong Belanak – 3 nights
Recommended Hotel: Tropik Resort
Head just over 45 minutes east of Kuta and you’ll stumble upon a sleepy coastal town called Selong Belanak. Voted by the South China Morning Post as being one of the best beaches in Asia, this spot is certainly starting to grow in popularity.
Imagine a long white sandy beach, flanked by rolling green mountains, water so clear you can see fish darting about, and a world class surf break out the back. Paradise really exists.
The beach faces west, so the sunset views here are also epic. Enjoy either from one of the local warungs, or head to Lantis at the southern end of the beach for a more comfortable beach bar vibe.
Selong Belanak Beach once hosted a herd of buffalo walking the sand each afternoon. While this no longer seems to be the case, the beach itself is still 100% worth putting on any Indonesian travel itinerary.
Pick a day that ain’t scorching hot and head out hiking to some of the remote beaches around Selong Belanak. A lesser known trail will take you to through tobacco fields and rocky headlands to Telawas Beach (look, don’t swim), Semeti Beach, and the surfer’s favourite Mawi Beach.
Whie Selong Belanak is a lot quieter than Kuta, spending 3 nights here is perfect if you want amazing beaches within easy walking distance. It’s enough time to unwind, yet not become bored.
Torok Bay – 2 nights
Recommended Hotel: Amber Resort
We’re going to wrap up one week in Lombok with a secluded beach destination which is yet to make any bucket-list type headlines. Torok Bay, locally called Pantai Torok, is still so unheard of that it wouldn’t even catch your attention unless you knew it was there.
Pantai Torok is an almost empty sandy beach located just a further 15 minutes west of Selong Belanak. Nestled at the foot of Lombok’s rolling hills you’ll find a little local village, and a single resort called Amber.
At low tide you’re able to walk out a fair distance in calm waist depth water. Keep an eye out as you wander through the sea grass as you may be fortunate enough to encounter one of the resident sea turtles.
And, if you were disappointed to learn that Selong Belanak Beach no longer hosts sunbaking water buffalo, then you’ll be stoked to know that Pantai Torok has a herd visiting the beach for a few hours each Saturday afternoon.
For exploring the surrounding areas further, motorbikes can be hired across the road from Amber. A small 100cc motorbike costs about 100K IDR per day, while a larger 200cc motorbike costs about 200k IDR per day.
Ride up the hills for panoramic views of Lombok’s south coast and small local villages. Alternatively, head back along the coast towards Selong Belanak where you can visit other lesser known beaches such as Tomang-Omang Beach, Serangan Beach, and Kecil Beach.
If you enjoy slower paced secluded destinations, then you could certainly stay at Torok Bay longer than 2 days. In fact, we stayed in one of Amber’s beachfront rooms for 4 days and loved every minute of it.
How to get to Lombok?
Speedboat: speedboats make the 2.5 hour crossing from Padang Bai in Bali to Bangsal Pier in Lombok almost every hour throughout the day. Bangsal Pier is located in the north west of Lombok, so you’ll need to add a 2 hour drive down to Kuta.
Ferry: twice a day slow ferries makes the 5 hour crossing from Padang Bai in Bali to Lembar Port in south west Lombok. You will still need to add a 45 minute to 1 hour drive to reach any of the destinations in this itinerary.
Plane: Lombok has an airport with international flights to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, along with domestic flights to Denpasar (Bali), Jakarta, Makassar (Sulawesi), and other locations. A flight from Bali to Lombok takes around 1 hour, with the airport being located about 45 minutes from the destinations in this itinerary.
Where Else to go in Lombok?
Gili Islands: located just off the north west coast of Lombok, the Gili Islands are easily accessible via speedboat from Lombok’s Bangsal Pier. Check out my detailed guides to Gili Trawangan (the party island), Gili Meno (the castaway island), and Gili Air (the just right island). You could easily spend 2 weeks or more just on these islands.
Mount Rinjani: summiting an active volcano for sunrise is certainly one of the major drawcards of Lombok. The hike takes 2 days/1 night and can be booked as a tour package from most destinations in Lombok. I didn’t have the opportunity to hike Rinjani, but have had an amazing experience hiking volcanoes in Vanuatu, looking into a bubbling cauldron of lava.
Senggigi: if you prefer a luxury escape by the beach, then head north west to Senggigi nearby Mataram. This is where you will find the larger 5-star resorts alongside black sand beaches.
Is Lombok Worth Visiting?
Lombok is definitely worth visiting, even if you have only one week available.
While international flights direct to Lombok are still limited, it is easily accessible by plane or boat from the neighbouring island of Bali.
Perhaps you’ve been to Bali once or twice before, love Indonesia, but are looking for something… less developed, less traffic, friendlier?
Just because Lombok is quieter than Bali, you don’t need to be an adventure traveller to enjoy it. Lombok is worth visiting for solo travellers, couples, and families.
Is Lombok Cheaper than Bali?
Lombok is priced similarly to Bali, in terms of food, transport, and accommodation.
A meal like Nasi Goreng or Mee Goreng at a local warung costs 20K to 40K IDR. Go to a restaurant and you’ll pay 80K IDR+ depending on what and where you order.
While Lombok is Muslin (Bali is Hindu) and alcohol is slightly less common, you’ll still find plenty of bars, and beers available at most convenience stores. A large beer from Alfamart costs about 65K IDR.
Hotels can be slightly cheaper on average in Lombok than in Bali’s hotspot areas. All hotels in this itinerary are available for under 2 million IDR (USD 130) per night, and they’re relatively nice.
The main difference between Lombok and Bali is certainly the traffic. While Bali roads move at a snail’s pace even for motorbikes, Lombok is generally quite free flowing.
