Lombok is an island of about 4,500 sq km in West Nusa Tenggara province, separated from Bali by the Lombok Strait. Its centrepiece is Mount Rinjani, a 3,726 m volcano with a crater lake, rising over forest in the north. Around it lie rice fields, a dry south with pale beaches and surf, and the capital Mataram on the west coast. About 4 million people live here, most of them Sasak, the island's majority group, and most are Muslim, which is why Lombok is sometimes called the island of a thousand mosques.
The feel is different from Bali. Mosques and the call to prayer set the rhythm of the day, villages are agricultural, and the Balinese Hindu minority, mostly in the west around Mataram, Narmada and Lingsar, keeps its own temples. Tourism began growing in the 1980s as a calmer alternative to Bali, and the main bases are Senggigi on the west coast, Kuta on the south coast and the Gili Islands offshore, which have their own Raahzo guide. Lombok has been developing the south around the Mandalika resort zone, with a new airport, a racing circuit and new roads.
For an Indian family or senior traveller, Lombok suits a relaxed trip of four or five days. Distances are larger than they look, public transport is thin and roads are narrow, so a private car with driver is the practical choice. The pace is slow, there are fewer tourist crowds than in Bali, and halal food is easy to find, though strict vegetarian or Jain meals take planning. Medical care is the main concern: there is no international hospital on the island, so good insurance matters.
This guide covers the island's main bases and sights: the south-coast beaches and hills around Kuta, the Sasak village of Sade, the Hindu and Sasak heritage sites near Mataram, the west-coast sunsets at Senggigi, and Rinjani with its waterfalls in the north. Plan one anchor sight a day, start early to avoid heat and afternoon rain, and keep a rest period in the middle of the day.
Before you plan
Lombok at a glance
- Best months
- May to September is the drier season…May to September is the drier season and the most comfortable; December to February is the wettest, with heavy afternoon rain and rougher seas.
- Ideal trip length
- 4 to 6 days for the island4 to 6 days for the island; add 2 to 3 days if you include the Gili Islands or a Rinjani trek
- Airport
- Lombok International AirportLombok International Airport (LOP) near Praya, opened in 2011; about 20 minutes from Kuta and over an hour from Senggigi
- Railway station
- NoneNone. Lombok has no passenger railway, so every journey on the island is by road, air or sea.
- Getting around
- A private car with driver by the day…A private car with driver by the day is the usual choice; metered taxis work in Mataram and Senggigi, and app services are patchy, so confirm before relying on them
- Daily budget
- Very approximate planning range…Very approximate planning range ₹3,000 to ₹8,000 per person per day excluding flights and hotel, for a car and driver share, entry fees and meals; check current exchange rates
- Senior comfort
- Good with planning: beaches and…Good with planning: beaches and gardens are flat, but waterfalls and Rinjani are demanding, and medical care is limited outside Mataram
- Language
- Indonesian is the national language…Indonesian is the national language and Sasak is widely spoken; English is common in tourist areas and hotels, but not in villages
Prices, opening hours and weather change. Recheck live details before booking.
Best time to visit Lombok: May, June, July, August, September. Month-by-month weather →
How many days do you have?
Lombok itinerary
One good day
1 day in Lombok
With a driver, start with Bukit Merese in the early morning for the view, then spend a few hours at Tanjung Aan. Stop at Sade Sasak village on the way, and finish with an early dinner in Kuta. This suits visitors based in the south or arriving at Lombok International Airport with a free day.
Day-by-day plan →Two days
2 days in Lombok
Visit Sade village, then Tanjung Aan and Bukit Merese. Pass the Mandalika circuit if you are interested in motor racing. End at Selong Belanak for the sunset if energy allows.
Day-by-day plan →Three unhurried days
3 days in Lombok
Start with Sade village, then Tanjung Aan and Bukit Merese. Rest at midday and take the late-afternoon light at Merese or Selong Belanak.
Day-by-day plan →
