Key hubs
Lombok airport and railway station
- Airport
- Lombok International Airport (LOP) near Praya, opened in 2011; about 20 minutes from Kuta and over an hour from Senggigi
- Railway station
- None. 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 is the usual choice; metered taxis work in Mataram and Senggigi, and app services are patchy, so confirm before relying on them
How to reach Lombok by air
Lombok International Airport (LOP) is near Praya in Central Lombok, about 27 km from Mataram and roughly 20 minutes from Kuta. Wikipedia lists international flights to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore; no direct India flights were found. Most Indian travellers connect via Bali (DPS, a flight of about 40 minutes), Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Schedules change, so check airline sites.
How to reach Lombok by train
Lombok has no passenger railway, so there is no railway station to use. Visitors arrive by air, or by ferry from Padang Bai in Bali to Lembar port, which takes about four to six hours, and by fast boat to the Gili Islands.
How to reach Lombok by road
The main roads link Mataram and Senggigi on the west coast, the airport and Kuta in the south, and Senaru and Sembalun in the north. Roads are narrow and winding in places. Allow about two and a half hours from Mataram to Senaru and over an hour from the airport to Senggigi.
Getting around Lombok
A private car with driver by the day is the standard choice for families and seniors. Metered taxis operate in Mataram and Senggigi, and app services are unreliable outside them. Ask hotels to arrange a driver, and avoid driving or riding after dark because of poor road lighting.
For parents and senior travellers
Easy transfers to and in Lombok
- Hire a car with a driver for the day. Roads are narrow, and public transport is thin, so a driver also helps with parking and waiting at sites.
- Carry travel insurance that covers medical evacuation. The island has no international hospital, and the nearest is in Denpasar, Bali, according to Wikivoyage.
- Cover shoulders and knees at mosques, temples and villages. Carry a sarong and sash, and remove shoes when invited into houses or prayer spaces.
- Ask hotels in advance for vegetarian or low-spice meals, and carry dry snacks and bottled water on long drives.
- Ask the airline or railway for wheelchair or porter assistance when you book, not on the day.
- Pre-book the pickup from the airport or station, so nobody has to negotiate with drivers after a long journey.
- Choose arrivals in daylight where you can, and keep the first afternoon free to rest.