Lombok GiliIslands
3
Day Itinerary •
Indonesia
Three days across Lombok and the Gili Islands delivers the finest combination of tropical island beauty in Indonesia, from the extraordinary turquoise lagoons and car-free shores of Gili Trawangan to the sacred Sasak villages of the Lombok interior, the finest surf breaks of the south coast and the extraordinary pink sand beaches of the southeast. This compact route covers the essential Lombok and Gili experience. The extraordinary snorkelling reefs of Gili Air and Gili Trawangan, the traditional Sasak weaving villages of central Lombok, the extraordinary south coast beaches of Selong Belanak and Mawun, the sacred Pura Lingsar temple and the finest fresh seafood in eastern Indonesia.
Best Time To Visit
May to September, dry season
Getting There
Fly into Lombok International Airport (LOP) or fast boat from Bali
Getting Around
Cidomo horse cart on Gilis, hired car or ojek on Lombok
Budget Per Day
Approx 60 to 150 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, flat Gili islands, some driving on Lombok
DAY 1
GILI TRAWANGAN
MORNING
GILI TRAWANGAN NORTH COAST SNORKEL
The extraordinary turtle point on the north coast of Gili Trawangan, where green and hawksbill sea turtles feed on the coral gardens in water barely two metres deep. Dawn is the finest time, before the day-trip boats arrive from Bali. The coral coverage on the Gili T north reef is the best of the three islands. Snorkel hire from any beach shack for approx 30,000 IDR. No entrance fee. Boat: 20 min bicycle ride
MIDDAY
CIRCUMNAVIGATE GILI TRAWANGAN BY BICYCLE
The finest way to experience the island, a 12km loop around the perimeter taking in the extraordinary eastern sunrise beach with its view of Lombok's Mount Rinjani, the extraordinary quiet northern tip, the fishing village on the west, and the sunset strip of beach bars, restaurants and dive shops on the southwest. Hire a bicycle for approx 50,000 IDR per day from any beachfront shack.
AFTERNOON
SUNSET STRIP AND DIVE BRIEFING
The extraordinary southwest beach of Gili Trawangan at sunset, where the silhouette of Mount Agung in Bali is visible across the Lombok Strait on clear evenings. The island's dive shops offer PADI open water courses from approx 3,500,000 IDR over two days, or introductory dives from approx 500,000 IDR. The night market on the main path comes alive at sunset with extraordinary fresh grilled seafood.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Gili Meno, the quietest and most beautiful of the three Gili Islands, has an extraordinary underwater sculpture park off its west coast where a circle of human figures covered in coral sits in 12 metres of water. The Nest viewpoint at the island's highest point gives extraordinary views across all three Gilis with Rinjani as backdrop. Gili Meno has almost no nightlife and the finest snorkelling reef of the three islands.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Beachfront warung, Gili T Fresh papaya, coconut pancakes and Lombok coffee on the east beach as the sun rises over Rinjani. | Lunch: Kayu Cafe, Gili Trawangan Outstanding fresh fish tacos, smoothie bowls and cold Bintang on the beach strip. | Dinner: Night market, Gili Trawangan Extraordinary fresh grilled lobster, prawns and local fish at the beachfront night market. Negotiate the price first.
DAY 2
GILI AIR
MORNING
GILI AIR CORAL GARDENS SNORKEL
The finest snorkelling on the Gili Islands is off the northeast coast of Gili Air, where extraordinary coral gardens of staghorn, table and brain coral spread across a shallow reef flat teeming with reef fish, octopus and regular turtle sightings. The water clarity is extraordinary in the dry season. Join a dawn snorkel trip from any dive operator for approx 100,000 IDR including equipment. Boat: 15 min bicycle ride
MIDDAY
CIRCUMNAVIGATE GILI AIR BY FOOT OR BICYCLE
Gili Air is the most authentic of the three Gili Islands, with a large permanent Sasak fishing community whose village on the east side is an extraordinary contrast to the tourist strip on the west. The 5km perimeter walk passes through extraordinary coconut groves, traditional boat-building yards and the finest quiet beach stretches of any Gili island. Free. Boat: 20 min boat
AFTERNOON
RETURN TO LOMBOK, SENGGIGI SUNSET
Take the island hopper back to Bangsal harbour on Lombok's northwest coast and drive south to Senggigi, the original Lombok beach resort and still the finest place on the island for a sunset drink. The extraordinary view across the Lombok Strait to the three Gili Islands silhouetted against the sky at dusk is the finest coastal panorama in the region. The Pura Batu Bolong sea temple on the coast road is extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak in southwest Lombok are three tiny uninhabited islands with extraordinary white sand beaches and pristine reefs, visited by almost nobody. Charter a local jukung fishing boat from Tawun harbour for approx 300,000 IDR for the day to reach all three islands with a snorkel. The finest deserted island experience in Lombok.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Warung Sasak, Gili Air Simple nasi goreng and fresh coconut water at a local family warung on the east village side. | Lunch: Scallywags, Gili Air Outstanding beachfront restaurant. Fresh barramundi, grilled prawns and extraordinary mango salad. | Dinner: Cafe Alberto, Senggigi The finest Italian and seafood restaurant on the Lombok northwest coast. Grilled local lobster.
DAY 3
SOUTH LOMBOK
MORNING
SUKARARA SASAK WEAVING VILLAGE
The extraordinary traditional weaving village of Sukarara in central Lombok, where Sasak women produce the finest songket and ikat cloth in eastern Indonesia using backstrap looms with techniques passed down through generations. The intricate gold-thread songket cloth, incorporating traditional Lombok motifs, takes weeks to complete. Visitors are welcome to watch and buy directly from the weavers at fair prices. Free entry. Boat: 45 min drive south
MIDDAY
SELONG BELANAK, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH IN LOMBOK
The most extraordinary beach in Lombok and one of the finest in all of Indonesia, a sweeping two-kilometre arc of white sand framing a perfectly sheltered turquoise bay with gentle surf ideal for beginners. The surrounding headlands are extraordinary. The beach is backed by rice fields and fishing villages with almost no development. Surfboard hire approx 50,000 IDR per hour. Boat: 30 min drive east
AFTERNOON
MAWUN BAY AND TANJUNG AAN PINK SAND BEACH
The extraordinary Mawun Bay, an almost perfectly circular cove of powder-white sand and extraordinary cobalt blue water completely sheltered by green headlands, is one of the most beautiful small beaches in Southeast Asia. Then Tanjung Aan, a double-curved bay where the sand contains fragments of pink coral mixed with white, giving an extraordinary blush colour unique in Indonesia. Both are extraordinary.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Bukit Merese hillside above Tanjung Aan is the finest viewpoint on the south Lombok coast, a 15-minute walk up a grass-covered hill giving extraordinary 360-degree views over Tanjung Aan's pink sand bay below and the extraordinary Ekas Bay to the east. Completely free and almost entirely unvisited. The finest sunset viewpoint on the entire south coast of Lombok.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast, Senggigi Eat well before the drive. The breakfast views over the Lombok Strait from Senggigi are extraordinary. | Lunch: Warung at Selong Belanak Fresh grilled fish and cold coconut water at a simple warung above the extraordinary beach. | Dinner: Ashtari Restaurant, Kuta Outstanding hilltop restaurant above Kuta Lombok with extraordinary views over the south coast bays.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Gili Trawangan, Night 1 Ombak Sunset or Villa Almarik. Beachfront with extraordinary views to Lombok. Approx 80 to 200 USD. Gili Air, Night 2 Gili Air Lagoon Resort or Manta Dive. Quieter than Trawangan. Approx 50 to 150 USD per night. Kuta Lombok, Night 3 Kuta Beach Hotel or Sempiak Villas. Gateway to south coast beaches. Approx 40 to 120 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Snorkel the Gili T north coast at dawn for sea turtles before the day-trippers arrive. Extraordinary.
2. The island hopper boat between Gilis runs all day. No need to book, just turn up at the beach.
3. Selong Belanak south Lombok is the most beautiful beach in Indonesia. Go on a weekday.
4. Hire a bicycle on Gili Air rather than walking. You can circumnavigate the island in 45 minutes.
5. Book fast boat transfers from Bali to Gili T through a reputable operator. Seas can be rough.
6. Sasak weaving villages near Sukarara welcome visitors. Buy direct from the weavers for fair prices.
Total Budget
70 to 325 USD/day