Lombok GiliIslands
5
Day Itinerary •
Indonesia
Five days across Lombok and the Gili Islands lets you explore the full extraordinary breadth of this remarkable region, from the car-free coral shores of Gili Trawangan and the pristine reefs of Gili Air to the extraordinary volcanic interior of Lombok, the sacred Sasak villages of the highlands, the finest south coast beaches in Indonesia and the extraordinary caldera lakes of Mount Rinjani. This route covers the complete Lombok and Gili experience. All three Gili Islands, the Sasak cultural heartland of central Lombok, the extraordinary south coast beaches of Selong Belanak and Tanjung Aan, the Rinjani foothills and waterfalls, the ancient Pura Lingsar temple, and the finest fresh seafood and Sasak cuisine 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 on Gilis, hired car with driver on Lombok mainland
Budget Per Day
Approx 60 to 150 USD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy to moderate, optional Rinjani foothills hiking
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 north reef is the best of the three Gili Islands, with extraordinary staghorn and brain coral formations. Snorkel hire from any beach shack approx 30,000 IDR. 20 min bicycle ride
MIDDAY
CIRCUMNAVIGATE GILI TRAWANGAN BY BICYCLE
The 12km perimeter loop takes in the extraordinary east beach with its sunrise view of Mount Rinjani, the quiet north tip, the traditional fishing village on the west coast, and the lively southwest sunset strip. No motorised vehicles exist on the island. The extraordinary contrast between the wild north coast and the lively beach strip is one of the finest aspects of Gili Trawangan. Bicycle hire approx 50,000 IDR.
AFTERNOON
DIVING OR SUNSET STRIP
Gili Trawangan has some of the finest dive sites in Indonesia. Blue Corner, Shark Point and the Halik wreck dive are all extraordinary. The island's many PADI schools offer introductory dives from approx 500,000 IDR. Non-divers can enjoy the extraordinary southwest beach sunset with a view of Mount Agung in Bali across the Lombok Strait on clear evenings.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Gili Meno, the quietest of the three Gilis, has an underwater sculpture park off its west coast where a circle of human figures covered in coral and sponge sits in 12 metres of clear water. The Nest viewpoint at the island's highest point gives extraordinary views across all three Gilis with Rinjani behind them. The finest deserted island feel of the three, with almost no nightlife.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: East beach warung, Gili T Fresh papaya, coconut pancakes and Lombok coffee watching the sunrise over Mount Rinjani. | Lunch: Kayu Cafe, Gili Trawangan Outstanding fresh fish tacos and smoothie bowls on the main beach strip. | Dinner: Night market, Gili Trawangan Extraordinary fresh grilled lobster and prawns at the beachfront night market. Negotiate price.
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 with regular sea turtle sightings, reef sharks and extraordinary fish diversity. Dawn snorkel trips from local dive operators include equipment for approx 100,000 IDR. The water clarity in the dry season is extraordinary. 30 min walk
MIDDAY
GILI AIR SASAK VILLAGE AND PERIMETER WALK
Gili Air is the most authentic of the three islands, with a large permanent Sasak fishing community on its east side whose traditional boat-building yards, simple mosques and coconut groves are an extraordinary contrast to the tourist side. The 5km perimeter walk is the finest easy island walk in the Gilis. The extraordinary quiet north beach with no development is the finest stretch. 20 min boat
AFTERNOON
BANGSAL HARBOUR TO SENGGIGI
Take the island hopper to Bangsal harbour and drive south along the extraordinary northwest Lombok coast road to Senggigi, passing the extraordinary Pura Batu Bolong sea temple perched on a rocky outcrop above the waves. Senggigi's crescent bay at sunset, with the three Gili Islands silhouetted across the Lombok Strait, is the finest coastal panorama in northwest Lombok.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak are three tiny uninhabited islands off southwest Lombok 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. The finest deserted island experience in the Lombok region and completely off the tourist trail.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Warung Sasak, Gili Air Simple nasi goreng and fresh coconut water at a family warung on the quiet east village side. | Lunch: Scallywags, Gili Air Outstanding beachfront restaurant. Fresh barramundi and extraordinary mango and prawn salad. | Dinner: Cafe Alberto, Senggigi The finest seafood restaurant on the northwest Lombok coast. Grilled local lobster and pasta.
DAY 3
NORTH LOMBOK
MORNING
PURA LINGSAR, THE SACRED SYNCRETIC TEMPLE
The most extraordinary temple in Lombok, a complex where Balinese Hindu and Wektu Telu Islamic traditions are practised side by side in different courtyards of the same sacred site. The lower Hindu courtyard contains an extraordinary holy spring pool where enormous sacred eels are fed hard-boiled eggs as offerings. The extraordinary tolerance embodied in Pura Lingsar is unique in Indonesian religious culture. Entry approx 10,000 IDR. 1 hour drive north
MIDDAY
SENDANG GILE AND TIU KELEP WATERFALLS
The most extraordinary waterfalls in Lombok, reached by a 30-minute trek through extraordinary tropical forest on the lower slopes of Mount Rinjani above Senaru village. Sendang Gile is a powerful 30-metre cascade into an extraordinary pool. The further Tiu Kelep waterfall, reached by crossing the river twice, drops behind a curtain of water into an extraordinary circular plunge pool. Entry approx 20,000 IDR. 1 hour drive south to Tetebatu
AFTERNOON
TETEBATU HIGHLAND VILLAGE
The finest highland village in Lombok, set at 400 metres on the southern slopes of Rinjani with extraordinary views across the rice fields to the sea. The extraordinary Tetebatu rice field walk through traditional Sasak villages, blacksmith workshops and the monkey forest at Joben waterfall is the finest easy walk in Lombok. The evening air in Tetebatu is extraordinarily cool after the coast.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Pusuk Monkey Forest pass on the road from Mataram to Senaru is a 10km stretch of tropical forest where hundreds of long-tailed macaques gather along the roadside. The finest place in Lombok to observe wild macaques at close range. Free. Also the finest viewpoint on the road north, with extraordinary views across the Gili Islands and the Lombok Strait.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast, Senggigi Eat before the drive. The breakfast view across the Lombok Strait from Senggigi is extraordinary. | Lunch: Warung near Sendang Gile Simple Sasak food and fresh coconut at a local warung at the Senaru trailhead. | Dinner: Tetebatu Palace restaurant Outstanding local Sasak dishes in the highland village. Fresh river fish, local vegetables and rice.
DAY 4
CENTRAL LOMBOK
MORNING
SUKARARA TRADITIONAL WEAVING VILLAGE
The finest Sasak weaving village in Lombok, where women produce extraordinary songket and ikat cloth on backstrap looms using techniques passed through generations. The intricate gold-thread songket incorporating traditional Lombok motifs takes weeks to produce. The finished cloths are among the finest handmade textiles in eastern Indonesia. Buy direct from the weavers for fair prices. Free entry. 30 min drive
MIDDAY
BANYUMULEK POTTERY VILLAGE AND PENUJAK
The extraordinary pottery village of Banyumulek, one of three traditional Lombok pottery centres producing the distinctive unglazed terracotta pots with extraordinary woven rattan and corn-husk decoration that have made Lombok ceramics famous across Indonesia. Watch the women shape pots by hand without a wheel using a paddle-and-anvil technique unchanged for centuries. Penujak village nearby produces the finest large storage pots. Free. 1 hour drive south
AFTERNOON
KUTA LOMBOK AND COASTAL EXPLORATION
The small surf town of Kuta Lombok, infinitely quieter than its Balinese namesake, with an extraordinary sweep of beach and bay framed by dramatic headlands. Explore the extraordinary local fish market at the old harbour where outrigger fishing boats bring in fresh catch at dusk. The extraordinary Bukit Merese hill above Tanjung Aan is 20 minutes away and the finest viewpoint on the entire south coast.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Desa Sade traditional Sasak village near Rembitan is one of the finest intact traditional villages in Indonesia, a walled settlement of extraordinary alang-alang thatched houses where the floors are maintained with a mixture of buffalo dung and water to keep insects away. Still genuinely inhabited by traditional Sasak families. Entry by donation. One of the most authentic villages in Lombok.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Tetebatu warung Extraordinary highland breakfast with fresh Lombok coffee and local black rice porridge. | Lunch: Warung in Banyumulek Simple Sasak lunch near the pottery village. Local ayam taliwang grilled chicken is extraordinary. | Dinner: Ashtari Restaurant, Kuta Outstanding hilltop restaurant above Kuta Lombok with extraordinary views over the south coast.
DAY 5
SOUTH LOMBOK
MORNING
SELONG BELANAK, THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACH
The most extraordinary beach in Lombok, a sweeping two-kilometre arc of white sand framing a perfectly sheltered turquoise bay with gentle surf ideal for beginners. The surrounding green headlands are extraordinary. The beach is backed by rice fields and fishing villages with almost no development. Go on a weekday for an extraordinary uncrowded experience. Surfboard hire approx 50,000 IDR per hour. 30 min drive east
MIDDAY
MAWUN BAY
The most extraordinary small beach cove in Lombok, an almost perfectly circular bay of powder-white sand and cobalt blue water completely sheltered by dramatic green headlands. The water is extraordinary for swimming and snorkelling off the rocky headland. Almost never crowded. One of the finest hidden beaches in all of Indonesia. No entrance fee. 20 min drive east
AFTERNOON
TANJUNG AAN AND BUKIT MERESE VIEWPOINT
The extraordinary double-curved bay of Tanjung Aan where the sand is mixed with tiny pink coral fragments giving an extraordinary blush colour unique in Indonesia. The Bukit Merese hill above the bay, a 15-minute walk, gives the finest 360-degree view on the entire south Lombok coast, across Tanjung Aan below and Ekas Bay to the east. Completely free and almost entirely unvisited. The finest viewpoint in Lombok.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The extraordinary Ekas Bay on the southeast Lombok coast is the finest undiscovered surfing and fishing destination in eastern Indonesia, a vast sheltered bay with extraordinary right-hand surf breaks, a traditional Sasak fishing village and almost no tourists. The extraordinary Pearl Farm Bay on the eastern headland produces Lombok's finest south sea pearls. Hire an ojek from Kuta Lombok for the extraordinary 45-minute ride through the hills.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Hotel breakfast, Kuta Lombok Eat before driving south. The morning light on the Kuta Lombok bay is extraordinary. | Lunch: Warung at Selong Belanak Fresh grilled fish and cold coconut at a simple warung above the extraordinary beach. | Dinner: El Bazar, Kuta Lombok Outstanding Mediterranean and local seafood menu. Finest dinner restaurant on the south coast.
Where To Stay
Gili Islands, Nights 1 to 2 Ombak Sunset (Gili T) or Gili Air Lagoon Resort. Approx 50 to 200 USD per night. Tetebatu, Night 3 to 4 Tetebatu Palace or Green Orry Inn. Rice field views, cool highland air. Approx 30 to 80 USD. Kuta Lombok, Night 5 Kuta Beach Hotel or Sempiak Villas. South coast base. Approx 40 to 120 USD per night.
Top Tips
1. Snorkel Gili T north coast at dawn for sea turtles before the day-trip boats arrive from Bali.
2. Tetebatu highland village is the finest base for Rinjani foothills walks. Stay at least one night.
3. Selong Belanak on a weekday is extraordinary. Avoid weekends when domestic tourists arrive.
4. The Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls below Rinjani are the finest in Lombok. Go early.
5. Buy ikat and songket cloth direct from the weavers in Sukarara for fair prices and no middleman.
6. The fast boat from Bali to Gili T takes 2 hours. Book a reputable operator and check the weather.
Total Budget
60 to 325 USD/day