13 Best Things to Do in Lombok, Indonesia

Are you looking for the top things to do in Lombok? Lombok is one of the best places to visit in Indonesia, and since it’s only a 40-minute flight from Bali, it’s easy to get there.

Come to Lombok and visit the epic beaches, go snorkeling or surfing, see the stunning waterfalls, and if you’re looking for an adventurous activity, hike the famous hiking trails.

We loved exploring the island because it’s much calmer and less crowded than Bali.

If you are wondering what to see on the island, here are the best things to do in Lombok.

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Best Time to Visit Lombok

Indonesia has two seasons: a dry season and a rainy season.

Lombok is a popular destination all year round! But the best time to visit Lombok is during the dry season, from May to October.

August is the driest month! The weather is sunny and dry during these months, perfect for swimming, hiking, and exploring the island.

The busiest time to visit Lombok is between July and August.

The island has a tropical climate with high humidity, and the average temperature is 28°C all year round.

It’s good to know that during the rainy season (from November to April) or when the sea conditions are bad, the boat schedules can change and be delayed a lot, so plan your trip to Lombok!

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In high season, we strongly recommend booking accommodation, ferry tickets, and tours in advance!

Recommended post → Ultimate Lombok Itinerary

How to Get to Lombok

Lombok is an island located in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia.

Getting to Lombok may seem difficult, but depending on your time and budget, there are several ways to get there. You can easily get there from Bali by fast boat, slow ferry, or plane.

The fast ferry or plane is the most comfortable and quickest way to get from Bali to Lombok.

We have a detailed post on how to get to Lombok from Bali with all the information you need.

How to Get Around Lombok

Getting around Lombok is easy. Unlike Nusa Penida, there are good paved roads here!

The best ways to get around Lombok are to rent a scooter or hire a private driver.

We rented a motorbike and explored the island at our own pace. Scooter rental starts from 65,000 IDR (4,35 USD) per day, but we don’t recommend paying more than 75,000 IDR (5 USD). If you rent a scooter for several days, ask for a discount!

Are you looking for affordable travel insurance for your upcoming holiday or for digital nomads? We always choose SafetyWing for our travels, which covers people all over the world while they are away from home.

Best things to do in Lombok

1. Chill Out on the Best Beaches

One of the best things to do in Lombok is to visit the stunning beaches. Most beaches are free to visit!

Kuta, Senggigi, and the Gili Islands are popular beach destinations in Lombok, with beautiful white sandy beaches, palm trees, crystal clear turquoise waters, and many surf and snorkel spots.

The best way to visit the beaches is to rent a scooter. Alternatively, hire a private driver!

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If you have a drone, bring it with you because the views from above are stunningly beautiful.

We’ve put together a list of the most beautiful beaches in Lombok.

2. Take a Mount Rinjani Tour

Are you looking for an unforgettable adventure on your 5-day Lombok itinerary? Mount Rinjani is a popular and challenging hike.

At 3726 meters, Mount Rinjani is one of the highest peaks in Indonesia, where you can do an epic crater rim hike.

Depending on your time, fitness level, and budget, you can choose a 1 night or multi-day Mount Rinjani hike.

The most popular option if you’re limited on time is a 2-day, 1-night trek, but if you want to get the most out of your experience, we recommend booking a 3-day, 2-night hike.

The tour price includes meals and drinks, a trekking guide, a porter, and camping equipment. We recommend booking your trek online through GetYourGuide.

Mount Rinjani National Park entrance fee is 150,000 IDR (10 USD) /day/person.

Because this is one of the most popular things to do in Lombok, we don’t recommend skipping it. But the Mount Rinjani hike is difficult and only recommended for those who are in good physical condition.

Good to know
Due to heavy rains, Mount Rinjani is closed from mid-January to March.

Keep reading → Senaru Guide

3. Visit the Gili Islands

Visiting the Gili Islands is one of the best things to do in Lombok, so don’t miss it. The Gili Islands consist of three small islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air) located off the northwest coast of Lombok, Indonesia.

In our opinion, each Gili island is unique and well worth a visit! It only depends on your preferences which island is ideal for you.

The Gili Islands are the perfect escape from Bali for snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts. Its tropical white sandy, palm tree-covered beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters are the best places for beach lovers.

You can take an epic glass-bottom boat trip around the islands, snorkel with turtles, and see the underwater sculptures of Gili Meno.

Which is the Best Gili Island?

Gili Trawangan: Gili Trawangan is the most popular and largest of the three islands. “Gili T” is known as the party island. Most accommodations and restaurants are there.
Gili Meno: Gili Meno is the smallest and quietest island, perfect for a romantic holiday. Most people take a day trip to the underwater statues of Gili Meno.
Gili Air: Gili Air is a mix of the two islands, with a relaxed atmosphere, beaches, fantastic accommodations, and great bars. It was our favorite Gili Island!

Good to know
The Gili Islands are car-free, and as there are no cars, you can only get around on foot or by bicycle, electric scooter, and horse-drawn carriages.

If you have limited time in Lombok, you can easily take a day tour from Senggigi to the Gili Islands and explore the most popular snorkel spots. We recommend booking through Viator.

See also → What to Do in Gili Air

4. Visit Tiu Kelep & Sendang Gile Waterfall

One of the best things to do in Lombok is to visit the Tiu Kelep Waterfall. Senaru is the best base for visiting the waterfall. But you can take a day trip from Senggigi, Mataram, or Sembalun. We recommend booking your epic waterfall tour via Viator.

Once you arrive at the waterfall, buy your entrance ticket and start your hike on the marked trail. You can walk down the concrete steps from the entrance to the first waterfall.

Sendang Gile is a beautiful 30-meter-high two-tiered waterfall that takes only 10-15 minutes to reach.

Tiu Kelep is one of the most famous waterfalls in Indonesia, so don’t miss it on your Lombok Itinerary. From Sendang Gile Waterfall, head back towards the entrance and turn left at the sign for Tiu Kelep Waterfall.

The first part of the hike is easy, with steps and then crossing a bridge. After that, the waterfall hike becomes more exciting, leading through a lush tropical jungle, muddy/dirt trails, and shallow rivers.

From Sendang Gile Waterfall, it takes about 40-50 minutes to reach Tiu Kelep Waterfall.

Read the full post → Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfall

5. Hike to Pergasingan Hill

For hiking enthusiasts, one of the best things to do in Lombok is to hike up Pergasingan Hill. Take a day trip from Senaru or visit Sembalun and enjoy the epic scenery at Pergasingan Hill.

The distance between Senaru and Sembalun is 40-50 minutes by motorbike. Pergasingan Hill is a popular hiking and camping spot, so it’s worth spending a night there.

If you don’t want to do the Pergasingan Hill hike independently, we recommend booking your trek online through Viator. You can book a guided day hike or an overnight camping adventure.

The tour price includes hotel pick-ups and drop-offs, transport, water, an experienced mountain guide, and all fees & taxes. If you choose the camping option, the tour price includes full board meals and camping equipment (tent, sleeping bags, sleeping mat).

The peak of Pergasingan Hill is 1750 meters above sea level, so you have to climb about 600 meters altitude.

The hike uphill takes about 1.5-2 hours, depending on how many breaks you take.

It’s a steep hike but well worth the effort when you see the magnificent views of Mount Rinjani volcano, green mountain peaks, and colorful agricultural fields below.

Recommended post → How to Hike Pergasingan Hill

6. Day Trip to Benang Stokel & Benang Kelambu Waterfall

Are you looking for more things to do in Lombok? Indonesia is home to many magical waterfalls, which makes Lombok one of the best destinations for chasing waterfalls.

Benang Kelambu is one of the best waterfalls in Lombok and is not to be missed. A magnificent wall of vines with cascades is one of the most beautiful scenery we have seen in Indonesia.

The best way to visit Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Waterfall is to join a day trip from Senggigi, Mataram, or Kuta.

Book your waterfall tour through Viator.

Alternatively, you can get there by renting a motorbike or hiring a driver. It takes about 1.5 hours to reach the waterfalls from Senggigi and Kuta.

Once you arrive, buy your entrance ticket and visit the waterfalls. You can get to Benang Kelambu Waterfall by hiking or taking a local motorbike taxi.

Read the full post → Benang Kelambu Waterfall Guide

Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Waterfall

7. Go Surfing

Are you a surf lover? Whether you are a beginner, intermediate, or advanced surfer, Indonesia offers the perfect beaches for enjoying the waves or taking surf lessons.

Lombok is a popular surf destination, so surfing is one of the best things to do on the island.

Best surf spots in Kuta Lombok

Pantai Tanjung Aan is a spacious beach with crystal clear waters and untouched sand. You can easily spend a relaxing day here swimming, surfing, and lounging on the sunbeds.

Selong Belanak Beach is a perfect place for relaxing, swimming, and for beginner surfers. You can rent surfboards, take surf lessons, and eat delicious local food in the warungs.

Pantai Mawi is one of the best surfing beaches in Kuta, recommended for intermediate and advanced surfers. You can get to Mawi Beach in approximately 45-60 minutes. If you turn off the main road, the road conditions will be bad (the path is unpaved and very bumpy.)

Recommended post → Kuta Guide

8. Motorbike Around the Senggigi Coastline

Senggigi is a popular beach destination with beautiful white sandy beaches, palm trees, crystal clear turquoise waters, and many beach resorts.

One of the best things to do in Lombok is to rent a scooter and discover the Senggigi Coastline and beaches on your own. This is the best way to find hidden gems, the best restaurants, or meet the locals.

Especially around Senggigi, you will love the picturesque scenery and incredible views while driving. As there are many fantastic photo spots along the way, allow more time to get from one place to another!

In Senggigi, two beaches you should not miss: Nipah Beach and Pandanan Beach. Trust us, you will not be disappointed by their beauty.

Good to know
We started our Lombok Island Itinerary in Senggigi, so we rented a motorbike here.

9. Visit Pink Beach, Lombok

Are you looking for unique things to do in Lombok? Although there are many Pink beaches in the world, one of the most popular is near Kuta.

It is about a 1.5-2 hour drive from Kuta, but the best way to reach the Pink Beach is to join a day trip. Book Lombok Pink Beach tour through Viator.

On the guided tour, you can visit Pink Beach 1&2, snorkel at Gili Petelu, swim at Pulau Pasir (sandbar), and enjoy the panoramic views at Tanjung Ringgit.

Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit it, but if you have time, don’t skip it on your Lombok Itinerary.

10. See Bukit Selong Rice Field Viewpoint

Are you looking for the best things to do near Senaru, Lombok? From Senaru, the journey takes just 40-50 minutes to the Bukit Selong Rice Field Viewpoint.

This star-shaped viewpoint offers fantastic photo opportunities, with colorful agricultural fields below and green hills in the background. The best time to visit is at sunrise or sunset!

You can easily visit the Bukit Selong Viewpoint before or after your Pergasingan Hill hike. It takes just 10 minutes by motorbike from the Pergasingan Hill parking lot.

The entrance fee to Bukit Selong Rice Field Viewpoint is 10,000 IDR (0,65 USD) per person and 5,000 IDR (0,35 USD) for parking.

It’s just a 20-minute hike from the parking lot to the beautiful viewpoint, so don’t miss it.

See also → What to do in Senaru

11. Island Hopping Tour and Snorkeling in the Secret Gili Islands

Are you looking for less crowded things to do in Lombok? On the Secret Gilis tour, you can visit the Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, and Gili Kedis. You can easily take a day trip from Senggigi and Mataram.

The first secret Gili island, Gili Nanggu, is just a 15-minute boat ride away. It is a small island but the perfect place to snorkel along the coral and enjoy the marine life.

Then Gili Sudak is the next stop, where you can walk around the island and have a delicious lunch.

The last stop on the Secret Gilis day trip is the smallest island, the Gili Kedis. During your Secret Gilis tour, you can take epic drone photos, snorkel and relax.

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For the best experience, book your tour with Viator.

12. Chill Out at a Beach Resort

One of the best things to do in Lombok is to relax at a beach resort! Senggigi is the perfect place for a romantic holiday and for families or those who want to escape the hustle and bustle of Bali.

Senggigi has a wide range of beach resorts available for all budgets. By the pools, you can chill out, enjoy sunbathing, and drink delicious cocktails or cold coconuts at the beach clubs.

We stayed at Holiday Resort Lombok and loved it.

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We also recommend Katamaran Hotel & Resort and Sheraton Senggigi Beach Resort.

13. Enjoy the Sunset at Bukit Merese

Are you looking for one of the best places to visit in Lombok? Bukit Merese or Merese Hill is the most popular sunset spot in Kuta.

Bukit Merese is located about 20 minutes drive from Kuta near Tanjung Aan Beach. We recommend arriving before 5 PM to catch the beautiful sunset.

The entrance fee to Bukit Merese is 10,000 IDR (0,65 USD) per person, and parking is free.

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Take care of your valuables, as there are many monkeys here!

Where to Stay in Lombok

We hope our list of the best things to do in Lombok will help you plan your next trip to Indonesia. If you have any questions or thoughts, let us know in the comments below.

Travel Resources

Hotels – Booking.com
Car Rentals – Discover Cars
Flights – Skyscanner
Travel Insurance – SafetyWing
Tours & Attractions – GetYourGuide
Bus/Ferry/Transfer – 12Go

13 Best Things to Do in Lombok, Indonesia