Lombok Travel Tips: Our Experiences & Advice for Your Trip

Is a Vacation on Lombok Worth It?

Absolutely. Lombok is often called the better Bali, and honestly, we think there’s something to that!

Lombok has stunning beaches, towering mountains, incredible waterfalls, and is far less touristy than Bali. The people here are also some of the friendliest we’ve encountered anywhere in Indonesia.

Unfortunately, we can easily imagine that in a few years Lombok will be just as crowded as Bali.

So our advice: go now. Lombok is still an authentic island with plenty to see and genuinely deserted dream beaches.

Also read our tips for the most beautiful sights on Lombok

Getting to Lombok

The easiest way to reach Lombok is by taking the ferry from Bali. Since most international flights route through Denpasar, you’ll likely land on Bali first anyway.

For example, you could kick things off with a road trip around Bali and then continue on to Lombok.

Public ferries run several times a day from Padang Bai on Bali to Lembar on Lombok. They cost only 80,000 IDR (about 5 euros), but the crossing takes four to six hours.

The faster option (3.5 hours) is the speedboat from Padang Bai or Sanur — though it costs about three times as much.

Note: During rainy season especially, boats sometimes don’t run on certain days due to weather. Factor this into your travel plans.

Alternatively, you can fly directly to Lombok. From Denpasar or Jakarta Airport, there are several connections to Lombok International Airport (LOP).

Here you’ll find all the tips on how to get from Bali to Lombok

Can You Explore Lombok Independently?

Yes, exploring Lombok independently is totally doable. You’ll just need to either rent a scooter or get around by taxi or private driver.

Getting Around Lombok Independently

Public transportation on Lombok is virtually nonexistent, so you’ll need to sort your own way around.

The most flexible and affordable option is a scooter. Rentals typically run around 60,000 IDR (about 4 euros) per day.

The main roads are well-maintained and traffic isn’t too heavy (except in Mataram). The side roads, however, can be pretty rough dirt tracks — worth keeping in mind.

If you’d rather stay in one place or aren’t comfortable on a scooter, you can book a private transfer or use Grab or Gojek (apps that work like Uber).

Our tip: Check prices on the Grab or Gojek app first, then ask your accommodation about a transfer. If they quote you more, you can usually negotiate down to the app rate.

Is Lombok Safe for Independent Travelers?

Want to explore Lombok on your own but worried about safety? We can put your mind at ease.

Lombok is a safe destination — there’s really no need to stress about it. We’ll go into more detail on safety a little further down.

Our Itinerary and Experiences on Lombok

We spent two weeks backpacking on Lombok and want to give you a quick look at what our itinerary looked like and where we stayed.

Overall, we had an amazing time — the only thing that got on our nerves was the vendors and taxi drivers at the ports.

Other than that, Lombok ranks right at the top of our list of favorite islands in Indonesia.

Senggigi: 6 Nights

We took the ferry from Bali to Lombok and each grabbed a mototaxi from Lembar harbor to our accommodation, the Sammy Cottages in Senggigi, for 200,000 IDR — which we’d highly recommend, by the way!

Since we could easily reach many of Lombok’s highlights from Senggigi, we stayed six nights and used it as a base for day trips.

Here’s what we got up to:

• Day 1: Arrival in Senggigi
• Day 2: Trip to the natural pools in Sesaot
• Day 3: Day trip to Gili Air
• Day 4: Day trip to Mataram
• Day 5: Relaxing at Nipah Beach
• Day 6: Rest & massage day

Senaru & Rinjani: 3 Nights

For the Rinjani hike, we teamed up with two other backpackers and hired a private driver together from Senggigi to Senaru (400,000 IDR total, just under 25 euros).

We booked the transfer through our accommodation in Senaru, the Ila Homestay — which we’d also really recommend.

In Senaru we stayed two nights and booked the Rinjani volcano hike there too. The third night we spent at the campsite on the volcano itself.

Here’s what we got up to at the Rinjani volcano

• Day 7: Drive to Senaru and a walk around the village
• Day 8: Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile waterfalls
• Day 9–10: Hike to Mount Rinjani

Since we were back in Senaru by around 2 PM on Day 10, we immediately booked a transfer to Kuta (600,000 IDR — 35 euros) and arrived there in the early evening.

Also read our experience report on the Rinjani hike

Kuta: 4 Nights

We spent the last few days of our Lombok trip relaxing in Kuta — specifically at the Villa Homey.

After the Rinjani hike, our muscles were seriously sore — good thing massages on Lombok are so affordable!

Here’s what we got up to in Kuta

• Day 11: Snorkeling at Tampah Beach
• Day 12: Trip to Bukit Merese and Tanjung Aan Beach
• Day 13: Relaxing by the hotel pool
• Day 14: Ferry back to Bali

Where to Stay on Lombok?

The most popular places to stay on Lombok are Kuta, Senggigi, and the Gili Islands.

All of these areas are right on the beach. If you want a few nights in the mountains, we’d point you toward the villages of Senaru and Tetebatu near Mount Rinjani.

In general, there are three types of accommodation to choose from on Lombok:

• Homestay: You stay with a local family. You typically get a simple, spacious double room with a bathroom at a low price — and breakfast is often included too.
• Hostels: Great for meeting people. Especially well-suited for solo travelers, with dorm beds available at very affordable prices.
• Hotels: The most comfortable option. And the good news — you can still find really beautiful hotels at a great price on Lombok.

We’ve put all of our hotel recommendations together in a separate article:

How Expensive Is Lombok?

Lombok is a genuinely affordable destination. Most things are much cheaper than back home — though if you stick to international restaurants and luxury hotels, your budget will disappear faster than you’d expect.

Here’s a rough overview of what things cost on Lombok:

• Basic double room in a homestay: 15 euros
• Nice room in a hotel: 40 euros
• Dinner at an Indonesian restaurant: 4 euros
• Coffee: 2 euros
• Freshly squeezed juice: 1.50 euros
• Scooter rental for one day: 4 euros

We’ve written a dedicated article on travel costs for Bali — the prices are pretty comparable, though most things on Lombok are a little cheaper.

Also read all the tips on travel costs in Bali

The Best Time to Visit Lombok

The best time to visit Lombok is during the dry season from May to October. It rarely rains during this period and the sun shines on most days. That’s why Lombok is a great destination in August, for example.

Since Lombok has a tropical climate, temperatures stay high around 30°C (86°F) year-round. You can also travel during the rainy season (November to April) — most of the time it only rains heavily for a few hours in the afternoon.

That said, December to February is best avoided. Rainfall is heavy during this period and the Rinjani Trek is even closed.

Is Lombok Dangerous?

No — we felt very safe on Lombok. Indonesia in general is a really safe travel destination, and we didn’t hear of anything happening to other tourists on the island either.

As a solo female traveler, you can absolutely visit Lombok.

Walking around towns during the day and at night is fine — though we’d avoid remote or very isolated areas after dark, just as you would anywhere.

As always, keep a close eye on your bags and valuables.

Also be cautious in traffic — the driving style in Indonesia takes some getting used to. That said, we found traffic on Lombok to be nowhere near as hectic as on Bali or Java.

Also read our safety tips for Indonesia

More Travel Tips for Lombok

For information on entry requirements, language, vaccinations, power outlets, and more, check out our guide with the most important travel tips for Indonesia.

Everything covered there applies to Lombok too — and it’s a great read before planning an Indonesia road trip.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lombok