Exploring Lombok

How to get there?

There are a few different ways to get to Lombok from Bali. You can fly and it might be the fastest and cheapest option for you. However, we personally decided to avoid flying for such a short distance for environmental reasons. That being said, the choice is up to you!

Another way to go to Lombok is by boat, either ferry or speedboat. The ferry is cheaper but I’ve heard some bad reviews about it. I can’t say much as we picked the fast boat option. Really do your research before booking your tickets.

One important thing to keep in mind is your itinerary. For example, we wanted to go to the Gilis before going to Lombok and it made sense for us to go to Lombok by boat directly from Gili Islands. We booked a back and forth ticket and that was easier for us. However, since we were staying in the South of Lombok and we arrived in Bangsal which is North, that meant we had to book a driver as well. Maybe the most efficient way to do it would have been to fly back from Kuta Lombok to Bali.

Where to stay?

Mana Retreat 

We stayed 2 nights in Mana Retreat and loved it. They offer yoga classes three times a day, delicious breakfast with vegan options and even a cinema night every evening. You can also organise surf classes with the hotel. Finally the resort has two pools and it’s all very nicely designed. The rooms are very cute and everything is clean. Mana Retreat is located close to the center of Kuta and we rented a scooter to go out to eat and drive to the beaches with are about 20-30 minutes drive from the hotel. We loved our time there and would highly recommend anyone to go there, especially if you are travelling on a budget but still want some comfort.

Mana Retreat Lombok

Villa Strata

Villa Strata was by far the highlight of our trip in Indonesia and is definitely more on the luxurious side. The house is located on top of a hill in Gerupuk, a small surfer village, 25min away from Kuta. The villa has a unique modern design and can accommodate up to 15 guests and includes a staff team on site 24/7 to make sure you have everything you need. There is a private infinity pool with a beautiful view of Tanjung Aan, one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. This place is absolutely gorgeous and we both fell in love with it. Highly recommend especially if you travel with a group of friends or big family.

Feel free to use this link to get 52€ off your upcoming Airbnb reservation.

Villa Strata

What to see

We stayed a total of 4 nights in the South of Lombok and we could have stayed longer, but if you don’t have much time, this is still enough for you to explore some of the best beaches and enjoy the area. However, if you’d like to visit the center of the island and the Rinjani volcano, I’d recommend you stay at least for a week in Lombok. We didn’t have the time this year but whenever we get the chance to go back to Indonesia, I will make sure to spend more time in Lombok to see what the island has to offer.

Selong Belanak

This is a pretty beach 30 minutes drive West of Kuta, Lombok. It’s especially great for beginners who want to learn how to surf. We rented beach beds along with a surf board for the day for less than 7USD. It is definitely more crowded than the two other beaches mentioned below.

Selong Belanak

Mawun Beach

This one is wild and beautiful. A lot of locals are fishing or catching crabs there and it’s relatively small compared to Selong Belanak and Tanjung Aan. It’s surrounded by hills and the water was rather clean. However, one thing David and I disliked was the kids who’d keep coming to us to sell us bracelets despite the fact that we had politely refused earlier. We couldn’t lay down and read a book for 5 minutes in a row without being interrupted and that was a bummer.

Tanjung Aan

Tanjung Aan is located East of Kuta and it was our favorite of all three. The sand is white and the water is clean. There was very little trash on the beach as well which was nice. It was relatively quiet and the little restaurants by the beach were very lovely. High recommend this one!

Villa Strata infinity pool, view on Tanjung Aan