The Best Things to Do in Lombok: 10-day Itinerary

Lombok is Bali’s less visited yet equally beautiful neighbor. Its gorgeous coastline is incredibly varied with white sand beaches, black sand beaches, jagged rocks, hidden coves, and dreamy pools. There are also many waterfalls, rice fields, and hills to explore. Additionally, Lombok is home to Mount Rinjani, the towering volcano with a picturesque caldera lake.

There are MANY things to see- and after many visits spanning a cumulative 2 months on Lombok and the Gilis, I’m sharing the best parts in this 10-day itinerary of Lombok.

How to spend ten days in Lombok:

• Day 1 -2: Kuta
• Day 3: Selong Belanak
• Day 4-5: Central Lombok for waterfalls
• Day 6-7: Mount Rinjani Trek
• Day 8: Sembulan
• Day 9-10: The Gilis

Kuta Lombok: Day 1-2

This small yet developing surfer town is the perfect introduction to Lombok and a great place for solo female travelers in Southeast Asia. It’s easily one of my favorite places to spend time in Indonesia. With its mixture of Western restaurants, boho cafes, and yoga studios, it’s unsurprising that Kuta is often compared to the Bali of twenty years ago. Kuta Lombok is also the perfect jumping-off point for exploring the island’s southern beaches and best surf spots.

Getting There

It takes around an hour to reach Kuta Lombok from the international airport in Mataram. You can take a regular taxi or order a Grab or Gojek to pick you up. Mataram is the only part of Lombok where Grab and Gojek operate and, even then, you may have trouble finding a driver to take you to Kuta.

A journey by metered taxi should cost around Rp90,000-100,000, while a pre-paid taxi at the airport counter costs around Rp200,000. A private pick up by your hotel will cost Rp120,000-Rp150,000.

It’s also possible to take a boat/van combo from Bali or any of the Gili or Nusa islands.

The Best Beaches

These are the beaches that you cannot miss. Most are easily reached by motorbike (alternatively, you can hire a taxi to take you there). You could easily spend a day at each beach, however, you can split the following up into two days if you’re pressed for time:

Pantai Mawun:

This one is famous for its beauty! There are beach chairs, umbrellas, fresh seafood, and coconuts served on the beach.

Pantai Tampah:

This was one of my favorites. Locals clean the beach regularly and don’t allow sellers to bother you while you’re there (which is not the case on Kuta and Mawun beaches where you’ll be asked to buy bracelets constantly). Consequently, it’s the cleanest and most peaceful beach in the area. Motorbike parking costs 10,000 IDR.

Pantai Lancing:

The cover drone image of this section, Lancing has gorgeous water. Right next to Tampah, Lancing is equally peaceful and it even has a swing on the sand! Unfortunately, it’s dirtier, especially in the wet season. Nonetheless, you might as well walk over from Tampah and visit Lancing too.

Bukit Merese: 

This hill is the spot for sunsets near Kuta but I’d suggest going at any time of day. It’s stunning in every direction with bright blue water, an intricate rocky coastline, and palm-tree-lined beaches. There are strands of sand running under the bluffs that you can visit too.

Where to Eat and Drink

• Best Indonesian Food: Warung Ombak (try the vegetarian curry!)
• Best Dinner and Drinks: The Mexican in Town
• Best Instagram-able Cafe: Kenza Cafe & Restaurant
• Best Coffee: The Breakery (amazing coffee and bakery)

For more info on Kuta’s beaches with photos, plus where to eat and do yoga, read my Kuta, Lombok guide.

Selong Belanak: Day 3

Selong Belanak is another beach town located 20 kilometres west of Kuta. Although much smaller and less developed, it’s still worth a visit, particularly if you like surfing. With its gentle waves, Selong Belanak is a popular surf spot for beginners and board rental is available on the beach. Others visit to try to photograph the water buffalo that are (sometimes) herded along the beach. However, this isn’t super common so if you do see them, count yourself lucky!

Top Beaches Around Selong Belanak

Like Kuta Lombok, Selong Belanak is surrounded by picturesque beaches and coves. Pantai Selong Belanak is the most accessible since you can walk there from your accommodation. If you have a scooter or car, be sure to check out these other nearby beaches.

Pantai Semeti and Telawas:

Most southern beaches don’t have a sunset view, but Semeti does! It also has unique lava rock formations that are fun to climb over, explore, and photograph as you wait for the sun to set. The road is terrible- full of rough rocks and steep hills- so you should be confident on a motorbike. It turns to pure mud during rainfall.

Pantai Nambung: 

At high tide, huge waves rush over the rocks at Pantai Nambung to create a gushing waterfall. It’s known as “Air Terjun Pantai Nambung,” which translates to Nambung Beach Waterfall. Just be careful since waves can reach the saltwater pools around Pantai Nambung (these pools are fairly shallow at low tide). Green turtles swim just off-shore.

There were cases of robberies around 2018, but we haven’t heard of any reports recently. You may want to take a local guide for safety anyway, just in case.

Where to Eat and Drink

• Best Restaurant: Surf Kitchen
• Best Western Food and Drinks: Mango Rooftop
• Best Indonesian Food: Warung Corner

Waterfalls of Central and Northern Lombok: Day 4-5

It’s time to head inland to see Lombok’s most famous waterfalls: Benang Stokel, Benang Kelambu, and Tiu Kelep.

Tetebatu: Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Falls

After the beaches of Kuta and Selong Belanak, make your way north to the center of the island, just beneath Mount Rinjani National Park. Central Lombok is full of cascading rice paddies, herds of water buffalos, and tall waterfalls. If you have a motorbike (and the time), I recommend exploring the side roads around Tetebatu to take in these sights. For those of you short on time, head straight to the Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Falls. These waterfalls are 50km from Selong Belanak or Kuta, which is a 1.5 hour to 3 hour drive.

Watch the video for more:

There are four waterfalls in this area, although Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu are the most impressive. They’re the tallest, biggest, and most photogenic. Both are fairly easy to access and don’t require a lot of climbing. The path is either paved, stairs, or dirt. You should plan to spend 2-3 hours here.

Upon arriving, you’re ushered into an office at the start of the trails to pay a fee. This is required. You are also assigned a guide, however, you can decline if you’d rather do the walk yourself. Personally, I opted to go without a guide. The price also changes depending on how many waterfalls you want to see. Four waterfalls cost 125k rupiah per person. A ticket to just Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu costs 90k.

These are the most expensive waterfalls in Lombok. And, despite the negative reviews on Google, it’s not a scam.

Once you’ve paid, proceed down the road past the entrance gates. You soon take an offshoot to the left, which takes you downhill into a long opening in the jungle. Bengang Stokel, a twin set of waterfalls, is at the back.

Next, you take the path that shoots uphill just before the Bengang Stokel twin falls. Walk for 15 minutes or so until Benang Kelambu appears through the trees. The path goes down a series of stairs to the base of the falls.

Benang Kelambu is the most famous waterfall in the area due to the multiple cascades nestled in the green foliage. It’s also huge. There are some stalls next to the path, although these were closed when I went. My understanding is that the place is packed with locals on the weekends (especially Sundays) and after Ramadan. Avoid those times if possible.

I got lucky and had them almost all to myself.

The road to the waterfalls is well-marked. Consult this map for the coordinates (plus all the other places mentioned in this post).

Senaru: Tiu Kelep Waterfall

Next is the waterfall that made me want to come back to Lombok: Tiu Kelep.

Many Rinjani tours include a side-trip to Tiu Kelep. However, if you prefer to go there yourself, it’s easy to find. The path starts in Senaru across from the Rijani Guest House and Restaurant. Your entrance ticket is purchased from the ticket booth at the gate (it costs 20k IDR). There are scammers around that will try to charge you 600k for a guided tour. You do not need a guide.

It’s best to go in the early morning before the crowds arrive. Even though I visited later in the afternoon, I was still able to get some shots without others in them (thanks to clever camera angles).

On the way to Tiu Kelep, you pass a fork in the trail that takes a short detour to a double-tiered waterfall, Sendang Gile. Unfortunately, it’s surrounded by stalls and vendors, which take away from the natural beauty of the falls. You can still get some nice photos though.

The hike to Tiu Kelep is a bit more challenging because you need to walk through streams and over rocks. Nonetheless, there is a clear path and it’s not dangerous, so a guide isn’t necessary. Just watch your step.

Tiu Teja is another waterfall in the area that I wanted to see. Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time because of the long drive up from Kuta to Senaru. If you have the time to stop by, it looks amazing in photos. It’s also one of the items on my map.

If you’d rather not drive yourself from Kuta or Selong Belanak to Senaru, you can hire a driver who will stop by the waterfalls on the way. The cost is usually around 1,000,000 IDR. Ary with Fury Lombok was recommended by a friend. He has a nice roomy SUV. You can contact him here.

Rinjani Volcano Trek: Day 5 -7

I highly recommend prioritizing trekking Rinjani during your time in Lombok. It’s one of my favorite things to do in Indonesia because of the impressive views of Bali, the Gilis, and beyond on a clear day. The trek is so picturesque!

Most treks last for 3 days/2 nights and depart from Senaru or Sembalun. I suggest starting in Senaru and finishing in Sembalun so that you summit Rinjani for sunrise on the final day rather than the second day. It’s the best way to finish it off. The trek also takes you past the caldera lake (pictured above), to hot springs, and along gorgeous scenery.

Rinjani treks are also pretty affordable all things considered. Most packages include a night of accommodation in Senaru, porters, guides, all the gear you need, and food on the trail. It’s best to book in-person on Lombok instead of in-advance online. The price is always negotiable! You can ask anyone from the people working at restaurants in Sembulan, to the staff at your guest house in Senaru, or the guys at the stands in Kuta. Shop around for a price you find agreeable. 

These days, pricing begins at around 3 million IDR for a 3 day/ 2 night tour with a group. However, the cost does vary depending on the quality of the gear, the food, the group size, and whether or not you want camp chairs or a toilet tent.

I recommend Rozak as a guide. I went with him for my Bukit Pergasingan hike (mentioned next) and adored his thoughtfulness and fun-loving personality. You can contact him at [email protected] (feel free to mention me, and that I said to give you a good price 😉 ).

Note: Mount Rinjani treks do not take place during the rainiest months of mid November until the end of April.

Sembulan: Day 8

Bukit Pergasingan and Bukit Selong

If you’re in Lombok during the rainy season but still want to hike, take a look at Bukit Pergasingan. It’s a 2-3 hour hike up a steep hill over the rice paddies out of Sembalun, the town where Rinjani treks usually begin or end.

The town is sleepy and mostly empty throughout the rainy season. It’s a lovely place to stay with friendly locals, who always gave me a thumbs up before saying hello and asking how I was doing. Plus, in the rainy season, you can get this viewpoint all to yourself.

Not here in the rainy season? No worries! The town is still pleasant and the views are still worthwhile. Bear in mind that the town is at a higher elevation and, as a result, it’s quite chilly. You will need a sweater or down jacket for your early morning hike.

I started my hike up to Bukit Pergasingan at 4AM to catch sunrise at the top. The steep dirt trail goes straight up, so much so that you’ll have to use your hands in certain sections. For safety, headlamps are a must. After 1.5 hours and 600 metres of pure elevation gain, you emerge onto a grassy ridge speckled with nights and a perfect view of Mount Rinjani. From here until the treeline (just a few hundred metres further along) has the best view of the volcano, which glows rosy-pink at sunrise.

The trail continues through a small forest until reaching another ridge line. You no longer have an unobstructed view of Mount Rinjani, however, it’s still beautiful. The long grassy ridge line, distant ocean, and multi-colored patchwork of farmlands are quite the sight.

If you don’t like the idea of hiking up in the dark, it’s common to do Bukit Pergasingan as an overnight trek. You can book a guide and tent in town.

Alternatively, head to Bukit Selong’s wooden star for another view:

This ‘hike’ took about 5 minutes and while it was still a cool view, it has nothing on the mountain across from it (pictured above, across from me).

Contact Rozak, mentioned in the Rinjani section, for this one as well. He’s great!

The Gilis: Day 9 – 10

Finally, no visit to Lombok, Indonesia, is complete without stopping by the Gilis – a set of three small islands just off the coast of Lombok.

It’s easy to reach by public ferry from Bangsal and only costs a couple of dollars. The ferries depart frequently. Some leave on a schedule and others leave once full. Buy directly from the ticket counter inside rather than the touts on the street.

Each island has its own charm. Gili Meno is the quietest of the three but still has a range of good accommodation options and tasty restaurants. Gili Trawangan (Gili T) is the undisputed party island with mushroom shakes on offer and that famous swing over the water. Gili Air, with its laid-back atmosphere and charming village, is something in-between. It’s also a great place to get freedive certified.

I’ve spent time on all three. Personally, Gili T felt too much like a bustling amusement park for my tastes. It’s very touristy and developed with many bars, restaurants, and multi-level hotels. Gili Air is perfect in my mind, with its cute cafes, great restaurants, and calmer vibe. I also loved my relaxing time on Gili Meno. I wrote a more in-depth comparison here.

From the Gilis, you can take a fast boat over to Bali to continue your Indonesia adventure.

Where to Eat and Drink

Gili Trawangan

• Best Dinner and Drinks: Persona Lounge Trawangan
• Best Vegetarian Cafe: The Banyan Tree
• Best Brunch: Coffee & Thyme

Gili Air

• Best Warung: Warung Mexicana
• Best Dinner and Drinks: Pituq Cafe
• Best Brunch: JUJU Vegan Cafe
• Best Coffee: Kopi Susu

Gili Meno

• Best Indonesian Food: Tip of the Tongue Warung
• Best Dinner: Simpang 3 Warung
• Best Coffee: Seri Resort & Restaurant

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These are some of the best spots on Lombok, Indonesia. Though there are far more things to see than listed and one could spend months or even years on this island alone, this sampling will give you some of the best that the island has to offer. Although this itinerary is for a (fast-paced 10) days, you could easily take more time, especially on the Gilis.

My list is never-ending since I can’t seem to stay away from this island. Stay tuned, I’ll be adding more!

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