16 BEST Things to Do in Lombok (2024)

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Just a few of my favorite Lombok activities coming at ya’, from all the way down South for your travels in Kuta to the volcanic jungles in the North.

	THE BEST THINGS TO DO IN LOMBOK
THE MOST ADVENTUROUS THING TO DO IN LOMBOK	Hike Mt. Rinjani Summit an active volcano with stunning views See the iconic crater lake up close Best during dry season with guided tours	VIEW ON KLOOK
THE MOST SCENIC THING TO DO IN LOMBOK	Check out Bukit Selong Admire patchwork rice fields from a hilltop Escape to peaceful northern Lombok Scenic drive through lush landscapes	VIEW ON KLOOK
THE MOST LOCAL THING TO DO IN LOMBOK	Stay at a Local Homestay Experience local culture and family life Affordable, comfortable lodging Support the community and enjoy the quiet	CHECK BEST PRICE

1. Hike Mt. Rinjani

It doesn’t quite feel right to start off with anything else so let’s dive in with the very best thing to do in Lombok: hike Mt. Rinjani. The massive volcano towers over the northern portion of the island and stands at an impressive 12,224 ft. 

To ascend this active volcano and see the iconic crater lake, you’ll have to arrange a tour with one of the many guides in the Senaru area. Just keep in mind that the route to the summit is closed during the rainy season (roughly November- April) though you may still be able to make it up to one of the crater rims year-round. 

2. Go to the Bukit Selong rice fields viewpoint

While staying in Lombok way up north in a part of the island that felt like a jungle dreamland, is perhaps the very best rice field I’ve ever seen.

Most visitors to the island stay down south, or only head up north on a waterfall day trip, but trust me: that is a MISTAKE. The north of Lombok made me feel like I was in a truly remote place – with hardly any bikes or cars around, the drive is an activity in and of itself.

The most iconic rice field view in the area is no doubt found at Bukit Selong – an ocean of green fields as far as the eye can see. As they’re all different colors, they give off a patchwork vibe if you get what I mean. It’s truly stunning from the lookout spot, which is literally a wooden star!

3. Swim in the Tiu Kelep Waterfall

As popular as it is, the Tiu Kelep waterfall was one of the highlights of my Lombok itinerary, I mean it’s deff not every day you can see multiple cascades all falling into the same swimmable pool!

This Senaru-based natural wonder of the island is accessible with an easy 20-minute hike. But like many things on Bali and Lombok, this place is poppin’. So if you want it all to yourself, you’ll have to get there early – and stay in town to do so.

4. See the Sendang Gile waterfall

On your way to Tiu Kelep, if you keep going down the stairs instead of taking a right turn you’ll see another (equally stunning) waterfall that’s only about a five-minute walk from the ticket area.

I hit up Sendang Gile first and managed to catch it right as the sun was coming out after a rain storm – needless to say it was surreal!

While you won’t be able to swim, you can still get a bit wet in the cascade. It also seemed to be a bit less busy than Tiu Kelep when I went in the afternoon, but as always a super early morning plan is the best way to beat crowds. 

5. Play in the waves at Mawun Beach

This was no doubt my favorite beach in Lombok – I loved it so much that we came back nearly every day for a week! While other beaches might be more famous, Mawun actually had waves right off the shore… not the odd tide pool area that you often find.

Mawun has a few warungs but other than that is pretty undeveloped, which means peace and good vibes all around. I even saw a few surfers heading farther out from shore, though it certainly isn’t a spot for true beginners. You can also rent basic beach chairs and umbrellas for 50,000 IDR.

The best time to visit Lombok for beaches is during the dry season from April – September. The beaches are dazzling, the sun is shining and the vibes are high.

6. Stay at a local homestay

One of my favorite accommodations of my entire Indo trip was a simple but comfy family homestay in Senaru, a quiet village in North Lombok. The region is cooler than anywhere else, to the point that a standing fan was more than sufficient in sticky March.

But beyond just being cheap (think $10/night), staying in a homestay allows you to connect with locals and their culture like no other. This was no doubt a highlight of my time on the island – and really feels so different than a hotel or hostel.

There are also more “guesthouse-style” homestays you can check out that are still around $25/night or less – I loved Senaru Garden Homestay up north – it’s owned by lovely local family!

7. Go on a long drive along the southern coast

The beaches you’re about to discover on this island are going to blow your mind in the best way possible. Think mini, forested mountains rising up over every stretch of sand, and seemingly deserted places to surf or swim. 

…All but a relaxing drive from your Lombok hostel.

The southern coast of Lombok heading north is straight up STUNNING – lush greenery, villages, rice fields and of course, dozens of beaches can be found for hours on end. And even the most popular of them (Selong Belanak) still isn’t nearly as crowded as beaches in Bali.

8. Go on a tour of the Secret Gilis

You must have heard of the “famous” Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Air, and Gili Meno)… but what about the secret Gilis? 

You heard me right – there are even MORE Gilis near Lombok, and you can even take a day tour to reach them. 

Off the southwest coast of the island is where you’ll find Gili Nangu, Gili Kedis, Gili Sudak, Gili Tampong, and more. Though a word of warning: Gili Nanggu is sadly pretty trash-filled these days. Particularly if you want to spend a night or two on one of these islands, avoid it!

9. Learn to surf at Selong Belanak Beach

One of the best things to do in Lombok is to learn how to surf, and you won’t find a better beginner spot than Selong Belanak Beach, some 20km west of Kuta. 

Here the jagged emerald cliffs corner each end of the long, white sand beach where dozens of local surf shops can help you get up on a board. With plenty of warungs around, you can also just spend a day on your beach chair (50k IDR rent) with a coconut in hand and not a care in the world.

The best way to catch your first wave is by hiring a surf instructor from one of the many options on the beach – you can expect to pay around 300,000 IDR for a private lesson. 

10. Catch a sunset at Bukit Merese Hill

The sunset spot of the island is on a massive green hill situated in between two beaches: one of them is the famous Tanjung Aan that’s on every Lombok itinerary.

I came here on my first night in Lombok, and needless to say, the vibes and views did NOT disappoint. 

Do note though that this spot (understandably) gets pretty hectic, especially in high season. So if you’re looking for some solo time, come up during the day or for sunrise!

11. Take it easy at Tampah the cleanest beach

One sad thing about Lombok is that, unfortunately, many of its sublime beaches are riddled with trash, both in and out of the water.

So make sure you’re a responsible traveler – especially when you visit Tampah, one of my favorite beaches of my entire trip and truly the cleanest one. Unlike other locales, locals living around Tampah make an effort to clean up trash daily, and they don’t allow “bracelet sellers,” which are common to see in the region.

Tampah is super quiet, and with only two simple warungs (and beach chairs), it seems to attract travelers looking for a chilled-out beach day. There are even snorkel rentals and while I didn’t do it myself, I’ve heard that people have even seen turtles.

The geographical location also ensures an EPIC sunset… maybe even the best ever in my case!

12. Don’t miss out on Gili Meno

This isn’t technically on Lombok… but it’s only 20 minutes away by slow boat and trust and believe this island is worth your time. I ended up on Gili M spontaneously, and it led to the best snorkeling experience of my entire life.

I also stayed at the super whacky hostel that might have had one of the most unique designs I’ve ever seen while traveling.

In the span of just one hour, we saw SEVEN turtles and a ton of super unique valleys of coral. While the island is branded as a “honeymoon” spot, it’s NOT! It’s quiet, peaceful, and free from the perils of mass tourism, but anyone from solo travelers to families will enjoy it. 

Travel Tip: The best snorkeling spot is over near the Easy Warung, which also serves up some pretty great nasi goreng and smoothies 🙂

13. Relax at Senggigi’s Nipah Beach

Senggigi used to be the tourist capital of Lombok before it was moved to Kuta, and once you see this beach I think you’ll understand why this part of the island is so special and underrated. 

This tropical paradise has all the usual suspects: white sand, crystal clear blue-ish water, and a ton of palm trees. What makes it even better is that compared to most places in Lombok, it’s pretty quiet and peaceful, there’s no entrance fee, and parking is FREE! 

Bring along your snorkel, or just play in the (small) waves or relax on the sand. If you come to Senniggi, it should be for Nipah 🙂 

14. Chillax at Tanjung Aan

One of the most popular things to do in Lombok is to visit this stunning little bay of a beach. Tanjung Aan is situated in a cove, which makes a whole lot of it perfect for relaxing in the bright blue water. 

You’ll find a few warungs to set up at, where you can get everything from Indo classics to cocktails and Bintangs too. At first look, you might not think there’s much of a surf vibe here, but local boats can take you out farther where some small but satisfying waves do roll in. 

15. Explore Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Waterfalls

Lombok has no lack of majestic falls, and these two should definitely be added to your itinerary’s shortlist. Situated in the Benag Stokel park southwest of Mt. Rinjani, these two hidden waterfalls are just about 40 minutes apart.

You can even swim in Benang Kelambu, which makes their setup pretty similar to Tiu Kelep and Sedang Gile. Most travelers will be able to reach the falls easily on their own, but guides run from 200-500k IDR depending on where you’re starting from.

16. Eat at one of the amazing cafes

Kuta is a hub of trendy cafes and coworking spaces for digital nomads to get their grind on. I was constantly blown away by the quality of the food you can get, and after a week I already had my go-to spot.

Definitely spice it up and try out a few of these Lombok cafes while you’re in town:

• Bush Radio (the best smoothie bowls on the island!)
• Kenza
• Munchies
• Gecko

Let me spill the tea on my personal favorite places to stay on each end of the island:

North Lombok

Jungle, volcanic paradise.

Senaru Garden Homestay

I spent a few nights here while staying in Lombok and it was the perfect family-run place with all the volcanic jungle vibes you could imagine. The beds are incredibly comfy and Adi, the man who runs it with his wife and kids is a pleasure to chat with. They also have a kitchen on-site for cheap local meals, and can arrange any Mt. Rinjani trekking plans for ya.

South Lombok

10/10 beaches and cozy cafes.

Yuli’s Homestay

I absolutely LOVED staying here while I was traveling in Kuta. It’s run by a local woman (Yuli) and your room is basically a little bungalow. But what I truly sets it apart is the fact that it had not just one but three swimming pools – for a budget traveler price! They also have a communal kitchen area where you can cook or keep things cold in the refrigerator. While it’s not on the beach, they rent out motorcycles and helmets to help you get to them!

Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance for Lombok

I actually had to use my travel insurance while traveling in Lombok and it saved me $250! Don’t forget to grab some.

ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.

They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.

SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!

Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.

A few commonly asked questions about the best Lombok activities…

Lombok is such a special little island. Okay well, it isn’t THAT little, but you get what I mean!

From untouched, emerald green rice fields in the north to some of the most iconic beaches in Southeast Asia in the south, I promise you you’re going to be very happy you made time for this island on your Indonesia trip!

One of the things I loved most about Lombok is how many ways there were to get out into nature: so many empty stretches of sand, hidden waterfalls, and even secret isles off the coast to explore.

I hope you end up enjoying it as much as I do, and that you now have a bit more of an idea of just how many things to do in Lombok there really are 🙂

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