Lombok, the island immediately east of Bali across the deep Lombok Strait, is a little smaller than its neighbor, at about 4,500 km² (1,750 sq miles), but feels a world apart: less developed, more rural and mostly Muslim, home to the Sasak people, with mosques and rice fields where Bali has temples. Its north is dominated by Mount Rinjani, at 3,726 m (12,224 ft) Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, with a turquoise crater lake and a smoking cone inside; its south coast is a string of white-sand bays and surf breaks around Kuta Lombok and the Mandalika special economic zone, home to a MotoGP circuit. Waterfalls, weaving villages and the three Gili Islands off the northwest coast round out the island. The dry season, from about May to October, is the time for beaches, surfing and Rinjani, though in 2026 the national park has been open only on a limited basis since September because of fire risk.
Right now in Lombok (Mataram)
- Wed 23–33°C 74–92°F Mostly clear
- Thu 23–31°C 73–87°F 2 mm Showers
- Fri 24–32°C 75–89°F 1 mm Partly cloudy
Weather: MET Norway (CC BY 4.0) · Sea temperature: NOAA CoastWatch
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Lombok at a glance
- Best for: volcano trekking, quiet beaches, surfing, waterfalls, Sasak culture and an easy hop to the Gili Islands.
- How long: 4–5 days for the south coast and waterfalls; 7–10 with Rinjani and the Gilis.
- Best time: May to October, the dry season; Rinjani’s trails close every year from January to March.
- Getting there: Lombok International Airport (LOP), near Praya in the south, has flights from Bali, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur; fast boats and car ferries cross from Bali.
- Getting around: a car with driver or a scooter for experienced riders; Grab works in Mataram and some resort areas.
- Good to know: Lombok is conservative; dress modestly away from the beach, especially in villages and mosques.
- Before you go: visas, the arrival card, money and general safety are in our Indonesia travel guide; see also our Gili Islands and Bali guides.
Lombok’s areas: where things are
Lombok measures about 80 km (50 miles) from west to east and north to south. The airport is in the south center, Mataram and Senggigi in the west, Rinjani in the north, and the surf coast in the south.
Kuta Lombok and the south coast
The former fishing village of Kuta (not to be confused with Bali’s) is now the island’s main tourist hub, with cafés, guesthouses and surf schools, close to the beaches of Mawun, Selong Belanak, Tanjung Aan and Gerupuk. Mandalika, to the east, has big resorts and the street circuit.
Senggigi and the west coast
Lombok’s original resort, north of Mataram, with a coastal road of beaches, sunset views of Bali’s Mount Agung, and hotels at all price levels. It is quieter than in its heyday but convenient for the Gili boats.
Mataram
The provincial capital of West Nusa Tenggara, a sprawling, low-rise city with markets, mosques, the Hindu temples of Cakranegara and the Mayura water palace.
The north: Senaru and Sembalun
Senaru, on the green northern slopes, has the Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls and is a trailhead for Rinjani; Sembalun, a high valley of fields at about 1,150 m (3,800 ft) on the east side, is the main starting point for summit climbs.
The northwest: Bangsal and Tanjung
The harbor of Bangsal is the main departure point for public boats to the Gilis, and the coast north of it has secluded luxury resorts.
The east and southwest
The east coast near Labuhan Lombok is the ferry port for Sumbawa; in the southwest, the Sekotong peninsula has the “secret Gilis,” small islands with clear water and few visitors.
Top things to see on Lombok
Mount Rinjani
The climb to Rinjani’s crater rim, at about 2,640 m (8,660 ft), and on to the summit is one of Indonesia’s great treks, usually done in two to four days with a licensed trekking organizer, guides and porters. From the rim, you look down on Segara Anak, the crater lake, and the young cone of Gunung Barujari. The main routes start at Sembalun and Senaru; Torean, Timbanuh, Tetebatu and Aik Berik are the other official entrances.
According to Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR), bookings are made through the official eRinjani app, and climbers pay a daily entry fee, listed on the park’s FAQ at 150,000 rupiah per day for foreign visitors, plus mandatory insurance. After fatal accidents in 2025, the park revised its climbing rules, including the grading of its trails, guide ratios, insurance and emergency plans, before reopening on August 11, 2025. All six trails close every year for weather safety and ecosystem recovery: from January 1 to March 31 in 2026. Then, to prevent forest fires during the dry season, the park has been open only on a limited basis since September 1, 2026, following a circular from the Ministry of Forestry: new online bookings through eRinjani were suspended until the fire risk is judged safe, while paid bookings made earlier are honored, with stricter patrols and checks for anything that could start a fire. A forest fire at Bukit Setampol led the park to close the Torean trail from September 23, 2026 until further notice. PVMBG listed Rinjani at Level II (Waspada) in early October 2026, advising visitors not to enter the area within 1.5 km (1 mile) of the Barujari crater. Check the park’s website and the MAGMA Indonesia volcano reports before planning a climb.
Waterfalls of Senaru
Sendang Gile is a short walk from Senaru village; Tiu Kelep, a wide curtain of water further up the valley, needs a guide and wading through a river. In central Lombok, Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu are veil-like falls in the forest.
The south-coast beaches
Selong Belanak is a long, gentle bay with beginner surf; Mawun a sheltered horseshoe cove; Tanjung Aan has powdery sand and Bukit Merese hill for sunset; and Gerupuk is a bay of surf breaks reached by boat.
Sasak villages and weaving
Traditional Sasak villages such as Sade and Ende, near the airport, have thatched rice barns and houses with floors polished with buffalo dung; in Sukarara and Pringgasela, women weave ikat and songket on backstrap looms. Visits are by donation or with a local guide, and the villages are lived-in communities.
More classic sights
- Pura Lingsar: a temple complex shared by Hindus and followers of the local Wetu Telu faith.
- Mayura Water Palace and Pura Meru: Balinese-built gardens and temples in Cakranegara.
- Islamic Center Mosque: Mataram’s landmark, with a tall minaret and viewing deck.
- Pink Beach (Pantai Tangsi): in the far southeast, with sand tinted by red coral.
- Mandalika: the international street circuit that hosts MotoGP, plus resort beaches.
Beaches, surfing and diving
Lombok’s south coast faces the Indian Ocean swell and is one of Indonesia’s best surf regions, with spots for every level: Selong Belanak and the inside breaks at Gerupuk for beginners, and reef breaks such as Desert Point, in the southwest, for experts. The best surf is in the dry season. For snorkeling and diving, the Gilis are the main destination, and the Sekotong islands offer quieter reefs. See our guides to surfing, beaches and diving.
Other things to do on Lombok
Food and drink
Lombok’s name is said to mean chili, and its food is fiery. Try ayam taliwang (grilled spicy chicken), plecing kangkung (water spinach with chili and tomato sambal), sate rembiga (spiced beef satay) and nasi balap puyung (rice with shredded spicy chicken). Kuta Lombok and Senggigi have international cafés and seafood restaurants. Alcohol is served in tourist areas, but less openly than in Bali; drink only labeled bottles.
Culture and etiquette
Most Sasak people are Muslim, and you’ll hear the call to prayer five times a day. Cover shoulders and knees away from the beach, ask before photographing people, and be discreet with alcohol, especially during Ramadan. Visit mosques only outside prayer times and dress modestly.
Festivals
Bau Nyale, usually in February or March, sees thousands of people gather on the south-coast beaches before dawn to catch the sea worms said to be the reincarnation of the legendary Princess Mandalika. MotoGP and other races at the Mandalika circuit fill hotels on race weekends.
Day trips around the island
- The Gili Islands: 15–30 minutes by boat from Bangsal or Teluk Nara, or a fast boat from Senggigi. See our Gili Islands guide.
- The secret Gilis: snorkeling trips from Sekotong to Gili Nanggu, Sudak and Kedis.
- Senaru waterfalls and Rinjani viewpoints: a long day from the south or west.
- Tetebatu: rice terraces, monkey forest and waterfalls on Rinjani’s southern slopes.
- Sumbawa: the next island east, with surf at Lakey Peak and whale sharks off Saleh Bay; an overnight trip.
Nearby destinations
- Gili Islands42 km
- Nusa Penida87 km
- Sanur116 km
- Ubud116 km
- Kuta126 km
- Canggu129 km
- Bali140 km
Getting there and getting around
By air
Lombok International Airport (LOP), also called Zainuddin Abdul Madjid Airport, near Praya, has frequent flights from Bali (about 40 minutes), Jakarta, Surabaya and other cities, and international flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Kuta Lombok is about 30 minutes away, Mataram 45 minutes, Senggigi an hour and Bangsal, for the Gilis, about 1.5–2 hours. Use the official taxi counter or DAMRI buses.
By sea
Public car ferries run day and night from Padang Bai in Bali to Lembar, Lombok’s west-coast port, in about 4–5 hours. Fast boats from Padang Bai, Serangan, Sanur and Amed reach the Gilis and Teluk Kode or Bangsal on Lombok in about 1.5–3 hours; the Lombok Strait can be rough, especially from June to September, so choose established operators with life jackets on board and allow for cancellations. Ferries cross from Labuhan Lombok to Sumbawa.
Around the island
Public transportation is limited for visitors. Hire a car with a driver for day trips, which is affordable, or a scooter if you are experienced and hold a motorcycle license and an International Driving Permit; roads in the south are hilly and sandy. Grab and Gojek work in Mataram, and taxis are available around the airport and Senggigi. Some village and harbor cooperatives control transportation; at Bangsal, horse carts (cidomo) and shuttles link the parking area with the harbor.
When to go and how long to stay
Weather for your datesSunrise and sunset
Lombok is a little drier than Bali, especially in the south and east, with a clear dry season from about May to October. BMKG’s published WMO normals for Lombok’s station do not include temperature or rainfall, so the table combines two official datasets: average daily highs and lows are 1991–2020 averages of BMKG’s observations at Lombok International Airport, from NOAA’s global daily records, and rainfall and rain days are BMKG’s long-term normals for Lombok (1961–1990), as published by the World Meteorological Organization.
| Month | Average high / low | Rain (rain days) | What to expect |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 31 °C (88 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 280 mm (11.0 in), 21 days | Wettest month; Rinjani closed |
| February | 32 °C (89 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 223 mm (8.8 in), 18 days | Wet; Bau Nyale festival may fall now or in March |
| March | 32 °C (89 °F) / 24 °C (74 °F) | 162 mm (6.4 in), 14 days | Rain easing; Rinjani still closed |
| April | 32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (74 °F) | 108 mm (4.3 in), 16 days | Transition; Rinjani reopens |
| May | 32 °C (89 °F) / 22 °C (72 °F) | 94 mm (3.7 in), 9 days | Dry season begins; green landscapes |
| June | 31 °C (88 °F) / 22 °C (71 °F) | 44 mm (1.7 in), 7 days | Dry; good surf; cool nights on Rinjani |
| July | 30 °C (87 °F) / 21 °C (69 °F) | 29 mm (1.1 in), 5 days | Peak trekking and surf season |
| August | 31 °C (87 °F) / 21 °C (69 °F) | 19 mm (0.7 in), 2 days | Driest month; busiest season |
| September | 32 °C (89 °F) / 22 °C (71 °F) | 33 mm (1.3 in), 4 days | Dry and hot; fire risk on the mountain |
| October | 32 °C (90 °F) / 23 °C (74 °F) | 110 mm (4.3 in), 11 days | Hot; first storms |
| November | 32 °C (90 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 165 mm (6.5 in), 13 days | Rainy season begins |
| December | 32 °C (89 °F) / 24 °C (75 °F) | 247 mm (9.7 in), 20 days | Wet; Rinjani bookings close at the end of the month |
The figures add up to about 1,510 mm (60 in) of rain a year. Nights on Rinjani’s crater rim can drop to near freezing, especially in July and August. In its 2026–27 rainy season outlook, BMKG expected the rains to begin later than normal across West Nusa Tenggara because of a very strong El Niño, mostly in November or December 2026, with above-normal rain in much of the province and the season peaking around January in the west.
4 days on Lombok
Day one, arrive and settle into Kuta Lombok, with sunset from Bukit Merese. Day two, beach-hop to Selong Belanak and Mawun, or take a surf lesson at Gerupuk. Day three, the Sasak villages and weaving centers, then drive north to Senaru. Day four, Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls, then on to Bangsal for the Gilis.
A week or more on Lombok
Add a two- or three-day Rinjani trek when the park is open, two or three nights on the Gilis, and a day in the secret Gilis of Sekotong.
Where to stay on Lombok
- Kuta Lombok: guesthouses, surf camps and boutique hotels, close to the airport and beaches.
- Mandalika: international resorts on Kuta Bay.
- Senggigi: beach hotels on the west coast, convenient for Mataram and the Gilis.
- Senaru and Sembalun: simple lodges for trekkers.
- The north coast and Sekotong: secluded resorts and bungalows.
Hotels fill up on MotoGP race weekends and in July and August.
What a trip to Lombok costs
Money exchange (IDR)Tip calculator
Prices are approximate, for October 2026, converted at about 17,900 rupiah to the US dollar.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Rinjani National Park entry, foreign visitor, per day | 150,000 rupiah (about US$8.40), plus insurance |
| Rinjani trek, 2 days and 1 night, with organizer | 2,500,000–4,500,000 rupiah (about US$140–250) |
| Car with driver, full day | 600,000–900,000 rupiah (about US$34–50) |
| Scooter rental, per day | 70,000–100,000 rupiah (about US$4–5.60) |
| Public ferry, Padang Bai to Lembar, foot passenger | about 50,000 rupiah (about US$2.80) |
| Fast boat, Bali to Lombok, one way | 400,000–800,000 rupiah (about US$22–45) |
| Ayam taliwang with rice | 30,000–60,000 rupiah (about US$1.70–3.40) |
| Surf lesson, 2 hours | 300,000–500,000 rupiah (about US$17–28) |
| Guesthouse double in Kuta Lombok, per night | 250,000–600,000 rupiah (about US$14–34) |
| Resort double, per night | 1,500,000 rupiah and up (about US$84 and up) |
Practical tips for Lombok
- Rinjani: book only through eRinjani and licensed organizers, and check the park’s announcements for closures.
- Cash: ATMs are in Kuta Lombok, Senggigi and Mataram; carry cash for villages and beaches.
- Dress: cover up in villages and towns; swimwear is for the beach only.
- Beach fees: some beaches charge small parking or entrance fees collected by villages.
- Kids selling bracelets: common on south-coast beaches; a polite no is fine.
Safety
Lombok is friendly and generally safe. Volcano: Rinjani was at Level II (Waspada) in early October 2026; stay outside the 1.5 km (1-mile) exclusion zone around Barujari and follow the park’s rules. Trails are steep and exposed, with loose scree near the summit; go only with licensed guides, carry warm clothes, and turn back in bad weather. Fire: don’t light fires or drop cigarettes on the mountain. Sea: big swells and rip currents affect the south-coast beaches and surf breaks, and the strait to Bali can be rough; swim where locals swim, and check conditions before boat trips. Scooters: ride only if experienced and licensed, with a helmet; avoid riding at night. Avoid unlabeled spirits because of the risk of methanol, drink bottled water to avoid stomach trouble, and use repellent against mosquitoes. Petty theft from scooters and bags at isolated beaches happens, so don’t leave valuables unattended. Lombok is in an earthquake zone, and a series of strong earthquakes hit the north in 2018. In an emergency, call 112.
What to pack for Lombok
Light, modest clothes that cover shoulders and knees, swimwear, reef-safe sunscreen and a hat, sandals and sturdy hiking shoes, a warm jacket, hat and gloves for Rinjani, a headlamp, insect repellent and a light rain jacket from November to April. Indonesia uses 230 V and round two-pin plugs.
Lombok travel FAQ
Can I climb Mount Rinjani in October 2026?
Only on a limited basis. Since September 1, 2026, the park has been partly open to prevent forest fires, with new eRinjani bookings suspended, and the Torean trail has been closed since September 23. Check the park’s website for updates.
When is Rinjani closed?
Every year for weather safety and ecosystem recovery, from January 1 to March 31 in 2026, and at other times for fires, eruptions or accidents.
How much does it cost to climb Rinjani?
The park’s entry fee for foreign visitors is listed at 150,000 rupiah per day, plus insurance, and most climbers pay a licensed organizer for guides, porters, food and equipment.
How do I get from Bali to Lombok?
By a 40-minute flight, a fast boat in about 1.5–3 hours, or the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar in about 4–5 hours.
Is Lombok better than Bali?
Lombok is quieter and less developed, with emptier beaches and Rinjani; Bali has more culture, places to stay and things to do. Many travelers visit both.
When is the best time to visit Lombok?
May to October, the dry season, for beaches, surf and trekking.
When is the rainy season on Lombok?
Usually from November to April. BMKG expected the 2026–27 rains to start late, mostly in November or December 2026.
Do I need to dress conservatively on Lombok?
Away from the beach, yes: cover shoulders and knees in towns, villages and mosques, especially during Ramadan.
Is Lombok good for surfing?
Yes. The south coast has breaks for every level, from beginner waves at Selong Belanak and Gerupuk to Desert Point for experts, best in the dry season.
How do I get from Lombok to the Gili Islands?
Take a public or private boat from Bangsal or Teluk Nara, 15–30 minutes, or a fast boat from Senggigi or Teluk Kode.
Plan your trip
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🇮🇩 Useful Indonesian phrases for Lombok
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Sources · last reviewed 4 October 2026
Researched and last reviewed on 4 October 2026. Rinjani’s height, booking through eRinjani, the entry fee, insurance, the 2025 closure and reopening, the annual closure, the limited opening from September 1, 2026 and the Torean closure: Mount Rinjani National Park (TNGR); Rinjani’s alert level and exclusion zone: PVMBG’s MAGMA Indonesia; the 2026–27 rainy season outlook: BMKG; temperatures: BMKG observations at Lombok International Airport via NOAA GHCN-Daily (1991–2020 averages); rainfall normals: BMKG for Lombok via the WMO World Weather Information Service (1961–1990); exchange rate: Bank Indonesia. Island area, journey and boat times, festival dates, trek and boat prices and other typical prices are general references or estimates, flagged for checking. Rules change, so check the official sites before you go. For entry rules, money and general safety, see our Indonesia travel guide.