Indonesia Lombok. Indonesia. What to see on the island of Lombok. Mosques and Hindu temples

Lombok is a picturesque island in Indonesia, part of the Malay Archipelago. On the southern side it is washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean, and on the northern side by the waters of the Pacific Ocean. Located 100 km east of Bali and separated from it by the Lombok Strait. Since the opening of the international airport in 2011, Lombok has become one of the favorite holiday destinations for tourists from all over the world.

The total area of ​​the island of Lombok is 5435 sq. km. The length of the land from north to south is 80 km, and from east to west – no more than 70 km. The highest point of the island is the peak of Mount Rinjani, located at an altitude of 3.72 km above sea level.

Lombok is part of the Nusa Tenggara province. The island's territory is divided into 4 districts (kabupatena):

• West.
• Oriental.
• Northern
• Central.

The administrative center is the city of Mataram, the largest settlement in the province, located on the west coast of the island. All major infrastructure is concentrated here: hospitals, restaurants, offices, schools, shopping centers, post offices and a government office.

The population of Lombok is 3 million people. More than 80% of the residents are representatives of the Sasaki ethnic group. They live mainly in the northern, eastern, southern and central regions of the island. The remaining 10% of the population are Balinese. They live mainly in the western part of Lombok.

The official language on the island is Indonesian. In the villages, almost all residents also speak Sasak and Balinese fluently. In Mataram you can meet many people who speak spoken English. Typically these are street vendors, tourist guides, and employees of bars, restaurants and hotels.

Climatic conditions

The climate on the island is subequatorial. From October to April there is a rainy season. Tropical downpours are not uncommon in Lombok, but each lasts on average no more than 1 hour. About 1600 mm of precipitation falls annually. The dry season in Lombok lasts from the beginning of May to the end of September. This is the best time for diving, snorkeling and beach holidays.

Air humidity is high, since the western equatorial and eastern tropical monsoons dominate in this climate zone. The temperature of surface ocean waters reaches 25 degrees Celsius, and in some areas up to 30.

Beaches

Pink Beach or Tangsi Beach

This beach is one of the main attractions of the island, as the sand here is not white, but pink. It acquired an unusual shade due to the fact that water constantly erodes coastal corals and, during high tides, carries their smallest particles to the shore.

Pink Beach is divided into 3 small zones, which are located not far from each other. This is the calmest and quietest beach in Lombok, as there is only 1 hotel here, consisting of 20 small villas scattered along the coast. Not far from the beach there are several stalls where locals sell coconuts, natural juices and various seafood dishes.

The ocean floor in the Pink Beach area is dotted with coral reefs, so the beach is popular not only among beach lovers, but also among divers.

Sengiggy

A quiet cozy beach about 1 km long, located in the western part of Lombok island. Suitable for lovers of a relaxing holiday. On Senggigi you can rent a sun lounger or gazebo, enjoy local cuisine in a cafe, rent a surfboard or diving equipment. The water here is clean and very warm. The sand is dark, volcanic.

Kuta

The beach is in the southern part of the island, a very quiet and secluded place. The sand here is pure white, coarse-grained. People often vacation in Kuta with children, as there are many shallows, low waves and warm water. Along the beach there is a central promenade, which was completely reconstructed in 2017.

Attractions and entertainment

Volcano Rinjani

The last eruption here was recorded in 1996, but the volcano is still considered active. Trekking tours to its peak are regularly held in Lombok. Together with a local guide, you can climb to the very edge of the crater at a height of 2700 meters and swim in the hot underground springs. Fans of extreme recreation can go even further and climb to the very peak of the mountain. The cost of the trip ranges from 110 to 220 dollars; the trip will take 2-3 days.

This is not a water park with water slides, as many might think. The park contains a large swimming pool, a botanical garden, a royal residence and the Pura Kalasa Hindu temple. The legendary “Fountain of Youth” is also located here. The water in it is believed to have rejuvenating properties. Entrance to the park costs 10,000 rupees (about $1).

Temple complex Pura Meru

It was erected in 1720 during the reign of Anaka Agunda. On the territory of the complex there are 33 holy relics, symbolizing the worship of three gods: Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu. Religious ceremonies are regularly held in the main temple. Near the gates of the complex you can see drums, the beating of which notifies local residents of the beginning of the service. Entrance is free, but according to tradition, tourists leave small donations for the maintenance of the temple.

Sindang Gila Waterfall

It is difficult to get to it on your own, as there is a high risk of getting lost. The waterfall is located in the middle of the forest and reaches a height of 500 meters. Immediately below it there is a large clean lake in which anyone can swim. Every day, local guides conduct small tours to this amazing place for a nominal fee.

Mayura Water Palace

The construction of this architectural complex was completed in 1744. Previously, this building housed a Balinese court, but at the end of the 19th century the building was destroyed during bloody battles with the Dutch army. In the 20th century, the palace was partially reconstructed, and a luxurious park complex with many fountains and statues was built around it.

Top hotels

Hotel (5 stars). A small but very beautiful and cozy hotel. There is a large swimming pool and restaurant overlooking the ocean. The hotel offers a spa and cooking classes that teach visitors how to prepare original local cuisine. Some suites have private outdoor pools.

Hotel (4 stars). Each room has its own balcony and air conditioning, and the apartments are beautifully decorated. The hotel is located on the first coastline, so a walk to the beach will take no more than 4-5 minutes. Two swimming pools are open to visitors: children's and adults. There is a spa, massage services and a private tennis court.

Novotel Lombok Resort & Villas (4 stars). The apartment windows offer beautiful views of the ocean. The hotel is located next to the beach, so the walk to the ocean will take no more than 10 minutes. The distance from Novotel Lombok to the international airport is 42 km, which is very convenient, since the journey by car takes less than half an hour. Each room has a bar, safe, air conditioning. Three swimming pools, two restaurants and a children's club are open to guests.

Hotel (4 stars). The hotel is located on the first coastline, just 900 meters from the beach, and has a private beach area. The hotel features a refreshment bar and restaurant, a spa with hot tub and an outdoor swimming pool. Guests can rent bicycles, a car, a canoe and deep-sea diving equipment for a reasonable fee.

Hotel The Suites Lombok (3 and 5 stars). For guests on site there is a fitness room with modern exercise equipment, an outdoor swimming pool overlooking the ocean, and a tour desk. Water sports enthusiasts can rent canoes. The apartments have outdoor terraces, satellite TV and free wi-fi. The restaurant serves Asian, Chinese and American cuisine. There is a separate menu for vegetarians.

Transport

In Lombok you will find the following types of transport:

• Bemo minibuses. They are passenger vans of various sizes. Capacious bemos serve long-distance intercity routes, and small vans transport the population within just one locality.
• Chidomo horse carts. This type of transportation is still used in all areas of the countryside. In cities, chidomos are also found, but more as a means of entertaining walks for tourists.
• Ferries. The island has several ports, each of which is served by large and small ferries. This transport runs around the clock and makes it possible to get from Lombok to Sumbawa, the Gili Islands or Bali in a few hours. The disadvantage of this method of travel is that the cabins are often stuffy and lack air conditioning, and weather conditions do not always allow being on the open deck.
• Taxi and motorcycle taxi. One trip costs from 10,000 to 60,000 rupees.
• Tourists can also rent a car for 150-200 thousand rupees per day. This is about 500-700 rubles. There is also the opportunity to rent a motorbike, it costs much less.

How to get to Lombok from Bali?

You can get from Bali to Lombok in the following ways:

• by plane;
• on a ferryboat;
• on high-speed boats (speedboats).

Every day there are up to 8 flights from Bali to Lombok. The flight duration will be only 25 minutes, and this pleasure will cost 500,000 rupees (about $50). Air tickets can be purchased on the website Aviasales.ru. It shows all the available options from different airlines.

Ferries from Bali to Lombok operate 24 hours a day. They sail from the Padang Bay pier, located on the east coast of Bali, and land at the port of Lembar Harbor on the island of Lombok. The trip lasts from 4 to 6 hours, depending on weather conditions. The fare is $3, ferries depart hourly.

The fastest way to get from Bali to Lombok is to get there by speedboat (speed boat). The trip will take only 1.5 hours and will cost about 200,000 rupees (about $15). The service is provided only by private transport companies. Boats depart from Sanur Beach and Padang Bay Pier.

Lombok Island on the map

On this map I have marked the exact location of Lombok Island.

The island of Lombok is often called Bali's little brother. A holiday here will appeal to lovers of a calm environment, quiet beaches and wild nature. It is better to visit Lombok during the dry season (from May to September), as during this period the weather conditions are very good, it rarely rains and there are practically no storms.

Lombok Island, is located in Indonesia between the islands and Sumbawa, and is part of the Lesser Sunda Islands group in the Malay archipelago. City Mataram is the main administrative center of the island. There is an international airport 40 km from it, although the number of foreign flights is less. They fly to and. The distance from Mataram Airport to Senggigi is 55 km. You can get there by Damri Damri buses - it’s convenient and inexpensive. A new international airport was built in the city of Praya Praya - this is to the south.

There are two seaports on the island of Lombok, one in the southwest of Lembar port, the other in the east of the island. You can get to Lombok from other islands, Sumbawa, Flores by ferry or ship (more on this in the next article). There are also private boats and boats that also provide transportation.

I bought a ticket for 159 thousand rupees, and not 200, as the hostess’s husband asked. Travel tip - never give money up front. The girl with whom I was going to the ship warned that there would be a lot of people and that I needed to take great care of my things, which of course worried me and did not allow me to relax.

My budget for two partial days.

Got from the port to Senggigi for 60 thousand rupees + accommodation with light breakfast 65 thousand * 2 nights = 130 thousand rupees. During all this time I spent 50 thousand rupees on food, including cake and coconut. I got back to the port for 50 thousand rupees.

Continuing my “great” journey through Indonesia and Southeast Asia, I went further east to see the volcano on the island of Flores. swam on

First, let me explain that we chose Lombok as a place for relaxation and a beach holiday on the advice of Vivian, a girl we knew from Indonesia. We were going to Bali, we didn’t know about Lombok yet, but she recommended Lombok and then I read on the Internet that there are a lot of people in Bali, there is an ocean with currents all around and this is not a place for a relaxing holiday. Having been both there and there, we realized that we did the right thing by turning to Lombok, it’s a pity that it wouldn’t last for long.

In the morning, the hotel area enchanted us - a beautiful garden and swimming pool, a fairly clean shore and sea.

We arrived on the island of Lombok late in the evening, and it was pouring rain there. We left the airport already at ten o'clock, not expecting to find a cheap taxi. But there they attacked us with offers of transport and, in addition, for some reason there was a crowd of people meeting us, we still didn’t understand who they were meeting. Knowing the real price, we hired a driver for 200 krupii (after haggling a little, I asked for 250), the drive to the hotel is quite far, in Senggigi. We reached the Mascot beach hotel barely alive. The driver didn’t know where our hotel was and kept calling someone, first he drove past, it turned out that we had to turn a little off the main road. Beyond Lombok's capital, Mataram, north towards Senggigi, "all civilization" lies along this road, at times running right along the shore of the strait.
In the morning, the hotel area enchanted us - a beautiful garden and swimming pool, a fairly clean shore and sea. Despite the light rain, we swam both in the sea and in the pool. At this time my camera got wet and then stopped working.

The hotel is also excellent because its territory is adjacent to the sea. The sea and shore were clean, the water was clear, despite the fact that fishermen's boats moored here. You can swim if the waves are not strong. The staff is very friendly, bed linen is changed every day. WiFi is good. Our room was the cheapest and did not have a refrigerator or kettle. There is a clothes dryer, but there is no shelf for accessories in the bathroom. Sometimes you can see a cockroach in the bathroom at night. Breakfast was somewhat disappointing - not varied. You need to choose one thing: rice, noodles or a thick pancake (pancake), you can also add eggs in any form, you can keep it for several days. True, you can still take fruits - watermelons, papaya and pineapples, which for some reason are sour in Indonesia. Outside the hotel fence, merchants and taxi drivers pester you everywhere. There are many exchangers on the street, there is a good one without a commission opposite, as well as shops and cafes. Sunshine Cafe is just down the road - we don’t recommend it: expensive, long wait and tasteless! A massage costs 60 kR per hour in Orchid massage parlors. in others it’s more expensive. The location of the hotel in Senggigi is very good - everything is close. It’s not worth taking a hotel further north if you don’t want privacy, there’s nothing there except the road and the locals. Everything in Lombok is cheaper than in Bali, but you get tired of having to haggle all the time. I highly recommend the hotel for its excellent location.

On the first day we weren’t going anywhere, but after leaving the hotel fence, the driver persistently approached us with the offer of a tour of the island. We bargained with him for 300 krupiy for half a day. Moreover, I had to buy a cable for the laptop - I discovered that I had lost it somewhere on the road.

Lombok Attractions: Lingsar Temple Complex, Mayura Water Palace, Pura Meru

By car we toured all the local modest attractions of the capital of the island, the city of Mataram. First we went to the Lingsar temple complex (Pura Lingsar), built in 1714 - the most sacred place in Lombok. It serves two religions at once: Balinese Hinduism and three-time Islam “Wektu Telu”, for each there is a temple built on the territory. There were no people in the churches at all, neither tourists nor believers. There is no entrance fee, you just need to donate a small amount and they will tie a belt for you.

Mayura Water Palace. This palace was built in 1744 and was previously the palace of justice of the Balinese kingdom. In 1894, a fierce battle took place here between the Dutch and the Balinese, as a result of which the palace was seriously destroyed. Now there is a lake surrounded by a park with statues, altars and cannons. We didn’t go there, we didn’t have much time, and we had to pay for entry.

Durians were being sold all around along the road and we asked the taxi driver to buy us one (so that the price wouldn’t be jacked up). It turns out that a small durian costs only 5,000, but there is almost nothing to eat in it, you have to take the big ones.

The next temple we visited was Pura Meru - the largest temple in Lombok. This Hindu temple was built in 1720. In the courtyard there are 33 small shrines to the gods Shiva, Vishnu and Brahma. The roofs of the towers are made of a thick layer of palm fibers and decorated with some kind of ornaments. Then we saw the same technology in the temples of Bali, in particular in Besakih. The taxi driver took us to one village of artisans (we simply abandoned the rest), where they make souvenirs and furniture from wood, including masks inlaid with mother-of-pearl. The prices there turned out to be high, they did not lower them, although the products were very beautiful, we left there without purchasing anything. At the end, the taxi driver also took us to a jewelry store, what would we do without him! The prices were not stated there, they said they were high. Ira liked the earrings with pearls and became sad. I asked her how much she was willing to buy them for, we returned and I began to bargain, they offered their price, but seeing our persistence, they easily agreed to our “final price”. We also asked the driver to take us to the largest shopping center in Mataram, Mataram Mall, I think, in search of a power cable for a laptop - the locals said that we could only buy it there. Luck - we found it and managed to revive my laptop for little money. Galya said that she would like to see a large mosque, they asked the driver and he took us to a huge mosque under construction. Its size for a small island like Lombok is simply amazing! In addition, besides this one, we saw many other mosques, it’s not for nothing that Lombok is called the “Island of 1000 Mosques”.

We stopped at the market in Mataram and bought fruits and avocados at normal prices.

Then - to the Chinese cemetery, where the tombstones are very impressive. The children playing there, seeing us, shouted “Hello, Mister!” (“Mister” - for some reason we were often addressed this way). We treated them to sweets. Goats were climbing on the gravestones. There was a show going on nearby—an advertisement for motorbikes, as we understood it.

We asked the driver to take us to the Yessi cafe, recommended on Tripadvisor, he showed it, but said that he knew something else much better. We believed him and came for dinner to this Sunshine cafe on the seashore, not far from the hotel. There we waited for our order for a long time, the waiters came up several times, everyone clarified something. As a result, they brought tasteless food, even the grilled fish was tasteless. Then, during the calculation, it seemed that we were deceived. We gave two bills of 100,000 each, they are red, the waiter came to the cash register, returned to us and showed that we seemed to have given 100,000 and 10,000 - this bill is lilac, but then it turned out to be red too. We had to pay, either they changed it or we gave it wrong.

Ira kept trying to photograph the sunset, but had no luck - the clouds kept covering the sun. And at night there was a terrible thunderstorm and downpour, it seemed that the houses would be blown away along with us and the roof would leak, but everything turned out okay.

The next day we just rested, it was not hot, cloudy. Ira and I went along the shore where the expensive hotel is located, beyond the cape where fishermen stand and surfers ride the waves.

There were many locals relaxing near the shore and traders pestering. After endless haggling, we bought several pareos for 45 krupias as gifts for friends, reducing the price several times.

There was an empty tourist police booth right there, although the sign on it said that they were always ready to serve!

Having returned from a walk, we swam in the pool and my friends managed to get sunburnt red, having lingered at the pool longer than me. We were going to celebrate March 8th in a cafe with music, but I was poisoned by the pate I brought from home, which we decided to finish at lunch (in a thick foil tin, it went bad!).

I was planning a trip to the small island of Meno (one of the three Gili islands), but since I still felt weak, we didn’t go anywhere the next day. It was sunny and we relaxed, lying in the shade by the pool. In the evening we went outside, where I agreed with the Blue bird taxi driver about a trip to the pier the next morning, asking him all about the boats to Meno Island. He gave me all the information about the trip without trying to deceive me. We went for a massage for 60 krupii and ate at the Yessi cafe, which was about 7 minutes up the road from the hotel. The waiter turned out to be a polyglot - he recognized us as Russians and immediately spoke in fairly decent Russian. As we found out, he also knows other languages, although he has no special education. This was surprising because very few people here speak English. We also liked the food, which was rare in Indonesia, and we were fed quite quickly (prices are reasonable, but there is a 10% service charge).

Meno Island

The last day of our holiday in Lombok has arrived. If we had not gone to Meno Island, the trip would have been incomplete, so I still insisted on going. While we were driving, we made sure that our hotel was in the best place for a vacation in Senggigi, there was almost no civilization further on. We drove to the Bangsal pier for about an hour, paid 110 krupii, the taxi driver apologetically dropped us off before reaching the pier itself - the locals wouldn’t let us go further. They do business by transporting people on horseback about 300 meters, but we walked. We liked the driver and agreed that he would take us to the airport the next morning. We bought tickets for the public bot for 14,000 and some other fees, like for the environment, for 6,000.

While we were waiting for boarding, Galya again actively communicated with men, improving her knowledge of English. The sign on the shore said “tsunami zone, run 500m”, a bit far...

We loaded onto the boat and sailed to Meno Island. This is one of 3 small islands near Lombok, measuring 1 * 2 km. The beaches and hotels were almost empty. People come there for snorkeling and diving; you can see huge sea turtles. We walked along the coast almost the entire island, returned and settled down on the beach under a tree, asking for an unrealistic amount of 100 krupiy ($9) for sunbeds. The shadow at noon is right under our feet - we are almost at the equator.

The water is really clear and turquoise in color, but there is a lot of garbage in the water and on the shore, possibly due to frequent rains. It started to rain and it even became cool.

The island of Lombok, part of the Indonesian islands, is a place where tourists from different countries go to spend time without the fuss and crowds. Holidays in Lombok, Indonesia mean reasonable prices, beaches, entertainment, attractions for those who appreciate a leisurely pastime surrounded by exotic natural beauty.

There are several options to visit the island of Lombok:
1. By ferry or boat. There is a 24-hour ferry service from the nearby island of Bali. The starting point is Padang Bay port, the arrival point in Lombok is Lembar port. Travel time ranges from 3 to 6 hours. Ticket price is IDR 80,000 per person. There is no clear ferry schedule, the average interval is 2-3 hours.

2. By plane. From the same island of Bali you can go to Lombok by plane. A ticket will cost from 40 euros. Air travel from Jakarta, Indonesia will cost at least 90 euros. The island's new airport has been accepting international flights since 2011. Direct flights connect Lombok with Singapore and Malaysia. The cost of a round-trip ticket from Singapore is from 360 euros.

You can get to the holiday destination from the airports or Lembar port by taxi. The price is most often negotiated with the taxi driver. The main rule is to bargain.

By the way, a bus runs from the international airport to the popular tourist area of ​​Senjiji. Ticket price is 20,000 rupees. For comparison, a similar route by taxi will cost 160,000 rupees.

Lombok Island: holiday features

The main direction of relaxation is a calm, measured pastime on the beach.
However, holidays on the east coast and holidays on the west coast have differences.

Tourist areas and beaches

Sengjiji Resort

The resort area in the western part of Lombok is located 50 km from the international airport. The western part of the island has a well-developed infrastructure. While walking through local shops, you should pay attention to products made of silk or fabric using gold and silver threads. The masterpieces of local potters are no less valuable.

Beaches of Senggiji

The beaches of this resort area are the best in Lombok. The sand here is gray-beige in color, and the grains of sand reach the size of a black peppercorn. The beach line is wide. It creates a feeling of sparseness. Large hotels designed for foreign tourists have their own territory on Sendjiji Beach. Each site is equipped with everything necessary for a quality holiday on the coast. Not far from the central beach of the resort there is a beach popular among Indonesians - Kerangdangan.

Eastern part of the island

An ordinary tourist who prefers comfort rarely visits the east coast of Lombok, but surfers in the village of Kuta are frequent guests. Despite the complete absence of any tourist infrastructure, there are several decent guesthouses and comfortable hotels here. The beaches of the eastern part of the island are distinguished by lighter, almost white, sand. In addition to areas ideal for surfers and windsurfers, there are beaches that are good for family holidays:

• Mavun Lagoon, nestled among lush hills.
• Novotel Beach - Pantai Putri Nyale.
• Tanjung A'an Beach, the water here is a deep turquoise color.
• Air Guling Bay, the closest to Kuta, is an ideal place to relax with children.

Things to do in Lombok

The nature of the island has created several interesting objects that are worth visiting while vacationing in Lombok in 2019. Among them:

1. Rinjani volcano, almost 4000 meters high. Climbing the volcano takes a whole day. During the ascent, encounters with representatives of the local fauna are common. This excursion is a great opportunity to see picturesque mountainous areas. At the top there is a beautiful volcanic lake.
2. Sendang Gila Falls, located a 30-minute walk from Senaru Village, is the most beautiful waterfall on the island. By the way, after walking about an hour up the river, you can see another waterfall - Tui Kelep.
3. Lake Danau-Segara-Anae.

Holidaymakers on the east coast can enjoy many hiking trails on this part of the island.

In addition to natural parks, Lombok Island has historical and cultural sites.

Main attractions of Lombok

1. Narmada Water Park is a large-scale landscape and architectural complex founded in the 19th century. There are many springs and lakes in the park. There is also a Fountain of Youth here, the water from which, according to local residents, helps to prolong life.
2. The Pura Kalasa Temple is a striking example of Hindu culture, located in the Narmada Park.
3. Mayura Water Palace, built in the mid-18th century. A walk through the territory of the palace park is an opportunity to enjoy interesting sculptural objects, fountains and admire the picturesque lake.
4. Villages of craftsmen, including: the village of weavers - Sukarare, the village of Penuyak, where they make clay products, and the village of Suradi, its residents make bags and jewelry from palm leaves.

The presence of interesting cultural sites, Indonesian flavor and the absence of large crowds of tourists on the beaches make it possible to organize a relaxing and quite varied holiday. Lombok Island, Indonesia is a suitable place for families with children, lovers of water activities and lovers of a secluded beach holiday.

– an ideal place for a secluded holiday and exciting diving.

Lombok is called the little brother of Bali. Until recently, tourists came from there mainly on excursions. After the opening of the international airport, getting to Lombok became much easier and the number of vacationers increased significantly. The tourism infrastructure is gradually developing. Compared to Bali, there are much fewer tourists here, but the holiday is more calm, secluded and exotic.

Lombok is located in the Malay Archipelago and administratively belongs to Indonesia. Lombok is located between two islands - to the west of it is the island. Bali, from the east - . Lombok is slightly smaller in area than Bali. The population of the island is 3 million inhabitants, the capital is Mataram.

How to get there

A few years ago it was possible to get to Lombok only from the island. After the Bandara Internasional Lombok International Airport was opened on an island near the city of Praya in 2011, tourists had the opportunity to use direct international flights connecting Lombok with Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. The airport accepts domestic flights from the islands of Java and Bali.

There are up to eight flights a day from Bali to Lombok, but it is extremely difficult to buy tickets online in advance. Therefore, it is better to purchase them in Bali at the airport or travel agency. The flight takes 25 minutes. From the new airport, regular buses run to the city of Mataram and the resort of Senggigi. A taxi ride is much more comfortable, but will cost five times more. All official taxis are equipped with meters. Boarding a taxi is carried out after paying a service fee at the airport ticket office.

You can also get to the island from Bali by ferry. Compared to air travel, the ferry option is almost 10 times cheaper. Ferries depart around the clock every hour, the journey time is about five hours. In case of bad weather, flights are cancelled. Ferries run from Padang Bai pier (Bali) to Lembar pier (Lombok). From Lembar you can take a taxi to Mataram or Senggigi.

The best way to get around the island is by minibus, which is called Bemo here. You can also make intercity trips on these passenger buses for a small fee. It is possible to rent this transport, which is beneficial for tourists traveling in a group. An ordinary taxi will cost more and cannot be found everywhere. In tourist areas, it is common to rent a car or motorcycle.

general information

The northeastern part of the island is mountainous and is home to the Rinjani volcano. The south is dominated by limestone plateaus, covered in places by hills. There are very beautiful landscapes here - deserted roads run through green hills, clean beaches, quiet bays. The tourist infrastructure is developed in the western part of the island - in the area of ​​​​the Senggigi resort, where beach holidays predominate, and on the southern coast - in Kuta (not to be confused with), a favorite place for surfers. In general, Lombok is more suitable for lovers of wild tourism. By car or bike you can travel along deserted roads, visiting secluded exotic places.

Senggigi is a resort town located along the coastal route. There are all possibilities for relaxation - hotels, expensive and cheap, cafes, restaurants. The main entertainment here is a relaxing holiday on the beach, massage, snorkeling.

Kuta Beach is attractive for surfing. Although there are few hotels and only a few cafes, there is a surf school and rental of surfing equipment. Many tourists rent a scooter to get around the resort. The largest hotel in Kuta is Novotel, which has 2 restaurants, a spa center, an indoor beach, and outdoor swimming pools.

Weather

The climate on the island of Lombok is tropical and hot throughout the year. The tourist season lasts all year round, but its peak occurs from March to August. The rainy season lasts from October to April. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in December and January. The driest months are July and August. The average annual air temperature is 28-29 °C, water temperature is 27-30 °C. In the northern mountainous regions it is noticeably colder than on the coast.

Attractions

The island of Lombok has plenty of attractions, both natural and man-made. Although they are quite modest, they have not yet been promoted, “untapped” by numerous tourist groups. You can get to local attractions by taxi or rented transport. The most convenient and cheapest option is to join one of the group excursions. If you decide to travel on your own, you can order an experienced guide from a travel agency.

Mount Rinjani volcano is the most significant landmark of the island. Not many people can boast that they have visited the crater of a volcano. When in Lambok, it's hard to resist traveling to Mt. Although it has gentle slopes, the height is quite impressive - 3726 m, so the climb takes a whole day. Every healthy person can master it, but traveling alone is not recommended.

Volcano Rinjani

Trekking group trips with porters and a guide are organized for two to three days. By paying $100–200, tourists receive accompanying persons, food, tents, and sleeping bags. In the crater of the volcano there is a huge lake where you can swim. After relaxing and admiring the unique views, those who wish can climb to the highest point of the mountain.

– another attraction located near the coast of Lombok. Three of them - Meno, Air and Trawangan - are the most popular. The tourist infrastructure here is quite developed: there are hotels of different price categories and several diving clubs.

Gili Islands

Holidays on the Gili Islands are a great opportunity to sunbathe on clean sandy beaches or go snorkeling and diving. The largest of them is Trawangan , most populated by tourists, it is a party place. Lovers of diving among corals come here.

On about. Meno , on the contrary, it is quiet and calm. There are hotels here, but not very many, and all entertainment is concentrated only on their territory. The beaches are beautiful and clean, but there are fragments of coral in the water. Meno is a suitable place for people who want to be secluded on a deserted island.

Eyre is the smallest and greenest of the three islands. There are many locals here and there are bars and restaurants. The shore and water are clean. A great place for those who want to sunbathe and swim, but boring for partygoers.

Narmada Water Park , built at the beginning of the 19th century by one of the local kings, it was used by members of the royal family for recreation. There is a Hindu temple, a swimming pool, springs with clean water, and lakes. The park is beautiful and cozy, the area is carefully cleaned.

Mayura Water Palace – witness to the history of the island. At the end of the 19th century, a fierce battle took place on the territory of the palace between the Balinese and the Dutch, as a result of which the palace was damaged. Statues, cannons, and altars installed around the lake remind local residents of distant battles for independence.

Pura Meru – Hindu temple built in 1720. Believers are invited to the ceremony by beating large drums located on its premises.

Pura Lingsar – a temple complex consisting of two temples - Hindu and Islamic.