Travel Guide to Lombok Attractions and Things to Do

Read on for the best attractions in Lombok, Indonesia, including local villages, treks, beaches and nature, for a complete travel guide on things to do.

A lot of people might skip Lombok because it has less tourist attractions than neighboring Bali, but a lot of people go there exactly for that reason. It’s harder to find things to do in Lombok because there are less organized tours, but if you’re willing to do a bit of research and roughing it a bit, it will be worth visiting.

Make sure to read my tips and mistakes to avoid while in Lombok before going.

Lombok has so many things to do, and you can very easily spend a week or more here. To make your Lombok itinerary planning easier, I’ll split this post into sections based on location.

Villages and Places to Visit in Lombok

Lombok has some gorgeous places to visit and interesting things to do in those places. From enjoying pristine beaches to unique nature to local immersion, here are the best attractions in Lombok.

These Lombok attractions will be ordered from the top of the island to the bottom.

Sembalun Things to Do

Bukit Selong

This is a short hike up to a very nice viewpoint. From the top, you can see both the village of Semablun and the surrounding mountains and hills. And from the other side, you can see a pretty patchwork of rice fields.

There are actually two viewpoints here, and each charge 10k. If you want to do only one, I’d recommend the one that doesn’t start in the traditional village. It’s higher so offers a better vantage point.

Pergasingan Hill

This is a bigger hike, and you can actually camp on the summit. It’s not as intense as Rinjani, and you get a nice view of Rinjani from the top.

If you do an afternoon hike and camp at the summit, you can catch a beautiful sunrise in the morning.

Strawberry fields

Sembalun has many strawberry fields around it, and you’ll see stands on the side of the road selling them. I thought they were a reasonable price and they were very tasty too.

If you’re feeling a bit adventurous, you can also pick your own strawberries at some of the strawberry farms.

Mangku Sakti Waterfall

This isn’t actually in Sembalun, but it’s just about half hour away from the village. It’s one of the coolest waterfalls not only in Lombok, but that I’ve ever visited anywhere.

That’s because the water contains sulfur from Rinjani, giving the water a whiteish color. The rocks and cliffs where the waterfalls flow are stained by the sulfur, which is also very pretty.

I was surprised to find that the water was cold, rather than the hot sulfuric water I’ve encountered in the past. But that was actually preferable, since it was nice to refresh after the hike there.

**This place is extremely difficult to find, however. I only made it by asking around and making lots of guesses on where to go. If you follow the directions Google Maps gives, be prepared for a sketchy road at the end. When you find your way to the dam, leave your bike there and follow the river to the first waterfall (Kuda Sembareani). From there, you’ll find an old path to the second and bigger waterfall (Mangku Sakti).

Tetebatu Things to Do

Sarang Walet Waterfall

Locals at my homestay in Tetebatu called this waterfall the “Indiana Jones” waterfall. And I can easily see why it’s called so.

The way to get to it is very adventurous. You have to walk through a river-filled gorge to get to it. It’s a very short walk, but very cool. In fact, I think I enjoyed the walk more than the actual waterfall.

That’s not to say the waterfall isn’t impressive. But after seeing so many waterfalls in Lombok and the rest of Indonesia, it takes a lot to impress me. The unique entry to the Sarang Walet waterfall makes it one of my favorite attractions in Lombok.

Rice terraces

Some call Tetebatu Lombok’s Ubud, and I suspect a big part of it is because of the surrounding rice terraces. There is certainly a similarity in the landscape, and it’s not at all as touristy as the rice terraces in Bali.

This makes it a great place to explore rice terraces and get some great photos without other tourists getting in your way. You can hire a guide (best place is likely through your homestay) to take you on a guided walk through the rice fields in Tetebatu.

P.S. Check out this list of places in Bali worth visiting that aren’t too overcrowded with tourists if you like to avoid crowds.

Stay at a homestay

One of the main reasons why people visit Tetebatu is to stay at a homestay. There is no lack of them in this village, and so many of them are very highly reviewed.

It’s a great place to unwind and relax while surrounded by rural nature. And if you pick the right homestay, you can immerse yourself into the local culture by getting to know your hosts and observe or even join in on their daily lives.

Most homestays offer tours taking you around Tetebatu, which is one of the best things to do there.

I stayed at Satu Lingkung, and I really enjoyed my time there. It was a bit rustic, but comfortable. It was obvious that a lot of thought was put into the design, and I particularly loved the hammock on the porch overlooking rice fields.

Monkey Forest

This forest has black monkeys, and you can get a guide here (many homestay tours go here) to explore it.

If you had a bad experience with the aggressive macaques in Bali, know that these monkeys aren’t like this. They likely won’t bother you, and they’re quite cute.

Sanur Things to Do

Sedang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfall

Your ticket will include access to both of these waterfalls, as there’s a path between them. Both are stunning waterfalls, so it’s good that you only have to pay once to see them both.

You’ll first take a path down to Sedang Gile. It’s a beautiful two-tiered waterfall, although there’s not much room to enjoy it, in my opinion, as there are places to buy snacks and drinks right by it.

Then you’ll take a longer walk to Tiu Kelep. This involves going into the river to cross it, so I’d recommend wearing waterproof shoes or sandals (which are super useful for travel in Lombok).

Check out my other tips for travel in Lombok here.

Rinjani Trek

The main reason why most people find themselves in Sanur is because it’s the starting point for the trek up to Rinjani. It’s also one of the best and most famous attractions in Lombok.

I did my trek to Rinjani from Sanur with Amet Rinjani, and I highly recommend them. Read about my experience hiking Rinjani with this company.

Senggigi Things to Do

Lounge on the beach

There isn’t a whole lot to do in Senggigi, but that’s actually a reason why many people travel to this touristy part of Lombok. Maybe that’s for you, or like me, you can skip it and get more action elsewhere in Lombok.

Here is where you can find a variety of beach resorts, which you can choose based on your budget.

It’s a good place enjoy the beach and unwind.

Kuta Things to Do

Beach hopping

Kuta is located to the south of Lombok, and many gorgeous beaches line the coast around the Kuta area.

If you’re comfortable driving a motorbike, you can base yourself in Kuta and drive along the coast exploring the nearby beautiful beaches.

Tanjung Aan, Nambung and Selong Belanak are among the many, many beaches around Kuta that are worth visiting.

Watch sunset from a viewpoint

Because of the rugged coastline, many of the beaches have hills flanking them, and that makes them the perfect place to watch sunset. While you can’t see the sun actually setting over the horizon from Kuta, the colors of the sky as it does are stunning.

I personally have watched sunset from Bukit Seger and Bukit Merese (from Tanjung Aan Beach), and both were very beautiful.

Surfing (Selong Belanak, Gerupuk)

The main draw of Kuta is for surfing. It’s the main reason why some people travel to Lombok, as the beaches around Kuta offer world-class waves.

Places like Gerupuk and Mawi Beach are popular for intermediate or advanced surfers, although beginners like me could also enjoy some surfing. Selong Belanak is probably the best beach for surfing near Kuta, Lombok for beginners because it’s a sandy beach without a reef.

But there are a lot more options, so do your research on the day’s swells and the many surf spot options. If you’re a beginner or taking lessons, your instructor will hopefully do that for you.

I stayed at LoTide Surf Camp hostel, and you can book an instructor straight through them. My boyfriend really enjoyed his instructor through them.

Make sure you do your research in choosing an instructor or guide, because I have a horror story with my experience surfing in Kuta.

(Sunset Surf School’s owner sent me, a beginner surfer, surfing at low tide in waist deep water with sharp reef. It’s no surprise that I lasted about 10 minutes before getting cut up by rocks and coral.)

Where to Visit After Lombok

Looking for things to do in Indonesia when you’re done traveling in Lombok and visiting its many attractions?

If you have time, I’d highly recommend the Komodo Island boat trip. It’s 4 days and 3 nights and brings you to the beautiful island of Flores.

Or for a shorter trip, you can visit one of the Gili islands. Most people know about the three most famous among foreign tourists (Gili T, Gili Meno and Gili Air), but there are actually a lot of other Gili islands around Lombok.

Another popular next destination from Lombok is Nusa Penida or Bali, as they’re both just hours away.

Lombok also has an international airport, so you can fly almost anywhere in the world from this island.