Lombok in a Nutshell
I was recently invited by Visit Indonesia to travel to Lombok to experience this wonderful, little known destination. It was only a very short trip, spending three nights on the island in 2 different resorts.
Lombok is a relatively large island based off the coast of Bali, and although it is only a very short flight or a 2-hour boat transfer away from the popular tourist destination, it has a totally different vibe to it. The first thing I noticed on arrival is that there were no western tourists walking around in bikinis or bare chested with singlets tucked into their shorts. Instead, most of the women were wearing colourful headscarves and the men were neatly dressed. About 85% of the population of Lombok are Sasak which is a culture that is closely related to the Balinese except that their religion is predominately Muslim.
While the predominately Hindu island of Bali has a commercialised ‘anything goes’ sort of vibe, Lombok is full of culture. The scenery is very untouched and you can drive for ages without seeing any type of western structure, more common are little villages with thatched roofs and dirt floors. Tourists are attracted to the peace and quiet that is so very hard to find in Bali these days. The amazing snorkelling and diving opportunities you can find here are a large drawcard, as is the close proximity to the popular Gili Islands. Hotels and resorts are marketed as places of rest and relaxation rather than pool bars and happy hours. Due to its strong Muslim culture, you can’t even buy alcohol at the corner store like you can in Bali, it is only available from restaurants and resorts. It may seem untoward to schoolies and partygoers, but the lack of alcohol fuelled partying is what makes the area so peaceful.
The beaches are white and sandy and the sunrise and sunsets are incredibly colourful and uninterrupted. Diving is very popular in Lombok and they have some incredible dive sites and experiences. For those who like to stay closer to the surface, the snorkelling opportunities are also amazing, especially in the Gili Islands where the fish are colourful and plentiful and the reef is beautiful.
Our first night was spent at the beautiful Novotel Resort Lombok which is located just a short 20 minutes from the airport overlooking the turquoise bay of Kuta Beach. The 4 star, family friendly resort is beautifully designed and landscaped to blend into the relaxed, natural surroundings. Along with their spacious terrace rooms they also have private pool villas making it a perfect destination for a romantic getaway or honeymoon also. Beautiful cabanas and sun lounges line the beach so there is plenty of room to relax with a good book. Kuta Beach is a rather underdeveloped area, however you would never be looking to leave the resort due to the array of included and optional activities on offer, including cooking classes, market tours, yoga, sunset walks & beach volleyball.
Our remaining two nights were spent at the beautiful Puri Mas Boutique Resort which is located just a few minutes from the popular Senggigi Beach area which is about 2-hours drive north from the Novotel on the western coast of the island. Senggigi Beach is a great spot for those looking for the relaxed vibe, but who also like to explore outside of the resort. There are plenty of restaurants, and shopping on offer to keep you busy. The Puri Mas Boutique Resort is a stunning property located right on the beach. They offer hotel rooms as well as Spa & Pool Villas so there is something on offer to suit every type of traveller and budget. They do not accept children under 12 years of age though so this is not one for the young families, but perfectly suited to couples and honeymooners or groups of friends. A little bit of a quirky attraction to the property is their involvement in Latin Dancing. Monday nights are Latin nights in the Ballroom restaurant and the staff perform a few routines as well as some students from the Lombok International Dance Studio. It is amazing to watch and a very cool experience! They also have Culture Night on Thursdays where they showcase traditional Lombok dances, stick fighting and more.
If you’re looking for something different to Bali that is still not too far away, then definitely give Lombok or the Gili Islands a try. You will absolutely not be disappointed! As always, feel free to contact me if you would like to know more!
A x