Top Things to See
From the natural to the spiritual, Lombok has an engaging range of things to see and do. The beaches are an obvious highlight, as is the majestic Rinjani volcano. The small urban enclaves and traditional animist villages tucked away in the interior also offer plenty of cultural immersion. Lombok’s tourism potential has barely been scratched, so visitors need to be resourceful if they want to experience the island’s culture aside from the obvious tourist highlights.
 Kuta
The beaches along the sweeping bay south of Mataram are arguably the finest on Lombok. Some of the best surfing is also around Kuta, with the surfers giving it an exotic, carefree atmosphere. Climb Pantai Segar rock for some of the best views on the island, or just enjoy the serenity of this quiet, laid-back area.
Mayura
One of the top attractions on the western side of Lombok is Mayura, a royal floating palace belonging to the Balinese kingdom, which ruled the island during the 1700s. Few pieces of Lombok’s architecture are as impressive as this historic site.
Negeri Nusa Tenggara Barat Museum
Lombok’s only modern museum displays the history, culture and geology of Lombok and neighbouring Sumbawa. It may be a humble facility, but this museum is the best place to get a feel for the traditions of this part of Indonesia. It’s also a good spot for buying antiques and handicrafts of high quality.
 Pura Lingsar
This large temple complex is the most sacred place on Lombok and is the best site to experience the exotic nature of Lombok’s religion before the arrival of Islam. Built in 1714, this unique place combines both Balinese Hinduism and the local Wektu Telu animism, with a number of impressive temples dedicated to the respective deities.
 Sendang Gile Waterfall
In foothills of Rinjani volcano are the biggest waterfalls on Lombok. Located at around 600 metres above sea level, the crystal-clear waters of this waterfall crash into a pool below, eventually flowing out to be used as irrigation in the surrounding rice fields. If you don’t plan to climb to the top of Rinjani, this excursion is a good alternative.
 Senggigi
Lombok’s main beach resort town is 12kms north of Mataram, the island’s biggest city. Although the beaches around Senggigi aren’t the best on Lombok, this is where most of the tourist infrastructure is located.
 Tanjung Aan
If there’s one beach worth making the effort to visit, it’s Tanjung Aan near Kuta. The sand here is unlike that on any other beach on Lombok, with a beautiful colouring that resembles salt and pepper. Hawkers wander the beach selling all kinds of things, and the sea is calm and clear.
Top Things to Do
 Catch a boat to the Gili Islands. One of the last places on earth devoid of motorised vehicles, these three little gems off the western shores of Lombok are surrounded by coral reefs and immersed in a relaxed version of Islam. Horse-drawn carts serve as taxis, which plod along the sandy track which circles most of each island. This is where Lombok’s best snorkelling and diving is found, making up a large part of the scene on Gili Trawangan. Gili Meno is the quietest island of the group, while Gili Air is where most of the local lifestyle takes place. Lodging is rustic and inexpensive.
Climb to the top of Pantai Segar. Hikers can climb this enormous sculpted rock two kilometres east of Kuta Beach. Upon completing the relatively easy climb, hikers are rewarded with 360 degree views of the countryside and sea. The morning is a particularly stunning time to make this excursion.
Get a traditional Lombok massage and ease yourself even deeper into relaxation mode. One of the real treats of visiting Lombok is indulging in the local massage, which is surprisingly cheap and very therapeutic. Massage therapists are easily found at most resorts and in the larger urban areas.
Make the trek to the top of Rinjani, Lombok’s sole volcano. It takes about three days to walk from the base to the summit of Rinjani, but the effort is well worth it. The scenery within the crater is magical and moonlike, while the views will leave you breathless. If you want a touch of adventure in your holiday, a trek up Rinjani is an ideal activity.
Test your taste buds with a real Sasak meal. Sasak food is best experienced in the urban enclave that encompasses Mataram, Ampenan, Sweta and Cakranegara. Resorts and tourist restaurants usually tone down the spice level, but at a local café you’ll be guaranteed a super spicy bowl of curried chicken, or any of the other traditional Sasak specialties.
 Visit Tanjung Luar, the largest fishing village on Lombok. Fishing has always been a major source of food and income for many locals on the island, but has steadily declined as tourism has replaced fishing jobs. Tanjung Luar hasn’t let go of its roots however, and visitors can watch the inhabitants of this small fishing village go out on their traditional boats or bringing back their catches.
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