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Turquoise water off the Gili Islands, Lombok

No. 19 25 Great Islands to Visit 2026

Lombok

West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

Bali's quieter neighbour, with Mount Rinjani, surf beaches and the Gili Islands.

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Photo: yeowatzup, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Overview

Lombok lies east of Bali across the Lombok Strait. It is dominated by Mount Rinjani, an active volcano with a crater lake, and has a long southern coast of bays and surf beaches.

The three small Gili Islands off the north-west coast are known for snorkelling and have no motorised traffic.

Lombok Island and Mount Rinjani from Gili Meno Island, Indonesia
Lombok Island and Mount Rinjani from Gili Meno Island, Indonesia. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, source
Clouds over Lombok Strait, Gili Islands, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Clouds over Lombok Strait, Gili Islands, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, source
Clouds, cloudscape over Lombok Strait, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia
Clouds, cloudscape over Lombok Strait, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, source

Best time to visit

May to September is the dry season and the time for Rinjani treks. November to March is the wet season.

Highlights

  • 1

    Mount Rinjani

    Multi-day treks to the crater rim and lake with licensed guides; the trails close in the rainy season.

  • 2

    Gili Islands

    Gili Trawangan, Meno and Air, for snorkelling with turtles.

  • 3

    Kuta Lombok

    Southern bays such as Tanjung Aan and Selong Belanak.

  • 4

    Sasak villages

    Traditional villages such as Sade.

  • 5

    Waterfalls

    Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep near Senaru.

Getting there

Lombok International Airport has flights from Bali, Jakarta and some international routes. Fast boats run from Bali to the Gili Islands and Lombok.

Practical tips

Opening & tickets
Opening times, ticket rules and transport timetables change, so check official information before you go.
Time needed
Five days to a week.

Official information: Wonderful Indonesia (official tourism website). Check opening hours, prices and entry rules there before you go.

Map

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