Pristine beaches, mountains, nature and surf
Lombok is the perfect off the beaten path destination for adventurous couples that love nature. As we live in Bali, we hop over by ferry or plane to Lombok often, and we never get bored! The pristine beaches of South Lombok are arguably prettier than the best beaches of Bali. The massive Rinjani volcano is surrounded by dense forests and rice terraces. North-west Lombok offers some very luxury beachfront resorts at affordable prices. And we haven’t even mentioned the surf yet!
Lombok compared to Bali
Lombok is a bit more conservative than Bali: alcohol can be hard to find outside touristy towns like Kuta and Senggigi. Nevertheless, the people of Lombok are extremely friendly and welcoming. Both Lombok and Bali are formed by large volcanoes, and therefore offer similar landscapes, however Lombok is slightly dryer as it is located east of the Wallace line (wikipedia).
Our Favorite Regions of Lombok
Check the map below, and read the paragraphs under it, for an overview of the best regions of Lombok to visit as a couple. Most travelers choose to combine multiple regions: many people visiting the mountain and forests around Tetebatu also check out the beaches of the lively town of Kuta. And as Senggigi is so close to the Gili Islands, we visited both during the same trip.
Kuta: Surf, Best Beaches & Lively Town
Kuta is a lively town in South-East Lombok (not to be confused with Kuta in Bali!) that has become the main tourist town of Lombok in recent years. In town, you will find many hostels, hotels, bars, coffeeshops and restaurants. While the beach in Kuta itself is not amazing, some of the most spectacular beaches of Indonesia can be found a short drive away.
- Our favorite beach roughly 20 minutes from Kuta is Selong Belanak Beach, the sunset here is amazing as it faces West and you overlook the sun setting over the mountains in the distance. In addition, this beach is really clean with white sands and its good for beginner surf. Trust us and check this place out!
- Closer to Kuta you can find Tanjung Aan beach. The water hear is crystal clear and the ocean is very calm. Some simple beach stalls offer beach beds or bean bags if you buy a drink or some local food. TIP: a playful wooden swing suitable for two people is built here in the water, which might be a great spot to take some honeymoon pictures together.
We suggest couples to stay in town to have all facilities in walking distance. Couples that would enjoy experiencing hippy vibes for a few days, consider staying at the lovely Mana Eco Retreat in a lush green part of town. They are famous for their yoga classes, consciousness of their impact on environment and healthy vegetarian restaurant. If that’s not your vibe, a great alternative are the affordable 4-star private pool villas at Jati Kuta, right in the center of town.
Surfers love to stay in Kuta as many famous surf spots can be found nearby. Gerupuk is the most notable, a wave in the middle of a large bay. You will need a boat to get close to this waves. Many other surf spots can be found in proximity of Kuta.
The original people of Lombok belong to the Sasak tribe. If you are interested in culture, there is a traditional Sasak village with original wooden houses that you can visit. While tourists are welcomed, this village did not feel like a tourist trap to us: people actually still live here and practise traditional crafts.
A little warning: in recent years, a MotoGP race track has been opened near Kuta. While international competitions are only held a few times a year, it has impacted the area East of Kuta quite a bit, with large roads and big resorts being developed. It is not the most attractive area, so we really recommend not staying in any of the hotels near the track. Instead, stay in town, or near any beaches towards the west of Kuta (towards Selong Belanak beach).
Senggigi: Luxury Resorts and Pristine Beaches
Senggigi is located on the west shores of Lombok. A winding road stretches over 10 kilometers across many bays, each with its own distinct character, but almost all featuring serene beaches with clear blue waters surrounded by palm trees and hills covered in jungle.
Considering its beauty, we were not surprised to learn that Senggigi is the place where the first tourist hotels in Lombok were originally developed. Nowadays, Senggigi is where you find the most luxurious secluded beachfront resorts in all of Lombok, making it a great honeymoon destination. We suggest staying in one of the hotels north of Senggigi town, as we like the beaches on that side slightly better than the beaches further south.
There are two hotels we highly recommend. For a 5-star honeymoon experience, definitely check out Seven Secrets by Hanging Gardens. While not cheap, it is probably the best resort for a honeymoon in all of Lombok, located on an amazing secluded beach with suites that feature private hottubs and an amazing staff. Read the raving reviews if you’re not convinced yet. A slightly more affordable 4-star alternative, with private pool villas, is the boutique oceanfront Jeeva Santai. While we didn’t stay here overnight, we visited this place for sunset, cocktails and dinner and had a great experience with super friendly staff.
We believe Senggigi is a good base to explore Lombok. You can make day-trips to Mount Rinjani, the Gilis (snorkeling trip by boat), waterfalls or even the South Lombok beaches. Many people stop by Senggigi on their way to one of the Gili Islands, as it is close to the harbour of Bangsal. The town of Senggigi does have a few bars and restaurants, but we spent 2 nights in town and the options are quite limited as it is pretty small - better stay in one of the beachfront resorts!
There is a direct fast ferry from Padangbai in Bali to Senggigi in Lombok, which is operated by Ekajaya and takes about 1.5 hours.
Tetebatu: Nature and Mount Rinjani
Tetebatu is located in Central Lombok, on the south slopes of the massive Rinjani volcano. With 3,728 meters (12,224ft) it is the second highest volcano in all of Indonesia. Climbing to the top of Rinjani is possible, but it takes 2-3 days and is far from an easy climb, so we forgive couples that like to skip this one ;-).
However even when not hiking up Rinjani, we still think its a great idea to visit Tetebatu. Due to the volcanic soil and elevation, it is one of the greenest and most fertile nature areas of Lombok, resulting in a beautiful mix of forest, fauna, waterfalls and (often stacked) rice terraces. One highlight is the Monkey Forest, which is a breath of fresh air compared to the overcrowded monkey forest in Bali. In Tetebatu, you’ll walk through an actual forest in nature. Monkeys are less tamed and stay a bit further away from visitors.
It is possible to visit the Tetebatu area as a day-trip from either Senggigi or Kuta, but if you would like to enjoy the nature here in a calmer pace you could consider staying overnight. However, you won’t find any luxury hotels here, simple guesthouses and wooden cabins are your only options. We enjoyed Sama Sama Bungalows, a lively place with friendly staff that feels a bit like a hostel and has a pool overlooking a green valley - but the rooms are super basic!
Gili Islands: Popular Islands off Lombok’s Coast
Just of the coast of north-west Lombok, you will find the three Gili Islands. Cars and motorbikes are forbidden on these small islands. They are surrounded by white sand beaches and bright blue waters perfect for diving and snorkeling (we even spotted massive turtles!).
We love the Gilis so much that we wrote a dedicated article on Honeymoon in the Gili Islands. Definitely consider staying on one of the Gili Islands if you are visiting Lombok already, its soo close!
No time to stay in Gilis? You could experience the best of what the Gili Islands has to offer as a Gilis Day Trip from Lombok. This includes visiting the most beautiful snorkeling spots and beaches. We haven’t done this (as we actually stayed in the Gilis), but the tour operator is highly rated online and can pick you up anywhere in Lombok.
Best Honeymoon Hotels in Lombok
We highly recommend the hotels listed below for couples on a Honeymoon or otherwise exploring Lombok. Make sure to use the filters to check whether they are in Kuta, Senggigi or Tetebatu, as Lombok is a large island!
Honeymoon Activities in Lombok
As a couple living in Bali, we have been to Lombok many times. Below is a list of our favorite romantic activities, as well as must-see highlights of Lombok.
Romantic Dining in Lombok
Your options for high end dining in Lombok are limited - it is a more off the beaten path destination, and you have more options in Bali. However Senggigi has a few good options, and Kuta has lots of great and healthy casual dining restaurants. We’ve listed some of our favorites below, make sure to filter by Kuta or Senggigi to find the ones near your hotel.
Don’t just stick to international food: Lombok has some flavourful (though also spicy!) local dishes. Our favorite is Ayam Taliwang, which you can find all over the island. It is a dish of chicken and rice with a rich red sauce, often served with urap (vegetables covered in grated coconut). As the sea is never far, it will also be easy to find grilled fish almost anywhere in Lombok. Our favorite is the local Red Snapper fish.
How to get to Lombok
There are multiple direct flights between Bali and Lombok every day. These flights only take 45 minutes and are usually affordable. We personally prefer Citilink as the more reliable airline over Lion Air and Wings Abadi. Taking a flight is a good option when heading to South Lombok, especially the Kuta area.
If you’re heading to the north-west Lombok, the region of Senggigi and the Gili Islands, your best option is taking a fast ferry from Padangbai port in Bali. Multiple fast ferries serve the Gili Islands and Bangsal port from Padangbai, and the trip over the Lombok Strait takes about 1.5 to 2 hours. Ekajaya Ferries also serves Senggigi directly from Bali, and is our recommended ferry company generally. Do note that in extreme weather, these fast ferries do get cancelled sometimes. We would recommend keeping some flexibility in your itinerary, especially if you have an international flight to catch out of Bali.
The cheapest way to get to Lombok is using a slower public ferry. These leave from Padangbai in Bali as well, but in Lombok they dock at Lembar in the south-west. Depending on the weather these ferries take around 4 to 5 hours. This is the only option if you want to take a bike or car from Bali to Lombok, but be aware that police in Padangbai harbour might check for certificate of ownership and drivers license before boarding.
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Written by Olivia & Dirk
Hi! We have put together this guide with a lot of care, based on our own experiences. As a couple, we have lived in Bali for the past 5 years, and we fell in love with the island. We have visited every corner of Bali, especially the romantic places ;-). While our articles do contain affiliate links, you can trust us to recommend only the experiences that we love.
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