Do you think only on Bali island you can find crystal clear water and white sand beaches? NO. There are many such beaches in other Indonesian islands as well and they are not so crowded yet. In the neighbor Lombok island, you can enjoy the same or even better beaches. Maybe it’s time to consider Lombok island one of the options for a holidays destination? Besides beautiful nature, it’s a bit cheaper than in Bali.
There are so many beautiful Lombok beaches that during 3 weeks trip we didn’t manage to visit all of them. But here are my favorite ones where I would love to come back one day.
Lombok beaches which I recommend to visit at least once
Selong Belanak beach
The most beautiful beach I ever saw in Indonesia till now! Wide and long, soft, white sand coast and crystal clear, clean, warm water. The beach is having a curvy shape with hills on each point. The waves are not so high, so you can enjoy swimming (even if it’s not recommended to do because there are fishing boats but from my experience they are too far, not disturbing at all). As well have sunbathing or just a relaxing walk along the beach. As well it’s a perfect place to learn how to surf.
HOW TO GET TO SELONG BELANAK BEACH:
Beach located ~49 km from Mataram (~1,5-hour drive). From Kuta Lombok, it’s ~ 17 km. From Mataram, you just need to take the route to Lombok International airport. If you have reached Jami’ Penunjak Mosque, you should turn to the North until you find the beach. Make sure to ask around on the way to Selong Belanak beach because there would be no road signs that can lead you to this beach.
TIPS:
If you will be lucky, you can buy fresh seafood from local people. Most of the people living near Selong Belanak are fishermen, so sometimes they will come back from the sea with fresh seafood. As well you can have a fishing trip with local people.
The beach will be very crowded during the holiday season. If you can, try to visit Selong Belanak beach on weekdays.
You can find many beach vendors there, rent a cot.
To make your time more efficient, you can visit as well Mawun beach, Kuta beach, Seger beach, Aan Bay, or Sade beach in one day. But I would highly recommend staying in Selong Belanak beach all day long.
One of the Lombok beaches is cozy, peaceful, surrounded by 2 hills on the West and East sides. Has white, soft texture sand in the middle of the beach that turns to rougher, mixed with small rocks near the hills. Has clean, blue water where you can enjoy swimming (but near the hills, the waves are higher and stronger). Not too many people come to this beach, so you can feel like it belongs all to you. On this beach you can have a relaxing time, sunbathing, climb the hills and enjoy the view of the Indian Ocean.
HOW TO GET TO MAWUN BEACH:
Mawun beach is ~60 km from Mataram city (it’s ~1,5 hour drive). From Kuta Lombok ~20 min. drive. The route is Mataram-Cakranegara-Kediri-Praya-Penujak-Selong Belanak-Mawun, or Mataram-Cakranegara-Kediri-Praya-Batunyale-Sengkol-Rambitan-Sade-Kuta-Mawun. If you are visiting Selong Belank beach, Mawun is only ~9 km from there.
TIPS:
You should be careful if you will decide to swim near the hills because there are no lifeguards on this beach.
Take some snacks with you because there are only several beach vendors, who sell things for extremely high prices.
If you will be lucky, on the way to this beach you can see farmers harvesting tobacco leaves.
On the way, you can visit as well Selong Belank beach and others around (see above).
Even if it’s not my favorite place (because it’s too crowded) but it’s a strategical good place to stay a couple of days and explore the South part of Lombok beaches (and not only). There are many places to stay, to eat, order some extra activities or trips to other parts of Lombok, as well as make laundry if you are on a long trip.
Kuta beach has ~7 km coastline with some small hills where you can climb. The sand not so soft and you can’t properly swim, as well it lays near the main road. Here you will find many people who come just chill out with a drink in a beach bar or see the sunset. But ~2 km from Kuta beach you can find as well Seger beach (it’s a good place for snorkeling, a more calm beach just to spend some time). and other smaller ones.
HOW TO GET TO KUTA BEACH:
Kuta beach located ~50 km from Mataram (~1-hour drive). If you are in Bali or in one of the Gili’s island, many tour operators suggest trips to Kuta Lombok from there.
TIPS:
Bargue the price before renting snorkeling equipment.
There are many places to stay, depends on your budget and wishes.
We stayed in Seger Reef homestay. It’s located in front of the beach, has hot water, WI-FI (in the lobby) and it’s a safe to place.
Tanjung AAN beach
This Lombok beach surrounded by some hills that you can climb. In the middle of the beach also have one small hill that you can hike. Unfortunately, the sand not so smooth like in mentioned other beaches but still you can have a nice time swimming in blue water, enjoy the beautiful scenery of ~2 km coastline or have a walk. It’s a good place for snorkeling as well.
HOW TO GET TO TANJUNG AAN BEACH:
It’s located ~75 km from Mataram (~1,5 hour drive). Or ~3 km from Kuta beach. The route is Mataram – Cakranegara – Kediri – Praya – Batunyale – Sengkol – Rambitan – Sade – Kuta and finally Tanjung Aan.
TIPS:
There are many beach vendors, some local “warungs” to eat.
You can be a bit annoyed by many street sellers who on each step suggest buying something.
The name “pink” was given because it’s the only beach on Lombok island which have pink colored sand. Some of the locals call this beach “heaven beach” as well. Because it’s a cozy, quiet beach, seems untouched by people. But if you want to reach it you need to pass the “hell road”. When we were there, the road condition was so horrible that ~10 km we were passing more than 1 hour. But we saw that people were fixing the road, so I hope now it’s much better.
“Pink beach” surrounded by cliffs that you can climb and have an amazing view of other close Lombok beaches, panorama below the cliffs. Also from the top, you can see a more clear pink beach color. The sand on this beach so soft and the water so blue, calm. It’s the perfect place for 1-day trip. As well, like the road to this place so bad many people don’t come here.
HOW TO GET TO PINK BEACH:
It’s ~82 km from Mataram (~3 hours drive). From Kuta ~ 53 km (~1,30 hour drive). But going to this beach takes the safe route and don’t go by the quickest way.
TIPS:
The more clear pink color you can see either in the early morning or in the evening, so try to visit it during that time.
You can reach Pink beach as well with short boat trips from Tanjung Luar or Telong-Elong.
Take some snacks with you because there are only several beach vendors who sometimes not open during the work week (only on weekends when coming more people).
If you don’t want to drive through “hell road” by yourself you can order a tour from tourist offices in Kuta.
While you will be in Pink beach, visit as well amazing Tanjung Ringgit, like it’s on the same road.
Indonesia is a country where you become addicted to travel. There are so many breathtaking places and so many things to explore – you just need to decide where to go. Even without a plan, you will have, for sure, amazing memories.
If you like to travel, probably, you had such feeling – when you come to a place, it’s just bewitch you? Here are some Indonesian discoveries of nature that stuck in my mind like most powerful ones (which I visited till now). I don’t know why and truly to say don’t think about it so much. For me, the main thing – at that time, when I was there, I was really happy!
To reach this waterfall we went through rice paddies, small “jungle”, no more clear path was seen. The view from a bit further already was amazing. But to go down wasn’t so easy – it was vertical way through clay that was still wet and very slippery. It took us some time to get down – but we were so happy – to be in the middle of nowhere, without anyone else, to hear the sound of falling water, to feel strong wind and the power of nature.
First time in life I try bath under the waterfall (ant it’s ~100 m high). And it was the most powerful feeling that I ever felt – for couple of minutes I couldn’t even properly breath – because of coldness, strong wind and strong water stream that was a bit painful. I stood there and didn’t want to move. I felt what it means to be in a nature ant with it. This waterfall was the most amazing thing that I saw in my life (till now :)).
When I saw this beach I was amazed. It was so big, yellow, soft, warm sand, with turquoise water color. I never before saw such color of the water. I was just standing there and watching that immense horizon. Through me passed couple beginners surfers and that’s all, no more people (only sellers in “warungs”). The beach was quite long, so I just desired to walk through it and enjoy that peaceful moment. Only later I decided to swim a bit and the water was so warm. Funny thing, in touristic books written that swimming here impossible because quite near onshore, there are many fisherman boats. But it’s not true, you can see some boats but it’s further from the beach. The beach and sea are so large, that everyone can find a place for themselves. I felt in love with this beach, so even if we didn’t plan, we came here once again, on the way back.
“Pink beach” (“Pantai Tangsi”, Lombok island)
Local people as well call it “heaven beach”. 10 km distance we needed to drive more than 1 hour through very rocky road. Local people say that “if you want to reach heaven (beach) you need pass hell (rocky road)”. When we came there were no people. It’s cozy, not big beach with pink color sand. You can swim there, a bit climb on the hill and see many other beaches from the top. This beach looked like from fairy tale.
Gili Meno island
Small island, during 1 hour you can walk around all of it. The sunrises in horizon of mount Rinjani and peaceful beaches just bewitched me. I never thought that I can stay 4 days in a beach and do nothing :). But here I manage just to do nothing and enjoy holidays.
Tanjung Puting National park (Borneo island)
First time I saw in this park live orangutans (like other monkeys) and their life in a nature. To meet them in a middle of forest, to see how they behavior, look at you – something unforgettable.
Sunset in Uluwatu temple (“Pura Luhur Uluwatu”, Bali island)
If you ever thought about “perfect” sunset – this place is the right one to see it. Fishing boats, temple on the cliff, Balinese “kechak” dance and going down sun – the view like a reward for all hard work.
Sidoharjo waterfall (“Air terjun Sidoharjo”, Kulon Progo, Java island)
Even if the stream of this waterfall already smaller than was before, still this ~75 m high waterfall reminds me that nature is so beautiful and inspiring. More than 1 hour I was just sitting there and enjoying all surrounding.
Sunset in Parangtritis beach (“Pantai Parangtritis”, Yogyakarta, Java island)
This beach not the best in Indonesia and Yogyakarta. Rubbish, not allowed to swim, strong wind but it’s a perfect place for sunsets not far away from the city. This sunset was like a gift for my birthday – special one :).
Yeah, I believe that Indonesia can suggest even more beautiful places to see, to explore. But like I read somewhere, you need at least 45 years, if you want to see most of the Indonesia. I don’t have any so much time, so I try to enjoy every place that I see and every time I fall in love with Indonesia more and more.
What is your nature discoveries in Indonesia? Tell me your stories :)
To reach this waterfall we went through rice paddies, small “jungle”, no more clear path was seen. The view from a bit further already was amazing. But to go down wasn’t so easy – it was vertical way through clay that was still wet and very slippery. It took us some time to get down – but we were so happy – to be in the middle of nowhere, without anyone else, to hear the sound of falling water, to feel strong wind and the power of nature.
When I saw this beach I was amazed. It was so big, yellow, soft, warm sand, with turquoise water color. I never before saw such color of the water. I was just standing there and watching that immense horizon. Through me passed couple beginners surfers and that’s all, no more people (only sellers in “warungs”). The beach was quite long, so I just desired to walk through it and enjoy that peaceful moment. Only later I decided to swim a bit and the water was so warm. Funny thing, in touristic books written that swimming here impossible because quite near onshore, there are many fisherman boats. But it’s not true, you can see some boats but it’s further from the beach. The beach and sea are so large, that everyone can find a place for themselves. I felt in love with this beach, so even if we didn’t plan, we came here once again, on the way back.
Local people as well call it “heaven beach”. 10 km distance we needed to drive more than 1 hour through very rocky road. Local people say that “if you want to reach heaven (beach) you need pass hell (rocky road)”. When we came there were no people. It’s cozy, not big beach with pink color sand. You can swim there, a bit climb on the hill and see many other beaches from the top. This beach looked like from fairy tale.
Small island, during 1 hour you can walk around all of it. The sunrises in horizon of mount Rinjani and peaceful beaches just bewitched me. I never thought that I can stay 4 days in a beach and do nothing :). But here I manage just to do nothing and enjoy holidays.
First time I saw in this park live orangutans (like other monkeys) and their life in a nature. To meet them in a middle of forest, to see how they behavior, look at you – something unforgettable.
Even if the stream of this waterfall already smaller than was before, still this ~75 m high waterfall reminds me that nature is so beautiful and inspiring. More than 1 hour I was just sitting there and enjoying all surrounding.