About Lombok
Lombok, this beautiful island known as The Thousand Mosques Island (Pulau Seribu Masjid) is often overshadowed by its neighboring island which is famous all over the world, Bali. However, local and foreign tourists who want to find something different from Bali has to visit Lombok at least once in a lifetime. Generally speaking, many tourists visit this place by backpacking or take various tour packages to Lombok offered by travel agents.
Lombok is one of the islands in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) province with the capital city of Mataram. Lombok is part of a series of Small Sunda Islands with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali in the west. While in the east, Lombok is bordered by the Sumbawa Island and Alas Strait.
Some Alternatives to Reach Lombok
Travelers can use direct flights from various cities in Indonesia to Lombok International Airport. From this airport, there are many public transportation options you can choose, including taxis and Damri buses. Damri Bus serves transportation from the airport to Senggigi, Mandalika Terminal in Mataram City, and Pancor Terminal in East Lombok. The price of Damri bus ticket to Senggigi is only IDR 35,000, to Mataram IDR 25,000, and to Pancor Terminal is IDR 30,000. The trip from the airport to Mataram only takes about 45 minutes. You can also take tour packages offered by several agents to facilitate your journey to several tourist locations.
In addition to air transportation, tourists can also reach Lombok by ferry or speedboat from Bali and Sumbawa. Lembar Harbor is a port that serves ferry boats from Padang Bai, Bali, while Kayangan Port in the east of Lombok serves ships from Sumbawa.
Various Reasons to Visit Lombok
Gifted with white sand beaches, big waves that will satisfy surfers and adventurous, as well as hiking routes through forests, tobacco plantations, and rice fields, Lombok is rich in equatorial attractiveness. The beauty of tourism in Lombok Island is divided into various zones as follows.
Southern Lombok
You can find a coast with a blue sea in Southern Lombok which is famous for being one of the best surfing locations in the world due to its high waves on the Indian ocean. The South Coast of Lombok is also known for its large variety of streams, including Desert-Point in Banko Banko.
Make sure to visit Sekotong which is a popular location for scuba diving and Kuta which is famous for its beautiful white sand beaches. In recent years, Kuta has grown steadily, especially after the opening of the international airport in Praya. In Kuta, there is Sade Village, a village inhabited by Sasak tribes that are open to tourists. Here, you can interact directly with the Sasak Tribe and learn their customs and habits. Travelers can also buy handicrafts made by Sasak Tribe women for souvenirs. Cultural tourism packages are also available for those who want to explore the rich culture of NTB.
North Lombok
Besides Southern Lombok, the northern part of Lombok also has its own charm. Senggigi is one of the most developed tourist sites in Lombok. Moreover, the Gili Islands which consists of three small islands are destinations that must also be visited in Lombok. You can choose to visit Gili Trawangan with more complete facilities, Gili Meno as a place to get peace or Gili Air to find the little bit of both. There are many fast boat service in tour packages that can bring tourists from Bali directly to one of the islands in the Gili Islands.
Northeast Lombok
In the northeast near Tanjung, there are many hotel and villa developments centered on the Sire Peninsula and Medana, close to the Gili Islands. There is also a built of a new marina in the Gulf of Medana. This development complements the facilities of a five-star resort and a spacious golf course that has been made there first.
Central Lombok
The mainland of Lombok is dominated by agricultural areas. For those who like hiking, don't miss the climbing package to Mount Rinjani or climbing independently. This second highest active volcano in Indonesia has a peak in the form of a hot spring and the beautiful crater lake of Segara Anak. Both become compulsory backgrounds for taking pictures.
Those are some reviews about tourism on Lombok island. For you who need more information about tour packages to this island, feel free to visit a trusted online travel agency site like Traveloka.