Lombok is an island in Indonesia located east of Bali. Although less famous than Bali, Lombok has a lot to offer in terms of natural landscapes, local culture, and outdoor activities. In this article, we explore some of Lombok’s most iconic places, including the Gili Islands, Bangsal, Senggigi, Kuta Beach, and the traditional village of Sasak Ende. We also explain how to get to Lombok from Gili IslandsThe Gili Islands are a group of three small islands off the northwest coast of Lombok. The Gilis are famous for their white sandy beaches, crystal-clear waters, and coral Trawangan is the largest and most developed island of the three. It is also the liveliest and most touristy, with many restaurants, bars, and nightclubs. Gili Meno is the smallest and quietest of the three, ideal for travelers seeking tranquility and relaxation. Gili Air is a good compromise between the other two islands, with beautiful beaches and nice beach bars for Gili Air, I recommend staying at the 7 Seas Cottage, right on the beach next to the port. You can rent bikes 7 seas cottageBangsal and its surroundingsBangsal is a small fishing village located on the northwest coast of Lombok, just across from the Gili Islands. It is also the main port for ferries and boats that connect Lombok to the Gili Islands, Bali, and Nusa Penida. In addition to the ferries, there are also traditional fishing boats called “perahu” that you can rent to explore the bays and islets around beachfront hotelsThe nearby Sire Beach is an ideal place to enjoy a day of swimming and relaxation. Depending on your budget, you can spend one or more very relaxing nights at the Oberoi, a very luxurious but expensive hotel, at the Tugu hotel, or at the Anema, which also has a good value for money and is a diving AnemaLombok Wildlife ParkLombok Wildlife Park is the first animal sanctuary in Lombok. It has a professionally trained team that caters to all the needs of the animals. They claim that the well-being of the animals is their topmost priority. Even though I usually don’t like to see animals in captivity, these ones appear to be Wildlife ParkTiu KelepIf you’re looking for more adventure, you can hike to the Tiu Kelep waterfall, located about a 1 hour and 15 minute drive from Bangsal. The Tiu Kelep waterfall is a popular destination for hiking enthusiasts due to its beautiful setting and refreshing is a beach resort located on the west coast of Lombok. The beach stretches for several kilometers and offers a beautiful view of the sunset. The town of Senggigi also offers a number of restaurants, shops, and is finally a good starting point for exploring the tourist sites of Lombok, such as the Rinjani volcano and the traditional Sasak Ende stayed at the Katamaran hotel. The hotel itself is a bit impersonal but the beachfront location is nice. And the pool is quite unique!Hotel KatamaranKuta BeachKuta Beach is a white sandy beach located on the southern coast of Lombok. The beach is famous for its world-class waves, making it a popular spot for surfing. However, the neighboring Tanjung Aan beach is even more beautiful, wilder and also offers great surfing opportunities. You can even ask small boats to take you further out into the bay to join the Aan BeachPrabu CaveThe Prabu Cave Goa Bangkang Prabu houses a large colony of fruit bats. Visitors can go to the cave to observe these fascinating animals as they feed and sleep. The cave is indeed a unique and interesting place for wildlife enthusiasts and nature lovers. In addition to the bat colony, visitors can also admire the stalactites and stalagmites that decorate the cave. It is an unforgettable experience that allows you to discover a different aspect of the natural beauty of Lombok Island. You will be given a helmet to protect your head, but you may also need a tissue for your mouth and nose as the bat excrement smells quite strong. Sensitive souls may also be impressed by the thousands of cockroaches that crawl on the walls of the cave!Prabu CaveWhere to stay in Kuta Beach?I stayed at the Pullman hotel. The hotel itself is very new and doesn’t have much charm, but it’s located on a nice beach. Right next to it is the Novotel, which is older but has a more charming restaurant. Both hotels are also located right next to the Mandalika circuit, which has hosted the Indonesian Moto Grand Prix since 2022. On a future trip, I will probably try the Sikara Lombok Hotel. I had dinner there and the rooms and hotel seemed quite nice for a reasonable EndeYou will love the traditional village of Sasak Ende for its unique architecture, rich culture, and natural beauty. The inhabitants of Sasak Ende are mainly farmers and artisans, who perpetuate the centuries-old traditions of their village is surrounded by lush green hills and vast rice fields, which add to its charm. The traditional houses of Sasak Ende are built of bamboo and wood, with thatched roofs and walls made of mud. The houses are also decorated with colorful floral motifs and elaborate wooden people of Sasak Ende are proud of their cultural heritage. They regularly organize festivals and celebrations to honor their ancestors and traditions. Outside of festivals, you can still visit the village with a guide who will explain the Sasak traditions, including how every young man must literally kidnap his future wife before he can marry her…Sasak EndeHow to get to Lombok?It is possible to reach Lombok by boat from Bali or by plane from most major cities in Indonesia. Personally, from Bali, I prefer to go to Lombok by from Bali to Lombok by boatFerries and speedboats are available from several ports in Bali. The ferry is only advantageous if you want to travel with your car or motorcycle or if you are on a tight budget. Otherwise, the speedboats will be much faster. The journey takes about two hours, but the duration may vary depending on the weather conditions and the state of the are several fast boat companies that connect Bali and Lombok. One of the best options is Eka Jaya, which offers daily service between these islands. Eka Jaya uses spacious and comfortable fast boats equipped with four powerful engines, allowing you to travel quickly and comfortably. The boats are 23 meters long and can accommodate up to 210 passengers. Eka Jaya offers a 20% discount on the ticket price if you book on a Friday!Eka Jaya fast boatFrom Bali to Gili Islands or LombokIf you’re leaving from Bali, the best option is to depart from Padang Bai. The connections between Amed and Lombok or the Gili Islands are currently suspended. Eka Jaya also offers an option from Serangan, but you’ll pay an extra 200,000 rupiahs per passenger, and you’ll have to make a first stop at Nusa Penida, which will add about 2 hours to the journey. If you’re traveling with several people, it’s better to drive to Padang Bai. You’ll save time and fast boat Eka Jaya operates two daily connections to the Gili Islands and Lombok from Padang Bai. The earlier you depart, the better the sea conditions, but the journey is different for the two boat departing from Padang Bai at 9am stops at Gili Trawangan at 1030am, Gili Meno at 1045am, and Gili Air at 11am. It then arrives at Bangsal at 1130am and departs at 12pm to return to Padang Bai at 1 boat departing from Padang Bai at 1030am arrives at Senggigi at 1150am, then at Gili Trawangan at 1220pm, Gili Meno at 1235pm, Gili Air at 1245pm, and finally at Bangsal at 1pm. This boat then departs for Senggigi and arrives at Padang Bai at 3 One and Golden Queen also offer connections between Padang Bai, the Gili Islands, and Lombok at lower prices, but the boats are smaller and you may experience more turbulence in rough Queen fast boatFrom Nusa Penida to Lombok and the Gili IslandsThe fast boat Eka Jaya provides two daily trips from Nusa Penida to first boat departs from Nusa Penida at 930 AM to reach Padang Bai and then continues on to Senggigi 1150 AM, the Gili Islands 1220 PM, 1235 PM, 1245 PM before arriving at Bangsal at 100 second boat leaves Nusa Penida at 1030 AM and arrives in Senggigi at 100 PM. It departs from Senggigi at 200 PM to reach Nusa Penida at 430 PM via Padang the return trip, you can depart from Gili Trawangan at 1220 PM, Gili Meno at 1235 PM, Gili Air at 1245 PM, Bangsal at 130 PM, and Senggigi at 200 PM to arrive at Nusa Penida at 430 PM via Padang you prefer a direct trip from Gili to Nusa Penida without stopping in Padang Bai, another good option is Semaya One. This boat also offers a daily service and can take you quickly and efficiently to the Gilis. The direct trip leaves Nusa Penida at 1000 AM and arrives at the Gilis at 1145 AM. For the return journey, the boat leaves the Gilis at 1200 PM and arrives at Nusa Penida around 230 PM. Semaya One also offers an option with a stop in Padang Bai departure from the Gilis at 900 AM and arrival in Nusa Penida around 1150 AM. The boat leaves Nusa Penida at 100 PM and arrives at the Gilis at 315 fast boatFlying to LombokAnother option is to take a plane. Several airlines offer direct flights from Bali to Lombok, with a flight time of about 30 minutes. However, the plane will be more expensive than the boat and the airport is quite far from Kuta and Bangsal anyway. So you may not necessarily save much time. To find the most affordable flights, consider checking out