Seven Days in Lombok: Volcanoes, Gilis & Wild Southern Beaches
From rice terraces to turquoise atolls and untamed surf coasts
Trip Overview
This itinerary takes you across Lombok's staggering geographic range, the resort beaches and Hindu temples of Senggigi, the car-free great destination of the Gili Islands, the misty highland valleys of Sembalun beneath Mount Rinjani, and the raw, wind-swept bays of the south coast around Kuta Lombok. The pace moves from west to east to south, following a route that minimises doubling back. You'll eat grilled fish with your feet in the sand, swim in crystalline lagoons, and watch the sun set over a smouldering caldera. Lombok rewards curious travellers who push past Senggigi: the south coast around Tanjung Aan and Mawun Beach rivals anything in Southeast Asia. Yet remains unhurried. This is a moderate-pace trip, active enough to see the island's best corners, unhurried enough to enjoy them.
Pace
Moderate
Daily Budget
$80-130 per day (mid-range); $40-60 budget; $200+ upscale
Best Seasons
May to September (dry season, clear skies for Rinjani trekking and beach days). April and October are shoulder months with fewer crowds. Avoid January, March for trekking as Rinjani is typically closed and roads can flood.
Ideal For
First-time visitors to Lombok, Couple and honeymoon travellers, Beach and surf enthusiasts, Hikers and volcano trekkers, Travellers wanting an alternative to Bali
Day-by-Day Itinerary
A complete plan for every day of your trip
1
Arrival, Temple Rocks & Senggigi Sundown
Senggigi, West Lombok
Fly in or arrive by fast boat from Bali, settle into Senggigi, and spend the afternoon exploring the Hindu sea temple of Pura Batu Bolong before unwinding with a seafood dinner on the strip.
Morning
Arrival at Lombok International Airport or Bangsal Harbour
Lombok International Airport (LOP) is a 45-minute drive north to Senggigi; a fixed-rate Blue Bird taxi costs around $18. If arriving by fast boat from Padang Bai, Bali, Perama and Blue Water Express run the 2-hour crossing for $25-35, disembark at Bangsal Harbour and take a private car 30 minutes south to Senggigi. Check in early if possible, then orient yourself with a walk along Jalan Raya Senggigi.
Pre-book your fast boat 24 hours in advance during high season (June, August); Blue Water Express and Perama both have online booking.
Lunch
Aroma Cafe on Jalan Raya Senggigi
Afternoon
Pura Batu Bolong temple and Senggigi beach walk
Pura Batu Bolong, 'temple of the hollow rock', sits on a lava outcrop right at the waterline 2 km south of central Senggigi. Entry is free; a sarong and sash are required and provided at the entrance. The ocean churns through a natural arch beneath the shrine platforms. After the temple, walk north along Senggigi Beach, the most developed stretch of sand on Lombok's west coast, and arrange tomorrow's Gili Island fast boat if you haven't already.
Evening
Sunset dinner at a beachfront warung
Warung Menega on the beachfront serves grilled whole fish, prawns, and squid priced by weight, point at the ice display and choose your fish. Expect to pay $12-18 for two people including rice and Es Teh Manis (sweet iced tea). Sunset from Senggigi Beach faces Bali's Mount Agung across the Lombok Strait, arrive by 6pm for the full show.
Where to Stay Tonight
Senggigi town centre or Mangsit (4 km north, quieter) (Puri Mas Boutique Resort in Mangsit for mid-range; Chili's Guest House in town for budget)
Senggigi is the logical first-night base, well-connected, ATMs everywhere, and close to the Bangsal fast-boat port for tomorrow's Gili crossing.
See all Lombok accommodation options →The surf on Senggigi Beach has a sharp shore break at high tide, swim at Mangsit Beach instead, 4 km north, where the water is calmer and the sand is cleaner.
Day 1 Budget: $70-110 (accommodation $30-60, food $15-20, transport $18-35, temple $1)
2
Island Time: Welcome to Gili Trawangan
Gili Trawangan, Northwest Lombok
Take the 30-minute public boat from Bangsal to Gili Trawangan, the largest and liveliest of the three Gili Islands, and spend the day snorkelling over coral gardens and watching hawksbill turtles cruise the shallows.
Morning
Fast boat to Gili Trawangan and arrival orientation
From Bangsal Harbour, public wooden boats (cidomo-converted ferries) run to Gili Trawangan throughout the morning for $3 per person, no booking needed, they fill and go. The crossing takes 30-40 minutes. There are no motorised vehicles on the Gilis: transport is by bicycle ($3/day to rent) or cidomo horse cart. Drop your bags at your guesthouse and walk the harbour area to get your bearings. The island is 3 km around and walkable in 45 minutes.
Book accommodation on Gili T at least a week ahead in July and August, good mid-range rooms sell out fast.
Lunch
The Beach House restaurant on the east beach
Afternoon
Snorkelling at Turtle Point (north tip) and the Biorock sculpture garden
Gili Trawangan's north point is called Turtle Point because hawksbill and green turtles feed on the seagrass here year-round. Snorkel gear rents for $5/day from any dive shop on the main strip. Swim out 50 metres from the beach at the northern headland and you will almost certainly see turtles. The underwater Biorock coral restoration garden off the east coast is equally spectacular, iron frames covered in living coral form an alien sculpture park in 3-8 metres of water, easily snorkelled without a guide.
Evening
Sunset from the hill lookout, then the Gili T night market
Climb the small hill at the island's southwest corner for panoramic Rinjani-and-sunset views, it's a 10-minute walk on a clear path. Descend to the night market on the main harbour road (active from 6pm), where local vendors sell ayam taliwang (Lombok's fiery grilled chicken), sate buntel (minced meat satay), and plecing kangkung (water spinach in chilli sambal) for $2-4 per dish.
Where to Stay Tonight
East coast of Gili Trawangan (faces sunrise, calmer than the party strip) (Vila Ombak for mid-range; Desa Dunia Beda for upscale bungalows)
Staying on Gili T for two nights lets you explore at a relaxed pace and reach Gili Meno by local boat for tomorrow.
See all Lombok accommodation options →The 'party strip' on Gili T's west side hosts open-air clubs until 3am on rotation, if sleep matters, book the east-coast side of the island, which is blissfully quiet.
Day 2 Budget: $60-100 (accommodation $25-60, food $15-20, boat $3-5, snorkel $5-8)
3
Gili Meno: The Quiet Atoll
Gili Meno & Gili Air, Northwest Lombok
Take a short island-hop to Gili Meno, the smallest, quietest, and most beautiful of the three atolls, for pristine snorkelling, a salt lake walk, and an optional visit to Gili Air before returning to Trawangan.
Morning
Snorkelling the Gili Meno Wall and underwater statue garden
A local wooden boat from Gili T to Gili Meno takes 10-15 minutes and costs $3. Gili Meno's underwater sculpture garden, created by artist Jason deCaires Taylor, sits in 8 metres of water off the east coast: a circle of life-sized human figures slowly being consumed by coral. It is reachable by snorkel from the beach with fins and basic breath-holding. The Gili Meno Wall on the north coast drops sharply and teems with nudibranchs and parrotfish. Blue Marlin Dive has an office on Gili Meno if you want a guided snorkel ($20/person).
Lunch
Mahamaya Resort Beach Restaurant on Gili Meno's north shore
Afternoon
Walk around Gili Meno and the salt lake
Gili Meno is small enough to circumnavigate on foot in 75 minutes. The interior holds a brackish salt lake that once supplied export salt for Java, flamingoes used to winter here before the island's development. The west coast beach is the whitest sand on any of the three Gilis and faces a flat, protected lagoon excellent for swimming. Stop at the Casablanca Beach Bar for a fresh coconut. Return to Gili Trawangan by local boat before 5pm to collect your bags.
Evening
Final evening on Gili T: dive-shop social scene
Most of Gili T's dive shops, Trawangan Dive, Blue Marlin, Big Fish, run evening socials at their beach bars with happy-hour prices from 5-7pm ($2 Bintang). This is the best place to swap Rinjani beta with trekkers who've just returned from the volcano, and to finalise your transport and accommodation for the Sembalun valley tomorrow.
Where to Stay Tonight
Gili Trawangan (second night) (Same accommodation as Day 2)
Keeping the same room avoids repacking and allows an early departure for the mainland tomorrow.
See all Lombok accommodation options →The inter-Gili public boats only run until around 4:30pm. If you miss the last one, any dive shop can arrange a private speedboat charter for $15-20, reasonable split among a small group.
Day 3 Budget: $55-85 (accommodation $25-60, food $15-20, boats $6-10, activities $5-20)
4
Rinjani Country: The Sembalun Highlands
Sembalun Valley, East Lombok
Return to the mainland and drive east through the foothills of Mount Rinjani to the highland farming village of Sembalun Lawang, 1,200 metres above sea level, ringed by strawberry fields and ancient volcanic ridgelines.
Morning
Fast boat back to Bangsal and overland transfer to Sembalun
Take the 8am public boat from Gili T to Bangsal ($3). From Bangsal, the drive to Sembalun Lawang is 2.5-3 hours via Mataram and the Pusuk Monkey Forest Pass, a winding mountain road where long-tailed macaques line the roadside and descend on slow-moving vehicles for bananas. The most cost-effective option is a private car charter arranged through your guesthouse the night before ($40-50 for the full day). The Pusuk pass crests at 660m with views over forested ridges to the ocean.
Arrange the private car through your Gili T guesthouse the evening before, drivers fill up early on the Sembalun route.
Lunch
Warung Rinjani in Sembalun Lawang village
Afternoon
Bukit Pergasingan hill trek above Sembalun
Bukit Pergasingan is a 1,670-metre ridge directly above Sembalun Lawang village, reached by a steep 2-hour return hike that does not require a guide or permit. The trail starts at the northern edge of the village and climbs through garlic and chilli fields before opening onto a narrow ridgeline with a full panorama: the Sembalun valley's patchwork of strawberry and onion fields below, and the enormous southern face of Rinjani filling the sky to the west. Descend before 4pm when afternoon cloud builds.
Evening
Rinjani trek briefing and star-gazing
If you're trekking Rinjani tomorrow, meet your guide in the evening at the TNGR (Taman Nasional Gunung Rinjani) office on the main street for a briefing. At 1,200m elevation and far from city lights, Sembalun has dark skies, the Milky Way is visible on clear nights. Dinner at the guesthouse is usually included in package rates. Otherwise Warung Rinjani stays open until 9pm.
Where to Stay Tonight
Sembalun Lawang village (Sembalun Adventure Guesthouse or Rinjani Panoramic Homestay, simple rooms, hot showers, filling breakfast)
Staying in Sembalun puts you at the eastern trailhead for Rinjani, 15 minutes from the park gate, and at the right altitude to acclimatise before tomorrow's activities.
See all Lombok accommodation options →Sembalun nights are cold, temperatures drop to 15-18°C even in dry season. The guesthouses provide extra blankets but pack a light fleece in your day bag for the evening.
Day 4 Budget: $60-90 (accommodation $20-35, food $10-15, car charter $40-50, trek $5-10)
5
Rinjani Crater Rim & Segara Anak Lake
Mount Rinjani National Park
Join a guided day trek or overnight summit push on Indonesia's second-highest volcano, crossing through cloud forest to the crater rim for views of the luminous turquoise caldera lake, Segara Anak.
Morning
Guided trekking from Sembalun trailhead to Pelawangan II crater rim (2,641m)
The Sembalun-to-crater-rim route is Indonesia's most dramatic half-day hike. Depart the trailhead at 5:30am with a licensed TNGR guide (mandatory since 2023, $35-45/day including all park fees). The trail rises through savanna grassland for the first 3 hours, the broad valley and volcanic ridge views are extraordinary even before the treeline. You reach Pelawangan II at 2,641 metres, the crater rim, in 5-6 hours. The reward: a sheer 700-metre drop to Segara Anak, the sacred blue-green caldera lake. Breakfast and snacks are included in guide packages.
Book your TNGR-licensed guide 48 hours ahead through Rinjani Trek Centre in Sembalun or the official TNGR office. The park is closed January, March due to wet season risk.
Lunch
Packed lunch provided by guide/porter (rice box with tempeh, egg, and sambal)
Afternoon
Descent and recovery at Sembalun hot springs
Descend the same trail back to Sembalun, the return takes 3-4 hours and is hard on the knees. Trekking poles reduce impact significantly. Back in the valley by mid-afternoon, the Aiq Kalak hot springs, natural volcanic pools at 38-40°C, sit 15 minutes' drive south of Sembalun Lawang village near Sajang. Entry is $2 and the pools are rarely crowded. The mineral-rich water is therapeutic after a long descent.
Evening
Guesthouse dinner and early night
Most trekkers are finished by 4-5pm. Dinner at your guesthouse (included in most packages, or $4-6 separately) and sleep early, tomorrow is a long drive south to Kuta. If energy allows, the rooftop of Rinjani Panoramic Homestay has the best unobstructed Rinjani view in Sembalun at dusk.
Where to Stay Tonight
Sembalun Lawang (second night) (Same guesthouse as Day 4)
Eliminates any morning logistics and lets you focus entirely on the trek and recovery.
See all Lombok accommodation options →The single biggest mistake trekkers make is starting the Sembalun route too late. The summit push and crater rim are in open, shadeless grassland, you want to be above the treeline before 9am before the sun becomes punishing and before afternoon cloud obscures the crater views.
Day 5 Budget: $60-85 (accommodation $20-35, guide/permit $35-45, food $5-10, springs $2)
6
South Lombok: Kuta's Surf Bays
Kuta Lombok, South Lombok
Drive three hours south to the wild and spectacular Kuta coast, an entirely different world from the north, with horseshoe bays of powdery white sand, emerald headlands, and some of Southeast Asia's finest surf breaks.
Morning
Overland drive from Sembalun to Kuta Lombok
The drive from Sembalun to Kuta Lombok takes 2.5-3 hours via Selong Belanak, a route that crosses the island through rice terraces and dry-forest hills before descending to the south coast. The road has been fully paved since 2023 and is navigable by scooter or car without four-wheel drive. Arrange a private car for $40-50 through your Sembalun guesthouse, or rent a scooter in Sembalun for $7/day and ride it yourself, the route via Route 17 through Praya is straightforward and signposted.
Lunch
Ashtari Restaurant above Kuta, a clifftop open-air pavilion overlooking the bay
Afternoon
Selong Belanak Beach and Mawun Beach
Selong Belanak is Lombok's most beautiful family beach, a long gentle arc of white sand with consistent beginner surf on the left, calm swimming water on the right. Rocky Surf School and others on the beach offer 90-minute lessons for $20 including board. After Selong Belanak, drive 15 minutes west to Mawun Beach: a perfect natural amphitheatre bay flanked by steep green headlands, with a river mouth lagoon forming a natural freshwater pool behind the beach. At 4pm it's usually quiet enough to have the whole bay near-empty.
Evening
Kuta Lombok main strip, seafood dinner
Kuta Lombok's Jalan Pariwisata has a cluster of restaurants including Warung Turtle, strong recommendation for tuna steak, ikan bakar (grilled fish), and cold Bintang at $10-15 per person. The town shuts early compared to Gili T; most venues close by 10:30pm, which makes for a restorative sleep before tomorrow's final beach day.
Where to Stay Tonight
Kuta Lombok village centre (Kuta Indah Hotel for mid-range sea views; Novotel Lombok Resort (on Mandalika beach) for upscale)
Kuta puts you within 15 minutes of Tanjung Aan, the most photographed beach in south Lombok, and the Mandalika beach strip, both unmissable for Day 7.
See all Lombok accommodation options →Kuta Lombok (not to be confused with Kuta Bali) was historically a small fishing village and remains authentically Indonesian outside the Mandalika SEZ resort zone. The weekday fish market at the west end of town starts at 6am and sells direct from the boats, you can buy fresh tuna for less than $3 per kilo.
Day 6 Budget: $70-100 (accommodation $30-55, food $15-20, transport $7-50, activities $0-20)
7
Tanjung Aan, Merese Hill & Farewell
South Lombok & Departure
Spend a final golden morning at Tanjung Aan, arguably Indonesia's most spectacular bay, then climb Merese Hill for the panoramic farewell view before heading to the airport.
Morning
Tanjung Aan Bay, swimming, pepper-corn sand, and the natural rock arch
Tanjung Aan sits 6 km east of Kuta and consists of two adjoining bays separated by a rocky headland. The western bay has fine white sand. The eastern bay has the famous pepper-corn or 'lada' sand, round granules the size of black pepper, unique in the world. Both are calm swimming bays protected from open ocean swell. The water is a luminous blue-green, exceptionally clear. Arrive before 9am to beat tour groups. A concrete path leads around the headland connecting the two bays, 10 minutes walking. Local sellers offer coconuts ($1) and sarongs.
Lunch
Warung Pantai at the eastern end of Tanjung Aan beach
Afternoon
Merese Hill sunset panorama (if departing late) or final beach time
Merese Hill rises directly between Kuta and Tanjung Aan. The trail begins beside the Novotel Mandalika access road and climbs 20 minutes to a bare ridge at 130 metres with a 270-degree panorama: Tanjung Aan to the east, the full Kuta Bay arc to the west, and open Indian Ocean to the south. This is the most photographed landscape shot in Lombok, a single viewpoint captures five distinct bays simultaneously. For morning flights, skip Merese and leave Tanjung Aan by 11am. For afternoon flights, Merese at 4pm catches the best light.
Evening
Transfer to Lombok International Airport (LOP)
Lombok International Airport is 20 km northeast of Kuta, a 30-40 minute drive on the toll bypass road via Praya. A metered Blue Bird taxi from Kuta costs $12-16. The airport has two departure levels: domestic (ground) and international (upper). Allow 90 minutes before domestic flights and 2.5 hours before international departures. The departure terminal has a Lombok coffee kiosk selling single-origin Sembalun arabica beans as the ideal last-minute souvenir at $5-8 per 100g bag.
Where to Stay Tonight
Departure day, check out of Kuta accommodation (N/A)
N/A
See all Lombok accommodation options →If your flight departs after 3pm, store your bags at your Kuta guesthouse for a $2-3 luggage fee and spend the full morning at Tanjung Aan, virtually every hotel in Kuta offers this service. The bay is only 15 minutes from airport-bound taxis and it would be a shame to leave south Lombok without one final swim in that water.
Day 7 Budget: $40-65 (food $10-15, transport $12-16, activities $4-7, any last shopping)
Practical Information
Everything you need to know before you go
Getting Around
Lombok's best inter-region transport is a rented scooter ($5-8/day, requires international licence technically but rarely checked) for solo or pair travellers, or a private car charter ($40-60/day) for groups or anyone uncomfortable with island roads. The Gili Islands are car-free, bicycles and cidomo horse carts only. Public bemos (shared minivans) connect Mataram with Senggigi and Praya but run infrequently and are not practical for multi-day touring. Blue Bird Taxi is reliable from the airport. The Bangsal, Gili fast boat costs $3 by public wooden boat or $25-35 by speedboat.
Book Ahead
Gili Trawangan accommodation in July, August (at least 1 week ahead); TNGR-licensed Rinjani guide (48 hours ahead via Rinjani Trek Centre in Sembalun); fast boat from Bali if arriving by sea (24 hours ahead in peak season); domestic flights to Lombok International Airport (LOP) from Bali take 30 minutes and should be booked 1-2 weeks ahead.
Packing Essentials
Strong SPF 50 sunscreen (reef-safe for Gili snorkelling), rash guard or long-sleeve UV shirt, trekking poles for Rinjani, headlamp, lightweight fleece for Sembalun evenings (15°C), rehydration sachets, waterproof dry bag for boats and beach, spare cash in IDR (Mataram and Senggigi ATMs are reliable; Sembalun has no ATM, withdraw before heading east), and flip-flops plus closed-toe shoes.
Total Budget
7-day estimated total: $450-700 (mid-range) | $300-420 (budget) | $1,200+ (upscale). Excludes international flights and Bali, Lombok fast boat if crossing by sea.
Customize Your Trip
Adapt this itinerary to your travel style
Budget Version
Cut accommodation costs by choosing fan rooms in homestays ($10-18/night) over air-conditioned guesthouses. Rent a scooter for the full week instead of private cars, saves $150-200 total. Eat exclusively at warungs (local canteens) where a full meal costs $2-4. Replace the guided Rinjani trek with the self-guided Bukit Pergasingan ridge hike above Sembalun, which is free. Total 7-day budget: $280-380.
Luxury Upgrade
Upgrade to Jeeva Klui Resort in Senggigi, Ayana Villas on Gili Trawangan, and The Legian Sire for north Lombok. Add a private liveaboard charter around the Gilis and neighbouring Lombok Strait reefs ($400-600/day for 4 people). Replace the day trek with a 2-day Rinjani summit package with private porter and chef ($250-350). A helicopter transfer from Bali to Lombok is available through Heli Nusantara. Total 7-day: $2,500-4,500.
Family-Friendly
Replace the Rinjani crater-rim trek (Day 5) with the shorter Tiu Kelep waterfall walk near Senaru village, a 45-minute return hike ending in a dramatic 45-metre falls with a natural swimming pool at its base, suitable for children over 6. Add a half-day cooking class at Bumbu Bali School in Mataram (Day 1 afternoon). Gili Air is calmer and family-friendlier than Gili T. The Selong Belanak surf school runs beginner lessons for children from age 8.
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