Lombok Island lies to the east of Bali and is part of the province of East Nusa Tenggara. To the west of Lombok are the Gili Islands. Lombok is known for its natural landscapes — beaches, mountains, volcanoes, and surf spots — which is why many Southeast Asia lovers dream of spending their holiday there.
How to get from Bali to Lombok?
1. By plane:
Citilink offers daily direct flights from Denpasar to Lombok, costing around IDR 1.1 million. The flight takes about 1 hour.
2. By ferry:
Ferries depart from Bali’s Padang Bai, Serangan, and Sanur harbors. On Lombok, the main ports are Bangsal, Senggigi, and Lembar. Lembar handles roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) ferries, which can transport cars and motorbikes. The other two accept passenger ferries and speedboats.
3. By motorbike or car via the Padang Bai (Bali) – Lembar (Lombok) ferry:
The trip takes around 4–5 hours.
Current ferry fares:
- Adult: IDR 65,300
- Child: IDR 6,100
- Vehicle + 1 passenger:
- Category I — Bicycle: IDR 81,600
- Category II — Motorbike (<500CC): IDR 169,400
- Category III — Motorbike (≥500CC): IDR 329,600
- Category IVa — Car/Sedan (≤5m): IDR 1,184,100 (A full list of vehicle categories is available.)
Ferries operate both ways (Bali–Lombok and Lombok–Bali) at the same times.
Ro-Ro Ferry Schedule
Note: Ferries often don’t leave exactly on schedule and may be delayed or depart early depending on sea conditions.
Morning | Evening |
00:00 | 15:00 |
01:30 | 16:30 |
04:00 | 18:00 |
06:30 | 19:30 |
09:00 | 21:00 |
11:30 | 22:30 |
13:30 |
Tickets can also be bought offline with cash at the counter (a commission of IDR 10,000 is charged).
Vehicle documents are not always checked at the time of purchase or boarding but may be requested at:
- Checkpoint 1 (when buying tickets)
- Checkpoint 3 (before boarding)
- Upon return to Bali, police may ask for documents and licenses. Always carry them with you and don’t leave them in the vehicle. If you’re traveling outside Bali, notify the vehicle owner in advance.
4. By speedboat:
This is fast and affordable — about one hour. Tickets can be booked via MyBaliTrips.
If you want to visit the Gili Islands, depart from Bangsal Harbor on Lombok.
Experienced travelers recommend parking your motorbike at the covered lot before the harbor zone and saving the security guard’s phone number. Parking costs IDR 10,000 per night. Never leave your vehicle inside the port area.
Public boat tickets (to Gili) should be bought at least a day in advance. EkaJaya boats are the most comfortable.
Alternatively, take a public boat to Gili Air and from there to Gili Trawangan.
If you already have a Bali–Gili–Bali boat ticket, you can return from any island, including Bangsal. Let the agent know your return location when buying your ticket or at least one day in advance.
Bangsal ticket office:
Turn right after the gate, then again at the end of the path.
Public boats hold 30 passengers and leave as they fill up, from 8 AM to 4 PM. Fare is IDR 18,000 one way. After 4 PM, only speedboats operate.
Transportation on Lombok
Like in Bali, there are many “no Grab zones,” so ride-hailing apps like Grab and Gojek are restricted.
Instead, check the price in the app, then find a motorbike taxi in a nearby café, shop, or warung.
You can also use MyBluebird taxi or the inDrive app.
With inDrive, you might need to walk a bit to meet your driver, and they may ask you not to mention the app. You can also arrange for the driver to take you sightseeing — about IDR 250,000 for half a day.
Boat fares from Lombok to the Gili Islands
Public boats from Bangsal to the Gili Islands depart once full (about 38–40 passengers). Charter boats for 20 people are also available.
Where to stay in Lombok?
Innit Lombok (from IDR 4.5 million per night):
A modern beachfront hotel with white sand and an infinity pool, nestled in a bamboo forest. The villas are designed in traditional “lumbung” style with cozy loft interiors and ocean views.
Royal Avila Boutique Resort (from IDR 3 million per night):
A comfortable beachfront resort at Malimbu, perfect for relaxing holidays or weddings. The ocean-view restaurant caters to gourmets. It’s a short walk from Central Senggigi. The spa offers massages, body treatments, and special occasion rituals.
Rinjani Lodge (from IDR 1.5 million per night):
Located on the edge of Rinjani National Park in North Lombok, this lodge offers stunning views of Mount Rinjani and surrounding rice fields. It features 13 spacious rooms with modern amenities and two infinity pools overlooking the scenery.
Where to Stay Overnight Along the Mataram – Senggigi – Bangsal Route?
Puri Bunga Beach Cottages — A clean place with hot water. There are always available rooms and they provide a light breakfast. Great large swimming pool. Within walking distance, you’ll find FreshMart and several boutiques. FreshMart also has a wine shop — a rare find on Lombok. There’s also Marina Café nearby, which has a wine store where a bottle costs IDR 160,000, compared to IDR 206,000 in FreshMart.
Lotus Bayview Pizzeria — Located by the sea, serves good pizza, owned by an Italian.
Alberto Café — Tasty food, pleasant place. Ask for their homemade limoncello. There are rooms on the beachfront, but they’re limited.
When traveling from Lembar – Senggigi – Bangsal – Gili, travelers recommend this route instead of crossing the mountains. It’s best to drive the second part of the route (closer to the Gilis) during daylight to enjoy the views.
What to Do on Lombok?
1. Hike Mount Rinjani
This volcano is the second-highest in Indonesia at 3,726 meters above sea level, with a massive caldera spanning 50 km². It’s one of the best places for mountain trekking. With a guide and camping gear, you can explore its slopes. The volcano is part of Rinjani National Park, which is rich in plant and animal life.
Trekking routes go through tropical and pine forests, and past two waterfalls: Benang Kelambu and Benang Stokel.
Depending on your fitness level, you can organize a one-day or multi-day trek.
2. Visit Ancient Temples
- Pura Lingsar
- Pura Gunung Sari
- Pura Suranadi
- Pura Gunung Pengsong
- Pura Meru
- Pura Batu Bolong 1
- Pura Batu Bolong 2
Lombok is home to several sacred sites:
Most of them are located in or around Mataram, though some are spread across the island.
A scenic park with a pool, founded in 1727. Entry fee for foreigners: IDR 15,000.
4. Relax on the Beaches and Surf
Selong Belanak — This beach is famous for its fun and unique waves, making it a favorite spot for surfers from around the world. Soft white sand and crystal-clear sea water create a stunning panorama.
Pink Beach (Pantai Pink) — Known for its strikingly clean and vivid pink sand.
Kuta Beach — The waves here are fairly calm, making it safe for swimming. It’s also a great spot to watch the sunset over the ocean. The Mandalika race track is located nearby.
5. Scuba Dive
Scorpion Point, near Kuta Beach — The reef depth ranges from 4 to 12 meters and features coral, seaweed, and artificial reefs. In the water, you might spot scorpionfish and other marine creatures.
Gerupuk Point, in the bay of the same name — Lobsters, crabs, and rays hide in the many crevices and cracks. Lucky divers may also encounter parrotfish and tuna.
Where to Eat on Lombok?
Seafood lovers should visit Tanjung Bias, where beachfront cafés serve fresh seafood. Travelers also recommend Sasaku.
Cafés and Restaurants:
- Mushroom Espresso — Best coffee on the island, limited food.
- Milk Espresso — Good coffee, great breakfasts.
- Elamu — Coffee, meals all day, Greek cuisine including breakfast.
- Gecko — Decent coffee and breakfast, huge portions, budget-friendly.
- Curfew — All-day breakfast, syrniki (Russian-style pancakes), good Wi-Fi, beer garden.
- Bara — Free unlimited cocktails for ladies on Wednesdays.
- Mama Pizza — Best pizza on the island (especially the one with burrata).
- Jelanjah Coffee — Great coffee shop with beans for sale.
- NOHI — Delicious pasta, Pasta Day every Tuesday, good internet, usually quiet.
- Warung Rezeki — Indonesian buffet, very tasty, full plate for IDR 30,000.
- ASHTARI — Indian food with a scenic view.
- The Pang — Sports bar with beer, BBQ, ribs, and more.
- Tasty Hesty — Super homey vibe: mom cooks, her three sons run the bar and service. Big portions, live guitar music.
- Umibozu — Tiny place with really delicious ramen.
- BUDE — Tasty, cheap local food.
- La Cabrona — Tasty burgers, open late (until 1–2 AM).
Also, don’t miss the local food court, offering a mix of local and international dishes, including seafood and fish.
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