12 Reasons to visit Lombok

LombokNesia

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Culture of Lombok

This is a quiet place to let yourself have a break. You are surrounded by nature and you will find an interesting culture where muslims, Hindus and Buddhist are proud to live together on the same island. Mosques and Hindu Temple to visit.

Lombok Culture. 12 reasons to visit Lombok. Picture by Andy Hermansyah.

Lombok’s Festivals

Culture diversity also means lot of colourful festivals.

One of the most important festival is the Bau Nyale, happening in Kuta. The tradition is to catch the sea worms, this takes place around mid february, and the legend says that a princess drowned herself in the ocean to escape her dad’s decision of marrying someone she did not want to. She took this decision to avoid conflicts between her family and different kingdoms. The princess’s body has been transformed into sea worms and Sasak people (people from Lombok) follow this tradition every year as the princess said she will never give up her people and visit them every year.

Muslims also celebrate Hari Raya after the ramadan, I visited last month and it was very joyful feast in the narrow streets of Kuta. One of the other big celebrations is the Senggigi festivalwhich is a week of hindu cultural events in Senggigi to promote tourism.

Senggigi festival. 12 reasons to visit Lombok. Picture by Andy Hermansyah.

Quietness of Lombok

Often referred as the unspoiled Bali, you will always be amazed of how close it is from Bali, but how quiet it is compared to its sister island.

Another important point to note is that Lombok Island’s tranquility is also attributed to the limited bars and nightclubs that will play music from dusk to dawn. If you are looking for an island getaway, with uncrowded world class beaches and undisturbed good night’s rest, Lombok is the place to be!

Quietness in Ekas bay. 12 reasons to visit Lombok.

Romantic Lombok

The beauty of Lombok is also comparable to its sister island, with endless stretch of sensationalbeaches and a mystically beautiful volcano, among many other untouched beauty.

You will find intimate places for beautiful sunrises and sunsets, this is indeed a perfect place for honeymoons.

Romantic sunset Senggigi. 12 reasons to visit Lombok. Picture by Andy Hermansyah.

Easy to arrive to Lombok

By boats or 20 minutes plane from Bali, and also from major cities in Java, 3 direct flights a week from Singapore. A new international airport, with easy transportation to access the major points of the island, has been built recently. Senggigi or Kuta should be your first stop when arriving, most people speak English and many hotels are available for all kind of budget.

Book here your transport while in Lombok.

View of Lombok from the Sky. 12 reasons to visit Lombok. Picture by Andy Hermansyah.

Lombok’s Roads

The roads are quiet, you will never get stuck into traffic and will most of the time be in the shadow of the Mount Rinjani or accompanied by an ocean breeze. One of the very nice coastal roads is the one from Senggigi to Pemanang, offering marvelous views all the way. In addition roads are clean which make the travel much easier than in other part of the country. Get a scooter, or if you prefer get a driver for few hours or for the whole day.

Senggigi’s Coastal Road. 12 reasons to visit Lombok.

Trekking on a volcano in Lombok

If you like Trekking, the Mount Rinjani is the 2nd highest volcano of Indonesia, this is considered as as sacred place for Balinese and Sasak. This will be a magic trekking that you can do in 2 to 6 days, 3 to 4 days are ideal so you will have the time to reach the top, fish in the lake, see one of the most beautiful sunrise from the crater rim. This trek is one of the best to do in South East Asia but you might be aware that it is not an easy one, especially at the end when each of your steps is sinking in the volcanic sand. Marvelous but exhausting if you are not prepared physically.

Book here our trekking activities!

Trekking to Volcano Mount Rinjani. 12 reasons to visit Lombok. Picture by Andy Hermansyah.

Surf in Lombok

Lombok is popular destination for surfing, the most popular spot is Bangko Bangko or Desert point  located at the South West of the island. However, these waves will be ridden byprofessional surfers mostly as the reef and the waves strength can be dangerous.

If you want to learn surfing, we recommend you Selong Belanak, Gerupuk or even Senggigi beach.

Visit Ekas Bay in the Southeast if you want some quiet surfing, being in a fishermen village, boost your surf and bahasa indonesia skills as this is still an untouched region by tourism.

Surf in Lombok. 12 reasons to visit Lombok.

Luxury experiences in Lombok

If you have more budget and looking for luxury experiences, you can stay in beautiful resortsfrom North to South, with incredible and unique landscapes.

Oberoi and Tugu are at the North of Senggigi, also very famous in Bali. Jeevaklui in Senggigi, offers some of the best spa treatments in the island. Cocotinos on the wild Southwest coast of Lombok, also present in Manado is excellent for diving, they chose their locations for their rich marine diversity and diving spots.

Luxury Experiences. 12 reasons to visit Lombok. Picture by Andy Hermansyah.

Lombok’s Handicraft

Get around by yourself or with a guide and visit some of the local villages producing traditional handicrafts. You can find traditional hand weaving, Lombok wooden masks, and primitive carvings.

Visit the villages of Anyumulek (West Lombok), Penujak (Central Lombok) and Masbagik (East Lombok) for the pottery. As for the hand weaving, Sukerare village is a place where you will meet local women weaving their Sarung textiles with local designs using natural materials.

Lombok’s Handicraft. 12 reasons to visit Lombok.

Snorkeling and Diving in Lombok

Snorkeling and diving lovers are escaping the crowds of Gili to find quieter spots around the coasts of Lombok.

Visit Sekotong Bay on the Southwest coast where you will see one of the most outstanding marine life in pristine water, you will observe a fascinating multitude of species and colors just by watching through the water.

A must do for underwater photography, where you might get some of your best photo shoots ever!

Book here for all your Snorkeling & Diving activities.

Snorkeling and diving in Lombok. 12 reasons to visit Lombok.

Food in Lombok

You will see many restaurants in the main road of Senggigi as well as in the center of Kuta.

To quote a few addresses in Senggigi Alberto Cafe for Italian food, Coco Beach for tasty local food on the beach at a reasonable price, Square Restaurant for western food, and finally Banana Tree Cafe for the breakfast.

Chicken Taliwang is Lombok’s specialty, this is usually spicy but this is a must try if you are in Lombok. A good place to try it would be in Mataram, where you will also find a lot of local food.

You can also get on a boat and spend a day fishing, and enjoy one of the freshest barbecue you’ve ever had with lemon and homemade chili sauce prepared by the locals.

Food in Lombok. 12 reasons to visit Lombok.

If Lombok’s beauty is not enough for you, Komodo and Flores the neighbor islands on the East will help you fill your eyes of natural beauty.

Komodo and Flores the neighbor islands of Lombok. Picture by Andy Hermansyah.

by: Uriel.
Source : http://blog.eoasia.com/2014/08/25/12-reasons-to-visit-lombok/

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