Lombok
Lombok is the more natural, less crowded island next to Bali, known for the Mount Rinjani trek, south coast surf and boat trips to the Gili Islands.
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Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province in Indonesia's Lesser Sunda Islands. Bali lies only about 40 km west, across the Lombok Strait. The provincial capital and largest city is Mataram. Mount Rinjani, about 3,726 m high, rises in the center of the island, and its crater lake, Segara Anak, lies inside Gunung Rinjani National Park. Most people are Sasak and Muslim, and mosques are common across the island.
Lombok is often marketed as Bali's sister island, and it keeps a more natural, uncrowded feel than its neighbor. The most developed tourism area is the west coast around Senggigi. Visitors come for the Rinjani trek, the surf and the largely deserted white-sand beaches of the south, or for the Gili Islands off the northwest coast, which you reach by boat from Bangsal, Teluk Nare or Senggigi. Fly into Lombok International Airport near Praya, about 40 minutes from Bali's Ngurah Rai airport by air, or take a public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar, which takes at least 4 to 5 hours. The dry season, roughly April to September, is when surfers come.
Lombok in five
- Book the Rinjani trek with a licensed operatorTreks to the crater rim and summit are booked through registered operators and the national park system. The trail usually closes in the rainy season.
- Take a fast boat to the GilisBoats leave from Bangsal and Teluk Nara in the northwest; the crossing takes under an hour. There are no cars on the Gilis.
- Base yourself in Kuta Lombok for the southThe south coast has surf beaches like Selong Belanak and Tanjung Aan. Rent a car or scooter to reach them.
- Dress modestly away from the beachLombok is mainly Muslim. Cover up in villages and markets, and around mosques.
Neighborhoods
Senggigi
- Price band: $$
Mataram
- Price band: $
Things to do in Lombok
See all attractions in Lombok
Need to know
- Airport
- Lombok International (LOP), about 30 min to Kuta Lombok
- Getting there
- Flights from Bali and Jakarta; ferries and fast boats from Bali
- Getting around
- Car with driver, scooter, taxis
- Best base
- Kuta Lombok for beaches, Senaru or Sembalun for Rinjani
- Time needed
- 4–6 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°WetJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 328 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- FebruaryRain26 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°WetFebruaryRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 306 mm
- Rainy days
- 26
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- MarchRain27 rainy daysHigh29°Low24°WetMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 243 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- AprilRain21 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°ShowersAprilRain
Mixed
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 21
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- MayRain15 rainy daysHigh30°Low24°Drying outMayRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 97 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Drying out
- JuneRain13 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°DryJuneRain
Good
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 68 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- JulyPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh29°Low23°DryJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 36 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- AugustPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°Dry, busyAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 28 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh30°Low23°DrySeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 23°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dry
- OctoberRain20 rainy daysHigh31°Low24°ShowersOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 31°
- Low
- 24°
- Precipitation
- 131 mm
- Rainy days
- 20
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Showers
- NovemberRain27 rainy daysHigh30°Low25°WetNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 30°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 263 mm
- Rainy days
- 27
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
- DecemberRain28 rainy daysHigh29°Low25°WetDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 29°
- Low
- 25°
- Precipitation
- 332 mm
- Rainy days
- 28
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet
Average daily high and low in Mataram, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Lombok
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
27
- Feels like
- 30°
- Humidity
- 84%
- Wind
- 12 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Lombok
04:40 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today30°22°100%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Wed30°21°25%Wednesday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 25%.
- Thu31°23°76%Thursday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 76%.
- Fri31°21°78%Friday: Drizzle. High 31°, Low 21°. Chance of rain 78%.
- Sat30°23°99%Saturday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 23°. Chance of rain 99%.
- Sun30°22°100%Sunday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Mon30°22°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 30°, Low 22°. Chance of rain 100%.
Updated 12:21 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 18,144 IDR
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Day trips by train
- Gili Islandsunder 1 hour by fast boatThree car-free islands with snorkeling and turtles.Read the guide
- Benang Stokel and Kelambuabout 1.5 hours by roadWaterfalls on the southern slopes of Rinjani.
Before you go to Lombok
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Rules for Lombok, checked
- Check current entry requirements and your passport's validity on the Directorate General of Immigration site (imigrasi.go.id) before you fly.Source
- Dress modestly and take off your shoes at mosque entrances when you visit mosques or villages.
- Do not buy wild-caught birds. Illegal trade in caged birds, including nationally protected species, has been seen in Mataram markets.
- Check current trekking rules with Gunung Rinjani National Park before you book a Rinjani trek.
- Check current building safety and conditions with local authorities before you travel to North Lombok, where the 2018 earthquakes caused major damage.
Plan around Lombok
Islands, entry rules, transport and money
Read the guideGili IslandsThree car-free islands off the northwest coast
Read the guideSouth LombokKuta, Selong Belanak and the surf beaches
Read the guideBaliThe usual gateway, by short flight or fast boat
Read the guideIndonesia entry stepsThe e-VOA and arrival form for any island
Read the guideTravel insuranceScooter, dive and boat cover compared
Read the guideLombok FAQ
How hard is the Rinjani trek?
Hard. The summit climb is steep loose scree at altitude, usually started around 2am. The two-day crater rim trek is a common shorter option.
Is Lombok better than Bali?
Quieter, with fewer resorts and less traffic. Bali has more to do and more places to stay; Lombok suits beaches, surf and trekking.
When is the best time to visit Lombok?
May to September, in the dry season. The Rinjani trail is often closed during the wettest months.
How do I get from Bali to Lombok?
Fly in under an hour, or take a fast boat from Bali to the Gili Islands, roughly 1.5 to 2.5 hours, then a short hop to the main island. Rough seas can cancel boats, so keep a spare day.
Kuta Lombok or Senggigi: where should I stay?
Kuta Lombok suits surf beaches and a quiet base for the south coast. Senggigi has a longer beach strip, more services and easier boats to the Gilis, but it is more built up.