The One and Only Lombok

Lombok is often overshadowed by its sassier neighbour Bali, but those in search of an exotic getaway will be thrilled to discover the magic of this pristine tropical island. Picture mountains blanketed in lush rainforest, thundering waterfalls, vibrant traditional villages and stunning, often-deserted beaches. With an increasing number of direct international flights, the island is more accessible than ever before.

Blissful Beaches

If you are dreaming of an uncrowded, sun-drenched tropical beach escape look no further than the glorious Sira Peninsula – an idyllic stretch of dazzling white sand lapped by crystal clear waters and fringed by coconut palms.

The three famed isles known collectively as the Gilis, are just a short boat trip away, and the sea here is dotted with vibrant coral reefs perfect for snorkelling and scuba diving. Take a fishing trip, explore the coast by sea kayak, or play a round of golf at the wonderfully scenic 18-hole Sire Beach Golf Club. If you’re looking for a bit of ‘Bali-style’ action, Senggigi – the island’s main tourist town is just 40 minutes away via a fabulous coastal road and offers reggae bars, good restaurants and boutiques.

While you’re soaking up the wonders of Senggigi, make Malimbu Cliff Villa your escape, a haven perched majestically above the rugged coast of Lombok. Imagine the sheer delight of waking up to jaw-dropping views of this untouched paradise from one of the villa’s five luxurious bedrooms. It’s a unique fusion where modern comfort meets the untamed beauty of nature, enveloping you in a captivating embrace.

Sira Beach is best enjoyed from the comfort of a luxury beachfront villa and Elite Havens has an inspired selection.

Tropical perfection awaits at The Anandita, with four private bedroom pavilions set in a coconut grove, families and friends will be pampered at this fully staffed tropical island getaway. Families will find plenty of space to spread out at the 6-bedroom Villa Sepoi Sepoi, set within 4.5 acres of coconut grove and gardens. If you LOVE stunning contemporary design, the 5-bedroomed Villa Sapi awaits with its funky architecture, three swimming pools plus a children’s pool. Another option, the 6-bedroom Sira Beach House nestles into a coconut grove and beautifully crafted from local materials and embellished with fascinating art and antiques, this eco-friendly villa makes full use of environmental technologies to create a low-impact, authentic Lombok experience.

Sira Beach is the perfect base for exploring the charms of this ‘undiscovered’ island paradise, and your villa manager will be happy to organise a driver and customize an itinerary for an exhilarating day trip. 

Hinterland Highlights

If you can bear to drag yourself away from the coast, head to the hinterland to discover picture-perfect tropical scenery, timeless villages and some of Indonesia’s most unique and scenic waterfalls.  The extraordinarily picturesque, Benang Kelambu (1 hour 40 minutes from Sira) cascades through the emerald green rainforest, while nearby, Benang Stokel Waterfall has twin falls plunging into a deep icy pool, with surrounding shallow rock pools ideal for a refreshing dip.

The island’s most mesmerizing waterfall, Sendang Gile (1 hour 30 minutes from Sira) has a mystical jungle setting on the northern slopes of Mount Rinjani and is reached by an enjoyable hike across streams and through towering forests of trees.

Adventure-seekers should definitely consider climbing Mount Rinjani, the second-highest mountain in Indonesia.  The 3 day/2 night hike is not for the faint-hearted but those who make the trek are rewarded with stunning views over the crescent-shaped crater lake from the summit – a truly unforgettable experience. 

Sasak Culture and Cuisine

The Sasak are the main ethnic group of Lombok and a visit to a traditional village will give you a genuine insight into their rich and fascinating culture. Sasak Sade offers the opportunity to see traditional housing, watch indigenous dance performances, buy handicrafts and see women weaving traditional ikat fabrics on handlooms. The village of Sukarara is also worth a visit and is famed for producing songket fabric, handwoven with ornaments of gold and silver-coloured yarn.

Lombok loosely translates as chilli, and traditional Sasak cuisine is on the spicy side of the spectrum.  Dishes will be toned down at tourist restaurants but lovers of chilli should definitely try local restaurants to get the full fiery experience. Specialities include ayam taliwang – spring chicken marinated in dried red chilli, grilled and smothered in a sweet and spicy sauce, sate pusut ayam – minced chicken grilled on skewers and served with peanut sauce, and nasi puyung – steamed rice accompanied by spicy shredded chicken, fried soybeans, grated coconut, and (of course) sambal,  wrapped in banana leaves.

Ayam Taliwang by @isnasutanto

Sate Pusut by @sasmitaedo

Nasi Puyung

The Other Kuta

Kuta Lombok provides a much quieter travel experience than the world-famous Kuta, Bali. Surfers in the know managed to keep this region’s fabulous waves a secret for decades, but with the opening of nearby Praya International Airport in 2011 (20 minutes drive), Kuta is now well and truly on the map and dazzles visitors with its dramatic hills, rocky coves, and mile after glorious mile of breathtakingly beautiful uncrowded beaches.

Development on Kuta Beach is still very low key but just to the south, the integrated resort project, Mandalika is developing and will include 5-star hotels, private villas and residences, a water park and a nature reserve. The prestigious motorcycle race, MotoGP, was hosted here in March 2022. The scenic circuit winds from the mountains to the sea.

Getting there and away

International flights: Scoot by Singapore Airlines offers direct flights from Singapore to Lombok, while Air Asia has flights direct from Kuala Lumpur.

Domestic flights: Garuda Indonesia, Citilink, and Batik Air are also available from many destinations within Indonesia with direct flights.

By boats: Fast boat takes approximately 2 hours from Serangan or Padang Bai, and a slow ferry takes 4-5 hours from Padang Bai.

For more information on discovering Lombok and to book a villa stay in stunning Sira Beach, visit www.elitehavens.com.