Indonesia
Lombok is the island next door to Bali that most travelers skip, and the Gili Islands off its northwest tip are what many of them come for.
Three tiny coral islands with no cars, just bicycles, horse carts and white sand, sit above reefs where green turtles feed, while the main island rises to the 3,726-meter cone of Mount Rinjani, with waterfalls in its forested foothills, wide pale beaches and surf bays on the south coast, and traditional Sasak villages along the roads between them. This guide covers the experiences worth booking: a small-group Gili day trip, turtle snorkeling from Gili Trawangan and Gili Air, beginner surf lessons at Selong Belanak, the Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls, a one-day Rinjani trek to the Senaru crater rim, a Pink Beach boat trip, and the free sights that fill the gaps, from Kuta and Tanjung Aan to Sade village and the sunsets of Senggigi. It also explains plainly how the fast boats from Bali and the public boats from Bangsal work, and matches you to a hotel, from a beachfront retreat on Sire Beach to a classic stay on Gili Trawangan, because on an island this size, where you sleep decides how much of it you see.
Gili Trawangan Turtle and Statue Snorkeling
A small-boat snorkeling trip from Gili Trawangan that visits three reef stops: the underwater statue circle, a coral garden and the turtle area where green turtles graze on the seagrass. The most popular snorkeling outing in the Gilis, with free GoPro photos from the crew.
Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep Waterfalls
Two waterfalls in the forested foothills of Mount Rinjani near Senaru: Sendang Gile, an easy walk from the entrance, and Tiu Kelep, a longer forest trek to a thundering cascade with a plunge pool. The best short hike on Lombok's north side.
Gili Air Snorkeling Across Three Islands
Gili Air is the island closest to the mainland and the easiest to settle into, and this GoPro-filmed boat trip starts there and snorkels the reefs of all three Gilis. A relaxed, good-value outing from the most laid-back of the islands.
Kuta Lombok and Tanjung Aan Beaches
South Lombok's best beach day: the wide bay at Kuta with its surf cafes, then a short drive to Tanjung Aan, a long pale curve of sand with calm water, beach warungs and Merese Hill close by for sunset. Free, easy and nothing like the Gilis.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The easiest way to see all three Gilis in a day from the Lombok coast: a small-group guided tour with hotel pickup, a glass-bottom boat, snorkeling at Gili Air, the turtle sanctuary and underwater statues at Gili Meno, and lunch and beach time on Gili Trawangan.
A small-boat snorkeling trip from Gili Trawangan that visits three reef stops: the underwater statue circle, a coral garden and the turtle area where green turtles graze on the seagrass. The most popular snorkeling outing in the Gilis, with free GoPro photos from the crew.
Gili Air is the island closest to the mainland and the easiest to settle into, and this GoPro-filmed boat trip starts there and snorkels the reefs of all three Gilis. A relaxed, good-value outing from the most laid-back of the islands.
FreeSouth Lombok's best beach day: the wide bay at Kuta with its surf cafes, then a short drive to Tanjung Aan, a long pale curve of sand with calm water, beach warungs and Merese Hill close by for sunset. Free, easy and nothing like the Gilis.
A private 90-minute beginner surf lesson on the gentle, curving bay of Selong Belanak, a short drive from Kuta. One of the most beginner-friendly beaches in Lombok, with a patient instructor and a perfect first-wave setting.
Two waterfalls in the forested foothills of Mount Rinjani near Senaru: Sendang Gile, an easy walk from the entrance, and Tiu Kelep, a longer forest trek to a thundering cascade with a plunge pool. The best short hike on Lombok's north side.
A single-day guided hike on Indonesia's second-highest volcano, climbing from Senaru toward the crater rim for sweeping views over the caldera. A demanding, rewarding day for fit hikers who do not have the days for the full overnight trek.
A living Sasak hamlet on the road between Praya and Kuta, with about 150 thatched houses, handwoven textiles and guides in traditional dress. The most accessible window into the culture of Lombok's indigenous people, an easy stop on the way to the south coast.
A full-day boat trip from southeast Lombok to Pink Beach, with its blush-colored sand, plus snorkeling stops on the reefs and a swim in clear water. Rated 4.9 from 112 reviews, it is one of Lombok's best-loved boat days.
Lombok's oldest resort strip: a ten-kilometer coast road of beaches, bays, a seaside temple on a rocky point and some of the island's best sunsets. A relaxed base for the Gilis, the waterfalls and the north coast, with easy restaurants and a gentler pace.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Sire Beach, Tanjung
A luxury beachfront retreat on Sire Beach in northwest Lombok, filled with Indonesian antiques and art, with suites, villas and bungalows on a private white-sand beach, a full spa, pools and boat trips to the Gili Islands. Rated 9.6 from guests.
Check rates →Mangsit, Senggigi
A refined beachfront resort in Mangsit, just north of Senggigi, with spacious suites and pool villas, a spa, a restaurant with sunset views and staff guests rate as exceptional. One of the best-reviewed stays on the west coast, at a fraction of Bali resort prices.
Check rates →Mandalika, Kuta
A family-friendly beach resort in the Mandalika zone on the south coast, with its own beach, three pools, a spa, villas with private pools and an easy drive to Kuta, Tanjung Aan and the Mandalika circuit. The most practical base for a south Lombok holiday.
Check rates →Beachfront, Gili Trawangan
A long-running beachfront hotel on the Gili Trawangan promenade, with two pools, a private beach with free cabanas, a spa, pool villas and bungalows. Steps from the sand and a short walk from the harbor, it is the classic mid-range stay on the busiest Gili.
Check rates →Mangsit, Senggigi
A good-value beachfront resort on the Senggigi coast with two pools, chalets, bungalows and family rooms, a spa, a bar and free parking. A reliable budget-friendly base for the west coast, the Gili harbors and the sunsets.
Check rates →A plain-English first-timer guide to Lombok and the Gilis: how the fast boats from Bali and the public boats from Bangsal work, what to book ahead, how to get around and how many days to allow.
Where to base yourself in Lombok and the Gilis: the Senggigi coast, the northwest at Tanjung, the south coast around Kuta and Mandalika, and Gili Trawangan, with five hotels matched to each area.
