Everyone knows about Bali… the “Island of the
Gods”, renowned throughout the world as a tropical paradise
with a fascinating and unique culture. Few people, however,
know Bali’s sister island, Lombok, which lies just 25
minutes across the sea to the east.
Although often overshadowed by her glamorous older sister,
Lombok fits the role of the unsophisticated and shy younger
sister well. Here the pace is unhurried and the atmosphere
laid-back. The beaches are uncrowded and tourism areas are
not marred by high-density development. Although the island
has a good infrastructure, tourism development only started
in the 90’s and it has been a slow, steady growth rather
than a gold-rush expansion.
That’s not to say that travellers have to stay in huts
on the beach, although they are available for those wanting
that kind of rustic holiday. The main tourism centre of Senggigi
boasts a wide variety of accommodation ranging from budget
hotels and home-stays, to world-class resorts. The five-star
Sheraton Senggigi Resort sits on the shores of Senggigi Beach,
with stunning views across the ocean to Bali. At the other
end of the bay is the spacious Senggigi Beach Hotel, with
its luxury “hotel within a hotel”, The Pool Villa
Club. The Intan Lombok Village, in the centre, recently changed
hands and is undergoing major renovations. Numerous smaller
hotels in the area offer comforts and facilities to suit all
pockets.
Accommodations on the famous Gili Islands also range from
high-end to backpacker, with the up-market Villa Ombak and
Vila Almarik on Gili Trawangan setting the standard for deluxe
island getaways. The luxurious Oberoi Resort in the north
of Lombok and the Novotel Coralia Resort in Kuta, on the south
coast, are excellent resorts that would suit the most discerning
traveller. For those of us who have simpler tastes, Lombok
offers a good choice, at generally lower prices than in Bali.
At around 5,300 sq km, Lombok is only slightly smaller than
Bali and, like her famous sister, has a wide range of attractions
and activities for all types of travellers. With so many coastlines,
opportunities abound for water sports such as swimming, snorkelling,
diving, surfing and fishing.
The island boasts two international-standard golf courses,
one in the centre of the island with mountain views and the
other in the north of the island, set on the edge of a picturesque
bay. For the culturally-inclined, Lombok has a rich and diverse
culture, which blends the traditions of the indigenous Sasak
people with Balinese Hindu and Arabic influences, to name
a few. Village life is simple and based on the mainstays of
farming and traditional handicraft production. The Sasak people
are friendly and relatively untouched by tourism, with a warm
tradition of hospitality to visitors that makes exploring
the different parts of the island a rewarding adventure.
The west of the island is lush and green, with a series of
beautiful bays lining the coast all the way from Senggigi
to Bangsal. The coast faces Bali across the Lombok Strait,
and boasts wonderful sunsets with the sacred volcano, Gunung
Agung on Bali, silhouetted against the evening skies.
Senggigi, on the west coast, is the main resort area for tourism
and is located approximately 20 minutes drive from Lombok’s
Selaparang Airport. The pace here is very laid-back, with
activities centred around the beaches, dining, and day trips
to places of interest, which are all within a few hours drive
from the town. Senggigi is a great base for exploring the
rest of the island and there is a single main road in good
condition running parallel to the coast, all the way around
to the north and east of Lombok.
Senggigi Beach is a large bay that forms the centre of Senggigi,
with the main road running parallel to the beach, and resorts
occupying the space between. The main road is lined with small
shops, tour agencies, dive centres, restaurants, bars and
nightclubs. There are a couple of supermarkets, numerous ATM’s
and moneychangers, a post office, internet cafes, and all
the normal tourist facilities.
Senggigi Reef, off the point near the Senggigi Beach Hotel,
has good coral for snorkelling and, in the right conditions,
some decent surf breaks. Canoes can be hired from the beach
on the weekends and during peak tourism times. Local outrigger
boats (perahu) can be chartered from the beachfront for trips
along the coast or out to the Gili’s.
Tourism development extends north for about 10 km, with many
hotels and restaurants positioned along the beautiful beaches
that line the entire west coast. About 5kms to the north,
Mangsit has developed as an accommodation alternative to Senggigi,
with boutique style hotels positioned along the breathtaking
bays of this section of coast. The Holiday Resort and Qunci
Villas are two quality hotels in this area. Furthest north
is Lendang Luar, with two small hotels perched on the long
stretch of pristine beach here.
Further inland, the island retains its natural beauty and,
as extensive logging isn’t permitted, the unique flora
and fauna of the region is protected. The southern slopes
of the Rinjani mountain range, as well as the Rinjani National
Park and the Sembalun regions in the north, are heavily forested
in old stands of mahogany and hardwoods, interspersed with
jungle vegetation. Jungle and forest areas are easily accessible
for trekking and exploring; and the waterfalls, rivers, hills
and mountains provide myriad opportunities for eco-tourism.
Dominating the north of the island is a mountain range of
thirteen peaks, crowned by the magnificent volcano, Gunung
Rinjani. The area around the volcano is a designated national
park and offers great opportunities for trekking and exploring
the small mountain villages. Mt Rinjani is an internationally
recognised world-class tourism destination, and attracts hundreds
of trekkers and serious climbers from around the world to
Lombok every year.
Lombok is easily reached from Bali, with low priced flights
available from local travel agents and Bali’s domestic
airport. Flight time is only 25 minutes. Merpati Airlines
currently has several flights per day between Bali and Lombok,
and Indonesia Air and Trigana Air both fly twice daily. The
public ferry cruises between Padangbai Harbour on Bali’s
east coast and Lembar Harbour on Lombok’s southwest
every day, with departures every two hours, 24 hours per day.
International flights are available between Lombok and Singapore,
flying Silk Air, and Merpati Airlines operate a Malaysia-Lombok
flight with a stopover in Surabaya.
Bali, with its fabulous shopping, superb resorts, and cosmopolitan
restaurants and nightclubs; and Lombok, with its stunning
beaches, laid-back flair and unspoiled natural scenery …
together they make the perfect holiday twosome.
