September 17, 2024, 6:31 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Until now, Lombok has usually been overshadowed by its well-known sister island, Bali. However, Indonesia’s Chili Island has a lot to offer: some deserted beaches, cool surf spots, and volcanoes. In Lombok, travelers also find the originality that Bali often lacks today. However, mass tourism is on the rise.
Suhardi approaches and greets with a friendly “Hello”. Many vacationers on Kuta Beach roll their eyes, and it’s hard to blame them. Most of them have been to Bali before, and seen souvenir sellers often deprive tourists of the peace and quiet they long for.
But Kuta in the south of the Indonesian island of Lombok has little in common with the package tourism and party stronghold of the same name on Bali. Here, it’s not all about the tourists just yet. Suhardi just wants to talk to the tourists on the beach, as he is an English teacher from a neighboring village and has some of his students with him.
Lombok means chili pepper
A Dutch couple agrees to have a little chat with them. Arti, Lintang, and Susila shyly sit down next to the vacationers in the sand. At first, it looked as if the Dutch tourists were doing Suhardi a favor, but the situation quickly changes. The teacher and his students tell the tourists about the traditions and regional specialties: Plecing Kangkung or Nasi Puyung. Anyone ordering food in the local kitchens will quickly discover that Lombok has a penchant for cooking with the spicy chili sauce sambal. “It’s not for nothing that Lombok means chili pepper in our language,” explains Suhardi.
Lombok is becoming increasingly popular with Indonesian holidaymakers looking for uncrowded beaches and unspoiled islands. Nature freaks and hikers are the main visitors to the sparsely populated north. Most come to climb Indonesia’s second-highest volcano, Gunung Rinjani, with its emerald-green crater lakes. In the west and center of Lombok, rice landscapes and Asian temples beckon.
Many liken Lombok to Bali before it became overrun by tourism. If you stroll through the spice markets of small villages in the interior of the island, the comparison may be true. The traditional Sasak culture can be found here. Most of Lombok’s 3.2 million inhabitants belong to this ethnic group. The Sasak have a reputation for their weaving.
Is mass tourism coming?
The tranquility of Lombok might soon be a memory. Dozens of hotels have already sprung up along the palm-fringed bays of the West Coast, which boast white sandy beaches. Between Senggigi and Mangsit in particular, many restaurants, bars, diving schools, and excursion operators have sprung up in recent years. Since an international airport was opened in the south of the island three years ago, tourism companies and hotel chains have set their sights on Lombok’s wild south coast near Kuta. Until recently, it was still considered a hidden gem among surfers.
Surfers, with their surfboards strapped to the side of their mopeds, rumble along the coast in search of the best waves. The roads are bumpy and littered with potholes. The adventure is worth it, promises Rasta, who teaches surfing in the bay of Selong Belanak. “This place is magical, has good waves all year round and the most beautiful sunsets on the island.”
Encircled by green hills, the bay offers an idyllic spot for lounging and swimming. The white sand and reggae music create a Caribbean atmosphere. Over bintang beer, nasi goreng, and fresh fish, a few vacationers watch as the fishermen take their traditional boats out to sea in the evening.
Up to now, tourism in Lombok has mainly been concentrated on the three offshore islands of Gili Meno, Gili Air, and Gili Trawangan. The strait between Lombok and Bali is just 35 kilometers (21.7 miles) wide. A swift speedboat ride of just under one and a half hours from Bali will take you to the Gili Islands. A snorkeling and diving paradise that is attracting more and more Bali holidaymakers as well as backpackers.
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Travel information about Lombok:
Security advice for Indonesia: There was an attack in the heart of Jakarta in mid-January. Before that, the last major attacks were in Bali in 2002 and 2005. The German Foreign Office warns that terrorist attacks are possible.
How to get there: Various airlines such as Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines fly to Lombok with a stopover in Singapore. Alternatively, you can also fly to Bali and go on from there with the daily ferries (four to five hours) or speedboats (one and a half hours).
Entry: German travelers receive a tourist visa when entering the country at the airport. Your passport must have at least six months of validity when you enter the country.
Climate and travel time: Lombok has a tropical climate with temperatures around 30 degrees and high humidity. The island can be visited all year round. Even during the rainy season, from October to the end of March, you might encounter extended dry spells. And in the dry season, it can also rain for longer periods.
Currency: One euro is worth around 14,851 Indonesian rupiah (as of January 25, 2016). There are ATMs in all cities and tourist centers.
The original version of this article was published in 2016.