LOMBOK

Lombok island is the most popular holiday destination in Indonesia’s among worldwide travelers and holidaymakers. It’s located East of Bali, it takes 25 minutes by flight and taking 1 hour by fast boat. The fabled Gili Islands drawing visitors for action both in and out of the water, mighty Mount Rinjani luring climbers, and the big breaks on the south coast a magnet for surfers.

Lombok Often touted as the ‘next Bali’, This Island offers its own unique version of Indonesian culture and society at a much slower pace than its more popular neighbor to the west. In Lombok, there are certainly similarities to Indonesia’s other islands, such as volcanoes, beautiful beaches, clear warm waters, jungle terrain and plenty of traditional villages which have yet to be grossly modernized. However, the low-key character of Lombok’s tourism means that visitors need to do more of the legwork to find the really special sights on this island. The island’s major highlights, like the 12,000 foot Mount Rinjani and beach resorts at Senggigi and Kuta, are already well into the tourism development phase, making them popular destinations. Yet conditions rarely reach what could be considered overcrowded and even at the peak of Lombok’s high season, you’ll find far fewer tourists than on neighboring Bali. Most visitors come to Lombok to enjoy the warm weather and lovely beaches. Swimming, snorkeling, diving, and surfing are all big activities here, and the sublime

Gili Islands just offshore provide even more tropical splendor without the hustle and bustle of other Asian beach resorts. Balancing the natural beauty of Lombok is an interesting cultural scene defined in part by the traditional Sasak animists which dominated the island before the arrival of Islam in the 18th century. Traditional crafts such as pottery, textile weaving, and basket making are practiced with skill and finesse, and a visit to a traditional Sasak village is well worth the effort. Accommodation in Lombok comes in all classes, from five-star luxury spa resorts to chain hotels and rustic beach bungalows. Modern and convenient hotel facilities ensure visitor needs are well-catered for.

Lombok makes an ideal destination for travelers who have seen Bali or are tired of Java’s congestion but aren’t ready to explore the hinterlands of Sulawesi or Flores. If you want to visit Lombok, don’t wait too long; it is on the fast track to becoming one of Asia’s next great travel destinations.

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