Lombok & Gili Islands Holidays

Where are Lombok and the Gili Islands?
Lombok is part of Indonesia’s Lesser Sunda Island chain that stretches eastwards beyond Java for around 700 miles, as is its well-connected western neighbour Bali – reachable by fast boat in 1½ to 3 hours, depending on the exact departure and arrival point, or in 20 minutes by plane if you prefer. The car-free Gili Islands lie off the west coast in the Lombok Strait, which marks the boundary between two distinct habitat regions: the Indomalayan and Australasian realms. Lying just 250 miles south of the Equator, it has a tropical climate and is affected by the north-west monsoon; see our best time to visit guide for a monthly breakdown of the weather in Lombok and the Gili Islands.

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Lombok
Lying to the east of Bali, Lombok is the quieter and less developed alternative to its more famous neighbour. There are two main beach resorts on its mainland – laidback Senggigi and up-and-coming Kuta. The former lies on a sweeping bay between two headlands on the west coast, with a long beach lined with resorts, restaurants and bars. On the south coast, Kuta has grown from a small fishing village into an appealing little tourist town with plenty of glorious beaches nearby. Trekkers are enticed to the island by the active volcano of Mount Rinjani where, from the summit on a clear morning, a blue-green crater lake can be seen in all its glory, and Lombok’s lush, mountainous interior is ideal for walking and cycling.

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The Gilis
Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno make up the fabled ‘Gilis’. Popular for years on the backpacker circuit, these rustic, bohemian islands lie offshore from mainland Lombok. Gili Trawangan – affectionately known as ‘Gili T’ – is the liveliest and most popular of the three islands but it’s still very chilled out. Diving is a big thing here, and the main street is populated with dive schools in between restaurants serving up freshly grilled seafood. Gili Meno is the smallest, prettiest and least developed of the Gilis. It’s perfect for spending your days cast away, lounging on the coral sands, snorkelling offshore amongst hawksbill and green sea turtles, and enjoying ice-cold beers as the sun goes down.

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Multi centres
With Bali and Lombok within such easy reach of each other, you can tailor-make a holiday that brings you the best of both, whatever your tastes. Twin a few days in Bali’s upmarket Seminyak, for instance – with its sleek bars, boutiques and beach clubs – with the sleepier waterside delights of Senggigi on Lombok or the even more relaxed Gilis. Or blend culture and beach with a stay inland in Bali’s arty Ubud, ringed by rice-terraced hills and home to galleries, temples and spas, before hopping across to a castaway island in the Gilis for idyllic days of snorkelling, swimming and lazing on powder-soft sand.

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Beaches
You’re never too far from a beautiful, and relatively quiet, stretch of sand on Lombok, especially along the west and south coasts. To the north of Senggigi, the island’s first resort area, the string of almost deserted beaches includes calm and sheltered Sire, with Mount Rinjani as an impressive backdrop. Along the south coast, there are places where you can swim, surf or both. At Selong Belanak, there are boards and sunbeds to rent and rustic food stalls, while Kuta is a magnet for those looking to catch the perfect wave. For the most picturesque of dips, the appropriately named Pink Beach in the far south-east has flamingo-tinted sand, crystal-clear water and superb snorkelling.

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Food & drink
Surrounded as it is by fertile waters, it’s no surprise that seafood is a key feature of Lombok cuisine – the fascinating fish market at Tanjung Luar is one of Indonesia’s largest. Other ingredients come from the lush interior: rice, vegetables and flavourings such as turmeric, coriander and chilli among them. A typical dish said to have been a favourite of the local nobility is Ayam Taliwang, spicy-sweet grilled chicken that is a staple offering at beach shacks and street stalls around the island. Resort areas such as Senggigi and Kuta have the widest range of places to eat, from authentic Italian cafés by the beach to Indonesian-style retreats in the hills overlooking the sea.

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