The 9 Best Things to Do in Lombok Island: My Favorite Activities in Lombok 2026

Out of all the islands in Southeast Asia, or even in Indonesia, that I have been to, Lombok is definitely one of my favorites. 

Lombok has so much beautiful nature, from waterfalls and volcanoes to incredible beaches and stunning islands. I’m convinced Lombok will be blowing up over the next few years, especially with its neighbor, Bali, facing more and more backlash from overtourism.

I just wrapped up living in and exploring Lombok Island for over two months, so I did my fair share of activities and cool things in Lombok. Honestly, I had such a good experience.

Today, I want to talk specifically about the best things to do in Lombok Island. This list includes all my personal highlights, mostly things I did myself, as well as a couple of activities that I wish I had done, which just gives me a reason to come back again! So, let’s get into it.

Things to Do in Lombok Island – My Experience

I stayed in Lombok for over two months because I just needed a place to lay low for a bit, where I could get some work done and also have a really good time. I based myself in Kuta Lombok, which is a small, amazing beach town with great surfing, incredible cafes and restaurants and I absolutely loved it. I basically used that town as my home base, and from there, I went on multiple trips to explore the rest of the island.

I spent time checking out many different things in and around Kuta, but I also made sure to take a few day trips. Because Lombok is actually huge, I realized pretty quickly that I needed more time for certain adventures. 

For instance, to see the waterfalls in the north properly, I went on a two-day road trip on my scooter and stayed in North Lombok for two nights, which made the long drive totally worth it.

I did something similar for the Gili Islands. I traveled from Kuta Lombok to the Gili Islands for about 10 days to relax and go scuba diving. I kind of fell in love with them, specifically Gili Air. It was so incredibly chill, with stunning water and beaches; I could have easily stayed much longer. 

As much as I love Lombok Island itself, the Gili Islands were definitely one of the absolute highlights of my trip.

Lastly, I had a not-so-nice experience regarding Mount Rinjani. I had planned to climb the volcano, and since I’ve done my fair share of hiking, I was super excited about it.

Unfortunately, while I was there, a tragic accident occurred where a hiker died on the volcano, which still makes me so sad thinking about it. Needless to say, that stopped me from doing the climb myself. Maybe I will come back in the future to tackle it, but I don’t have anything planned at this stage.

What I Wish I Would Have Known Before Visiting Lombok

Lombok is much bigger than you’d think

The island is huge, and I definitely made the mistake of underestimating it at the beginning. Because it’s so large, I ended up taking multi-day trips across the island, staying in various local guesthouses just to see as much of the landscape as possible. Don’t plan on seeing it all from just one base.

Location Matters When Staying in Lombok

There are a lot of different towns and areas to stay in, but I highly recommend Kuta Lombok. In my opinion, it is the best place to stay, with amazing cafes, restaurants, and beautiful beaches all around. If you’re looking for a great place to stay, I personally love Origin Lombok, it’s my favorite boutique hotel on the island.

Get an eSIM (I use Sim Local!)

At this stage, I don’t even travel without an eSIM anymore because I need to stay connected to friends and family, look up information on the go, and navigate around foreign countries. I have been using Sim Local for years, and I’m super happy with them. (You can sign up here and use my code: GIRLONAZEBRA)

Lombok is Muslim, Not Buddhist

It is worth mentioning that Lombok is a Muslim island, not Buddhist like Bali. Don’t expect to see any major Buddhist temples, and please be respectful of local traditions and dress accordingly, especially when visiting villages or more rural areas.

Get Travel Insurance (I use Safetywing!)

This is non-negotiable for me, especially in Lombok, where I was surfing, hiking up waterfalls, and even planning to hike Mount Rinjani. I wouldn’t have done any of those activities without good coverage. I always use SafetyWing; they are my favorite, and I’ve only had great experiences with them. Click here for their plans and pricing.

I Recommend Flying into Lombok (Don’t Take the Ferry)

I have heard so many horror stories about ferries sinking between Bali and Lombok that there is no way I’m setting foot on one of those boats. Lombok has an international airport, so I just flew straight into the island, it was super easy and much safer.

My 9 Favorite Things to Do in Lombok

1. Surfing / Learning How to Surf

One of the main reasons I came to Lombok in the first place was that I wanted to get better at surfing. I’ve always loved the idea of it, but I was never really in a position where I could put enough effort and time into actually improving.

When I was staying in Kuta Lombok, I made it a priority to go surfing multiple times every week. I usually headed out to Tanjung Aan, which is one of the best surfing beaches around for beginners, though it works for more experienced surfers as well.

If you are a total beginner, I highly recommend checking out a few of the surf schools in the area. I personally went out with LMBK Surf House a few times and they were fantastic. I’ve also heard great things about Surf Camp Lombok. The instructors at both were super friendly, the prices were fair, and overall, I just had a great experience learning to navigate the waves.

2. Taking a Trip to the Gili Islands (I Loved the Scuba Diving & Snorkeling)

My absolute highlight of my whole time in Indonesia, and I spent almost four months there, was definitely my trip to the Gili Islands. 

Even though I was based in Kuta Lombok, which is on the southern coast of Lombok, I took a 10-day trip during that time to the Gili Islands. I only visited Gili Trawangan (Gili T) and Gili Air; I actually skipped the third island, Gili Meno.

Honestly, I could talk about this for hours! The Gili Islands are stunning, with incredible beaches and crystal-clear water. Gili T had a cool, more lively vibe, while Gili Air, which is my favorite, was just super relaxed. 

I spent days scuba diving and snorkeling because the underwater life was just so incredible; I saw loads of turtles, a shipwreck, and even sharks. I would definitely go to the Gili Islands again, and I would absolutely do the snorkeling and scuba diving activities all over again, they were both so much fun.

Book Here: Snorkeling in the Gili Islands

3. Climb Mount Rinjani

I know that Mount Rinjani is pretty much the highlight for many of you when you are coming to Lombok because it is one of Indonesia’s most famous hikes and volcanoes. I had planned on doing the hike, and it was one activity I was really looking forward to. It is definitely not the easiest hike; it usually takes two to three days to reach the summit, and the weather can be super unpredictable.

When I was in Lombok, just a few weeks before I wanted to do the hike, a girl unfortunately passed away in a terrible accident on top of the mountain. It was so heartbreaking when I heard about it, and after that, I really didn’t want to do it myself anymore. It didn’t feel right for me, and I also wasn’t feeling as confident about the challenge.

If you are planning on doing it, please, please make sure to pick a company and a tour guide with a good reputation. Your safety is the most important thing here!

Book Here: 3D2N Mount Rinjani Hike

4. Visit Lomboks Waterfalls

Another huge activity in Lombok is definitely visiting the waterfalls. Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep are the two most popular and stunning waterfalls on the island, and after visiting them myself, I can confirm they are absolutely worth the effort.

However, I want to be real with you: getting there can be a bit of a mission depending on where you are staying. I stayed in Kuta Lombok, which is quite far from the waterfalls. I could have joined a group day tour, but that would have meant a three-hour drive each way, which didn’t sound like much fun to me. Instead, I drove my scooter there with a couple of stops along the way, and I actually ended up staying in that part of Lombok for two nights. It was the perfect excuse to see a completely different, lush side of the island!

5. Hang Out at a Beach Club

Lombok is definitely not like Bali in the sense that there are huge beach clubs everywhere and to be honest, I liked that a lot because I just don’t care much for that scene.

However, occasionally I do like to pamper myself. One of my favorite places to go was Biras Beach Bar. It’s the beach club at Tampah Hills, a luxury hotel with unique villas. 

The beach club isn’t overly flashy, but it was one of the nicest places I found while in Lombok. The beach is super peaceful and quiet, with comfortable sunbeds spaced out nicely, so I would come here to have lunch and drinks by the ocean and just relax. It’s definitely not a party vibe at all, I would always come there for a very relaxing day by the beach.

6. Snorkeling on the Secret Gili Islands

Yes, you read that right, the Secret Gili Islands! Don’t worry, I had never heard of them before I came to Lombok either. These “secret” islands are actually a group of smaller islands off the southwest coast called Gili Nanggu, Gili Kedis, and Gili Sudak.

They are mostly uninhabited, and I visited them on a organized day trip. I was picked up by a shuttle and then headed out on a boat to hop between the different islands. 

We spent a lot of time snorkeling, and it was incredible. Because it is so remote, there were barely any other people around, and I saw loads of turtles, clownfish, and beautiful corals. As far as snorkeling activities on Lombok go, this was definitely a highlight. To be honest, I still preferred the snorkeling on the “main” Gili Islands, but if you don’t have time to head north, the Secret Gili Islands are a great alternative.

Book Here: Snorkeling Around the Secret Gili Islands

7. Visit Pink Beach (Tangsi Beach)

Another activity that I unfortunately didn’t get around to was visiting Pink Beach, or as it’s officially known, Tangsi Beach. I know this is a super popular attraction in Lombok, but I’ve had mixed personal experiences with “pink beaches” in the past. Often, they aren’t nearly as pink as they look in edited photos!

Locals told me that the color actually depends a lot on the time of year and the light, so I personally decided to skip it because I didn’t want to be disappointed. 

However, I had some friends visit a few months after I left Lombok, and they said it was absolutely awesome. I’m still a bit on the fence about it, but if you decide to go to Pink Beach, please let me know what you think and share some pictures!

8. Watch the Moto GP at Mandalika Street Circuit

Many people don’t know this, but Lombok is home to the Mandalika International Street Circuit, which is the official race track for the MotoGP in Indonesia. Since I was staying in Kuta Lombok, it was only a 15-minute drive from my place, which was pretty cool!

I got a little unlucky and there wasn’t a major race on while I was there, but I think attending a race would be a lot of fun even if you aren’t a die-hard MotoGP fan. 

The energy of the crowd and the speed of the bikes in such a beautiful tropical setting must be incredible. If you’re visiting while a race is scheduled, definitely try to grab tickets, it’s one of the most unique things to do in Lombok.

9. Go Scuba Diving in Lombok

While I was staying in Lombok, I made sure to go scuba diving twice. I went diving in the Gili Islands, which was incredible, but I also booked a dive in Kuta Lombok to see what the south side of the island had to offer.

I went with a dive shop called Blue Marlin, and honestly, it was amazing. The dive instructors were great, the gear was in excellent condition, and overall, I was very happy with the experience. 

I was actually quite impressed because the visibility was much better than I thought it would be! While I did prefer the scuba diving in the Gili Islands for the sheer variety of marine life, diving in the south is a fantastic alternative if you don’t have time to make the trip up north.

FAQs About What to Do in Lombok

Is Lombok worth visiting? 

Absolutely yes, at least in my opinion based on my experience! I loved Lombok a lot. I loved the beautiful nature, the beaches, and the small, cute beach towns. I think what I enjoyed most about it, though, is how it is just less touristy and not as overrun as Bali, for example.

Which is better: Lombok or Bali? 

That really depends on what you want. I personally prefer Lombok because it’s less busy, less touristy, and just more chill. However, if you want fancy beach clubs or want to explore Buddhist temples, then Bali will be much better for you.

What is there to do in Lombok? 

Lombok has so many cool activities to offer. My main focus was surfing, but I also spent a lot of time at the beach, went snorkeling and scuba diving in the Gili Islands, visited loads of waterfalls, and then there is Mount Rinjani, which you can summit as well.

When is the best time to visit Lombok? 

I would say the summer is the best time of year. I would actually recommend the end of summer, maybe around August or September, for the best weather and the cleanest beaches. During the rainy season, the ocean sometimes washes plastic trash ashore, so the end of summer before the rain starts is definitely better.

Final Thoughts on the Best Things to Do in Lombok

All in all, I think that, at least to me, Lombok feels very heavy on its nature, and I love that! Because the island is Muslim and not Buddhist, Lombok doesn’t have all those impressive jungle-style temples that Bali has, but it makes up for it with amazing waterfalls, the Rinjani volcano, incredible scuba diving and snorkeling, and beautiful beaches.

I personally loved it here in Lombok and I would definitely come back. I don’t want to constantly compare it to Bali, but I feel like at some point that always happens. I just want to quickly say that while Lombok is a great alternative to Bali, it is also very different in many ways, so definitely do your research before you arrive. Happy travels!

Check Out My Other Lombok Guides

Is Lombok Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

The Best Cafes in Kuta Lombok: My Favorite Coffee Shops in Kuta

The Best Restaurants in Kuta Lombok: My Top Places to Eat in Lombok

Beaches in Kuta Lombok: My Favorite Beaches in Kuta

Best Time to Visit Lombok Island: My Seasonal Guide

Best Things to Do in Kuta Lombok: My Favorite Activities in Kuta

Places to Stay in Kuta Lombok: My Top Areas in Hotels in Kuta Lombok

Where to Stay in Lombok Island: My Favorite Areas & Hotels

Best Things to Do in Lombok Island: My Favorite Activities in Lombok

Check Out My Other Indonesia Guides

Is Indonesia Worth Visiting? My Honest Review

Indonesia Itinerary 3 Weeks: How I Spent 21 Days in Indonesia

Best Time to Visit Indonesia: When I Would Go Again