How many days in Lombok? 5 days from the south coast to the Gili Islands
By Tony Panopoulos · travel-agency planner in Greece · Updated
Lombok is the island east of Bali, across the Lombok Strait, with a different feel: mostly Muslim and Sasak, with mosques instead of temples on every corner, emptier beaches and the volcano Mount Rinjani, at 3,726 metres the second-highest volcano in Indonesia. Give it five days: two on the south coast around Kuta, one in the rice fields of Tetebatu, one at the waterfalls of Senaru, and one on the Gili Islands, which belong to Lombok and lie just off its north-west coast.
Short answer
Four days covers the south coast, Tetebatu and the Gilis. Five days adds the waterfalls at Senaru and the north, or the first day of a Rinjani trek if you add more time.
The 5-day plan, day by day
Day 1: Kuta, Tanjung Aan and Bukit Merese
Morning. Start in Kuta (Lombok's, not Bali's), a small surf town in the Mandalika area. Rent a scooter (about Rp 70,000-100,000 a day) and ride 10-15 minutes east to Tanjung Aan, a double bay of white sand and clear water, calm enough for swimming at most tides.
Afternoon. Swim and eat grilled fish at the warungs behind Tanjung Aan (Rp 50,000-100,000). In the late afternoon, walk up Bukit Merese, the grassy headland beside the bay, about 15 minutes, for the view along the coast.
Evening. Watch the sunset from Merese, then return to Kuta for dinner: ayam taliwang (spicy grilled chicken from Lombok) or plecing kangkung (water spinach with chilli sauce), about Rp 40,000-80,000.
At popular beaches, local children and vendors sell bracelets and sarongs, and parking attendants charge a few thousand rupiah for scooters. Keep small notes ready.
Day 2: Selong Belanak and the Sasak village of Sade
Morning. Ride about 40 minutes west to Selong Belanak, a long sandy bay with gentle waves where beginner surf lessons cost about Rp 300,000-500,000. On the way, look out over Mawun bay, a horseshoe of sand between two hills.
Afternoon. Head inland to Sade, a traditional Sasak village about 20 minutes north of Kuta, with thatched houses and rice barns (lumbung) whose shape has become a symbol of Lombok. A local guide shows you round for a donation, usually Rp 50,000-100,000; expect a weaving demonstration and textiles for sale.
Evening. Back in Kuta, sit at a beach bar or café on the main road. Many places serve beer and cocktails, but outside the tourist areas, alcohol is less common; respect local customs.
Sade is very visited. For a quieter experience, ask your guesthouse about other Sasak villages nearby, or visit the weaving village of Sukarara.
Day 3: Rice terraces and waterfalls at Tetebatu
Morning. Take a driver or ride about 1.5-2 hours north-east to Tetebatu, a farming village on the southern slopes of Rinjani, surrounded by rice terraces, tobacco fields and coconut palms. Walk the paddies with a local guide (about Rp 150,000-250,000 for a half day), past farmers working the fields.
Afternoon. Visit nearby waterfalls such as Jeruk Manis (a short entry fee and a forest walk) and look for black monkeys in the forest at the edge of the village. Stay the night in a simple guesthouse with views of the volcano.
Evening. Dinner in your homestay: rice, tempeh, vegetables and sambal, about Rp 50,000-80,000. Nights are cooler here; bring a light jumper.
The mornings in Tetebatu are often clear, with Rinjani visible above the fields; by midday clouds usually cover the peak.
Day 4: Senaru and the waterfalls under Rinjani
Morning. Drive about 2 hours around the eastern side of the volcano to Senaru, the village at the northern trailhead of Mount Rinjani. Walk down about 15 minutes to Sendang Gile, a two-tier waterfall, then continue about 30-45 minutes along an irrigation channel and stream to Tiu Kelep, higher and wider (entry fee plus a guide recommended, about Rp 100,000-200,000 together).
Afternoon. Visit the old Sasak hamlet of Senaru with its bamboo houses, or relax with the view of the crater rim. If you plan a Rinjani trek, this is where most two- and three-day treks start, to the crater rim at about 2,640 metres and the lake Segara Anak below.
Evening. Drive down to the north-west coast, around Bangsal or Senggigi, for the night, or stay in Senaru if you start a trek in the morning.
The Rinjani National Park usually closes the trekking routes during the rainy season, roughly January to March, and may close them after heavy weather. Book treks with licensed operators and check current rules.
Day 5: The Gili Islands
Morning. Take a public boat from Bangsal harbour to Gili Air, Gili Meno or Gili Trawangan (about 15-30 minutes; tickets around Rp 20,000-40,000 one way; private fast boats cost more). The islands have no cars or motorbikes; you walk, cycle or take a horse cart (cidomo).
Afternoon. Snorkel off the beaches for sea turtles, often seen around Gili Meno and Gili Air, or join a three-island snorkel boat (about Rp 100,000-200,000). Cycle around Gili Air in about an hour, or around Gili T in about 1.5 hours.
Evening. Watch the sunset from the west coast of Gili Trawangan, with Bali's Mount Agung on the horizon on clear evenings, then eat at the night market by the harbour. Gili T is the party island; Gili Air is quieter; Gili Meno is the quietest.
Fast boats between the Gilis and Bali take about 1.5-2.5 hours; the strait can be rough, especially from June to August. Choose a reputable operator and keep valuables dry.
Only have 4 days?
With 4 days, keep the south coast for two days, then Tetebatu and the Gilis. You lose Senaru and the waterfalls.
Got extra days?
Extra days go to a Rinjani trek (2-4 days), the Pink Beach and islands of the far south-east around Tanjung Ringgit, the Secret Gilis of the south-west such as Gili Nanggu, or more days on Gili Air.
Where to stay in Lombok
| Budget | Area | Why | Typical double/night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget | Kuta Lombok and Tetebatu homestays | Simple guesthouses with fans or air-con, near beaches and rice fields. | Rp 250,000-500,000 |
| Mid-range | Kuta Lombok / Mandalika | Pool villas and surf lodges, 10-40 minutes to the best south-coast bays. | Rp 700,000-1,500,000 |
| Mid-range | Gili Air | Bungalows on the beach, quieter than Gili T. | Rp 700,000-1,600,000 |
| Comfort | Resorts at Tanjung Aan, Selong Belanak or north Lombok | Beachfront resorts and villas with pools. | Rp 2,500,000-6,000,000 |
Getting around
Lombok's airport near Praya is about 30 minutes from Kuta and 1.5 hours from Senggigi or Bangsal. Most travellers hire a car with driver for longer days (about Rp 600,000-900,000 a day) and ride scooters locally (Rp 70,000-100,000). Grab and Gojek work in parts of the island. From Bali, fast boats from Padangbai, Serangan or Sanur reach the Gilis and north Lombok in about 1.5-2.5 hours, and the public ferry from Padangbai to Lembar takes about 4-5 hours. Flights from Bali take about 40 minutes. Check current schedules; sea conditions change them.
What to eat in Lombok
Lombok food is spicy, with fresh chilli in almost every dish. Try ayam taliwang, grilled or fried chicken with a red chilli paste, plecing kangkung, water spinach with tomato-chilli sambal, sate rembiga, sweet-spicy beef satay from Mataram, and nasi balap puyung, rice with shredded spicy chicken. Warungs serve a full plate for Rp 25,000-50,000; tourist restaurants in Kuta and the Gilis charge Rp 70,000-180,000 a main. Most local food is halal; alcohol is available in tourist areas.
Best time to visit
May to September is the dry season: sunny, with highs of 30-32°C and the Rinjani trails open. July and August are the busiest months on the Gilis. The wet season (November to March) brings heavy afternoon rains, greener rice fields and lower prices, but Rinjani is usually closed. Check the dates of Ramadan, when some warungs close during the day.
What a day costs
| Budget | Mid-range | Comfort | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed (per person, sharing a double) | Rp 200,000 | Rp 550,000 | Rp 1,800,000 |
| Food & drink | Rp 150,000 | Rp 300,000 | Rp 700,000 |
| Sights & tickets | Rp 50,000 | Rp 150,000 | Rp 400,000 |
| Local transport | Rp 100,000 | Rp 250,000 | Rp 500,000 |
| Total per person, per day | about Rp 500,000 | about Rp 1,250,000 | about Rp 3,400,000 |
Approximate 2026 prices in Indonesian rupiah; transport assumes a shared driver or scooter, and a Rinjani trek is extra. Indonesia adds 10-21% tax and service to many hotel and restaurant bills, and some Gili islands charge a small visitor fee.
Before you go
Common questions
Is Lombok like Bali?
It is close, but different. Lombok is mainly Muslim and Sasak, with fewer temples and ceremonies, less traffic and emptier beaches. Tourist infrastructure is thinner outside Kuta, Senggigi and the Gilis, and distances between sights are longer. Many people combine both islands, with a fast boat or a 40-minute flight between them.
How hard is the Rinjani trek?
Hard. The usual two-day trek from Senaru or Sembalun climbs to the crater rim at about 2,640 metres on steep, dusty paths, and the summit at 3,726 metres adds a pre-dawn climb on loose volcanic gravel. You need good fitness, warm clothes for nights near freezing, and a licensed operator. Trails usually close in the rainy season.
Which Gili island should I choose?
Gili Trawangan for nightlife, restaurants and diving schools; Gili Air for a mix of quiet beaches and good cafés; Gili Meno for silence, turtles and honeymoons. All three are small, car-free and linked by island-hopping boats, so you can visit the others in a day.
Do I need a driver in Lombok?
For long days, yes. Roads between the south coast, Tetebatu, Senaru and the north-west are slow and winding, and signs are limited. A car with driver costs about Rp 600,000-900,000 a day and includes fuel. For short trips around Kuta, a scooter is fine if you are an experienced rider with an international licence.
How this guide was made
Compiled by TonyPlan from official tourism, transport and attraction sources and on-the-ground travel knowledge. Prices are approximate for 2026 and change with season; anything we could not confirm is marked as approximate.
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