Tailor-made Lombok Island Travel Experiences -

The Indonesian island Lombok is part of the Nusa Tenggara Barat Province and the Lesser Sunda Islands. Approximately two million inhabitants call Lombok their home. About 360,000 live in the capital city Mataram. The majority of the population, like in the rest of Indonesia, belongs to the Muslim faith. This is also reflected in the architecture of the villages and cities, essentially, of course, in the religious buildings. Impressive mosques dominate; however, they are interspersed with the occasional Hindu temple. Lombok is no less diverse than its larger neighbour Bali, boasting immaculately white sand beaches, fantastic diving and pristine nature. Nevertheless, it was discovered as a tourism destination only fairly recently and preserves much of its original charm. Soak up the sun and take a dip in the crystal-clear, blue ocean. Lombok’s coastline is blessed with both beaches and rocky headlands providing magnificent viewpoints. Certainly, there are some notable differences between Bali and Lombok. Despite the immediate vicinity of Bali, Lombok is already located in a different climate zone and much dryer and rugged. There is less than average precipitation compared to the region’s standards. Consequently, the typical wet rice fields are nowhere to be found on Lombok. In their place, other crops like dry rice plantations, coffee, vegetables and fruit do very well. A local chili pepper variety, the Cabe Lombok, is a local favourite. The backdrop of fertile fields and towering volcanoes is just perfect for long hikes and bike tours. With 3,726 metres, the volcano Gunung Rinjani in the Northeast, is the second highest of all Indonesian volcanoes. In addition to this giant, there are several smaller volcanoes dotting the lush highlands. Those in search of beaches will strike gold in Senggigi, Medana or Kuta. Lombok’s most popular beach destination is Senggigi – famous for its palm tree-lined white beach and excellent snorkelling. Located in the island’s West, Senggigi is great base camp for exploring more of the island. Most of Lombok’s attractions are also located in the West. Moreover, the Senggigi Bay offers a wonderful view of the holy mountain Gunung Agung on Bali, just across the ocean. The fishing village Kuta is also well worth a visit. The bay is lined by a wonderful beach and is located quite close to the Gili Islands, three tine islets just off Lombok’s western coast. The Gili Islands are paradise materialised on earth: blindingly white sand, crystal clear water licking at vibrant coral reefs and sublime peace and quiet. The Gili Islands can easily be visited on a day trip. The closest island to Lombok is Gili Air. With one thousand inhabitants it is at once the most populated but also said to be the most beautiful of the three Gili Islands. Incidentally, the only transportation on the Gilis are the Cidomos, traditional horse carts. Gili Meno is the smallest of the islands. The island’s West is dominated by a salt lake. The salt’s good quality makes it an important natural resource. Gili Trawangan is the largest of the Gilis: you would need four hours to walk around it. It has become known as a hotspot for society dropouts and party folk. Join INTOSOL for a luxurious trip to the wildly romantic wonderland Lombok. We promise that Lombok will take your heart by storm!

* price per person/week including flight