Cheap flights to Lombok

Quick summary

Why track Lombok with SniperAir

You do not need to compare prices every day

Airport and getting there

One airport for the whole island, at Tanak Awu near Praya

Distances and times are approximate, based on Wikipedia (EN, ES) and Wikivoyage (EN, DE); routes and schedules change with the season, so check them before you travel. We do not quote fares.

Lombok is a volcanic island of Indonesia, between Bali to the west and Sumbawa to the east, in the Lesser Sunda Islands. Its main city, Mataram, is the capital of West Nusa Tenggara province and had 429,651 inhabitants at the 2020 census, according to Wikipedia (EN); the island covers roughly 4,700 km2, a figure that varies slightly between sources. Wikivoyage (EN) describes it as in many ways an unspoiled Bali, although the cultures are quite different: far fewer visitors, beaches, waterfalls and a looming volcano.

The Lombok Strait follows the Wallace Line, the boundary between the fauna of Indo-Malaysia and Australasia, according to Wikipedia (EN, DE). About 85 % of the people are Sasak, mostly Muslim, with a Balinese Hindu minority, according to Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (DE). So Lombok is an island to travel around rather than a single city: you pick a base among Senggigi, the south, the Gili Islands or the foot of Rinjani.

Landmarks and sights

Mount Rinjani, the southern beaches and the Gili Islands

Lombok is best known for its nature: a big volcano in the north, pale-sand bays in the south and west, and coral islets. The places below are illustrated.

Rinjani and Lake Segara Anak

Mount Rinjani rises to 3,726 m; its caldera holds the crescent-shaped Lake Segara Anak, with a young cone, Baru, rising from it, according to Wikipedia (FR, ES). The volcano and lake lie inside a national park founded in 1997, and climbs are made with a guide, compulsory since the 2009 eruption according to Wikivoyage (FR, DE). The lake lies at roughly 2,000 m and has hot springs, according to Wikipedia (ES) and Wikivoyage (EN).

Rinjani at sunrise

Treks start from Senaru or Sembalun and last from two to five days, according to Wikivoyage (DE); the summit push begins very early, around 3 a.m., for views over Lombok, the Gili Islands, Bali and Sumbawa. Rinjani is part of the Rinjani-Lombok biosphere reserve recognised by Unesco in 2018, according to Wikipedia (FR).

The southern and western beaches

South Lombok has white-sand beaches, while the centre and north have black sand of volcanic origin, according to Wikipedia (FR). Kuta is known to surfers, and nearby Tanjung A'an has sand that looks like grains of pepper, according to Wikivoyage (EN). With the arrival of the Mandalika international circuit, Kuta and Selong Belanak are being developed for tourism, according to Wikipedia (FR).

The wild coastline

Rocky headlands and reefs cut up the shoreline between the bays. Lombok's waters hold remarkable seagrass meadows: Gerapuk Bay in the south has 11 of Indonesia's 12 species, according to Wikipedia (ES). Surfing is mainly on the south coast, according to Wikipedia (FR).

The Gili Islands

Off the north-west coast, the three Gili Islands (Trawangan, Meno and Air) are Lombok's main diving area, and turtles are practically guaranteed around Gili Trawangan, according to Wikipedia (FR). Motor vehicles are banned by local ordinance, so people get around on foot, by bicycle or by horse cart (cidomo), according to Wikipedia (ES). Trawangan is the liveliest island, Air has most of the local residents and Meno is the quietest, according to Wikivoyage (DE). For serious medical care, head back to Lombok or Bali.

Sukarare, Senaru and Bayan

At Sukarare in the south you can watch the villagers' weaving and handicrafts, according to Wikivoyage (EN). Near Senaru, the Sendang Gile and Tiu Kelep waterfalls can be visited on a day trip, according to Wikivoyage (EN). At Bayan in the north stands the island's oldest mosque, Masjid Kuno Bayan Beleq, built in 1634 according to Wikipedia (DE).

Museums and culture

Narmada Park, Balinese temples and Sasak weaving

Taman Narmada

About ten kilometres east of Mataram, Narmada Park was a royal retreat in the 19th century, with a Hindu temple, a pool and a lake, according to Wikivoyage (EN, DE). Entry is free according to Wikivoyage (DE): check the conditions before you go.

State museum and temples

The West Nusa Tenggara state museum in Mataram holds more than 7,000 items, including traditional clothing, weapons, textiles, masks and archaeological finds, according to Wikivoyage (DE). Around Mataram, the Balinese Hindu temples such as Pura Meru in Cakranegara, built in 1720 according to Wikipedia (DE), plus Pura Lingsar and Pura Gunung Sari, recall the long Balinese presence.

Sasak culture

The weaving of Sukarare and the pottery of the Masbagik area show a living craft tradition, according to Wikivoyage (EN) and Wikipedia (DE). We do not quote prices: opening hours and tickets change.

Food and drink

Ayam taliwang, pelecing sauce and Rinjani coffee

Dishes to try

The best-known dish is ayam taliwang, chicken in a red sauce of galangal, turmeric and tomato, though nobody agrees on the exact recipe, according to Wikivoyage (EN). Pelecing is a spicy sauce of chilli, shrimp paste and tomato; there is also kelor, a vegetable soup, and timun urap, cucumber with coconut, according to the same source. Nasi campur, a plate of rice with vegetables, tofu, tempeh or fish, is the cheapest meal, always with very hot sambal.

Where to eat

Small neighbourhood restaurants, called warung, serve local food cheaply; the restaurants of Senggigi and the Gili Islands cost more but offer more international dishes, according to Wikivoyage (EN). The island's name does not come from chilli but from lomboq, meaning straight in Sasak, the same source explains.

Drinks

About 90 % of the population is Muslim, so halal food is almost everywhere except in the west, at Senggigi and on the Gilis. Alcohol is available in tourist areas but not everywhere: Praya bans it, for example, according to Wikivoyage (EN). Lombok coffee is mainly arabica from the slopes of Rinjani, according to Wikipedia (FR). Be careful with adulterated local spirits, warns Wikivoyage (EN).

Getting around

Taxis, ride-hailing apps, bemo and boats

Taxis and apps

Metered taxis are common in Mataram; Grab and Gojek work around Mataram, Senggigi, the airport and Kuta, with cars and motorbike taxis, according to Wikivoyage (EN). For a full-day excursion or remote areas, a private driver or a rented vehicle is more practical.

Bemo and shuttles

Bemos, shared minivans, are the cheapest option but slow and without fixed timetables, especially around Mataram; most stop running by early evening. Shuttles link Senggigi, the airport, Lembar (boats to Bali) and Bangsal (boats to the Gilis), according to Wikivoyage (EN).

Boats

Ferries and fast boats cross the Lombok Strait from Bali; Lembar also has links to Surabaya, according to Wikivoyage (DE, EN). Schedules depend on the weather: check them before you go.

Budget and precautions

A quieter island, generally cheaper than Bali

Price level

Wikivoyage (EN) presents Lombok as an inexpensive, uncrowded tropical destination, with clear gaps between warung and the restaurants of Senggigi or the Gilis. We do not give figures, because we could not cross-check them across two independent open sources.

Currency and payment

The currency is the Indonesian rupiah. Cash machines are common in Mataram and tourist areas but scarcer elsewhere; Gili Trawangan has some, according to Wikivoyage (DE).

Flights and precautions

SniperAir tracks prices to LOP and compares them with the route's history, but it does not sell or book tickets. You can also track Bali (DPS) for comparison, with a flight of about 25 minutes or a boat to Lombok. The island lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and was hit by earthquakes in July and August 2018, according to Wikipedia (FR). For entry rules and safety, consult the official advice of your country of departure. Dress modestly in villages and at religious sites, advises Wikivoyage (EN).

When to go

Drier than Bali, with a peak season from May to August

The climate is tropical, hot and humid all year, according to Wikivoyage (EN). The north, on the slopes of Rinjani, is noticeably wetter than the south, which sometimes lacks water, according to Wikipedia (FR). Sources differ on the exact dates of the seasons, so we give no temperatures or rainfall figures.

By length of stay

What to do in Lombok depending on how long you stay

In pictures

Lombok in pictures

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Lombok