Central Lombok, a region on Lombok Island, is attractive because of its large collection of beautiful beaches that fringe the coast as well as untouched landscapes in the heart of the island. It is the most visited region of Lombok.
Lombok sits next door to the more popular destination of Bali and belongs to the Lesser Sunda Islands. Beaches are the main tourist draws to Central Lombok, which is home to a decent range of hotels and restaurants, but the capital of Central Lombok, Praya, is also worth a look.
Home to a stunning kilometer wide beach, Tanjung A’an is popular with visitors from around the world for its snorkeling and safe swimming. Nearby Kuta Beach]], not to be confused with its more famous counterpart on Bali, is also gorgeous and host to the annual Bau Nyale which celebrates the beginning of the reproduction cycle of the local seaworm.
Mawun Beach is shaped like a half moon and is popular with swimmers as the waters here are crystal clear. Gerupuk Beach is best left to the surfers as the surrounding coral reefs provide big breaking waves.
Also not to be missed are the inland traditional villages where traditional homes and rice sheds can be observed. The terrain in Central Lombok is dry most of the year and there are only a few hotels to make use of in the area.
Getting There & Away
Lombok is only a 25-minute plane journey from neighboring island Bali and there are also regular ferries running between the islands that take anywhere from 1 to 5 hours depending on which boat you take. Jakarta’s international airport also has services to Lombok, with flights take taking approximately 2 hours. Singapore and Kuala Lumpur international airports also have routes to Lombok.