The headline activity on Lombok is the trek up Mount Rinjani (3,726 m). This active volcano is one of Indonesia's most iconic summits, with a stunning crater lake (Segara Anak) at 2,000 metres and a young volcanic cone (Gunung Baru) smoking at the centre. The climb is organised from the villages of Senaru (north slope) and Sembalun (east slope), inside the Gunung Rinjani National Park.
The most accessible itinerary is the 2 days/1 night trip to the crater rim and lake — spectacular, physically demanding but with no technical difficulty. The 3 days/2 nights version to the 3,726 m summit and return via Sembalun is the ambitious option: the final pre-dawn ascent (3-4 hours through volcanic ash) is the test of the trip, rewarded with a sunrise from the highest point on Lombok, with Bali, the Gilis and Sumbawa on the horizon. A licensed guide is mandatory (400,000-700,000 IDR per day, USD 27-47), and porters are strongly recommended for the camp gear (200,000-300,000 IDR per day).
The southern beaches are Lombok's other major draw. Tanjung Aan is the most photographed: two contiguous bays (Aan and Pedau), separated by a rocky hill that offers a doubly idyllic panorama, with water of an unusual turquoise-and-emerald clarity. The sand — a mix of round white grains and dark peppercorn ones, a texture unique in Indonesia — is its own attraction. Mawun (shallow water perfect for non-swimmers) and Selong Belanak (3 km of white sand with soft beginner-friendly waves) round out the picture of pristine beaches. Gerupuk is the local surf hub, with several breaks accessible by boat from the beach for all levels.
Sasak culture deserves a full day of exploration. The traditional village of Sade (30 km north of Kuta Lombok) preserves an ancient architecture — low houses with cob walls and curved thatched roofs — and runs demonstrations of traditional ikat and songket weaving. The Sweta market in Mataram, the provincial capital, is one of the liveliest in Nusa Tenggara — a strong window onto everyday Sasak life well away from the tourist zones.
Read also
- Gili Trawangan — 30 minutes from Lombok: diving with sea turtles and white-sand beaches with no cars.
- Lombok and the Gili Islands — Complete regional guide: Rinjani, the southern beaches and recommended itineraries.
- Canggu, Bali — Two hours by speedboat: surf and creative cafés on Bali's west coast.
- Indonesia — Complete archipelago guide: visa, budget and unmissable islands in Southeast Asia.