Kuta Lombok 3-day itinerary

Ride 5km east to Tanjung Aan, widely regarded as one of the most beautiful beaches in Indonesia. Two bays of pure white sand separated by a rocky headland, with turquoise water so clear you can see fish from the beach. The eastern bay has unusual pepper-grain sand found nowhere else. Swim in the sheltered western bay, walk between the two bays over the headland, and watch local boys surfing the small waves off the point.

Head west to Selong Belanak, a 1km crescent beach with gentle, rolling whitewater waves perfect for learning to surf. Local surf schools line the beach — a 2-hour lesson with board costs 200,000–300,000 IDR and most instructors are patient and experienced with beginners. Even non-surfers will love this beach: the sand is soft, the water warm, and the backdrop of green hills makes it feel like a tropical paradise that hasn't been discovered yet. Lunch at one of the beachside warungs (nasi goreng, 25,000 IDR).

Return east to Merese Hill for sunset — a grassy headland above Tanjung Aan with unobstructed views of the south coast. The hike takes 15 minutes and the reward is a panorama that rivals anything in Bali. Watch the sun drop into the Indian Ocean while cows graze on the hillside around you. Back in Kuta, eat at Milk Espresso for excellent Western-style food, or Warung Bule for authentic nasi campur and Sasak dishes at local prices (30,000–50,000 IDR).

Ride 10 minutes west of Kuta to Mawun Beach, enclosed between two green headlands. The horseshoe bay has calm, waveless water on most days, making it ideal for swimming and floating in warm turquoise water. The beach is less visited than Tanjung Aan and Selong Belanak, so early morning visits often feel private. A few local vendors sell coconuts (15,000 IDR) and simple snacks. The surrounding hills are covered in dry tropical forest that turns vivid green during the wet season.

Head to Gerupuk, a fishing village 8km east of Kuta, where local fishermen run boat trips to offshore reef breaks. The boat drops you at one of five surf breaks in the bay (Inside Gerupuk for beginners, Outside and Don Don for intermediates) and waits while you surf. A boat with guide costs 150,000–200,000 IDR per person for 2–3 hours. The waves are consistent, uncrowded, and the setting — surfing with fishing boats and green hills behind you — is uniquely Lombok.

Kuta Lombok's nightlife is low-key — this is not Bali. A handful of bars on the main strip play music and stay open until midnight. Bus Bar and Kenza Sunset Lounge are popular with the surf and backpacker crowd. For dinner, try ayam taliwang (spicy grilled chicken — a Lombok speciality) at a local warung for 30,000 IDR, or fresh fish at the beachside grills. The scene is sociable but relaxed — perfect for early-rising surfers.

Ride 30 minutes north of Kuta to the traditional Sasak villages of Sade and Sukarara. Sade is a preserved traditional village where thatched-roof houses are built in the ancestral Sasak style using cow dung floors (maintained and polished weekly). Villagers give informal tours explaining Sasak traditions, marriage customs, and daily life. Sukarara is famous for hand-weaving — women produce intricate ikat and songket textiles on wooden backstrap looms. Watch the weaving process and purchase direct from the weavers.

Return south for a final beach session. If you haven't visited Tampah Beach, the empty stretch east of Gerupuk is worth the short ride — wild, windswept, and almost always deserted. The black sand contrasts with the white beaches to the west. Alternatively, return to your favourite beach for a last swim. Pack up and prepare for your onward journey — ferries to Bali, flights from Lombok International Airport, or boats to the Gili Islands all depart from different points.

Options from Kuta Lombok: flights to Bali (25 minutes, from 300,000 IDR), public boats to Gili Trawangan/Air/Meno (shuttle to Bangsal 2 hours, boat 30 minutes, total ~200,000 IDR), or fast boat direct to Gili from Senggigi or Teluk Nare. For Bali, the Lembar–Padang Bai ferry (4 hours, 50,000 IDR for foot passengers) is the cheapest option. Book fast boats online a day ahead as they sell out in peak season.