Getting away from the crowd, finding inner peace, or simply lazing on the sand would be the perfect reasons to skip Senggigi, Mangsit, and the Gilis in Lombok. Jump from the airport right to the heart of the the island’s beauties.

Here are some beaches you may want to visit:

1. Kuta Lombok Beach

This is the most established beach in the south, where accommodation are easily found. Cafes and restaurants are available along the beach. From the main road, your view to the ocean is probably blocked these seaside cafes and restos, walk closer. You may find one of the most beautiful beaches you’ve been. Long sandy beach with light blue clear water. In some spots, you can see fishermen boats on the shore. Do not miss this beach!

2. Novotel/Putri Nyale Beach

Novotel or Mandalika Resort own a private beach, a huge comfort if you stay in this hotel. If you are not, sometimes the security guard allow people to enter the Novotel beach area. The sand here is not soft, more pepper-shaped. In the afternoon, the tide leaves puddles of water.

On the far side (outside Novotel area), there are statues of some figures. These statues are made to honor Princess Mandalika. A ceremony called Bau Nyale is held around February or March annually.

3. Tanjung Aan Beach

A relatively new beach that has instantly caught the attention of many travellers. Pristine, peaceful, and quite (at least when I was there). Came here with my toddler son and a driver, and it was literally just us – and a bunch of buffallos. The sand is is also pepper-like. The light blue water was just too amazing with hills on the background. Mind you, the hills were yellowish due to drought and climate change.

4. Seger Beach

Unintentionally, I saw the sign of Seger Beach on the way to Tanjung Aan. So I decided to stop by. It is a small beach with rather strong tides, maybe suitable for surfers (I don’t know, there were no surfers around at that time). There is only one cafe on this beach, but I think, a year from now, there could be half a dozen.

5. Mawun Beach

Either from Mataram or from Kuta, you will need to go uphill, then downhill, then uphill, so on to get to Mawun. And it is worth every second of your trip. Although many travellers have put this beach on their bucket list, the beach was not crowded. Yes, there are tourists sunbathing here and there, but you wouldn’t mind. Mawun is a bay with a small entrance, creating a beach with very small breaks. Peaceful, indeed. There is one huge tree that becomes the center of the visitors. They gather underneath the tree as it gives shade to those non-sunbathers. It is unusual but I feel that Mawun is not as hot as other beaches in Lombok. It could be because of the tree!

6. Selong Belanak Beach

Surfers MUST come to this beach. Selong Belanak is around 7 km from Mawun and it is also a village. In this beach you would see surfers between boats – ah they got along pretty well. You can rent surf boards or body boards here, you may also take a surfing lesson. Local children are able to surf, as well. If you want to splurge, Sempiak Villa is on the top of the hill offering fantastic view – suitable for honeymooners.

 

BONUS

7. Pink Beach

I call it a bonus as it in East Lombok. In the village of Tangsi, the beach may not as pink as its counterpart in Komodo Island. The road to Tangsi Beach is still not paved and slippery after the rain, but the view worth the hassle.

Come to Lombok, there are more than Gilis and Senggigi!