Tired of the same holiday spots, and want to do something really different? We are guessing you have not visited Lombok, an island in Indonesia, yet.
- Mount Rinjani: One of the highlights of Lombok is a hike up to Mount Rinjani. If you are visiting Lombok, you can't skip this! Mt Rinjani is the second biggest volcanic peak in the whole of Indonesia. It has a lake called Segara Anak, which is actually a lake formed in a crater. The lake also has a hot water spring, formed naturally. Rinjani is sacred for both the local people (Sasaks) and the Hindus of the region.
- Senggigi beach: Senggigi is another destination you wouldn't want to miss; it is a tourist hub, and has a beautiful beach, coconut trees swaying in the background and green jungles as the setting. The Senggigi Beach is a popular destination for those who love surfing. A majority of the hotels in Lombok are located here.
- City of Mataram: Mataram is the big city of the Lombok region, and is known for a clutch of temples in its vicinity. One of them is nine km away from the city, known as Gunung Pengsong. There is also Pura Lingsar, just eight km from Mataram. The temple is set in beautiful rice fields, and is as pretty as a picture postcard. Pura Meru is another important temple, dedicated to the trio of Hindu gods, Brahma, Maheshwara and Vishnu.
- Gili Islands: While in Lombok, you should also head to the Gili Islands that lie on the north-west coast. Different people head to the islands for different reasons – amateur divers, serious divers, those who want to laze on the beaches, families, couples…there are activities for everyone at the three islands, from kayaking to horse riding and walking. You can also take up surfing and snorkelling here. There are endless coral patches and multi-hued rare species of fish as well to spot. The three islands are Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno (tiniest of the island trio), and Gili Air, which is just over 15 minutes from the mainland.
- Pusuk monkey forest: Want to monkey around? There's a destination that's just right for you – the Pusuk monkey forest, a tropical jungle populated with macaques. Visitors can even feed the grey-coloured monkeys that line the roads.
When to visit
Lombok is very easy to reach, if you happen to visit Bali. It takes only half an hour to reach. The period between May and September can be very dry and warm, so ideally you should visit Lombok between October and April, when the weather is pleasant, and the levels of humidity are low. There is also plenty of greenery in the region during this season.
Martin Wynn
