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Lombok Itinerary 2026: Best 5 & 7-Day Plans
Key Takeaways: Five days covers Gili Islands (2 nights) + Kuta Lombok beaches (2 nights) with a day for transit and Senggigi. Seven days adds either the Mount Rinjani 2-day trek or a North Lombok waterfall + Sembalun loop. Don’t rush the Gilis — the main reason people regret Lombok is spending too little time on the islands.
For context on what to do at each stop, see Best Things to Do in Lombok. For accommodation by area, see Where to Stay in Lombok.
Stay connected: grab a travel eSIM from Airalo before you go so you have data the moment you land.
Before You Start: Base Route Logic
Lombok has a logical geographic flow: Senggigi (arrival) → Gili Islands → Kuta Lombok (south) → airport.
This avoids backtracking and puts the most popular stop (Gilis) early when you’re freshest. The reverse works equally well for those flying in via Mataram. You can compare flights on Aviasales to find the cheapest dates and routes.
Getting between areas:
– Senggigi → Gili T: Fast boat (~40 min, 150,000-250,000 IDR)
– Gili T → Kuta Lombok: Fast boat to Bangsal pier + private driver south (~2h total, 350,000-500,000 IDR)
– Kuta Lombok → LOP Airport: Private driver (~45 min, 200,000-250,000 IDR)
The 4-Day Lombok Itinerary
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5-Day Lombok Itinerary
Day 1 — Arrival in Senggigi
Arrive: Lombok International Airport (LOP) → private driver to Senggigi (45 min, 200,000-250,000 IDR). Grab doesn’t reach the airport reliably.
Afternoon:
– Check in, walk Senggigi beach strip
– Pura Batu Bolong (sea temple, 15 min north) for sunset — Mount Agung visible across the strait on clear days
Evening: Dinner at Senggigi’s Jl. Raya — local warung for ayam taliwang (30,000-50,000 IDR) or Café Alberto for seafood.
Where to stay: Mid-range hotel in Senggigi. Qunci Villas if budget allows. Budget guesthouses from 200,000 IDR.
Day 2 — Senggigi → Gili Trawangan
Morning: Fast boat from Senggigi pier to Gili T (40 min, 150,000-250,000 IDR). Boats leave from 8am.
Afternoon:
– Check in, rent bicycle (50,000 IDR/day) — circumnavigate the island in 45 minutes
– Snorkel east coast — sea turtles visible from shore at the coral bommies. Gear rental 60,000-80,000 IDR.
Evening: Sunset from the swing bars on the west coast. Fire show at night (Gili T tradition, free, happens organically on the beach).
Where to stay: Gili T — see Where to Stay in Lombok for picks at each budget.
Day 3 — Gili Island Day (Full Snorkel / Dive Day)
Option A — Stay on Gili T:
Hire a local snorkel boat for a 3-hour reef circuit (100,000-150,000 IDR/person, includes guide). Spots: Shark Point, Turtle Heaven, Coral Garden. Afternoon: read, swim, explore island.
Option B — Island hop to Gili Air:
Public boat to Gili Air (30 min, 50,000-80,000 IDR). Quieter beaches, good snorkeling off the northeast coast. Return to Gili T for the evening.
Option C — Dive:
Half-day intro dive with Manta Dive or Big Bubble Diving (500,000-700,000 IDR, includes equipment). Full PADI Open Water 3-4 days from 3,500,000 IDR.
Day 4 — Gili Islands → Kuta Lombok
Morning: Breakfast, pack up. Boat to Bangsal pier on mainland (20-30 min, 80,000 IDR public boat or 200,000 IDR fast boat).
Transfer: Private driver from Bangsal to Kuta Lombok (1.5h south, ~300,000-350,000 IDR). Ask driver to stop at Sade village (15 min from Kuta — traditional Sasak village, donation 35,000-50,000 IDR). Worth 45 minutes.
Afternoon: Arrive Kuta, check in. Walk to Tanjung Aan beach (15 min east by motorbike) — two connected bays, arguably Lombok’s most beautiful non-surf beach.
Evening: Kuta’s main strip has a handful of good restaurants. Warung Bu Ni for local food (30,000-45,000 IDR). Ashtari restaurant on the hill above Kuta has views over the bay at sunset.
Where to stay: The Slow Kuta (mid-range, excellent) or Kuta Indah Hotel (budget). See Where to Stay in Lombok.
Day 5 — Kuta Lombok → Departure
Surf (optional, morning):
Selong Belanak (20 min west): beginner/intermediate beach break, board rental 70,000 IDR/day. Best 7-11am before wind picks up.
Non-surfers:
Morning at Tanjung Aan for the best light. Pink Beach day trip possible if leaving afternoon (2h drive, arrange a driver).
Depart: Private driver Kuta → LOP airport (45 min, 200,000-250,000 IDR).
7-Day Lombok Itinerary
Add Days 5-7 from the options below, shifting the departure to Day 7.
Extension A — Mount Rinjani (2 Days, Days 4-5)
Insert between Gili Islands and Kuta Lombok. Transfer Gili T → Sembalun (3h total — boat to Bangsal + driver).
Day 4 (Rinjani Day 1): 4am start from Sembalun trailhead. Trek 6-8h to crater rim campsite (2,639m). Sunset views of the crater lake.
Day 5 (Rinjani Day 2): Descend to crater lake (Segara Anak, 2,000m). Hot spring soak. Ascend out via Senaru trailhead. Transfer to Kuta Lombok or Senggigi (2.5h).
Then: Days 5-7 follow the 5-day Kuta Lombok itinerary compressed to 2 days.
Book through: Sembalun or Senaru operators (350,000-800,000 IDR/day all-inclusive). Klook vetted options available.
Extension B — North Lombok Waterfalls + Sembalun (1 Day, Day 4)
Sendang Gile + Tiu Kelep waterfalls: 3-4 hours including the Tiu Kelep trail (river crossings, worth it). Hire a guide on site (150,000 IDR recommended for the river section).
Senaru village: 1 hour walk through the traditional Sasak village at the Rinjani base. Weaving demonstrations.
Drive back: 1.5h to Senggigi or Kuta. Add sunset at Sade village on the way south.
Lombok Itinerary: Cost Estimates
5-Day Budget (per person)
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (4 nights, mix budget) | 900,000-1,500,000 IDR |
| Food (5 days, local + some restaurants) | 500,000-800,000 IDR |
| Transport (airport transfers + boats + driver) | 800,000-1,200,000 IDR |
| Activities (snorkel, Sade, beach entry) | 300,000-600,000 IDR |
| 5-day total | 2,500,000-4,100,000 IDR (~$159-261) |
Add-ons
| Activity | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2-day Rinjani trek (guide + meals + porter) | 1,500,000-2,500,000 IDR |
| Full-day dive (2 dives + equipment) | 700,000-1,000,000 IDR |
| East Lombok (Pink Beach + driver) | 400,000-600,000 IDR |
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need in Lombok?
5 days is the realistic minimum for Gilis + Kuta. 7 days if adding Rinjani or wanting a more relaxed pace. Under 4 days means rushing the Gilis.
Can you do Lombok and Bali in one trip?
Yes — most travelers fly Bali → Lombok (30 min) or take the fast boat (2h). A standard combination: 7 days Bali + 5 days Lombok, or vice versa.
Is 3 days enough for Lombok?
For the Gili Islands only, yes. For all of Lombok (Gilis + south beaches), no — you’ll spend most of your time on boats and miss the point of each place.
Sources:
1. Rinjani National Park — trekking routes and permits, 2025
2. Indonesia.travel — Lombok destination overview, 2025
3. Lombok Tourism — getting around Lombok transport guide, 2025
