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Kuta Lombok, not to be confused with the Kuta in Bali, is a haven for surfers, beach-goers, digital nomads, and those looking to explore Indonesia beyond Bali. With tranquil white sand beaches, world-class surf, and its chill yet happening vibe, there’s something for everyone. So many travelers fall in love with its laid-back atmosphere, surf and beach vibes, and local culture. If you’re looking for an Indonesian adventure beyond the touristy, crowded ares of Bali, Kuta Lombok is waiting for you.
Why should I visit Kuta Lombok?
Kuta Lombok is a hidden gem offering stunning white-sand beaches, turquoise waters, and dramatic coastal cliffs. Unlike its bustling Bali counterpart, Kuta Lombok is still a laid-back, authentic area, making it perfect for those seeking a more relaxed and unspoiled destination. You can try world-class surfing, discover stunning scenery on motorbike adventures, explore traditional Sasak villages, and unwind on tranquil beaches. Whether you want adventure, nature, or relaxation, Kuta Lombok is the perfect escape for travelers looking for both excitement and serenity.
How to Get to Kuta Lombok
You can get to Kuta Lombok from anywhere in Indonesia. Lombok International Airport (LOP) is only 30 minutes away from Kuta, making it easily accessible. If you’re coming from Gili Trawangan (which I highly recommend!), you can take a 30-45 minute boat to Bangsal Pier where you can transfer to a 1.5-2 hour taxi. There is no Grab or Gojek allowed from the port, so you’ll need to get a local taxi.
How Long to Stay in Kuta Lombok
Three to four days is the perfect amount of time to spend in Kuta Lombok, but you might want longer if you want to attend a surf camp or be a true beach bum. If you just want to see the highlights but also have some time to relax on the beach, three to four days is the right amount of time.
How to Get Around Kuta Lombok
There is no Grab/Gojek in Kuta Lombok and everything is quite spread out, so you’ll want to hire a local taxi or rent a motorbike. I recommend renting a motorbike so you can explore at your own time and pace. Even if you are an inexperienced motorbike driver, the roads in Kuta Lombok are well-paved, easy to navigate, and not busy. If it’s your first time driving a motorbike, make sure the person you rent one from is willing to give you a short lesson before you hit the road. There are very few streetlights at night, so I recommend avoiding driving in the dark.
How to Book Activities and Excursions in Kuta Lombok
The best activity and excursion booking platforms for Indonesia are Klook and GetYourGuide. Both websites have thousands of trustworthy travel experiences with verified user reviews. I use Klook and GetYourGuide to book almost all my excursions in Asia, and you’ll find links throughout the article to great experiences I’ve personally vetted or experienced myself.
Where to Eat in Kuta Lombok
I had some of my best meals in Kuta Lombok on my entire one month Indonesia trip. There’s a wide variety of local and Western foods, and most of it is budget-friendly. My favorite places were:
- Warung BUDE: amazing, super cheap local food – the nasi kuning was my favorite dish I tried in Indonesia
- Mama Pizza: Indonesia’s best pizza, according to backpacker word of mouth (can confirm it’s pretty great)
- Ryan Cafe: sunset view warung with delicious Indonesian food slightly outside of town
- Halwa French Bakery: amazing dessert, the big cookie was to die for
Where to Stay in Kuta Lombok
The best place to stay in Kuta Lombok is the center of the town, near the intersection of Jl. Mawun and Jl. Raya Kuta. In this area, there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, tour companies, stores, and more within walking distance. No matter where you stay in Kuta Lombok you’ll need to drive to see the major sites, so it’s best to base yourself in the town center.
The best booking platform for finding and reserving great hotels in Indonesia is Agoda. It’s owned by the same company as Booking.com but is based in Southeast Asia, making it great for finding any hotels you need. If you’re a backpacker staying in hostels, then Hostelworld is consistently the best hostel booking platform worldwide, and Indonesia is no exception. Book your Kuta Lombok accommodations on Agoda today:
Don’t want to search for the best option, or just don’t have time? That’s what I’m here for! I’ve linked the best hotels and hostels in Kuta Lombok through Agoda and Hostelworld. As a professional travel advisor, I’ve vetted or personally stayed at these suggested properties. Properties marked with “$$$” are 4 or 5-star luxury properties, “$$” are 3 and 4-star mid-range hotels, and “$” are hostels or homestays.
$$$: Neptune Studios (Adults Only)
Keep reading for my Kuta Lombok hostel recommendations.
Is Kuta Lombok good for solo travelers?
Yes, Kuta Lombok is a great place for solo travelers and was one of my favorite destinations on my one month solo Indonesia trip. Many backpackers and solo travelers continue on to Kuta Lombok from Gili T, so the traveler crowd is largely young and social. There are lots of affordable hostels where you can meet people, go surfing, and join organized events and tours. The best hostels in Kuta Lombok are:
Best Things to Do in Kuta Lombok
Go to the beach
If you’re looking for white sand, blue water, and gorgeous shorelines, Kuta Lombok has the beaches for you. Unlike most beaches in Bali, the beaches in Kuta are clean, chill, and never too crowded. They’re absolutely beautiful, too, set against the backdrop of hilly coastlines. There are beaches for surfing, swimming, or just relaxing on the sand. The best beaches in Kuta Lombok are:
- Tanjung Aan: surfing, swimming, relaxing
- Selong Belanak: surfing, swimming, relaxing
- Seger Beach: surfing, relaxing
- Mawun Beach: swimming, relaxing
- Mawi Beach: surfing, relaxing
Kuta Beach is walking distance from the center of Kuta, but I don’t recommend it. When I visited, I was swarmed with children and women selling bracelets and sarongs. Although I said “no, thank you” over and over, they sat down next to me and wouldn’t leave. I ended up leaving after 15 minutes. Other tourists around me came over to say it happened to them, too. This can happen at any beach in Kuta Lombok, but Kuta Beach is especially bad.
Go surfing
You can’t visit Kuta Lombok without surfing! It’s one of the best and most beautiful surf destinations in Indonesia, and it’s beginner-friendly for those wanting to take lessons. You can arrange for a lesson in central Kuta, which will often include transportation to a nearby beach, or you can motorbike yourself to a beach and find one of the many instructors offering lessons. If you just want to rent a board, head to the beach of your choice and there will be plenty of boards available. The best beaches for surfing in Kuta Lombok are:
- Tanjung Aan (all levels)
- Selong Belanak (beginner)
- Gerupuk Bay (all levels)
- Are Guling (advanced)
- Mawi Beach (intermediate – advanced)
If you’re serious about surfing, you can do a surf camp in Kuta Lombok! Check out LoTide Surf Camp for private and hostel accommodation and surf packages.
Planning a trip to Indonesia and not sure where to begin?
Indonesia has so many incredible destinations like Kuta Lombok, each offering something completely different. I help travelers design personalized itineraries that make the most of their time and travel style, so you can travel confidently and stress-free.
Let’s create your custom Indonesia trip together!
Chill, work, or eat at trendy cafes
Kuta Lombok has some aesthetic, delicious cafes that are perfect for catching up on work, planning the rest of your trip, or just chilling. It’s a haven for digital nomads, and you’ll quickly see why. I visited some of the top cafes in Kuta, and here are my favorites:
- Nohi: beautiful setting a little outside of town, order the Nohi cookie!
- Kenza Cafe: Bali-style aesthetic, great brunch
- Bush Radio: open-air warehouse aesthetic, great smoothie bowls
I also heard great things about Mushroom Espresso and Milk Espresso, but ran out of time to check them out. Let me know in the comments if they live up to the hype!
Do yoga
What better way to relax your muscles after a long day of surfing or beach hopping than doing yoga? Kuta Lombok has some amazing yoga studios, no matter what you’re looking for. These include:
- Ashtari: yoga with a view and an Indian restaurant
- Mana Eco Retreat: open-air studio with many class offerings
- Shanti Yoga: beautiful, small studio; try the cacao ceremony
- Rascals Yoga: relaxing, calm, small studio
Get a massage
If doing yoga isn’t your cup of tea or you want even more relaxation, try getting a traditional Lombok-style massage. I had one at Auliya Traditional Massage and it was one of the best massages I’ve had in my life, and so affordable! The pressure was just right and the technique was unique but great for my sore muscles from surfing and backpacking. It’s a small hut in the local village, so there was some noise pollution. If you’re looking for a more refined experience, Matcha Spa is supposed to be wonderful.
Go snorkeling to save the sharks
When you visit Kuta Lombok, you’ll see a “Secret Gilis Snorkeling Trip” as one of the main tourist trips. However, a snorkeling trip with Project Hiu is a much more rewarding, insightful experience. Project Hiu is committed to protecting sharks by providing alternative income to fishermen in one of the largest shark fisheries the world. By joining a day trip, you’ll explore the reefs of Lombok on a repurposed shark fishing boat with former shark fisherman. You can hear about the importance of shark conservation and their stories. If you’re lucky, you might even see some sharks while snorkeling! It’s more expensive than the typical touristy snorkeling trip, but it’s worth the additional cost and your money goes towards their great mission.
Visit a traditional Sasak Village
The Sasak people are the local indigenous people of Lombok, making up about 85% of the island’s population. At a traditional Sasak Village, you can see traditional village life, interact with locals, and learn about their weaving and farming. Sade Village is only 10 minutes from the center of Kuta Lombok and is a popular Sasak Village to explore. You can learn about local customs and culture and witness hand weaving, which the village is known for. In order to enter the village, you’re required to go with a guide. There will be many guides waiting for you when you arrive.
Discover Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Waterfalls
Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu are two waterfalls in central Lombok, about a 1-1.5 hour drive from Kuta Lombok. They’re more than worth the drive, as they are stunning and unique waterfalls unlike any I’ve ever seen. I rented a scooter and made the journey, but you can also find waterfall tours departing from Kuta. As you approach the waterfalls, you’ll drive through gorgeous local rice terraces that are stunningly beautiful. If you’re lucky, you’ll get to see Mt. Rinjani in the background.
If you arrive on your own, you’ll be expected to pay for a guide at the entrance. You can choose between seeing the two main waterfalls or all four in the area. I had no problem with this because my guide scootered me to the very top of the waterfalls and I only had to walk for a few minutes of stairs to reach each falls. He also took some great pictures for me and told me some interesting information about the waterfalls.
Watch the sunset
Although Kuta Lombok faces south, there are some great places to catch the sunset if you know where to go. The best place is Bukit Merese, a beautiful stretch of shoreline with rolling green hills and a stunning view over the ocean. It’s worth visiting during the day if you can’t time it for sunset, but you won’t regret planning your day around being there for sunset. It’s a short 5-minute walk from the parking lot up the hill, and there are plenty of viewing points so it won’t feel too crowded despite being the most popular spot for sunset.
Kuta Lombok Itinerary
Check out my 1-month Indonesia itinerary to fit Kuta Lombok into your trip and for ideas for further exploration.
Day 1
Start your time in Kuta Lombok off strong with a surf session or surf lesson! Rent a scooter and head to your beach of choice based on your skill level. You can easily find an affordable teacher waiting for you at the beach. You can also find one in central Kuta Lombok if you want help with choosing a spot or transportation.
After surfing in the morning, spend some time well-deserved time relaxing on the beach. In the evening, head to Bukit Merese for a beautiful sunset.
Day 2
Today, you’ll go snorkeling to save the sharks. Join a day trip with Project Hiu to swim in Lombok’s thriving reefs while learning about the shark fishing industry and shark conservation efforts.
Day 3
You’ll want to get up early today to beat the crowds to Benang Stokel and Benang Kelambu Waterfalls. I recommend arriving no later than 9:30, meaning you should hit the road from Kuta around 8. Or, you can join a guided tour that will also leave early in the morning.
After spending a few hours exploring the falls, you’ll get back to Kuta Lombok in the early afternoon. On the way back, you’ll pass directly by Sade Village, a traditional Sasak Village where you can stop for cultural insight into the native Lombok people. For the rest of the afternoon, you can chill on the beach, do yoga, get a massage, or check out one of Kuta’s many great cafes.
Kuta Lombok is paradise for any surf or beach lover. Whether you want the adventure of surfing, snorkeling, and chasing waterfalls or the relaxation of yoga, a massage, aesthetic cafes, and stunning beaches, it’s the perfect addition to your Indonesia itinerary. You won’t regret exploring outside of busy, touristy Bali to see all that chill, authentic Lombok has to offer.
Keep reading:
- Indonesia Itinerary: 1 month in Bali, Lombok, & Komodo
- Gili Trawangan: Complete travel guide & the best things to do
- Bali Itinerary: 2 weeks of adventure, relaxation, and nature
- Munduk, Bali: A complete guide to the island’s hidden gem
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