LOMBOK: Just east of Bali, and separated by the Lombok Strait, the island of Lombok boasts the same azure beaches and stunning views as its famous neighbor, and is less crowded.
Lombok, known for its untouched natural beauty, offers a more tranquil and less commercialized experience. Its beaches are still a hidden gem among surfers, as is Mount Rinjani, an active stratovolcano in North Lombok, for hikers. Travel portals still liberally use the word “untouched” to describe the island as they offer reasons to venture beyond Bali.
The island is a quieter, calmer neighbor that is very much in its “up and coming” era against Bali’s high traffic; Lombok is a top tourist pick that has long been touted as the “last paradise” by travelers.
“As Bali get more and more busy, people have started looking to its beautiful neighbor Lombok for a reason. This paradise really has it all — waterfalls, rice terraces, sea surf, sea facing resorts where you can enjoy sunsets, surfing and restaurants offering good foods,” Adam, an Australian tourist surfing at the Senggigi Beach in Lombok, told Arab News.
Lombok is known for beaches and surfing spots, particularly at Kuta and Banko Banko (in the south, Lombok attracts tourists to its motor-vehicle-free Gili Islands, Gili Trawangan, Gili Air and Gili Meno).
