Lombok Untamed: 7 Days Gili Islands, Rinjani Waterfalls & Pristine Beaches

Tour Overview

Itinerary Highlights

Day 1: Arrive Lombok — Island of a Thousand Mosques

Touch down at Lombok International Airport (LOP). Lombok is often described as “Bali 30 years ago” — predominantly Muslim rather than Hindu, less developed, and wrapped in dramatic landscapes dominated by Mount Rinjani (3,726m), Indonesia’s second-highest volcano. Transfer to Senggigi, the main beach strip on the west coast, with views across the Lombok Strait to Bali’s Mount Agung. Evening: sunset orientation walk along Senggigi Beach. Welcome dinner of ayam taliwang (Lombok’s signature spicy grilled chicken) and plecing kangkung (water spinach with chili sambal). Overnight in Senggigi.

Day 2: Benang Stokel & Benang Kelambu Waterfalls

Morning drive into central Lombok’s lush interior to the Benang Stokel Waterfall — actually a set of five waterfalls cascading through dense tropical forest. The main fall plunges 30m into a natural pool, but the real magic is Benang Kelambu, a 40m waterfall that tumbles over a wall completely covered in ferns and hanging vines, creating a “water curtain” effect. The water never falls as a single torrent — it splits and spreads through the vegetation into thousands of droplets, looking like a misty veil. Swim in the cool pools. Afternoon: visit a traditional Sasak village (the indigenous people of Lombok) — the houses are made of bamboo, with floors of a mixture of clay and buffalo dung that hardens like concrete and repels insects. Learn about traditional weaving and the unique Sasak wedding customs. Overnight in Senggigi.

Day 3: Gili Trawangan — The Party Island Paradise

Morning speedboat from Teluk Nare to Gili Trawangan (20 min). The three Gili Islands (Trawangan, Meno, Air) are tiny coral atolls off Lombok’s northwest coast where motor vehicles are banned — transport is by bicycle, cidomo (horse cart), or foot. Gili T (the largest) is the social hub with beach bars, reggae nights, and legendary sunsets. Check into your beachfront bungalow. Afternoon: snorkeling trip around all three Gilis — swim with green sea turtles at Turtle Point off Gili Meno, explore the Bounty Wreck (a sunken pontoon now encrusted in coral and teeming with fish), and drift over the coral gardens of Gili Air. Evening: fresh seafood barbecue on the beach and the famous Gili T sunset swing. Overnight on Gili Trawangan.

Day 4: Gili Island Hopping — Gili Meno & Gili Air

Morning: bicycle around Gili Trawangan (30-40 min to circle) — stop at the Malaka Viewpoint on the southwestern tip. Boat to Gili Meno, the smallest and quietest of the three. Visit the Gili Meno Bird Park with over 350 species from across Indonesia. Walk to the salt lake in the center, a seasonal wetland that attracts migratory birds. Afternoon: island hop to Gili Air, the charming middle island with a local village feel. The coral ring around Gili Air is the healthiest of the three, with excellent snorkeling right from the beach. Take a sunset yoga class at one of the island’s many yoga shalas. Overnight on Gili Air.

Day 5: Gili Air to South Lombok — Kuta & the Surf Coast

Morning snorkel or paddleboard before the heat. Speedboat back to Lombok, then drive south to Kuta (not to be confused with Bali’s Kuta) — Lombok’s emerging surf destination with a series of stunning white-sand coves. Unlike Bali’s Kuta which is heavily developed, Lombok’s Kuta retains a laid-back fishing village character. Afternoon: beach hop along the southern coast. Tanjung Aan, a double bay of powder-fine white sand with turquoise water so clear you can see the bottom at any depth. Mawun Beach, a perfect horseshoe bay framed by green hills. Evening: dinner at a cliff-top restaurant in Kuta with panoramic Indian Ocean views. Overnight in Kuta Lombok.

Day 6: Pink Beach & Southeast Gili Islands

Full day exploring the islands off Lombok’s less-visited southeastern coast. Early morning drive to Tanjung Luar, then local boat to Pink Beach (Pantai Tangsi) — one of only seven pink sand beaches in the world. The pink color comes from microscopic organisms called foraminifera, whose red shells mix with the white coral sand. Snorkel in the coral reefs just offshore — this area is far less visited than the northwest Gilis and the marine life is even more abundant. Continue to the Southeast Gili Islands — Gili Petelu, Gili Gambir, and Gili Nanggu, a cluster of tiny tropical islands with no permanent residents, just pristine beaches and exceptional snorkeling. Return to Kuta Lombok for a farewell seafood dinner.

Day 7: Depart Lombok

Morning: visit Sade Village, one of the most traditional Sasak villages, for a last insight into Lombok’s indigenous culture. The Sasak people have inhabited Lombok for at least 2,000 years, predating the Balinese and Javanese migrations. Optional: visit the Ashtari yoga studio for a farewell session with breathtaking views over Kuta Bay. Transfer to Lombok Airport.

Inclusions

• 6 nights (2 Senggigi + 1 Gili T + 1 Gili Air + 2 Kuta Lombok) with breakfast
• Benang Stokel & Benang Kelambu waterfalls guided tour
• 3-island snorkeling trip (turtles, wreck, coral gardens)
• Gili island transfers (speedboat)
• Pink Beach & Southeast Gilis day trip (boat, snorkeling)
• South Lombok beach tour (Tanjung Aan, Mawun, Kuta)
• Sasak traditional village visit
• Bicycle rental on Gili T & Gili Air
• 4 dinners incl. welcome ayam taliwang + seafood BBQs
• English-speaking guide + all transfers