Top 10 Stunning Lombok Beaches, Indonesia

We pinch ourselves. Can this be real?

We’re sipping fresh mint-and-ginger mojitos by a stunning seaside infinity pool in Lombok, waiters flitting between deck chairs – and our chic Qunci Villas resort is very reasonably priced.

To top it off, the beaches in Lombok are drop-dead gorgeous! And you can swim with sea turtles in the nearby Gili Islands.

Is tropical Lombok a new Indonesian island idyll, where luxury is affordable?

Lombok Beaches

Fringed by white sand beaches, Lombok is a beach lover’s paradise!

Contents: 10 Beautiful Lombok beaches

Senggigi Beach
Selong Belanak Beach
Sire Beach
Tanjung Aan Beach
Kuta Beach
Pink Beach
Mawun Beach
Semeti Beach
Mawi Beach
Gili Island beaches.

Why visit Lombok, Indonesia? For beaches, baby, beaches!

Lombok is often described as “like Bali 30 years ago.”

Sitting to the east of Bali, Lombok is quieter and more subdued than tourist-thronged Bali with its colorful Hindu-based celebrations.

(This isn’t meant to take anything away from Bali, by the way. Its vivacious culture is one of the best things about it.)

Accessible by ferry, fast boat, or plane, Lombok is just a stone’s throw away from Bali – when the sun sets on Lombok Island, you can see Bali in the distance.

But it’s a world apart in culture and vibe. With a predominantly Muslim culture, it offers its own distinct island experience.

Also, unlike Bali, there aren’t tons of hotels lining Lombok’s unspoiled white-fringed bays – some of the prettiest beaches in the world!

Unspoiled Sire Beach on Lombok Island, with palm trees in the background and a boat tied up to the sand

Lombok is quieter than Bali, and many of its beaches are unspoiled. For now, there aren’t crowds of people shaking out their towels on Lombok’s beaches.

To top it off, the boutique hotels that have sprung up offer terrific value for a beach vacation.

So let’s talk some more about those Lombok beaches – as they’re a great reason to visit the island!

Best Lombok beach experiences

Here are three of the best Lombok beach tours:

Lombok Southeast Coast Beaches and Gili Islands: Explore Lombok’s Pink Beach and lesser-known Gili Islands on this full-day swimming, snorkeling, boating, and bicycling tour.
Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air: Swim with sea turtles and discover the underwater world of the main Gilis on this private snorkeling trip from Lombok.
Secret Gili Islands snorkeling: Explore the hidden gems of Gili Nanggu, Gili Sudak, and Gili Kedis on this private full-day snorkeling tour.

10 Best beaches in Lombok, Indonesia

There are many great beaches in Lombok. Here are some of the best:

1) Senggigi Beach

One of the best beaches in Lombok is Senggigi Beach on the western side of the island. It’s an expansive bay, lapped by turquoise water, dotted with coral. Blindingly white sand is wedged between the tropical sea and a backdrop of lush trees.

Several upscale hotels are located on Senggigi Beach, Lombok. It’s possible to swim here, although the water’s quite shallow. (It’s ideal for a quick splash!) Bring a snorkel, because there’s usually something to see under the water.

Its ease of access and beauty make it one of our favorite beaches on the island. Senggigi Beach is the closest to the tourist area of Senggigi.

You can catch boats from this Lombok beach to the Gili Islands. Snorkeling tours also depart Senggigi for lesser-visited Gili islands, including Gili Nanggu and Gili Sudak.

2) Selong Belanak Beach

Most of the best beaches on Lombok are concentrated in the southern part of the island. And the south coast is where you’ll find beautiful Selong Belanak Beach. Indeed, with powdery white sand contrasting with colorful fishing boats and gentle green hills rolling in the background, could this be Lombok’s best-kept secret?

This beach in Lombok has several little cafés (called warungs) and lounge chair rentals – making Selong Belanak Beach ideal for sunbathing and swimming.

With gentle rolling waves, Selong Belanak Beach is a great place for beginners to learn to surf. (Yes, Lombok in general has as good a surf scene as Bali!)

It’s about a 30- to 40-minute drive west from Kuta, accessible by scooter or by hiring a local driver. (Kuta, Lombok – not to be confused with Kuta, Bali – is the main hub for tourism on the island). Parts of Selong Belanak Beach are quiet with no people.

3) Sire Beach

On the north coast, Sire Beach is typically only visited by local fishermen – and just the occasional tourist!

It doesn’t see many day-trippers, primarily because of its secluded location further away from the island’s main tourist hubs. This only adds to the allure. The fine sand beckons you to kick back and enjoy the ocean views, and plenty of trees provide shade if the Indonesian sun gets a little too toasty.

Sire Beach’s calm waters also make it a great beach for swimming, and there’s decent snorkeling just offshore. However, there are limited facilities on the beach itself, so if you want to take a peek at the underwater world, pack your own snorkel and mask.

The fabulous Tugu Lombok Hotel is located here. (We barely saw another soul on Sire Beach during our stay, so this beach is one for privacy seekers!)

4) Tanjung Aan Beach

If you’re looking for crystal-clear aqua waters and an almost endless stretch of oh-so-soft white sand, Tanjung Aan Beach is for you.

Many visitors think this is the best beach in Lombok. The water is typically lovely and calm – perfect for swimming! And when hunger strikes, you’ll find little warungs selling fresh grilled fish and coconuts.

Tanjung Aan Beach is on the south coast, about a 15-minute drive from the main tourist area of Kuta.

5) Kuta Beach

Just like Bali, Lombok has a town (and also a beach) called Kuta. But, as we’ve mentioned, they’re very, very different!

Bali’s Kuta mainly brims with bars selling cheap Bintangs and nightclubs that keep the beat going until the sun pops up. Kuta Beach, Lombok, on the other hand, has more of a “fresh coconuts as you watch the sunset” kind of vibe.

Kuta Beach in southern Lombok swaps the high-rises and hordes of tourists for swaying palm trees and just the right amount of visitors. Plus, it’s within striking distance of Kuta town’s many hotels, restaurants, and bars. Along with Senggigi, Kuta is one of the most popular places to stay on the island.

Kuta is busier than other beaches on this list, but it still sees a fraction of the number of tourists than, say, Seminyak Beach in Bali. If you’re looking for a sandy shore that’s easy to access from Lombok’s main vacation hub, Kuta Beach could be the one.

6) Pink Beach (Tangsi Beach)

Head to the far southeast of the island for a unique phenomenon – a pink beach!

There are a smattering of pink beaches and lakes in the world, all with varying degrees of pinkness. There are also a few pink beaches on Lombok. And these beaches are pink!

The pink sands, caused by a type of broken-down coral (called Foraminifera) mixing with the natural white sand of the coastline around Lombok, are well worth seeing. At high tide, the sand contrasts with the bright aqua of the sea and the earthy headlands in the background.

7) Mawun Beach

Nestled in the southern part of Lombok, Mawun Beach is a serene escape, only about a 15- to 20-minute hop from Kuta, Lombok. Enclosed in a bay, it’s very sheltered and one of the best places on the island to go swimming, free from choppy waves.

Mawun Beach is hailed by some as the most beautiful beach on Lombok – certainly, it’s one of the best beaches in south Lombok. But, surprisingly, it remains a secret to many. So go. Beach walks, swimming, and a small warung that serves lunch make this one of the island’s best spots for a beach day.

8) Semeti Beach

Well-sheltered among cliffs, Semeti Beach is a patch of golden sand lapped by the Indian Ocean’s gentle waves, just

Lombok is an emerging gem in Indonesia, offering stunning, unspoiled beaches reminiscent of Bali’s past. Its serene atmosphere, combined with affordable luxury accommodations like Qunci Villas and Puri Mas, makes it an ideal destination for beach lovers. From the pristine sands of Senggigi to the unique Pink Beach, Lombok’s diverse beaches and tranquil ambiance provide a perfect escape for those seeking a blend of relaxation and adventure.

Re-reported from the article originally posted in Sand In My Suitcase.