Visit Semeti Beach
By The Spot
One of Lombok’s other famous beaches is Semeti Beach which is famous for is stunning volcanic formations.
The beach is covered in volcanic rocks which over time have been carved up by the waves making a series of small pools, bays, and inlets, as well as some pretty blow holes.
Despite its dramatic scenery, Semeti Beach is often not visited by travelers to Lombok, so this is one of the quieter and more secluded beaches which is a great place to explore if you like rock pools and climbing.
You can also go swimming here and admire the scenery from the vantage point of the water.
Trip to Benang Kelambu
With Corona still being in most parts of Lombok AND Indonesia still closed for arriving tourists, we set of to Benang Kelambu.
Roads were pretty much empty and we had the pleasure of seeing the local people harvest the rice on the many rice paddies along the way.
Staying at SAME SAME is so much more than only a room. We will take you places.
Go snorkeling at Pink Beach
Pink Beach is the nickname for Tangsi Beach, and it is rather an ambitious one at that.
It is said to be called ‘Pink Beach’ thanks to its pink sand, although you have to look pretty hard to see any glints of a pink hue here.
Instead the beach is more of a strawberry-blonde shade, but it is still a nice spot to visit if you want to sunbathe on the sand or go for a swim.
One of the big draws at Pink Beach is the coral reefs that lie off shore, so if you like snorkeling you can get out into the water and take in all the colorful marine life that swims in these waters.
Other activities at the beach include canoeing around the sheltered bay which is perfect for anyone looking for a little more adventure.
Tour the Sekotong Islands
Lombok is an island in its own right but it is also surrounded by a myriad of other smaller islands which offer you the chance to check out a tropical paradise that feels miles away from the more crowded islands in and around Bali.
The Sekotong Island chain is a collection of small islands that can be visited on a day tour from the main island of Lombok, and they are not yet as well known as the neighboring Gili Islands, so this is a good pick if you want to get away from the crowds.
The islands are covered in white sandy beaches and have pretty outlying coral reefs, so if you like snorkeling then this is an excellent choice and you can enjoy a wealth of underwater flora and fauna.
Discover the Enchanting Sekotong Islands of Lombok: An Unspoiled Paradise
Visit a Pearl Farm
People may not realize that Lombok is famous for its pearl farms, and this is big business in the area, with some of the prettiest pearls in Southeast Asia cultivated here.
One place where you can see the pearls is the Autore Pearl Farm and there is a tour which is perfect for tourists that will fill you in on everything you want to know about pearl cultivation.
There is also a showroom where you can buy some pearl products and support the local pearl farming business in Lombok.
Explore Narmada Water Park
Narmada Water Park is actually something of a misnomer as this is not an amusement park but actually more of a water palace.
The park was built in 1727 under the sage guidance of King Anak Agung Gede Ngurah Karang Asem and is seen as an important religious and spiritual retreat by those who follow the Hindu faith.
Make sure to check out the amazing architecture here as the park is built to mirror the shape of Mount Rinjani which is the highest peak on Lombok and also considered to be a sacred mountain.
The park is surrounded by lush gardens which are perfect for an afternoon stroll as there are natural springs here that give the park its water element.
Narmada Water Park is not as grand as some of the more famous water parks in Bali but it is well worth a visit if you want to check out some ancient architecture in Lombok.
LOMBOK SET TO SHINE AGAIN IN A NEW POST-PANDEMIC ERA
The island of Lombok is ready to reboot tourism.
It’s been a long hibernation with us all stuck at home counting down the days to when we can finally get out and explore again.
That day has arrived but life has changed, perhaps forever. How is this ‘new normal’ era affecting everyday life and tourism in Lombok? Actually, it’s surprisingly little.
Lombok’s wide open spaces and relatively low-key tourism has always offered social distancing by default. We’ve never really had to tread on people’s toes when strolling along the beach. There is plenty of space for everyone, especially now as tourism restarts at a gradual pace, even in the busy Gili Islands and Senggigi.
Lombok has been blessed in that there are virtually no high rise hotels – it’s mostly single story open fronted public spaces and detached bungalow style suites and rooms. It’s the same for dining and drinking too, with most places outside the city offering an open air style experience and now with limited capacity including beach side dining.
Now we’re all itching to go and explore. Lombok is blessed with off the grid experiences and wide open spaces.
Original article in latest edition from My Lombok Magazine.
NEW VISA REGULATIONS ( DURING PANDEMIC )
Time of writing; 13th of July 2020
Visa Exempt – Free visa
No extension possible, you have to exit BEFORE August 12 2020.
VOA – extended already or not !
Get monthly extensions until pandemic is over.
ITK – Social visa
Get monthly extensions until pandemic is over.
Some local offices seem to deny extensions for people who used their extensions already, remind them that it is possible to extend !
ITAS / ITAP
Expired ones get monthly extensions until imigrasi can process their regular extension.
ITAS / ITAP – expired with no extension possible
No extension, get EPO and need to leave before August 12 2020
D212 – Business Multiple Entry
Get monthly extensions until pandemic is over.
APEC
APEC card expired, you need to leave before August 12 2020
UPDATE ( thanks to Saraswati Consultant )
Even with a valid APEC card, you need to leave before August 12 2020. This is confirmed by BALI and LOMBOK Kanim.
- Extensions cost 500.000 IDR
- Visa with sponsors need to bring a letter from their initial sponsor AND a copy of their KTPm. For businesses ALSO their company papers are required.
THE BEST SUNSET SPOTS IN LOMBOK
Seger Viewpoint
Great place to relax, enjoy a drink and enjoy the locals as well as tourists while watching spectacular sunsets. Just drive toward the Seger reef surf spot and climb up the hill on the right side for spectacular views.
The hills on the left side will give you a nice view over the MotoGP track and is a little more quiet.
Prabu Hill Sunset Point
When you drive toward the West, coming from Kuta there is a very nice valley view just before you decent towards Are Guling. If you arrive 20 minutes before sunset, you will not miss it !
The best spot to watch the sunset there is just before the bat caves.
Merese Hill
by wemovedabroad
Visiting Tanjung Aan beach and hiking Bukit Merese were two of our favorite activities in the week we spent in the south of Lombok! Watching the sunset over the coast and playing with the cute local puppies on the pristine white sands of Tanjung Aan make the perfect way to spend a day. As a bonus, the two are right next to each other and are easily accessible from Kuta!
WHAT TO EXPECT
Tanjung Aan is a huge beach, about 1km long. There are quite a few warungs where you can buy food or drinks and rent a beach chair or umbrella. Typically, these warungs will give you a beach chair for free if you buy something. There are also many locals selling bracelets and sarongs on the beach. Tanjung Aan is known to be one of the best beaches in all of Lombok, and was definitely one of our favorites! It does get a bit crowded in the middle of the day, but it’s big enough that you can find a secluded spot if you’re willing to walk further from the parking lot.
Bukit Merese is a short but epic hike to a hill that overlooks the Tanjung Aan bay and the next bay to the west. There’s a great view of the ocean and locals and tourists alike often head there for sunset. It’s possible to buy snacks or beer in the parking lot, but beware of the aggressive monkeys who love stealing from unsuspecting tourists!
HOW TO GET TO BUKIT MERESE & TANJUNG AAN
Tanjung Aan beach is a quick 20 minute scooter ride from Kuta. We rented scooters at our homestay and cruised over at our leisure. The roads are quite good besides the last 5 minutes which is a smooth dirt road. If you’d rather not scooter, it’s also possible to organize a driver at one of the many tourist information booths in Kuta.
Check here for scooter rental.
The parking lot for Bukit Merese is right around the corner. You can walk over and avoid having to pay for parking again.
WHEN TO VISIT BUKIT MERESE & TANJUNG AAN
Bukit Merese is a pretty awesome view both during the day and at sunset! If you’re only going to visit once, we’d recommend heading to Tanjung Aan in the afternoon and making the trek to Bukit Merese an hour or so before sunset.
If you plan it right, you can surf Tanjung Aan and after that hike up the hill and enjoy sunset !
The hike up to the edge of the hill is not long (less than 5 minutes) but there’s a lot of coastline to explore. It can get crowded so it’s nice to get a little further from the entrance! The furthest point you can hike to takes about 20 minutes from the parking lot.
COST OF BUKIT MERESE & TANJUNG AAN
Parking at each location is 10k IDR for scooters, and there’s no entrance fee. Food starts around 30k IDR for fried rice/fried noodles and a cold coconut or beer will be 15-30k.
RINJANI REOPENS AFTER COVID, 7TH OF JULY 2020
Mount Rinjani COVID-19 Advice & Regulations (2020)
After extensive meetings between the Mount Rinjani National Park authority (TNGR) and local government officials, a health protocol and management plan has been agreed to allow for the safe re-opening and management of Mount Rinjani trekking in the post COVID-19 world. The new regulations are listed below.
Mount Rinjani COVID-19 Regulations 2020
The below list outlines official regulations relating to Mount Rinjani Trekking from 7th July 2020. These may be subject to change, so it is worth contacting us for up-to-date requirements.
- Trekkers will require a valid letter stating that they are free from COVID 19 (rapid test or PCR accepted).
- Trekkers will be required to fill out the Travel History form (applicable in Lombok).
- Trekkers will be required to use a face mask / face shield and hand gloves
- Trekkers are required to bring a hand sanitizer
- Trekkers are required to present a certificate showing they are free from the symptoms of COVID-19, such as high fever, shortness of breath, coughing and colds.
- Trekkers are required to carry and use personal equipment, especially cutlery / eating utensils, as well as pillow and sleeping bag.
- There will be a maximum of 6 trekkers per group
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