Lombok is the island located directly east of Bali across the 1300m deep Lombok Strait. Anyone who has visited Bali and Lombok will tell you the latter has a fraction of the tourism of Bali. The sister island to Bali has so much on offer to see and do. The environment is pristine with natural, curving bays and high mountains affording spectacular views.
Many people have said to me that Lombok is like Bali was twenty years ago and, they are correct. There are many things I basically liked about Lombok; no traffic jams, the peace and quiet, delicious cuisine and an intriguing culture that I found quite absorbing.
Lombok is easily reached from Bali via boat or air. Being only a half hour flight away, Lombok is a delightful place to visit even if only for a few days. The neighbouring Gilli Islands are reached by boat from Lombok and are a definite must-see for any lover of snorkelling, surfing or just plain chilli’ out on the pure white stretches of sand.
Lombok’s Sasak culture isn’t as colourful and demonstrative as the Balinese culture but short term tourists don’t usually care about culture, other than as a pleasant backdrop. Lombok has the raw materials at hand and room for expansion of its tourist industry. Within the next couple of decades Lombok will look completely different.
