This section is dedicated to take away all your "I wish someone had told me that before I went!" experiences. This way, you are better prepared for what to expect, what not to expect and can spend less time settling in, and more time making new friends in your chosen hostel. We share our insider knowledge of tips, tricks and important things to look out for in Lombok. To help you make friends with Lombok before you visit, we've included a few helpful and fun things you should know about the area. Enjoy!
Lombok is an island that forms a part of the Nusa Tenggara region of Indonesia and is located east of Bali. It is a popular destination for those that want to get out of the hustle and bustle of Bali and into some more adventurous and cultural aspects of Indonesia.
Most people get here by taking a boat over from Bali to one of the ports. The two main ones are Sengiggi and Bangsal if people aren't continuing on to the Gili Islands, which are off the coast on the northwest side of Lombok. If people fly into here, they fly into Mataram, the largest town on Lombok, only a short drive to Sengiggi.
Sengiggi is a great place to start here, as the place is full of tourist information about hiking up to the perilous yet spectacular Mount Rinjani, taking a four-day boat trip across the northern coast of Lombok and Sumbawa over to Komodo Island and Flores to see the dragons, or heading out on a boat to the Gili Islands. There is something for everyone and you will find that the locals are happy to help and talk to you -- and if you haggle with them nicely, you might get a bit of a discount on your trips.
Each of the main town centers are equipped with any supplies that you might need during your stay here. Hostels in Lombok are mainly in these city centres around the coastal region between Bangsal and Sengiggi and inward towards Mataram. Majority of the other accommodations on Lombok are homestays or guesthouses, so if you decide to venture further inland on Lombok, you won't find Lombok hostels.
Lombok is also different from Bali in that the majority of the population here are Muslim, so be prepared to cover up a bit more, and to be woken at 5 a.m. by religious prayer sessions every morning. Earplugs a must if you aren't a heavy sleeper. That said, it is one of the most incredible islands in all of Indonesia and time spent here is time well spent.
Written by local enthusiast for Lombok hostels
Globetrotter
