7 Places Off The Beaten Track in East Lombok
The east of Lombok is an area filled with many hidden treasures. For intrepid travellers with wanderlust and a taste for solitude, many adventures await at the end of the road. In this article, we feature seven of the best-kept secrets lurking just off the beaten track.
1. Pantai Surga
“Paradise Beach” is a heavenly little 600-metre stretch of sand, bookended by two bulbous cliffs and hidden from the eyes of the world. This remote and secluded spot is free from hawkers and sellers, cafes and trash - a perfect hideaway where travellers can enjoy snorkelling, fishing and surfing in peace. The beach owes some of its isolation to its inaccessibility; the road here – known locally as ‘Hell’s Highway’ - keeps the crowds on the mainland at bay. For those willing to brave the journey, Paradise Beach is well worth the trip.
2. Pantai Tangsi
There are only seven pink beaches in the world, yet two of them can be found in Indonesia. Here, in a secluded corner of Lombok, approximately a 2-hour drive from Mataram, you can find a beautiful curving arch of pink sand, framed by hills, meadows and forest. The sand gets its distinctive pink colour from crushed coral and natural minerals, bleached by sun and saltwater. Unlike many of the beaches in east Lombok, where the waves grow quite large, Pantai Tangsi offers a refuge from the pounding ocean currents and a safe place to swim or kayak in the placid warm waters just beyond the shore.
3. Gili Sunut
Gili Sunut is an island located in Temeak hamlet, Pemongkong Village, in the Jerowaru district of East Lombok. About an hour and a half from Lombok International Airport by car, this secretive little island offers some unspoilt white sandy beaches, clear and turquoise tropical waters, and a haven of hassle-free island escapism. A great place to get lost and snorkel some of Lombok’s pristine coral reefs.
4. Pulau Pasir
A small beach in the middle of the ocean, Pulau Pasir is a strip of white sand that emerges for several at hours at different times of the day, depending on the seasons. A great spot for snorkelling, fishing, swimming and generally surveying the serene ocean surroundings.
5. Gili Petelu
Located close to Pulau Tangsi, Gili Petelu is growing in popularity due to its excellent coral reefs and temperate waters. Despite its developing reputation, this little gem just round the corner from Lombok’s only pink beach remains undisturbed and is one of the island’s best-kept secrets.
6. Pantai Semangkok
If you take a boat from Gili Petelu and hug the coast, you’ll soon come across a secluded, bowl-shaped cove flanked by rocky outcrops and carpeted in soft white sand. This is Pantai Semangkok, which can only be accessed from the sea. Here, you can cast yourself away on a deserted island and while away the hours with sunbathing, snorkelling, or fishing from the rocks.
7. Tanjung Ringgit
This area is so remote and unvisited, even most of the locals have never heard of it. Around 85km from Mataram and miles away from any discernable forms of public transportation, Tanjung Ringgit is your own private playground, perfect for photographers and nature lovers alike. With no shops, roads, houses or distractions, this is the perfect place to escape the world. Pitch a tent, build a fire, then sit back and enjoy the spectacular kaleidoscope of colours coalescing over the waves.
1. Pantai Surga
“Paradise Beach” is a heavenly little 600-metre stretch of sand, bookended by two bulbous cliffs and hidden from the eyes of the world. This remote and secluded spot is free from hawkers and sellers, cafes and trash - a perfect hideaway where travellers can enjoy snorkelling, fishing and surfing in peace. The beach owes some of its isolation to its inaccessibility; the road here – known locally as ‘Hell’s Highway’ - keeps the crowds on the mainland at bay. For those willing to brave the journey, Paradise Beach is well worth the trip.
2. Pantai Tangsi
There are only seven pink beaches in the world, yet two of them can be found in Indonesia. Here, in a secluded corner of Lombok, approximately a 2-hour drive from Mataram, you can find a beautiful curving arch of pink sand, framed by hills, meadows and forest. The sand gets its distinctive pink colour from crushed coral and natural minerals, bleached by sun and saltwater. Unlike many of the beaches in east Lombok, where the waves grow quite large, Pantai Tangsi offers a refuge from the pounding ocean currents and a safe place to swim or kayak in the placid warm waters just beyond the shore.
3. Gili Sunut
Gili Sunut is an island located in Temeak hamlet, Pemongkong Village, in the Jerowaru district of East Lombok. About an hour and a half from Lombok International Airport by car, this secretive little island offers some unspoilt white sandy beaches, clear and turquoise tropical waters, and a haven of hassle-free island escapism. A great place to get lost and snorkel some of Lombok’s pristine coral reefs.
4. Pulau Pasir
A small beach in the middle of the ocean, Pulau Pasir is a strip of white sand that emerges for several at hours at different times of the day, depending on the seasons. A great spot for snorkelling, fishing, swimming and generally surveying the serene ocean surroundings.
5. Gili Petelu
Located close to Pulau Tangsi, Gili Petelu is growing in popularity due to its excellent coral reefs and temperate waters. Despite its developing reputation, this little gem just round the corner from Lombok’s only pink beach remains undisturbed and is one of the island’s best-kept secrets.
6. Pantai Semangkok
If you take a boat from Gili Petelu and hug the coast, you’ll soon come across a secluded, bowl-shaped cove flanked by rocky outcrops and carpeted in soft white sand. This is Pantai Semangkok, which can only be accessed from the sea. Here, you can cast yourself away on a deserted island and while away the hours with sunbathing, snorkelling, or fishing from the rocks.
7. Tanjung Ringgit
This area is so remote and unvisited, even most of the locals have never heard of it. Around 85km from Mataram and miles away from any discernable forms of public transportation, Tanjung Ringgit is your own private playground, perfect for photographers and nature lovers alike. With no shops, roads, houses or distractions, this is the perfect place to escape the world. Pitch a tent, build a fire, then sit back and enjoy the spectacular kaleidoscope of colours coalescing over the waves.
