Lombok Part 1

Why Lombok?

And how a mountain village changed my view of the island.

When people talk about Lombok, they usually mean:

Kuta. Surfing. Parties. Trendy cafés.

The slightly wilder, more relaxed sister of Bali.

But did you ever hear about Sembalun?

In May 2025, I climbed Mount Rinjani with my boyfriend — something he had wanted to do for years. I had always been hesitant. People kept saying how tough the hike was, and I couldn’t imagine doing it alone.

But with him by my side, I felt more confident — and so we finally decided to go for it.

We started comparing options and quickly realized how different the prices were. Being Indonesian, he naturally got local rates, while I had to dig a little deeper to find something fair. My go-to method when I don’t have direct contacts? Scrolling social media. That’s how I came across Zaidan. — and honestly, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience.

But let’s start from the beginning.

How we got there from Bali

(…and why I wouldn’t take the fast boat again)

Since we were coming from Bali, a lot of people recommended taking the fast boat to Lombok — especially Eka Jaya from Padang Bai to Bangsal.

So that’s what we did.

And let me tell you: I wouldn’t do it again.

Or at least, not the “fast” boat part.

We paid around 550k IDR per person (one way) because we thought we’d get there quickly. I mean, it’s literally called fast boat, right?

Well. Not really.

It took us around 4 hours, with stops at what felt like every island in the ocean:

Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Penida, Gili T, Gili Air, Gili Meno…

Add some waiting time, a bit of chaos at the harbour, and a very bumpy ride — and you’ve got yourself a long, slow, overpriced journey.

On the way back, we took the slow ferry instead — and surprise:

Same amount of time.

But only 50k IDR per person.

And in my opinion: 100% safer. Fast boats in Indonesia have a bit of a reputation (capsizing, overloading…) and if you’re not in a hurry, the slow ferry is a solid, relaxed option.

That said, I’ve also met travelers who had a smooth trip with Eka Jaya.

If you still want to give it a try (especially if you want to stop on the smaller islands), you can contact them via WhatsApp: +62 819 1641 4191

🛳️ Pro Tip:

If you want to book the slow ferry online, you can do it here. The website is a little annoying (you need to create an account first), but totally worth it in my opinion.

From Bangsal to Sembalun

We finally arrived at the harbour in Bangsal (FYI: if you’re taking the slow ferry, it arrives in Lembar, which is even closer to Sembalun & Mount. Rinjani, from what I have been told).

Our driver — organized by Zaidan — had been waiting for us for maybe two hours. And still, he greeted us with the warmest smile. His name was Pak Zaki, and he couldn’t have been more patient and kind.

Here is his number if you want to contact him:

📲 +62 821 44571101

he will drive you literally anywhere in Lombok.

Zaidan also called us right after we met the driver to check if everything went well. That kind of care made a big difference for me.

We were starving, so we asked Pak Zeki if we could stop somewhere for food — and of course, that was no problem. He joined us for a quick meal, we covered his food as well, and then we continued the 2-hour drive to the mountain village of Sembalun.

Sembalun lies at around 1,100 meters above sea level, surrounded by hills, volcanoes and rice fields.

And the best part? The air.

Cool, fresh, and such a relief after the heat and humidity of the coast.

It reminded me of home. If you’re looking for a break from the tropical heat — this place is a dream.

Sembalun is a very religious (mostly Muslim) village, so it’s a good idea to dress modestly and be mindful of local customs. Long pants or a sarong go a long way in showing respect — and trust me, it’s worth it to be met with warm smiles instead of weird stares.

Where we stayed

Since we arrived in Sembalun a bit earlier, we booked our first night at Sembalun Kita Cottage. We stayed in one of their traditional rooms, and later upgraded to the superior room (after Rinjani)— both were super cozy, clean, and definitely worth the price.

Bonus: Hot water! (Which feels like a luxury up here 😄)

You can book directly via WhatsApp:

📲 +62 819 9994 1399

First day - exploring the waterfalls

Day 1 – Waterfall exploring before the climb

On our first full day in Lombok, we decided to take it slow and give ourselves a bit of time to settle in before hiking up Mount Rinjani.

We rented a motorbike through Zaidan and went out exploring.

First stop: Sendang Gile & Tiu Kelep Waterfalls, located in Senaru – another popular starting point for Rinjani treks.

When you arrive at the parking lot, you’ll likely be approached by local guides.

They’ll mention “dangerous monkeys” and “plants that make your skin burn” – which, at first, honestly sounded like a trick to sell guided tours.

But once we hit the trail and saw everyone had a guide, I stopped being sceptical. 😅

(Sorry, I totally forgot how much it cost.)

That being said — having a guide was actually really nice. Ours explained a few things along the way and offered to take pictures of us, which was super handy.

The trail starts with a long set of stairs going down, and my first thought was:

“Oh no… we’re gonna have to climb these back up later.”

Spoiler alert: Yep, you do.

The first waterfall, Sendang Gile, is lovely. People were swimming there (I didn’t), and the whole area had a really peaceful vibe.

But the second waterfall, Tiu Kelep — that one took my breath away.

The closer we got, the more intense it became.

You could feel the force of the water in the air, mist on your skin, the roar echoing around you.

It was one of those rare moments in nature where you can physically feel how powerful it is — and how small we are in comparison.

Almost overwhelming. In the best way.

Important to know before you go:

There’s a part of the trail where you’ll need to walk through water — so if you’re wearing hiking boots, you’ll have to take them off.

👉 Best tip: Bring flip-flops or sandals that can handle water.

I didn’t bring any, so our guide was kind enough to lend me his 😅

After the water crossing, there’s a short section with lots of broken wires and metal pieces on the ground — so whatever shoes you choose, make sure they’re sturdy enough.

I’d say: Wear hiking shoes + pack lightweight flip-flops in your bag. You’ll be glad you did.

Good Coffee, Recommendations & hidden gems

After exploring a bit, we were craving a proper coffee, so we headed to Salam Rinjani Coffee — a really lovely spot with great coffee and a cozy atmosphere. The owner gave us two amazing tips: Lendang Danger for sunset and Saifana Organic Farm. We visited both, and honestly, this guy really knew what he was talking about.

First, we went to Saifana Organic Farm for lunch. It’s a beautiful, calm, and peaceful place surrounded by their own garden, where they harvest ingredients for their meals and educational activities. It truly felt like an oasis. They also offer workshops on sustainability and self-sufficiency, making it a really inspiring spot. I’d love to stay there one day.

After that, we made our way to Lendang Danger. The road to get there is a bit rocky but totally doable by bike. Just be careful, don’t get discouraged, and keep going — you’ll find one of the most beautiful places. No trash, just local kids and people, and free-range cows grazing peacefully. Truly peaceful.

If you keep going straight, you’ll reach a cliff with an amazing view over the ocean. There’s no clear road, so you’re allowed to go “offroad” and explore freely — you can also just walk around. I’d love to have a picnic there someday.

We were there in early May, so I can’t promise how it looks in other months, but at the end of May, everything was green and beautiful. A local kid might ask for a small entrance fee of 5,000 IDR, which is fair, and you can easily get in by scooter.

On weekends, you might even find locals camping there, which you could do too — if you have a tent. It’s definitely still on my bucket list.

And of course, the most important thing: you get a gorgeous view of Mount Rinjani.

So yeah, I really loved that place and would truly recommend it.

That was our first full day in Lombok — packed with coffee, calm vibes, and hidden gems.

Next up: hiking Rinjani… 🏔️