In this Lombok itinerary, I take you with me to the most relaxing & beautiful white-sandy beaches of Kuta, snorkelling with sea turtles in the Gili Islands and chasing hidden waterfalls near Mount Rinjani. A trip to Lombok and the Gili Islands is a match made in heaven! This 2 weeks Gili Island & Lombok itinerary includes how to get from Bali to Lombok and from Lombok to the Gili Islands, all the best tips and useful information for visiting the Gili Islands and Lombok in Indonesia. And to make things easier, I’ve put it on a map as well.
Tip: if you have more time, definitely add Bali or Flores to your planning!
2 weeks Gili Islands & Lombok itinerary: an overview of our travel route
START Gili Trawangan | END Kuta
DURATION 14 days
METHOD OF TRANSPORT Bus + boat
BEST TIME OF YEAR June-September
WHEN DID I GO July-August
HIGHLIGHTS Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, Mount Rinjani, Sembalun, Kuta & the Secret Gili Islands
Gili Islands
After my Bali trip, I went to the Gili Islands by speedboat and started with a few nights on Gili Trawangan. Gili Trawangan is the most crowded island of the three Gili Islands with lots of great things to do. Even though it’s famous for its nightlife, it’s still knowing how to keep its charming and relaxed atmosphere. I love the Gili Islands as there are so many great dive centers, lovely hotels, and amazing restaurants.
After Gili T, I hopped on a 20-minute boat ride to Gili Meno, which is the perfect place to relax with beaches all to yourself. No matter which Gili Islands you choose, you can expect the bluest waters, white beaches, cozy bean bags on the beach, and incredible sunsets… Perfect to start or end your trip with!
Read also: The best hotels in the Gili Islands
Recommended stay
- 3 – 5 days
Where to stay on the Gili Islands
- Voodoo Gili on Gili Trawangan
- Meno Charm on Gili Meno
- Find more places to stay on Gili Trawangan or Gili Meno
Things to do on the Gili Islands
- Rent a bicycle and cycle around the islands – around IDR 45.000 ($3) for a full day
- Go snorkeling and swim with sea turtles or at the underwater sculptures of Gili Meno – IDR 600.000 ($40) for a private boat which you can share with others, 3-4 hours
- Complete a dive course – fixed prices on all the Gili islands starts from IDR 5.900.000 ($397) per person for a 3-day PADI Open Water Course (my favorite dive center is Trawangan Dive Resort where I completed the PADI Advanced Course)
- Watch the sunset in a cozy beanbag and order a cocktail
- Get a relaxing massage on the beach – prices start around IDR 150.000 ($10) per hour
- Watch a movie on the beach – check at Le Pirate & Villa Ombak on Gili Trawangan for the open-air movie nights
- Visit Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, or Gili Air on a day trip – public boats are going 2 times a day, IDR 35.000 ($2) per person
Where to eat
- Fat Cats part of Trawangan Dive (favorite dinner spot, cozy setting with tables on the beach, try the poke bowl, vegan burger, or superfood salad)
- The Banyan Tree (favorite breakfast and lunch spot, fresh & healthy food with many plant-based options and the best juices, try the mixed berry bowl, chocolate peanut bowl, purple wrap… so good!)
- Scallywags (best place for a delicious BBQ on the beach, unlimited vegetable/pasta buffet)
- Diversia (great lunch spot or if you need to wait for the boats, yummy veggie platter with tempeh and lots of great juices)
- Sunset Kiss Beach Club from PinkCoco Resort (favorite sunset bar/restaurant with lots of yummy cocktails)
How to get from Bali to Lombok & Lombok to Gili Islands
- From Bali to Lombok, by fast boat, 1-2 hours, prices are around IDR 290.000 per person. (we highly recommend Eka Jaya Fast Boats as a company) as they offer packages that go from Bali to Lombok and from Lombok to Gili Trawangan.
Senaru – Mount Rinjani
The highlight in this 2 weeks Gili Island & Lombok itinerary is the hike to Mount Rinjani in Lombok. Whether if you want to hike up the crater rim of the active volcano Mount Rinjani or just want to explore the beautiful nature and waterfalls in the north, Senaru is the perfect place to stay. It’s a very small local village with a few hotels and the perfect getaway for hikers as it’s located at the base of Mount Rinjani.
One of the best things to do in Lombok is definitely the Mount Rinjani trekking. I stayed at Rudy Trekker and booked the tour with them. They have a lovely swimming pool which is perfect to recover after your hike.
Recommended stay
- 1-3 days
Where to stay in Senaru
Things to do in Senaru
- Hike Mount Rinjani and spend a night on the crater rim.
- Visit the stunning Tiu Kelep Waterfall – IDR 10.000 ($0,6) per person entrance fee
- Visit the Sendang Gile waterfall – IDR 10.000 ($0,6) per person entrance fee
- Get up early and watch the sunrise over the ricefields of Senaru
- Hike up the viewpoint of Bukit Selong Hill Ricefields (update: the famous star deck is broken because of the last earthquake) – entrance is IDR 10.000 ($0,6) per person
Where to eat
- Rudy Trekker (cheap and good local food)
How to get in Senaru
- From the Gili Islands, first by speedboat to Bangsal in Lombok – IDR 220.000 per person ($15, 30 minutes) Then take a private minivan to Senaru – 1h 30 min drive, transfer was included in our Mount Rinjani Trek with Rudy Trekker
- From Lombok International Airport, by private minivan – 2h 40 min drive, transfer was included in our Mount Rinjani Trek with Rudy Trekker
Kuta
Kuta was my favourite spot in Lombok because of its super relaxed atmosphere and lovely surfer’s vibe. During my Lombok itinerary I spend 5 days in Kuta and didn’t want to leave. The town itself is not big, but there are plenty of cozy bars and great vegan restaurants. Only a short bike ride away, you’ll find some of the most beautiful white sandy beaches of whole Indonesia. If you love the vibes of Canggu in Bali, you’ll definitely love Kuta in Lombok too!
Recommended stay
- 3 – 5 days
Where to stay in Kuta
Things to do in Kuta
- Rent a scooter to visit the nearby beaches – IDR 50.000 ($3,4) for a full day
- Visit the secluded Mawun Beach
- Take a day trip to the Secret Gili’s: Gili Kedis, Gili Nanggu & Gili Gede – around IDR 800.000 per person for a day trip incl pick-up and snorkeling gear
- Relax on the beautiful beach of Tanjung Aan
- Walk around in the lovely town of Kuta and hop in one of the cozy bars and restaurants
- Enjoy a happy-hour at the lounge and swimming pool of Bamba Capsule Hotel
Where to eat in Kuta
- Kenza Cafe (our favorite restaurant in Lombok! Healthy food, lots of vegan options, an Instagrammable interior and a cozy atmosphere. Try the vegan green wrap, trio of hummus and the vegan chocolate cake, so yummy!)
- El Bazar (a lovely Moroccon restaurant with a beautiful interior. Our fav picks: the green cauliflower, the vegetarian mezze platter, and the veggy kebab)
- Krnk (spot with incredible good food and a trendy atmosphere, best burgers in town vegan proof! Try the vegan pizza & the gypsy burger, amazing!)
- Bamba Capsule Hotel (lovely restaurant, bar and lounge with lots of healthy options and great asian food)
- Milk Espresso (lovely place to enjoy a coffee or some cocktails & tapas on their rooftop deck, has a great menu with vegan friendly food)
How to get in Kuta
- From Senaru, by private mini van – 3h drive, transfer was included in our Mount Rinjani Trek with Rudy Trekker
- From the Gili Islands, first by speedboat to Bangsal in Lombok – IDR 220.000 per person ($15, 30 minutes) Then take the bus or private minivan to Kuta – by bus: IDR 190.000 per person ($13, 3 -hour drive) or by minivan IDR 500.000 ($35, 1h 40min drive)
- From Lombok International Airport, by bus – IDR 130.000 ($9) per person, 1h 30 min drive)
Use my travel resources for your Gili Islands & Lombok itinerary
As you know, I love to share all my best tips and favourite places with all of you. That’s why I created all these online travel guides, which are completely free. If you found this article (or anything I do) useful, I’d be so grateful if you buy something through one of the affiliate links in this article. I’ll get a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps me keeping this travel blog alive.
Thank you so much for your support! x Valerie
- Skyscanner – to book the best and cheapest flights
- Airbnb – to stay at incredible homes & apartments
- Booking.com – to book your accommodation
- Lonely Planet – to purchase a detailed travel guide
- TourRadar – to join one of the amazing group tours
- TripAdvisor – to read the best reviews and find amazing tours
- HostelWorld – to book the most amazing hostels
- GetYourGuide – to book awesome tours and activities
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