Lombok

Touted as an ‘unspoiled Bali’, Lombok Island is a part of the Lesser Sunda Island chain and is popular for its gleaming waterfalls, pearl farms, quaint villages, rice paddies and white-sand beaches. Popular among surfers, the island is generally more relaxed and quieter than its sister islands. Lombok is also home to Mount Rinjani, Indonesia’s second-highest active volcano with a massive lake inside its caldera.

Trekking to Mount Rinjani’s pinnacle is Lombok’s most exciting activity. Halfway up the mountain is Air Kalak Hot Springs, said to have medicinal volcanic mineral properties. Narmada Water Park, built to resemble Rinjani’s shape, houses beautiful gardens and temples. Plunging from a height of 45 metres, Tiu Kelep Waterfall is surrounded by emerald, biodiverse jungles. Small towns like Tetebatu and Kuta offer traditional Sasak houses for rent and shops selling trinkets, batiks and fresh coconut. Tourists flock to Autore Pearl Farm to learn about pearl cultivation and collect souvenirs.

Lombok is a hotspot for watersports like diving and snorkelling, owing to excellent underwater visibility, verdant coral reefs, graceful turtles and rays. Lombok’s prettiest beaches include Selong Belanak, Senggigi, Pink Beach and Semeti Beach, flaunting spectacular volcanic formations. Some more must-visit places for a fulfilling Lombok tour are Benang Kelambu Waterfall, Mangku Sakti Waterfall, Sukarara Village and abandoned WWII bunkers in Tanjung Ringgit.