L O M B O K
It's an island to the east of Bali, renowned for its beaches, surf spots and volcano. Less touristy than its neighbour, it is ideal for those seeking cultural immersion and heavenly scenery.
To explore the island, we hired a scooter. The roads are well maintained and pleasant to ride.
My 14- day itinerary
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Gili Islands
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Mount Rinjani
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Tetebatu
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Kuta
Gili Islands
These three islands, located off the north-west coast of Lombok, are called Gili Air, Gili Meno and Gili Trawangan. They are accessible by ferry from Bali or Lombok.
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We spent 5 days between Gili Trawangan and Gili Meno. The atmosphere here is pleasant and peaceful: you can only get around on foot (no cars or scooters), the beaches are splendid, and the seaside restaurants add to the charm of this little paradise!
5 days
Gili Trawangan
The largest and most touristy of the three islands. There are plenty of restaurants and accommodation.
The main activity is snorkeling or diving.
We were lucky enough to spot a turtle close to the beach!
Gili Meno
Smaller and much less touristy, it offers charming little local restaurants.
After hiring a mask and snorkel on the beach, we swam with dozens of turtles: an incredible experience!
Practical information
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Whether you're arriving, leaving or changing islands, take the ferry in the morning: the waves are often less rough there.
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There is no ATM on Gili Meno
Mount RINJANI
Located to the north of Lombok, this volcano is the second highest in Indonesia, reaching a peak of 3,726 metres.
It can be climbed in 2 or 3 days, depending on the route you choose. We opted for the 3 days / 2 nights option: a magical experience!
3 days
DAY 1
We set off from Senaru, a village to the north of the volcano.
After a 5-hour walk and 2000 metres of ascent, we reached camp 1.
DAY 2
Today's objective: to reach camp 2.
In the morning, we began a 3-hour descent, with 1000 metres of ascent.
After lunch overlooking the lake, we set off again for around 3 hours of ascent, with 1000 metres of positive ascent.
A tough day, but a memorable one!
DAY 3
We woke up at 1.45am for a 2am start to the summit.
It took us around 4 hours to reach the summit, in particularly challenging conditions: a climb slowed down by numerous hikers who weren't always up to scratch, and an icy wind that chilled us to the bone.
After the effort, the comfort! The view from the summit is simply breathtaking.
As the icy wind died down, we were able to start our descent. All in all, we covered 17 km during the day... and had some memorable aches and pains the next day!
In short, an extraordinary adventure!
Practical information
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A guide is compulsory for the ascent, so choose your agency carefully and check the services on offer.​
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Bring warm clothing​
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Don't forget to bring snacks
Tetebatu
This village in the centre of the island is renowned for its lush natural surroundings.
We spent two days among the rice fields and waterfalls.
2 days
Kuta
Located in the south of the island, Kuta is surrounded by magnificent beaches.
Renowned for its surf spots, it attracts novices and experts alike all year round.
We spent four days there, relaxing on the beaches and enjoying the superb sunsets.
4 days
Practical information
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In my opinion, hiring a scooter is essential for exploring the different beaches
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Bukit Merese: this spot offers incredible views of the surrounding beaches and is particularly famous for its sunsets. However, I'd advise you to go there during the day too: the view is simply insane!