Kuta is a small beach town on the island Lombok in Indonesia. Lombok is the less visited and less developed neighbouring island of Bali. It reminds of what Bali must have been like 20 years ago before it became a hype.

But be careful not to confuse the remote Kuta on Lombok with the resort town Kuta on Bali. These two towns are nothing alike.

Even though Lombok is still an off the beaten path destination, the coastal town Kuta has grown in popularity among backpackers in recent years. Hostels, home-stays and restaurants are growing in number, but the small town is still free from big luxury resorts and tourist crowds.

Many backpackers are tired of Bali and the mass tourism destination it has become. On the island Lombok they find untouched places where they can connect with locals and experience the authentic Indonesian island life.

It’s advisable to visit Kuta on Lombok rather sooner than later, before mass tourism takes over and converts it into a “second Bali”.

Kuta in Lombok is especially popular among surfers because the conditions for surfing are amazing all year around. If you’re in Kuta and you tell people that you don’t surf (like me), some will even look at you as if you had told them you’re from Mars.

Kuta, Lombok - a hidden gem next to Bali

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How to get to Kuta, Lombok

By Plane

Kuta has a small airport that even receives international flights from Singapore or Malaysia, for example. Otherwise, you can also fly there from Bali or anywhere else in Indonesia.

A flight from Denpasar (Bali) to Kuta (Lombok) only takes 30 minutes.

The town center of Kuta is a 30 minutes drive from the airport.

By Speedboat

Sengiggi and Bangsal are the two harbours on Lombok where speedboats arrive. From the harbour it takes about 2-2.5 hours to get to Kuta by car.

Speedboat from Bali

On Bali you can catch a speedboat in Padangbai that brings you either to Sengiggi or to Bangsal on Lombok.

Speedboat from the Gili Islands

The Gili Islands are not far from Lombok and it takes only 15 minutes to get there by boat.

You should definitely combine a trip to Lombok with a visit to the Gili Islands because of their proximity. Gili Air was my favourite Indonesian island – and I’ve been to quite a few so far. Here’s my guide to Gili Air with the top things to do on the island.

Things to do in Kuta, Lombok

Kuta is rather small in size but there’s so much to do. From being outdoor-active by doing water sports or hiking to relaxing on one of the dreamy beaches – you won’t run out of things to do in Kuta.

Go surfing

Lombok has become a world renowned surf destination and Kuta is the capital. The small beach town is packed with surf shops and surf hostels where experienced surfers as well as surf beginners mingle with each other. Most travellers visit the town either because they want to learn how to surf or they know it already.

There are numerous surf camps for beginners and intermediates offered in Kuta.

Nalua Surf Camp

Nalua is a surf camp located in the heart of Kuta. The local surf guides at Nalua are professionals who know the best spots and make sure you’re safe. Besides that, the staff is friendly and does their best to make guests feel welcome.

Secret Spot Surf Camp

Secret Spot surf camp is located right in the center of Kuta. Great teachers and the owners make you feel like you’re part of their family. At Secret Spot they bring you to stunning places on Lombok, help you improve your surfing skills and share their culture with you.

Hike Mount Rinjani

Sunset view from Mount Rinjani

Mount Rinjani is Indonesia’s second highest volcano with its peak at an altitude of 3,726 m. If you’re an adventurous and fit person, I definitely recommend hiking Mount Rinjani during your time on Lombok. This was one of the most amazing and challenging experiences of my life. Read here my detailed guide about the hike to Mount Rinjani.

Book your Mount Rinjani experience with a local guide here.

Mount Rinjani Volcano Crater

Do beach-hopping

The area in and around Kuta is full of dreamy beaches with white sand and crystal-clear water. And the best part about it is that those beaches are mostly untouched and free from hotel resorts or tourist crowds. At most beaches you have to pay a parking fee of around € 0.80. This is not much money for a tourist and it supports the locals.

Also, be aware that on most beaches there are vendors who want to sell bracelets or beach towels. Be friendly to them, they usually don’t have much money and just try to make a living by selling their products. However, if they’re too pushy just ignore them and firmly tell them that you’re not interested.

Tanjung Aan Beach

Tanjung Aan Beach, Kuta, Lombok

Tanjung Aan is a beautiful beach with some bars and traditional restaurants lined up along the beach. They also have loungers where you can stay for free if you buy something at the restaurant.

After a long day in the sun I highly recommend watching the sunset on the nearby Merese Hills.

Selong Belanak Beach

Selong Belanak is a dreamy white sand beach that is perfect for those who want to take beginner surf classes. There are some Warungs (small Indonesian restaurant) where you can buy food and drinks. If you want to have more privacy and tranquility just walk a little further on the beach and stay in the area past the restaurants.

But be careful when you rent your surf board – sometimes tourists have been scammed and they had to pay more in the end because they were accused of breaking the board.

Tampah Beach

Tampah is very calm and usually there are only a few tourists. If you’re lucky, you might even have the whole beach to yourself. In contrast to most other beaches, there are no beach vendors on Tampah Beach.

This is a hidden gem that you definitely shouldn’t miss!

Mawun Beach

Mawun is a beautiful sandy beach. However, the vendors there can be extremely pushy and there’s lots of garbage on the beach.

Explore local areas

Kuta, Lombok

What I found most exciting in Kuta was strolling through non-touristy areas and seeing how the locals live. They were not used to seeing western people at all and looked at me curiously.

Local Indonesian woman in Kuta, Lombok

Kids asked me several times if they could take a photo with me and fought about who would stand next to me. They were giggling and seemed to be surprised to see a white, blond girl. All of them were truly friendly and everyone smiled at me. Even though I was a stranger to them, I never felt unwelcome and everyone treated me with respect.

Do yoga

There are several yoga centres in Kuta that offer daily yoga classes as well as yoga retreats.

Ashtari Yoga

Viewpoint in Kuta, Lombok

Ashtari Yoga is located on top of a hill in the outskirts of Kuta. The ocean views from the hill of Ashatri are amazing. Besides being a yoga center, Ashatri also has a restaurant included. It’s a great place to have some drinks with a stunning view.

Viewpoint in Kuta, Lombok

They offer two daily yoga classes where anyone can sign up. Besides their daily schedule, they also offer yoga retreats from 4 to 7 days that include a stay at their property.

Mana Yoga Studio

Mana Yoga Studio is located near the center of Kuta, easily reachable by walk. They offer regular yoga classes and yoga retreats that last either 3 or days. Additionally, they also offer a yoga teacher training course.

 

Where to stay in Kuta, Lombok

The best sites for finding accommodation in Indonesia are Hostelworld.com and Booking.com.

Budget

Pipe’s Hostel

Pipe’s Hostel is a cool place with great social atmosphere, ideas for backpackers. The hostel offers great value for money and even comes with a swimming pool.

Mid-budget

Sikara Lombok Hotel

Sikara Lombok Hotel is a wonderful place to stay that offers great value for the price. 

Luxury

Batatu Villas

Located in a tranquil and secluded setting in nature, Batatu Villas offer a unique luxury experience away from the crowds.

Restaurants in Kuta, Lombok

What I love about Kuta is that despite it not being too touristy, you still have a great choice of western and local restaurants.

Local restaurants in Kuta

Local Indonesian restaurants are called “Warung” and they usually serve traditional dishes such as curry or rice with vegetables, meat or fish.

Here are some of the best local restaurants in Kuta:

  • Warung Flora
  • Warung Bule
  • Warung Jawa 1
  • Nana’s Warung
  • Nuggets Corner

All of them serve delicious food at an amazing price. These are the places to be if you look for something local and non-touristy.

Western restaurants in Kuta

Kenza Café

Kenza Café, Kuta, Lombok

Kenza Café was my favourite place to work from my laptop with a healthy smoothie and a good atmosphere.

Milk Espresso

Milk Espresso offers amazing bowls and burgers. This restaurant is great at any time of the day. In the evening you can go there for cocktails and live music, and in the morning you can enjoy your smoothie bowl with a coffee.

Getting around in Kuta, Lombok

The best – and almost the only – way of getting around Kuta is with a scooter. While the tiny center is easily walkable, you’ll want to see more than that. All the stunning beaches and beautiful nature is outside the center and requires a scooter or a car to get there.

In case you don’t want to drive a scooter, you can either book a personal driver or take a taxi. Just ask someone at your accommodation, they’ll help you find a driver.

Best time to visit Kuta, Lombok

The best time to visit Kuta is between April and October. During this period the sun shines almost everyday and it’s rather dry.

There are two main seasons of the year: Dry season and rainy season. Dry season is from April to October and rainy season is from November to March. The climate on Lombok is tropical with high humidity and heat.

Temperatures are high all year around with an average of almost 30°C. Also, the water is warm and allows to go swimming in both seasons.

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Kuta, Lombok

Kuta on Lombok is a hidden gem worth discovering. Make sure to visit Kuta while it’s still an off the beaten path destination and before the tourism industry hypes it up as much as Bali.

Have you ever been to Kuta on Lombok? If so, I’d love to hear your opinion in the comments.

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