Routes · Asia
Manila to Lombok and the Gili Islands
Manila → Lombok (Senggigi) → Gili Islands
Volcano views, waterfalls & car-free islands Best season (general guide): May–Sep
Lombok lies just east of Bali, and it is quieter, with a volcano, waterfalls and beaches. Off its north-west coast, the three Gili Islands have no motor traffic. This route spends three nights on Lombok and four on the Gilis. From Manila you'll connect through Jakarta, Bali or another hub to Lombok.
How to pace it: Spend days one to three on Lombok (Senggigi): day one, the west coast; day two, waterfalls at Senaru; day three, southern beaches near Kuta. Then spend days four to seven in the Gili Islands: day four, boat to Gili Air; day five, snorkel with turtles; day six, cycle around Gili Trawangan; day seven, lazy island day.
Mount Rinjani, the second-highest volcano in Indonesia, dominates the island. Climbing it takes several days and a licensed guide, but waterfalls near the village of Senaru, on its lower slopes, are easier walks.
The Sasak people are the majority on Lombok, and some villages welcome visitors to see traditional houses and weaving. In the south, beaches around Kuta have surf and quiet bays.
Boats cross from Lombok to the Gili Islands in a short time. Gili Trawangan is the largest and liveliest, Gili Meno is the quietest, and Gili Air is somewhere in between. There are no cars or motorbikes, so people get around by bicycle, on foot or by horse cart.
Snorkelling from the beaches often reveals turtles feeding on the reefs, and dive centres offer trips to nearby sites.
May to September is the dry season and the best time.
On the Gilis, bicycles are the easiest way to reach quieter beaches and viewpoints. Sunset from the west coast of Gili Trawangan or Gili Air is a daily ritual, so find a seat early.
Good to know: Choose one Gili island as a base, and hop between them by public boat. Cash machines on the islands can run out, so bring some cash. Lombok is mostly Muslim, so dress modestly away from the beaches.
Pack reef shoes for rocky entries.
Suggested outline
Manila
Lombok (Senggigi)
Waterfalls on Rinjani's slopes, Sasak villages and beaches in the south.
Gili Islands
Three small car-free islands, with turtles on the reefs and slow island life.
"Gili Islands, Brigantine, Bali Sea, Indonesia.jpg" by Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Day by day
- Day 1 · Lombok (Senggigi) — Arrive; the west coast· Manila → Lombok, Senggigi (by air)
- Day 2 · Lombok (Senggigi) — Waterfalls at Senaru
- Day 3 · Lombok (Senggigi) — Southern beaches near Kuta
- Day 4 · Gili Islands — Boat to Gili Air· Lombok, Senggigi → Gili Islands (by road and boat)
- Day 5 · Gili Islands — Snorkel with turtles
- Day 6 · Gili Islands — Cycle around Gili Trawangan
- Day 7 · Gili Islands — Lazy island day
- Day 8 · Gili Islands — Travel home from Gili Islands· Gili Islands → Praya (by road and boat), then Praya → Manila (by air)
A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.
Flights, leg by leg
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- Manila → Lombok (Senggigi) (MNL → LOP) · Check today's price Search fares MNL → LOP · 3 Dec ↗
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Lombok (Senggigi)
Nearest airport: Praya Search fares · Praya ↗
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