Don’t be fooled by the sight of sun lovers on lounge chairs – there is more to do in Lombok than simply lazing on the island’s plentiful powder-soft beaches!

Year-round sunshine means there is never a bad time to visit and, even in the rainy season when the sun may take a rare day off, adrenaline-fuelled activities abound. Whether it’s rafting, motocross, paragliding or any number of alternative pastimes, Lombok – with its natural beauty and tropical climate – is an ideal place for outdoor fun all year round.

Once considered the country’s best-kept secret, Lombok is now one of the islands earmarked by the Indonesian Government as part of its “10 New Balis” initiative. The result is that, while untouched nature can still be found, so too can a vibrant tourism industry that welcomed more than a million travellers in 2019.

whether you are looking to swim with blue-spotted stingrays or hike an active volcano, Lombok is the place to be. Below we have listed just some of the ways to have fun in paradise.

Surf A Monster
Lombok is often referred to as the ‘Surf Capital of Asia’ and it’s easy to understand why. Whether you’re a beginner looking to tackle your first waves or a professional keen to catch a monster, surfing in Lombok needs to be added to your bucket list. And best of all, you can catch a wave all year round!

Experienced heads should go west during the dry season (April – September) where you will find that powerful winds hit the island. Don’t mind some rain? Then the wet season is perfect for you as warm waters and empty beaches await.
Beginners and intermediate surfers will benefit from the steady, consistent waves that can be found in the south of the island, around Selong Belanak. Not only are these waves easier to predict, but there are also a number of rental shops and instructors on the beach willing to help you get to grips with whatever the sea has to offer.

Yet if you know anything about surfing, you will already be thinking of Desert Point. Regularly named as being home to the best waves in the world, it is located on the southwest tip of Lombok. This legendary spot boasts the longest left-hand barrels in the world so even if taking on such a challenge is a distant dream, you could do a lot worse than settling down and watching others try their luck. Time it right and you might even catch a round of the Asian Surf Championship or a leg of the Rip Curl World Tour.

The island is not only home to all types of surf camps, it also has accommodation options for the full spectrum of surfers. Whether you are on a budget and looking for a cheap hostel or have cash to splash on a luxury resort, you’ll find something that suits your style.

Paraglide in Paradise
Imagine soaring high in the sky, legs dangling below your body, and as you gaze down your eyes take in aquamarine waters, sugar-white beaches, and lush green rice paddies. It is like paragliding over paradise. Lombok offers exactly that experience, regardless of whether you’ve ever taken to the skies before.

For tandem jumps, head to Prabu Hill in Kuta. This popular take-off spot is visited by thousands of adrenaline seekers every year and jumps are offered with trained experts who will control everything, allowing you to simply enjoy the sun in your face and the stunning views below.
The picturesque valley of Are Guling on the south coast is another great jump-off option as it leads to a bay nestled between lush green forests and rolling hills. Torok Bare, Seger, Merese Hill, Mekaki and Surga Beach are some of the other popular paragliding spots around the island.

The best part about paragliding in Lombok is that it’s possible almost all year round. While the occasional rain shower may dampen plans, such is the weather on the island, you won’t have to wait long for the next dry afternoon. Companies are scattered around and waiting to assist you experience the flight of a lifetime. They offer all the equipment, safety briefings, a tandem jumper and, yes, that little push we sometimes all need.

Raft Some Rapids
So it’s wet season and your plans to paraglide have been postponed. The beach is also out of the question until the sun reappears (usually the next day). Well, why not head to Lingsar in north-western Lombok where you can enjoy white-water rafting in the rain? It promises to provide exactly the adrenaline boost you’re seeking.

A relatively new addition to the Lombok list of things to do, the rapids range from Grade II in the dry season to grade IV in the wet. The best time to visit is in November to January when the flow is faster and the surrounding forest lush and green.

While certainly not for the faint of heart during the wet season, each participant is kitted out with a helmet, life-vest and water safety training, and a guide remains with you at all times. Most companies also include a traditional Indonesian lunch too. You will likely see local families going about their day, washing clothes, bathing or farming by the river as you paddle your way through the jungle to the next set of rapids. Dry season has more of a lazy river feel to it and can be a pleasurable way to pass the day. 

Swim with Sharks
Regardless of whether you have your diving licence or not, you’re going to love what you find in the waters surrounding Lombok.

Few places can offer quality diving quite like here. Whether you are submerging off the island’s mainland or the beautiful nearby Gili Islands – Air, Meno and Trawangan – the options and opportunities the region can offer are unrivalled. From untouched coral gardens to staggering drop-offs that attract seasonal hammerheads, Lombok is a diver’s dream.

Regarded as one of the best diving spots in the world, “The Magnet” in Belongas Bay is a glorious if somewhat daunting 66-metre deep dive spot popular among residents and return visitors. Offering unique flora and fauna and stunning corals, it’s also common to come across massive schools of white- and black-tip reef sharks, hammerheads, and eagle rays. The chances of spotting hammerheads are highest in August and September, but even outside these months, you can find big-fin reef squid, tuna, barracuda and much more.

If you don’t have your PADI, then why wait? Learning in Lombok is one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified and there are fully licensed schools across the island. With prices starting as low as US$250, there has likely never been a better time to get to know what lies beneath.

And if scuba diving just isn’t your thing, there is still plenty for you to see. On the Gili Islands, giant turtles are a common sight close to shore, meaning you can wade out with a snorkel and watch as they swim past your feet.

Hike to the Top of the World
Want to feel on top of the world? Courtesy of the second highest mountain in Indonesia, on Lombok you can! The mighty Mount Rinjani, soaring 3,726 meters asl, is an active volcano that last erupted in 2010.

Situated in the north of the island, it’s possible to trek to its peak and camp under the stars. It may seem a daunting experience, but the brave and fit will be rewarded by views from the top that are like something out of another world.

Nature at its finest, crescent-shaped Segara Anak “Child of the Sea” Lake, is around 230m deep and filled with translucent waters that glimmer blue when the sun is out.

The volcano is part of the enchanting Gunung Rinjani National Park, which spans more than 41,330 hectares and is recognised by UNESCO for its rich topography, diversity and natural beauty. Treks in the Park, and to its nearby waterfalls, are available all year round.

Trekking on the volcano is open between April and October and two- or three-day options are available.

One of the highlights of the trek is the opportunity to camp out near the peak and watch the sun rise over the mountain range, lighting up the landscape in hues of fiery yellow, red and orange. Pitch your tent atop the mountain before nightfall and prepare to be mesmerised by thousands of stars in the clear night sky and a magical view when you wake.

Become a MotoGP Rider

Another way to pass a rainy day is to bask in it. For those who don’t mind getting down and dirty, why not sign up for a day riding motocross bikes around southern Lombok?

Any potential dirt-bike experience can be made even better with a little imagination. Next year, the Indonesian MotoGP will be held at the Mandalika Street Circuit, which is currently under construction.

Part of the US$3 billion Mandalika Project, the 4.3km circuit is set to make history by hosting the 70-year-old championship’s first race on a public street. With that in mind, it’s thus possible to drive on parts of the track and pretend to be the next Valentino Rossi or Marc Marquez.

The Project itself will in time become an opulent resort with more than 10,000 rooms at luxury hotels including the Pullman, Paramount, Club Med, Royal Tulip, and Grand Mercure. Much like Monaco and Abu Dhabi, the race circuit will also feature a yacht marina, as well as golf courses and access to the stunning Tanjung Aan beach.

Designed with a promise to focus on sustainability, the Mandalika Project is setting a new benchmark for eco-design on the island and other property developers such as Invest Islands are following suit. The result is that, as Lombok’s tourism sector and real estate market grow, the island’s natural beauty will always remain priority No 1.

Invest in the Local Community
It can be easy to parachute into a place (sometimes literally), enjoy it for a week or two, then disappear again without ever getting a proper understanding of how the island and its people work. You may do all the hiking or biking possible, but it will never reveal to you, for example, how the local Sasak communities really survive.

Fortunately, the Invest Islands Foundation makes it possible to give back to the local community in a range of ways. Whether it is organised tree-planting events, building schools, organic vegetable markets where the money goes to helping the local community, or weekly beach clean-ups, the Foundation is helping Lombok – and its people – stay beautiful.

To learn more about how you can get involved or simply to discover how they turn the island’s plastic waste into wearable clothes, pass by the glass-fronted Invest Islands Foundation office on Jalan Raya Kuta or visit www.invest-islands.com