Lombok
Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia.
It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east.
Tourism is an important source of income on Lombok.
The immediate surrounds of the township contain the most developed tourism facilities.
The west coast coastal tourism strip is spread along a 30 kilometres (19 miles) strip following the coastal road north from Mataram and the old airport at Ampenan.
The principal tourism area extends to Tanjung in the northwest at the foot of Mount Rinjani and includes the Sire and Medana Peninsulas and the highly popular Gili Islands lying immediately offshore.
These three small islands are most commonly accessed by boat from Bangsal near Pemenang, Teluk Nare a little to the south, or from further south at Senggigi and Mangsit beach.
Many hotels and resorts offer accommodations ranging from budget to luxurious. Recently direct fast boat services have been running from Bali making a direct connection to the Gili islands.
Although rapidly changing in character, the Gili islands still provide both a lay-back backpacker’s retreat and a high-class resort destination.
Other tourist destinations include Mount Rinjani, Gili Bidara, Gili Lawang, Narmada Park and Mayura Park and Kuta (distinctly different from Kuta, Bali).
Sekotong, in southwest Lombok, is popular for its numerous and diverse scuba diving locations.
The Smalltown is rapidly developing since the opening of the International airport in Praya.
Increasing amounts of surfers from around the globe come here seeking out perfect surf and the slow and rustic feel of Lombok.
Large polar lows push up through the Indian Ocean directing long range, high period swell from as far south as Heard Island from late March through to September or later.
This coincided with the dry season and South-East trade winds that blow like clockwork.
Lombok is famous for its diversity of breaks, which includes world-renowned Desert Point at Banko Banko in the southwest of the island.
The northern west coast near Tanjung has many new upmarket hotel and villa developments centered about the Sire and Medana peninsular nearby to the Gili islands and a new boating marina at Medana Bay.
These new developments complement the already existing five-star resorts and a large golf course already established there.
