Lombok - Indonesia tips

[SnagIt]

Hi everyone,

I was trying to search for similar threads but couldn't find any.

I'd like to ask a few questions about travelling to Lombok:

1) What is the best route to travel from Singapore (Book air tix or tour package...etc)

2) Is hiking Rinjani a must go?

3) Is it safe to travel in 2 (with my gf) ?

4) Safety measures ?

Thank you

 

[pupuce]

Hey there,

I just came back from Lombok last night. I was there with some friends for a 3days/2 nights Mount Rinjani Hike and also some beach chill out.
I really like the island. It is like Bali 10-15 years ago before it became too commercialised. Lombok is just starting so it is really quite laidback still. It is definitely safe and there will be no problem travelling with only your gf.


You can get the silkair direct flight (if booked early, the price is reasonable) which flies 2 or 3 times a week to East Lombok .
I flew to Mataram (domestic airport) via jakarta as Silkair was too expensive during the long weekend.

as for Mount Rinjani hike.. it is absolutely gorgeous when you get to the summit but it is difficult. Please ensure you are quite fit even if only attempting only to the rim of the crater. To get to the summit, you better be super fit or full of determination. You can leave your stuff at the agency and hike only with essentials but even with my pack of 5kg(including my DSLR) it just gets heavier and heavier with every step i take towards the steep slopes. On hindsight, i would have ditch the DSLR as going up the summit is hard enough with only clothes and you want to be as light as possible.
Please pack warm clothes too as it is cold up there
I used Rinjani trekking Club (an agency to arrange the hike and porters - thumbs up for this company)
There are other less stressful hike you can do to get a overall view of Mount Rinjani.

Standard safety measures apply.

This is taken at about 2600meters above sea level where we camp for the night before waking at 230am to hike the balance 1100meteres to the summit

 

[sinned79]

This is taken at about 2600meters above sea level where we camp for the night before waking at 230am to hike the balance 1100meteres to the summit

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[kusircidomo]

Hi everyone,

I was trying to search for similar threads but couldn't find any.

I'd like to ask a few questions about travelling to Lombok:

1) What is the best route to travel from Singapore (Book air tix or tour package...etc)

2) Is hiking Rinjani a must go?

3) Is it safe to travel in 2 (with my gf) ?

4) Safety measures ?

Thank you

Hello,
I was born and grew up in the island.
Maybe I can assist you with general condition of the island ( I cant really suggest which travel agent/guide etc to use in the island, I left the island 1995 although now still have chance few times a year visit my parents there )

1. The best route in terms of money is Singapore-Denpasar-Mataram by Air Asia and Merpati has several flights a day between the two, Garuda only have one flight in the evening. Denpasar-Mataram each way cost around IDR 375,000/pax = S$50 approx.

2. Depends on how good is your physical condition. If not too good I would suggest you to visit Gilis ( Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, Trawangan is the most populated and tourist center with hotels and guest houses ) You can do snorkling and diving.
This is one of the views from Gili Trawangan ( exclude the lady in the photo of course ) http://www.flickr.com/photos/kusir_cidomo/5351150867/in/set-72157626158566367/
Also visit Kuta or local says Kute, yes there is Kuta in Lombok not the one in Bali.

You can view my Lombok set here http://www.flickr.com/photos/kusir_cidomo/sets/72157607784518983/

3. Yes it is safe, no worries. You will see a lot of tourist walking or motorbiking in the island.

4. Nothing much standard precaution for valuable items like passport,wallet etc make sure you keep it safe. And just watch out when you cross the street, many motorbike + cidomo ( local traditional transportation ) there and bring mosquito repellent, sunblock, sun glasses.

Best time to visit May to September when it's dry as you will see a lot of blue sky and clear sea water.

hope that's help.

 

[SnagIt]

Hey there,

I just came back from Lombok last night. I was there with some friends for a 3days/2 nights Mount Rinjani Hike and also some beach chill out.
I really like the island. It is like Bali 10-15 years ago before it became too commercialised. Lombok is just starting so it is really quite laidback still. It is definitely safe and there will be no problem travelling with only your gf.


You can get the silkair direct flight (if booked early, the price is reasonable) which flies 2 or 3 times a week to East Lombok .
I flew to Mataram (domestic airport) via jakarta as Silkair was too expensive during the long weekend.

as for Mount Rinjani hike.. it is absolutely gorgeous when you get to the summit but it is difficult. Please ensure you are quite fit even if only attempting only to the rim of the crater. To get to the summit, you better be super fit or full of determination. You can leave your stuff at the agency and hike only with essentials but even with my pack of 5kg(including my DSLR) it just gets heavier and heavier with every step i take towards the steep slopes. On hindsight, i would have ditch the DSLR as going up the summit is hard enough with only clothes and you want to be as light as possible.
Please pack warm clothes too as it is cold up there
I used Rinjani trekking Club (an agency to arrange the hike and porters - thumbs up for this company)
There are other less stressful hike you can do to get a overall view of Mount Rinjani.

Standard safety measures apply.

This is taken at about 2600meters above sea level where we camp for the night before waking at 230am to hike the balance 1100meteres to the summit

Hi and thanks pupuce, it's really a beautiful picture you have. I didn't know that you could do so much with 3D2N. I was impressed when I saw photos of the Rinjani but I was concerned about security and physical challenge of the hiking. Looks like I have to give this hiking amiss

 

[SnagIt]

Hello,
I was born and grew up in the island.
Maybe I can assist you with general condition of the island ( I cant really suggest which travel agent/guide etc to use in the island, I left the island 1995 although now still have chance few times a year visit my parents there )

1. The best route in terms of money is Singapore-Denpasar-Mataram by Air Asia and Merpati has several flights a day between the two, Garuda only have one flight in the evening. Denpasar-Mataram each way cost around IDR 375,000/pax = S$50 approx.

2. Depends on how good is your physical condition. If not too good I would suggest you to visit Gilis ( Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air, Trawangan is the most populated and tourist center with hotels and guest houses ) You can do snorkling and diving.
This is one of the views from Gili Trawangan ( exclude the lady in the photo of course ) http://www.flickr.com/photos/kusir_cidomo/5351150867/in/set-72157626158566367/
Also visit Kuta or local says Kute, yes there is Kuta in Lombok not the one in Bali.

You can view my Lombok set here http://www.flickr.com/photos/kusir_cidomo/sets/72157607784518983/

3. Yes it is safe, no worries. You will see a lot of tourist walking or motorbiking in the island.

4. Nothing much standard precaution for valuable items like passport,wallet etc make sure you keep it safe. And just watch out when you cross the street, many motorbike + cidomo ( local traditional transportation ) there and bring mosquito repellent, sunblock, sun glasses.

Best time to visit May to September when it's dry as you will see a lot of blue sky and clear sea water.

hope that's help.

Hey, that was kind of you to give this valuable info. The photos also very nice too. Give me of what to expect there.

Thanks a lot!

 

[asterixsg]

Hi, I don't mean to self advertise or self promote, but I wrote a journal on what to expect during the Rinjani summit hike. You can read it all here...

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/743055-Asterix-survives-Gunung-Rinjani?p=6388730

sorry, I don't have any other info about Lombok as I didn't stay long enough. But whatever little I saw of Lombok made me believe that I would certainly go back for more. It's definitely not as commercialized as Bali. And the people I met were incredibly nice. I can hear Rinjani calling me

 

[SnagIt]

Hi, I don't mean to self advertise or self promote, but I wrote a journal on what to expect during the Rinjani summit hike. You can read it all here...

http://www.clubsnap.com/forums/threads/743055-Asterix-survives-Gunung-Rinjani?p=6388730

sorry, I don't have any other info about Lombok as I didn't stay long enough. But whatever little I saw of Lombok made me believe that I would certainly go back for more. It's definitely not as commercialized as Bali. And the people I met were incredibly nice. I can hear Rinjani calling me

Hi asterixsg, you are more than welcome to share. The photos are incredible. Make me want to go even more . However, I'm considering Bromo instead. What do you think?

 

[asterixsg]

Hi asterixsg, you are more than welcome to share. The photos are incredible. Make me want to go even more . However, I'm considering Bromo instead. What do you think?

Oh no. You cannot compare Rinjani and Bromo.

Rinjani is raw, untamed, pure adventure and the hike will test your physical and mental limits. Its certainly not a walk in the park. During the hike, you will not have any shower facilities, and will have to sleep in tents. This might not suit everyone...

The landscape around Bromo is incredible, but its heavily commercialized. Where you build a staircase to go up a volcano, what else can you expect ? Penanjakan - the place that everyone goes to watch the sunrise, is packed with tourists. When I went to Penanjakan, there were around 500odd people or even more packed like sardines and chattering like hail on a tin roof, how can you even expect to have a few moments of solitude ? I decided to walk away and my guide took me to another location downhill... The accommodation in Probolinggo is expensive (by my standards) and my overall experience wasn't that good.

BTW, Bromo is still active (at least in late March when I spoke to a friend there...). So, even though you might not go up the stairs and look into the crater, you might be able to get to see it from a distance. Do check that out before you plan your trip...

The best place to stay in Probolinggo is Lava View Lodge. You get unobstructed views of Bromo and the sea of sand...

 

[zurisnap]

Here's an album of mine from Lombok so you can see some of what it's like: http://nologo.photoshelter.com/gallery/Lombok/G0000Fmyma5.PF0U/

I dont know about the hiking, but it's a safe and beautiful island (take usual travel precautions), and especially accessible via the north and northwest coastlines.

You can fly there direct with Silkair, but for more flexibility (and probably less price) you can also fly via Bali.

 

[sinned79]

i am going lombok this sept too! Flying by silkair.