bali or lombok?
Lombok is Bali's neighbour to the east, about the same size and the same flight time from KL, so it comes up whenever someone says Bali is too busy. Bali has the temples, rice terraces and cafés, while Lombok is quieter, with emptier beaches, waterfalls and the Gili Islands just offshore.
bali
Dear group chat,Rice terraces in Ubud, sunsets in Uluwatu.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingBaliID, Bali
lombok
Dear group chat,Bali's calmer neighbour: surf near Kuta, waterfalls and a pink-sand beach.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingLombokID, West Nusa Tenggara
- From KL
- baliAbout 1,960 km
- lombokAbout 2,080 km
- Best months
- baliApr–Oct
- lombokApr–Oct
- Vibe
- baliBusy and polished, with cafés everywhere
- lombokQuieter, with more space and fewer crowds
- Beaches
- baliSurf beaches and clifftop sunsets in the south
- lombokQuiet bays around Kuta and a pink-sand beach
- Food
- baliBabi guling, nasi campur, bebek betutu
- lombokAyam taliwang, plecing kangkung, sate rembiga
- Halal food
- baliAvailable, but pork is common, so plan ahead
- lombokEasy; most people on the island are Muslim
- Getting there
- baliAbout 3 hours' flight to Denpasar
- lombokAbout 3 hours' flight, or a fast boat from Bali
- Getting around
- baliSlow traffic; base yourself in two areas
- lombokLong distances; hire a car with a driver
Go bali if…
- you want temples, rice terraces and the Kecak dance at Uluwatu
- cafés, shopping and plenty of choice matter
- it's your first trip to Indonesia
- a sunrise trek up Mount Batur sounds good
Go lombok if…
- you want quieter beaches and fewer crowds
- having halal food everywhere matters to the group
- waterfalls and the Gili Islands sound better than cafés
- someone wants to learn to surf without the Bali crowds
The verdict
Bali has more to do and more places to eat and stay; Lombok is for groups who want the beaches with fewer people on them and don't mind longer drives. Both are best in the April to October dry season. Can't decide? With a week, fly into Bali and take the fast boat across for a few nights in Lombok or the Gilis.