Destination: Indonesia

LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL ITINERARY INFORMATION

Itinerary: Bali - Tropical Pleasures

TWO WEEKS

Surf and swim by day and party by night. Sleep? That will happen some time. Start in timeless Kuta, then sample hidden beaches and great travellers’ scenes south of Bali and off its coast. Then it’s over to Lombok for more day and night action.



Don’t stray far from the airport, as Kuta in all its party glory is ten minutes away. Hit the bars and clubs after midnight and come back to earth on the beach by day. Be sure to get to the trendy restaurants and clubs of Seminyak. Maybe you can learn how to surf, or brush up on your skills. Eventually, head south to sober up and mellow out. Dream Beach inspires snoozes – get some on the white sand here. When you’re ready, get a boat from Sanur to Nusa Lembongan. This little island still has the classic, simple charm of a rural beach town, with a string of hotels – from basic to comfy – lining the sands. It’s a timeless travellers’ scene with a backdrop of excellent surfing and splendid snorkelling and diving.

Return to Bali and press on to the beaches along the southeast coast. Try some of wild beaches around Lebih, where the surf pounds the grey sand. When you get to Padangbai, stop. This fun little port town is ideal to hang around in for a couple of days before you hop a boat to Lombok, docking in Senggigi, the heart of Lombok’s beach scene. The coastline is lovely and gazing back towards Bali you’ll already feel you’ve made a journey – less people visit Lombok than Bali.

Now it’s time to push on to the ultimate reward for your island adventure: the Gili Islands. Depart from Senggigi and compare the scene on Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno and Gili Air – then pick your favourite.