Top 5 Things to Do in Sekotong Lombok – Adventure Travel Guide
Want to get off the beaten path in Lombok? This guide will explore some of the best things to do in Sekotong Lombok for the adventure traveler. Although just a stone's throw from popular Senggigi and Kuta Lombok, Sekotong is relatively untouched by tourism. As a result, those who make the trip will be rewarded with an authentic Lombok travel experience, from incredible islands to Jurassic coasts! Where is Sekotong? Before we jump straight into the best things to do in Sekotong Lombok, you might be wondering, “Where is Sekotong?” Sekotong Barak is located in the southwest corner of Lombok Island, Indonesia. It makes up a large part of the southwest…
Top 5 Things to Do in Sekotong Lombok – Adventure Travel Guide
Want to get off the beaten path in Lombok? This guide will explore some of the best things to do in Sekotong Lombok for the adventure traveler.
Although just a stone's throw from popular Senggigi and Kuta Lombok, Sekotong is relatively untouched by tourism. As a result, those who make the trip will be rewarded with an authentic Lombok travel experience, from incredible islands to Jurassic coasts!
Where is Sekotong?
Before we jump straight into the best things to do in Sekotong Lombok, you might be wondering, “Where is Sekotong?” Sekotong Barak is located in the southwest corner of Lombok Island, Indonesia. It makes up a large part of the southwest region and has some unique coastlines and epic islands to explore.
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How to get to Sekotong?
Getting to Sekotong is relatively easy whether you are coming from Senggigi, Kuta Lombok, Lombok International Airport or even Bali!
However, since Sekotong does not yet have a solid tourist infrastructure, you will have to organize your own transport. We paid about $17 USD from Senggigi for a Blue Bird taxi which we split. This will probably be the cheapest and easiest solution to get to Sekotong.
Allow approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to drive to Sekotong from Senggigi and Kuta Lombok.
If you are traveling from Lombok Airport, I recommend booking a pre-arranged private transfer here. This saves you from paying ridiculous prices coming out of the gate.
Alternatively, if you are traveling in a group, you can rent a car to explore the entire Lombok island on your own. Click here to compare the best car rental deals in Lombok directly from the airport.
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Top 5 Things to Do in Sekotong Lombok
Ready to go off the beaten path? Let’s dive straight into the best things to do in Sekotong Lombok!
1. Gili Nanggu Sekotong Snorkeling Trip
Arguably the most popular activity in Sekotong Lombok is visiting the epic Sekotong snorkeling island of Gili Nanggu. This island is just a short 20-minute hop from the small boat harbor near Lembar in Sekotong.
To get here, you can try exchanging a boat fare at the ferry terminal. Typically these boats take between 6 and 10 people and may stop at some of the other Sekotong Islands along the way.
Gili Nanggu boat price varies depending on the boat and where you book it. However, generally they range between 200,000 and 300,000 rupiah per person. If you want to book in advance, you can also arrange the boat trip to Gili Nanggu here.
This island is famous for its healthy coral reef and huge schools of fish. While you won't find clubs and bars like in Gili Trawangan here, you can instead explore a tranquil tropical island surrounded by epic coral reefs and marine life.
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2. 3-Island Snorkeling and Camping Trip to Sekotong Islands
One of my absolute favorite adventures in Sekotong and probably all of Lombok was an epic overnight island hopping and camping trip.
I booked this trip with Feel Lombok, a locally owned family tour operator. We started snorkeling at Gili Nanggu, cruised through the Sekotong Islands and finally spent the night on a tiny sandbar island called Gili Kedis.
You can read more about the Sekotong island hopping tour here.
Southwest Gili Islands – Sekotong Camping Video
3. Explore the epic beaches of Sekotong
Not only does Sekotong have 12 large “Secret Gili” islands to explore, this southwestern region is also home to some of Lombok’s best beaches!
The best way to explore the beaches and coast is to rent your own motorbike. However, this can be a little more difficult to organize than in places like Kuta Lombok. One of the only places where I was willing to rent a motorbike was next to Krisna Bungalows. The price was 60,000 rupiah per day.
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Once you have your two wheels, I would suggest heading west on the north coast to Elak Elak Beach. This is an epic white sand beach with a small island that you can walk to at low tide!
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Another one of my favorite beaches in the area is Mekaki Beach. To get here you have to drive over the mountains through the interior of Central Sekotong until you reach the south coast. Visiting Mekaki Beach is easily one of the best things to do in Sekotong and arguably one of Lombok's best kept secrets! It's an epic beach for surfing and just chilling. The best thing is, we had the entire stretch of beach to ourselves.
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READ MORE: 4 BEST BEACHES IN SEKOTONG – SOUTHWEST LOMBOK
While it's certainly possible to rent a bike and explore the beaches in Sekotong, you can also book a cheap, private tour to all of these beaches online.
4. Explore the New Mountain Roads by motorcycle
On the way back from Mekaki Beach you will find a newly built road (2019) that winds along the hilly south coast of Sekotong. In my opinion, motorcycling through this mountain road is one of the best things to do in Sekotong.
The road is in incredible condition, meaning you'll be excused for averting your eyes to enjoy the coastal views. There are many opportunities to park your bikes and take panoramic shots of the mountains.
My advice is to take the road east after leaving Pantai Mekaki and follow it all the way before turning north back to Lembar.
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5. Go diving
Unfortunately I didn't have time to dive in Sekotong. However, Sekotong is known as one of the best diving spots in Lombok, especially if you are interested in macro life!
There are a few dive centers in Sekotong, and since the location is a bit far from the main tourist attractions, you'll get a great deal on diving here!
Most dive shops are located near Pelangan, but if you book online most shops should offer free transportation from Lembar or accommodation closer to the port.
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Overnight in Sekotong
Because this reign is somewhat hidden. To save money on transportation, I would recommend staying a few nights in this largely unexplored part of Lombok, Indonesia to see the best things to do. Here are my top tips for budget accommodation.
MY SEKOTONG ACCOMMODATION: Krisna BungalowsKrisna Bungalows and Restaurant is located in Pelangan, not far from Sekotong Port. Sekotong Beach is just a step away from the room door. Each double room is equipped with a fan and a bathroom and is conveniently located in a quiet area. You also get a free breakfast and there is motorbike rental next door so you can explore the best things to do in Sekotong yourself!
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BUDGET HOMESTAY: Pelangi HomestayPelangi Homestay Bungalow has a sun terrace and a garden, as well as a private beach area. There is Wi-Fi throughout the property and there is a free breakfast included. Pelangi Homestay Bungalow also offers snorkeling trips to the surrounding islands. This is a great place to stay and costs $17 per night.
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SEKOTONG RETREAT: Silver Fern Beach RetreatIf you are looking for a place in Lombok, Indonesia to escape the crowds, meet amazing people and relax by the swimming pool, then this is the place. Breakfast is included and the owners can organize plenty of tours and activities in Lombok.
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Over to you
There we have it. This concludes my list of the best things to do in Sekotong! Unfortunately, there were a few other things I wanted to look at but didn't have time.
If you get a chance to see the world famous surfing beach, Desert Point, be sure to let me know what it's like.
More photos of Sekotong Lombok to inspire your trip
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