23 Amazing things to do in Bali & Lombok

The mere mention of Bali evokes thoughts of a paradise. It’s more than a place; it’s a mood, an aspiration, a tropical state of mind. And Lombok is only a 20-minute hop from Bali, but it couldn't be more different from its wildly overdeveloped sister island.

Bali & Lombok travel guide

If you're planning to visit these magical Indonesian jewels check out Lonely Planet's top things do before you go.

Let the adventure begin!

1. Rave through the night in the manic clubs and legendary nightlife scene of Kuta

2. Ignore your resolve while shopping in the myriad boutiques and designer outlets of Seminyak

3. Find a perfectly retro-chic place to stay the night in the back lanes of Bingin

4. Surf Bali’s ultimate breaks at the internationally revered swell

5. Feel the rhythm of a traditional Balinese cultural event, one of Ubud’s great night-time pag-eants

6. While away the hours among new friends at a breezy Ubud cafe with excellent locally roasted coffee

7. Refine your batik technique and sambal recipes by taking instruction from one of Ubud’s talented locals

8. Sense Bali’s violent past and proud traditions of sacrifice at Semarapura’s historical site of Kertha Gosa

9. Trek the picture-perfect valley of Sideman

10. Chill with new friends at the mellow cafes and laid-back beaches of Padangbai

11. Claim your own waterfall while trekking around the mountain idyll of Munduk

12. Hear the chant of priests at Pura Luhur Batukau, one of Bali’s holiest temples

13. Take a guided hike above and around the natural beauty and ancient temples of the an-cient volcanic lake of Danau Tamblingan

14. Plunge into the depths at Pulau Menjangan, Bali’s best dive spot, or enjoy the show while snorkelling; all before discovering Bali’s oldest temple on the namesake island

15. Explore underwater marvels while staying at the idyllic beach town of Pemuteran

16. Lose track of time, but not of your budget, at the laid-back, beachside town of Lovina

17. Find your own tranquil corner at Pura Taman Ayun, one of Bali’s most evocative tem-ples

18. Revel in the cool beach vibe and pounding surf visuals at Balian Beach, where surfer hang-outs and stylish digs rub shoulders

19. Take the ride of your life on the temperamental break at Desert Point, Bangko-Bangko

20. Tackle Lombok’s incomparable sacred peak (and Indonesia’s second-highest volcano) of Gunung Rinjani, which lures trekkers with a challenging climb and surreal rewards

21. Set eyes on Pantai Mawan for the first time and gasp. And then gasp again as you contem-plate that there are a dozen more beaches in south Lombok just like it

22. Celebrate at Gili T’s legendary raves and parties, which happen several nights a week at venues like Tir na Nog

23. Swim with all manner of fish at Trawangan Wall, a popular dive spot near Gili T

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