7-Day Lombok Itinerary by Car: The Full Island Loop

A week turns Lombok into a very different island

Three days in Lombok gets you the south coast and the famous drive north. Seven days gets you Sembalun, the east coast, and the parts of the island where you stop seeing rental cars altogether. That is the real argument for a week: not more beaches, but a genuinely different Lombok.

This loop assumes arrival at Lombok International Airport in Praya, and a car for the full seven days.

Day 1: Arrive, Praya to Kuta Lombok

Short first day. The airport sits about half an hour from Kuta Lombok on good road. Settle in, walk the town, eat well. Save the driving for tomorrow, especially if you landed in the afternoon.

Day 2: The south coast beaches

Tanjung Aan in the morning, with the hill climb at the eastern end for the view. Then east toward Gerupuk if you surf, or stay around Kuta if you do not. In the afternoon, run west to Mawun. The access road is steep and narrow but paved. This day is deliberately light on distance so you are rested before the longer legs.

Day 3: West along the coast, then north to Senggigi

Selong Belanak in the morning, then the inland route north toward Mataram. It is slower than the map suggests. Push through to Senggigi and stay two nights. On arrival, walk the beach and let the driving stop for the day.

Day 4: The coast road and Bangsal

The Senggigi to Bangsal road is one of the great drives in Indonesia: cliffs, bays, and the Malimbu and Nipah viewpoints. Take it slowly, both because it is narrow and because you will keep stopping.

If the Gili Islands are on your list, this is the day. Park at the harbour and take a boat across. The Gilis allow no motorised vehicles at all, so the car waits at Bangsal until you return. Come back the same evening or spend the night on the island and collect the car the next morning.

Day 5: Senaru, waterfalls, and up to Sembalun

Head north past Bangsal and turn inland to Senaru. Sendang Gile is a short walk; Tiu Kelep is further and involves river crossings. In the afternoon, take the mountain road east toward Sembalun. This is the most demanding driving of the week: tight switchbacks, sustained climbs, cool air, and patchy phone signal. Do it in daylight. Stay in Sembalun.

Day 6: Sembalun to the east coast

Sembalun sits in a highland valley below Rinjani and is worth a slow morning before you descend. Then drop east and south toward the coast around Labuhan Lombok. This side of the island sees a fraction of the visitors of the west, and the driving is quiet and straightforward. Continue south along the east coast as far as your appetite allows, then cut back inland toward Praya or Kuta for the night.

Day 7: Slow morning, return the car

Keep the last day short. If your flight is in the afternoon, use the morning for one more beach near Kuta and drive the half hour to Praya with time to spare. Do the return inspection with the agency present rather than leaving the keys and walking away.

Vehicle and practical notes

• Ground clearance is the single most useful specification for this loop, because of the Senaru and Sembalun legs and the rougher south-coast access roads.
• Fill up in the larger towns. Fuel stations thin out considerably in the north and the highlands.
• Drive in daylight on the mountain and coast roads. They are unlit, sometimes unfenced, and livestock on the road at dusk is normal.
• Wet season changes the calculus. Hill roads get slick and river crossings on foot get harder.

Renting for a week

A seven-day rental usually prices better per day than a three-day one, and is worth asking about explicitly. Every real listing on Arrentio shows the deposit amount, the agency verification status, and the full vehicle details up front, so you can match the car to the route before you commit. Lombok still leans toward cash deposits, though if you would rather avoid one, ask and we will try to match you with a no-deposit-friendly agency.

Browse Lombok listings now. Booking is opening in Lombok soon.