The Best Photography Spots of Lombok & Sumbawa – Ultimate Road Trip
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- By: Peter Orsel
Most travellers who make it to Lombok stick to the Gili Islands and Kuta. A handful explore further. Almost nobody crosses to Sumbawa.
This Lombok photography guide covers the full road trip as I’ve done by motorbike: From the ferry out of Bali all the way to one of the most densely populated islands on earth, with a stunning stop on a deserted sandbar in between.
If you’re willing to ride over 1.000 kilometers, these are some of the most rewarding photography locations I’ve found in Indonesia.
In This Post
How to get to Lombok from Bali
There are multiple ways to travel to Lombok. You can either take a plane, the fast boat or the ferry. The cheapest and most adventurous one would be taking the ferry. And that’s what I did! Still figuring out the Bali side of the trip? My Bali Travel Guide covers that part.
The ferry is also the best and only way to bring a scooter to Lombok. You drive to Padang Bai, you bring your bike on board and you find a seat. The crossing takes around four to five hours and costs roughly 180.000 IDR for a rider and scooter combined.
Take the early ferry at 6:30AM or 9AM for nice and calm morning waters. Make sure you arrive around 1 hour before. Later crossings can be rougher, especially from December to February due to rain or July/August due to strong wind. You can check schedules and book tickets via ferizy.com, however it’s easier to book the tickets at one of the ticket desks closer to the harbour. They’ll ask for your bike papers and your passport, and within 5 minutes you’re good to go.
If you’re renting a motorbike in Bali, confirm first with the rental company whether you can bring your bike to neighbouring islands or not. If you own a bike, it’s certainly not a problem. When you decide to fly in or take the fast boat, you can rent a bike as soon as you arrive in Lombok. Also make sure you get approval to bring your bike to Sumbawa, if you’re planning to do so.
My trip took a total of 14 days, and I recommend at least 12 days to do a similar journey.
- Day 1: Arrive in Lembar
- Day 1-4: 3 nights in Senggigi
- Day 5-7: 1 or 2 nights in Sembalun
- Day 7: Day trip to Gili Kondo / Gili Kapal
- Day 7-10: 4 days in Sumbawa (Kenawa Island, Pulau Bungin, Labuan Jambu & Moyo Island)
- Day 10-14: 4 days in Kuta Lombok
Senggigi: A semi abandoned paradise
Senggigi doesn’t get the attention it once did, but for photography it still delivers. The town itself feels a bit abandoned, which actually works in your favour as a photographer. The beaches are quiet, the roads are unhurried and the light in the late afternoon is warm.
What I noticed most during sunset is that the beach fills up with locals. Families, couples, kids playing in the water. Sometimes it felt like there were no other tourists around at all, which gave the whole place a completely different atmosphere compared to what you’d expect. The coastline is lined with palm trees and hilly roads, and when the sun drops behind Mount Agung on Bali across the water, the sky turns into something you won’t forget quickly.
Here are some spots around Senggigi that stood out to me.
Villa Hantu
Villa Hantu is an abandoned villa on a cliff, directly located on the main road. Someone once started building what could have been the best house on Lombok, but it has never been finished. The foundation is still there and offers amazing views for sunset. It’s one of those spots that is more interesting because it was never completed. The raw structure against the sky makes for a more compelling image than any finished villa ever could.
While visiting Villa Hantu, I connected with some local boys who brought their mini chairs, their snacks and some music. Ending their day in a way many people could only dream of.
Best time: 45 minutes before sunset
Gear: Drone + Camera with wide angle lens.
Photography tip: Take some photos of the construction with the view in mind as well. See an example below. The boys I connected with, became the ideal subject for a photo like this.
Pantai Klui
Pantai Klui is one of those beaches that seem to only exist in movies. A forest of palm trees, all gently placed away from each other, with the ocean behind them. I really liked playing with the contrast here and took some of my favourite black and white shots of the entire trip. You can drive all the way down to the beach, and especially the sunset is one you won’t easily forget.
The palm trees create natural frames that work from almost any angle, so take your time and walk the beach before committing to a composition.
Best time: 45 minutes before sunset
Gear: Drone + Camera with wide angle lens
Malibu Beach 2
I have no idea why this beach is called Malibu Beach 2, or whether there’s a number 1 somewhere. What I do know is that I absolutely loved flying my drone from here. There’s a hotel that looks a bit abandoned and out of place, and exactly that made it so interesting to photograph.
The combination of the quiet beach, the turquoise water and that slightly forgotten-looking building in the background creates a scene that feels unique. In the morning you don’t see the sun rising above the sea from this side, but more from the mountain side. A drone can capture this amazingly.
Best time: I loved the sunrise, even though you don’t see the sun rising above the sea. I’m sure the sunset will be equally amazing as at Pantai Klui, but I couldn’t make it for sunset here this time.
Gear: Morning: stick to your drone. For sunset: any gear will work well here.
Where to stay in Senggigi?
There’s a variety of options in Senggigi. With fancy villas and small guest houses, there’s something for any budget. Two places stood out to me.
Living Asia Resort – A beautiful beachfront resort, close to Klui beach and not too far from the other spots as well. The infinity pool has a great ocean view and the restaurant offers very decent food.
The Chandi Boutique Resort & Spa – A fabulous beachfront property with very decent service. The gardens are absolutely stunning and the prices are still affordable for a boutique resort.
Senaru: Paradise for waterfall lovers
From Senggigi it takes approximately 2.5 hours by bike or car to arrive in Senaru. It’s a perfect stop on your way to Sembalun. I recommend starting your journey early to be in Senaru before 10AM. The roads are very quiet, the air is noticeably cooler than the coast, and the whole area moves at a slower pace.
Tiu Kelep Waterfall
There are two waterfalls on this trail. The first one is beautiful, but not very photogenic. Keep walking.
The most beautiful waterfall in Lombok is called Tiu Kelep. The hike is fairly easy but you cannot get there without getting your feet wet. Locals will offer their guide services, but unless you want a personal photographer following you around, you can do it without one. The trail is straightforward.
The scale of Tiu Kelep catches you off guard when you finally round the corner. The water hits with enough force to soak you from ten metres away. Get there early, because once the day tours arrive the pool in front of the falls fills up quickly and the calm you came for disappears with it.
Best time: Arrive before 10AM to beat the crowds
Gear: I loved flying my drone! Just be careful not to get too close to the waterfall, as the water can cause your drone to crash. It can get windy because of the water falling down, so make sure you know how to operate your drone well.
You certainly need a wide angle lens as well. The photo above was taken on my Sony GM 16-35 f/2.8.
Photography tip: About 100 metres before you reach the waterfall, you’ll spot a tree trunk lying across the water. This is a well-known spot for photos and the views from it are worth it. That said, the trunk can be slippery and the drop below is not something you want to experience. Only walk out on it if you’re fully aware of the risk and have someone nearby. Don’t let the shot be worth more than your safety.
Sembalun: The gateway to Rinjani
The photos that first made me want to visit Sembalun were the ones shot by Daniel Kordan. Dramatic mountains, vast farming fields, light that seemed almost unreal. I had to go and see it for myself. The town is also the main starting point for Rinjani trekkers and attracts hikers from all over the world, but even if you have no intention of climbing, Sembalun is worth the journey on its own.
The air is cool, the strawberry fields stretch across the valley floor and in every direction you look, mountains. It feels completely removed from the rest of Lombok.
Bukit Selong
The main viewpoint is Bukit Selong and this is where you want to be 10 to 15 minutes before sunrise. There are two parking areas and I recommend the one linked here. From there it takes about 10 minutes on foot to reach the viewpoint. You’ll see the first light hit the mountain peaks before the valley below wakes up, and if you’re lucky there will be morning mist sitting between the fields. That combination of mist, farmland and the wall of Rinjani behind it is the shot.
Best time: At least 10 minutes before sunrise. Most sunsets are cloudy, as you’re in a mountain area
Gear: Bring your full kit for the best shots! Wide angle for the landscape, zoom lenses for creative compression of the mountain layers, and a drone for the aerial perspective over the fields.
Pergasingan Hill
I didn’t do this one myself, but everyone I spoke to who had done it said it was worth every step.
Pergasingan Hill is the mountain you see directly behind the Sembalun valley. The hike takes around two hours and rewards you with a panoramic view over the valley at dawn, with Rinjani rising behind it. The trail is steep but manageable without a guide. Leave around 3AM, bring a headlamp and dress in layers. It gets cold up there faster than you’d expect.
Best time: Leave around 3AM to reach the summit before sunrise. Use the app Maps.me if you don’t want to get lost.
Gear: The full package, just like Bukit Selong. If you’re traveling light, stick to one lens and your drone.
Where to stay in Sembalun?
During my time in Sembalun I stayed at Rautani Lombok. A small and convenient cabin, conveniently located to explore this little town. For 400.000 IDR I had a good night of sleep, delicious breakfast and just ten minutes away from the viewpoint I wanted to visit for sunrise. If the season is there, you get to pick strawberries for free as well. A great bonus.
The other Gili's: Gili Kondo & Gili Kapal
Most people have only heard of the Gilis on the west coast. Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno & Gili Air, they’re on every itinerary. But have you heard of Gili Kondo and Gili Kapal? I spotted them while scrolling through Google Maps and decided to make my way there. I spoke to some friendly people on the beach, made a deal for a boat and headed out.
It costs around 500.000 IDR for a 2-3 hour tour. You can include up to 4 islands, but as I was a bit short in time and not down for a full day trip, I asked if they could just go to two of the islands in this area. I did not really negotiate, and was happy to pay what they asked me to because of the low amount of tourists they receive.
Best time: Most of the times I recommend to arrive somewhere for sunrise or sunset. However, it’s different for Gili Kapal & Gili Kondo. Gili Kapal only shows up during low tide.
Check the tides beforehand or ask the boatmen. They will be happy to assist you in order to arrive there at the right time. I did my trip between 2PM and 4PM and got the conditions that I was looking for.
Gear: The shots I had in mind were all taken by drone. It can be cool to add some wide angle perspectives as well. Great to capture the boatmen, the tropical vibe and a sense of what it really felt like at the islands.
Gili Kondo
The first stop was Gili Kondo, where we waited for the tide to drop before heading to Gili Kapal. Gili Kondo is a relaxed island. Good for a swim, a coconut and a walk along the beach. I flew my drone and enjoyed the fact that there was almost nobody around.
Gili Kapal
After Gili Kondo, we made our way to Gili Kapal. And honestly, this is why I wanted to go here. A sand bank in the middle of the sea. Just me, nothing around, that would make some great photos.
The best way to capture this is by drone. You’ll see just the island, and nothing around. A wonderful view! You can take multiple compositions. Think about a top down, a shot from close by, or very far away. It’s a great location for some videos too, where the drone just keeps flying further away with you in frame.
Where to stay to visit Gili Kondo & Gili Kapal?
I do not recommend staying anywhere near Gili Kondo or Gili Kapal. There’s not a lot to do in this area, and it was even pretty hard to find a lunch spot right before my boat trip. I’d recommend to do this trip either after arrival from Sumbawa, or before you go to Sumbawa. From Kuta Lombok it will take you around 2h15m to get here. From Sembalun it should be around 1h15m.
How to get to Sumbawa from Lombok
The best moment to go to Sumbawa is right after visiting the Gili islands in the North Eastern part of Lombok. The harbour is only 20 minutes away, and it’s supposed to operate every hour.
From Kayangan Harbour in Lombok, take the public ferry to Pototano on Sumbawa’s northwest coast. This takes around 2 hours and will cost you 80.000 IDR for a rider and scooter. Ferries run regularly throughout the day, but you can end up waiting for quite a bit.
If you’re not keen on driving, and in for a different adventure, you can do a multi-day boat trip from Lombok to Labuan Bajo in Flores, the famous Komodo tour. The tour below will stop at all the same spots I did while riding my bike, but by boat.
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Sumbawa: Visiting Kenawa Island
Kenawa Island is a small and popular island just minutes away from Pototano harbour. Popular with locals for camping, but generally without international tourists besides the Komodo tours that pass by at sunset.
I wanted to be on this island before sunrise. That meant finding a boat by 6AM at the latest. I checked with my guesthouse owner whether this would be possible and he said no worries. I trusted him.
At 5:50AM he stood in front of my cabin and walked me to the harbour, not even two minutes away. He pulled someone out of bed on the spot, and before 6AM I was on my way to Kenawa Island in a tiny speedboat. The fisherman proudly mentioned that with this boat you can reach Lombok in just 15 minutes. I paid 350.000 IDR and arrived on the island with exactly ten minutes to spare before sunrise.
The hill in the centre of the island gives you an elevated view in both directions. I decided to stay close to the beach, and walked through the green fields for a bit to connect with some Indonesian boys.
Best time: 20–30 minutes before sunrise
Gear: Drone + wide angle. Most people compose the island in a way that you see the pier in the left bottom corner.
Where to stay to visit Kenawa Island?
Kenawa is a popular for camping. Tents and gear can be rented locally. Bring the food you want to cook yourself! A very popular choice for local tourists, and you won’t see many international tourists.
I stayed in Pototano, minutes away from the harbour. There’s a new accommodation called Kenawa Beach Villages. It’s still being built, but you can already rent one of the cabins for 495.000 IDR per night. Breakfast is not available. There are some local warungs, an Indomaret and an Alfamart. That’s about it.
Pulau Bungin: The most densely populated island in the world
The main road from Sumbawa towards the capital is very good. It’s a popular road for truck drivers, but it never gets too crowded. You’ll cross some small villages, and after about 45 minutes you can take a small detour to visit Pulau Bungin.
Even though I had seen photos of Pulau Bungin before leaving, I almost passed it without stopping. It’s a small detour from the main road and easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. I caught it on my way back, but you could just as easily visit on the way toward Sumbawa Besar.
This island is famous as it’s the world’s most densely populated island. I am not 100% whether it’s an island, but it surely is a unique place. I managed to drive into town (see? I did not take a boat, neither a bridge, yet still managed to arrive on this island) and felt like I was the first tourist they had ever seen. Everyone was smiling and a bit confused, and I was looking to find a place to fly my drone.
I personally always look for a private spot, especially in areas struggling with poverty. Imagine you’re living in a tiny and poor town, and a rich guy walks in. He unpacks his gadgets, takes his shots and heads off again. Not for me.
I found a small cafe and made a chat with the owner. I paid 5.000 for a nice and cold drink, and asked them whether it was ok to fly my drone from the garden. The owner, originally Balinese, was perfectly fine and let me fly drone. I did not get to fly it for long, as a big storm approached. Unfortunately I did not get a top down, which would have made a nice shot too.
While I waited for the storm to pass I drove back into town. The kids I had spotted earlier were playing football and started waving. If you know me, you know I always stop for that. We played for a bit, they loved it and so did I. Being able to speak Indonesian made a real difference in those moments. Real connection was made, and those are always my favourite travel memories.
Best time: Around 4PM, but be careful for the storms that occur frequently
Gear: Drone + 24-70. To get the island shots, you want to fly your drone. Capturing life in town? A 24-70 would be perfect for that. Make sure the people are aware and ok that you take photos of them.
Where to stay to visit Pulau Bungin?
I don’t think it’s a place you’d really stay the night, but if you decide to, the cafe I visited has some rooms. Contact them through WhatsApp and see what they can offer you.
Labuan Jambu: Swim with Whale Sharks
If there’s one thing Sumbawa is becoming known for, it’s the whale sharks. The entire town of Labuan Jambu has built its economy around these encounters and it’s one of the few places in the world where you have a reliable chance of swimming with the largest fish on earth. Read more about my experience of a swim with whale sharks in Sumbawa here.
The whale sharks are found around 1.5 hours by boat from Labuan Jambu, near floating fishing platforms. The animals are attracted naturally by the activity around these platforms, though they are also fed to encourage them to stay in the area. That’s worth knowing before you decide whether this experience is right for you.
Best time: You’ll leave at 4AM to see the whale sharks around sunrise. Expect to be back around 10AM.
Costs: The tour will cost you around 700.000 IDR.
Ethical? The whale sharks are attracted naturally by the fishing platforms. However, the whale shark are being fed to stay close to the platforms, so tourists have a high chance on an encounter.
Gear: To get home with the best shots, it’s important to have waterproof gear. Bring a drone for some aerial shots, and a GoPro (or similar) to get your underwater shots.
The guides will take some GoPro videos as well. However, I highly recommend bringing one yourself, as the guides only shoot in 1920x1080p (HD) and don’t take photos.
The underwater photo above was taken in RAW on a GoPro Hero 13, and would not have been possible without bringing my own gear.
Where to stay to see the whale sharks of Sumbawa?
You can book the tour from Sumbawa Besar (the capital of the island), but it will take you an extra 2 hours to get to the departure spot. That means you won’t leave at 4AM, but at 2AM. What I did was staying at Labuan Jambu. There’s nothing much to do here, so I would only stay for one night. Alffiah Hotel would be your best option. Decent rooms for an affordable price, a couple of minutes away from the starting point.
Driving back to Lombok
After Labuan Jambu I made my way back to Kuta Lombok. I stayed one more night in Pototano before heading back to Lombok. It took me 4 hours to Pototano. The day after I took the ferry + another 2 hours drive to Kuta Lombok. Easily doable within two days, but I would not recommend to do this in one day.
A word of warning about the ferry from Pototano back to Lombok. The official schedule says boats leave every hour, but reality is a different story. I arrived at 7:40AM to catch the 8:00AM ferry. I didn’t board until 10:20AM. What should have been a straightforward two-hour journey with an arrival around 10:00AM turned into a full morning of waiting and an arrival at 1:00PM.
The waiting itself is the frustrating part. You can’t really leave, because you’ll lose your spot. No information is provided, so you just sit there not knowing what’s happening or when things will move. Build this into your planning and don’t schedule anything tight on the day you cross back to Lombok.
Kuta Lombok: Relaxed surfer town
I spent my final days in Kuta Lombok. It’s definitely the most well-known town on the island and in vibe it sits somewhere between Canggu and Uluwatu in Bali. Surf culture, plenty of cafes and a building boom that shows no sign of slowing down.
What stood out to me about the crowd here is how different it is from Bali. You see very few local Indonesian tourists, which is a sharp contrast to Bali where visitors from Jakarta and other islands are everywhere. In Kuta Lombok it’s predominantly international, with a noticeable mix of Spanish, Dutch and French travellers. The Russians that dominate parts of Bali are almost completely absent here. It tells you something about where the destination sits in its development — international visitors have discovered it, but the local domestic tourism market hasn’t caught up yet.
The infrastructure around the Mandalika circuit is genuinely impressive. Since the arrival of the MotoGP races the roads and surrounding area have been developed significantly. The construction is ongoing and at times the dust and sand in the air is something to consider when choosing where to sit for dinner, since most restaurants are open air. But in ten years this place will look very different.
There are a couple of interesting photo spots around Kuta Lombok. I only visited two of them on this trip, as I came to relax as well.
Bukit Merese
The best sunset spot in Kuta Lombok is Bukit Merese, about 15 minutes from town followed by a 10 minute walk up. The view over the bays and coastline below is spectacular as seen above. It can get busy, but I wasn’t really bothered by that. It creates a nice vibe and a great mix of locals and tourists enjoying the sunset.
Best time: Sunset or sunrise. Ending your day here will certainly give you instant gratitude that this is what we call life!
Costs: 10.000 IDR for parking
Gear: Wide angle + Drone
Selong Belanak Beach
About 30 minutes from Kuta Lombok, Selong Belanak is a beach I almost skipped. I saw it on the map and something about it caught my attention. When I looked up the photos on Google and saw the hill sitting beside the beach and the colour of the water, I decided I wanted to be there for sunrise. It doesn’t make it onto many lists, which is exactly why you should go. There’s a small surf crowd heading out on boats, but that’s about it.
Best time: Sunset or sunrise. The sun will set on the ocean side, but sunrise will give you moments as seen above.
Costs: 10.000 IDR for parking
Gear: Especially your drone will give you amazing compositions at this beach.
Where to stay in Kuta Lombok?
There’s no shortage of amazing accommodations in Kuta Lombok. Think about luxurious villas, wonderful resorts or homey guest houses. The only place I can personally recommend:
Loka Fitness Village – I stayed here during my time in Lombok. Proper rooms, delicious breakfast in their cafe in town. They offer fitness packages too, as their cafe has a gym with multiple group lessons happening every day.
Spots I didn't visit, but recommend
Even though I visited many wonderful places, I couldn’t visit everything on such a short trip. Here’s a list of places I recommend for some more of the best photo spots in Lombok and Sumbawa. I’ll update photos of this place at a later time.
Sumbawa: Moyo Island
A largely uninhabited island off the coast of Sumbawa Besar with waterfalls, coral reefs and almost no tourists. Lady Diana famously stayed here. Reach it by boat from Sumbawa Besar and plan at least a full day. Many people come for the waterfall, and I’d love to visit it one day as well.
Lombok: Tetebatu Rice Fields
Located at the foot of the Rinjani, Tetebatu offers rice field views that are quieter and less visited than anything you’d find in Bali. Sunrise is the priority here. Afternoons usually get cloudy, so you’ll have the best chance of good weather in the early mornings.
Lombok: Pantai Mandalika (Kuta)
The beach beside the MotoGP circuit. Long, relatively uncrowded outside of race season and easy to combine with a visit to Bukit Merese.
Lombok: Pantai Tangsi / Pink Beach
One of only a handful of pink sand beaches in the world, located on Lombok’s southeast coast. Go early before the tour boats arrive and the beach fills up.
Most asked questions about Lombok & Sumbawa
When is the best time to visit Lombok and Sumbawa?
April and May are ideal. The rainy season has just ended and the strong winds of July and August haven’t arrived yet. September and October are a solid second option for similar conditions.
How long does the ferry from Bali to Lombok take?
Around four to five hours on the public ferry from Padang Bai to Lembar. Take the 6:30AM or 9:00AM departure for the calmest waters and the best morning light when you arrive.
How long does the ferry from Lombok to Sumbawa take?
Around 2 hours on the public ferry from Kayangan to Pototano. The waters are generally calm, even when the weather gets stormy. Waiting times at the harbour can be long, so keep this in mind.
Can I fly a drone in Lombok and Sumbawa?
It’s generally accepted to fly a drone in Lombok and/or Sumbawa. Don’t get close to the airports, and be careful in stormy weather.
Do I need a guide for Tiu Kelep waterfall?
No. The trail from Senaru is straightforward and well-marked. Locals will offer their services, but you can do it independently without any problem. Just arrive early and bring shoes that can get wet. I wore my Crocs. Best decision ever.
How are the road conditions in Lombok and Sumbawa?
Better than you’d expect, especially on Sumbawa where the roads are surprisingly smooth for a destination this far off the tourist trail. The mountain roads toward Sembalun are narrower and steeper, so take those steady. Overall the road conditions on this route won’t be your biggest challenge.
After all I look back on an amazing road trip through Lombok and Sumbawa. The road conditions are very good, the people were super friendly and I took some of my best photos since a long time. This trip made me realise that Lombok can be even more beautiful than Bali, and I understand why more and more people visit this neighbouring island. If you have any question, drop a message at the bottom of this post!
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About Me
Peter Orsel is a Dutch travel photographer based in Bali, specialized in drone and landscape photography. He has visited over 40 countries and writes detailed, no-nonsense guides based on firsthand experience.