Mandalika & Selong Belanak guide: hills, bays and the waves of south Lombok
Sunset from Merese Hill, the twin bays of Tanjung Aan, beginner waves at Selong Belanak and the Sasak village of Sade.
Lombok’s south coast is a chain of green savanna hills ending in white-sand bays and swimming-pool-blue water. Kuta Mandalika is its hub — cafés, restaurants and an international racing circuit — while to the west Selong Belanak and Mawun still feel like secret beaches.
What to do
- Sunset from Merese Hill — grassy hilltops above Tanjung Aan with bays in every direction — Lombok’s most famous sunset.
- Tanjung Aan Beach — two neighbouring bays, one fine sand, one coarse ‘pepper-grain’ sand.
- Surf Selong Belanak or Gerupuk — Selong for beginners; at Gerupuk, boats ferry surfers to breaks inside the bay.
- The Mandalika Circuit — the seaside track that hosts MotoGP and WorldSBK — check the race calendar when planning.
- Sade traditional village — thatched Sasak houses and hand-woven ikat.
- Bau Nyale festival — the yearly sea-worm gathering at Seger Beach, usually around February–March.
What to eat
- Ayam taliwang — free-range chicken grilled in Lombok’s chilli spice — hot and savoury.
- Plecing kangkung — water spinach with tomato-shrimp sambal, the essential side to taliwang.
- Nasi balap puyung — rice with spicy shredded chicken and fried peanuts, a Central Lombok breakfast.
- Seafood in Kuta Lombok — lobster and fresh fish from the Gerupuk and Awang fishermen.
Arts & culture
- Sade & Ende villages — thatched Sasak houses whose clay floors are traditionally polished with buffalo dung to keep them hard and cool.
- Sasak songket weaving — Sasak women learn to weave as girls; the motifs and colours tell which village the weaver comes from.
- The legend of Princess Mandalika — the princess who threw herself into the sea and became the nyale worms, celebrated every year at the Bau Nyale festival.
- Peresean — traditional duels with rattan sticks and hide shields, performed at festivals and ceremonies.
Best time & tips
The dry season (May–October) is best: golden hills, clear water and consistent surf. Beaches are spread out over hilly roads, so a private driver or rental car is the practical choice. Watch the beach flags — some bays have strong currents.
Getting there
Kuta Mandalika is only about 30 minutes from Lombok International Airport (LOP), Selong Belanak about 40. Short flights and fast boats connect Lombok with Bali.
