Picturesque Western Lombok and Its Traditional Villages

The furthest from the entrance, but definitely the most magical, Benang Kelambu Waterfall looks like something that belongs in the South American rainforest. With water seemingly appearing from the bushes and tiers of falls in four different places, it was beautiful. Some tracks are paved on the way down, but others not, so when there are steep slopes, it can be slippery, especially in the wet season. There are two medium sized pools at the bottom of the falls that have been made for swimming and relaxing in the pit of the natural source. Can it get much more tropical?

In central Lombok, there is the stunning Benang Stokel Waterfalls, greeting you with five different waterfalls to discover. Here you will find a collection of three separate waterfalls flowing into one very shallow pool. This overgrown area is a beautiful site to see; however, it is very shallow, making it hard to swim. Just nearby is an 11-metre waterfall into a canyon, however, pay attention to the abundant wildlife present here, with green tree snakes and other reptiles happily hiding.

Lombok is an island in West Nusa Tenggara province, Indonesia. It forms part of the chain of the Lesser Sunda Islands, with the Lombok Strait separating it from Bali to the west and the Alas Strait between it and Sumbawa to the east. It is roughly circular, with a "tail" (Sekotong Peninsula) to the southwest, about 70 kilometres (43 miles) across and a total area of about 4,514 square kilometres (1,743 square miles). The provincial capital and largest city on the island is Mataram.

Sasak Sade is one of Lombok’s indigenous villages. One that will immerse you into the unique, colorful and musical culture of the Sasak Village of Lombok. In fact, 700 people are currently residing in the village. The village consists of around 150 households living in thatched houses with walls of cow dung, which is freshly applied to the house every month to repel mosquitoes and keep the house cool. Here you can also visit several homes. Don’t forget to watch the amazing Ikat Weaving and maybe pick up a traditional sarong or two.

Sukarara Village is home to many intricate and beautifully woven cloths, which forms a vital part of Lombok’s identity. On arrival into the town, locals will welcome you warmly, dressed in traditional Sasak clothing. The town specialises in Songket which is an intricately patterned woven fabric created by adding gold or silver thread through it. Woven items are created using cotton fabric, silver thread, nylon and silk. The dyes are made from natural materials like betel vine lead, bark, turmeric or tamarind. Weaving is by hand, and most locals spend their days creating. Anything from dresses, table covers, blankets, scarfs and cloth can be created. Weaving has now formed a crucial part of Sukarara village’s tourism, as many visitors flock to see locals weaving and purchase their creations.

Tanjung Aan Beach is set in Lombok and is made up of two kilometres of coastline. The hills surrounding provide a perfect vantage point to enjoy a view of Tanjung Aan Beach from above. Tanjung Aan Beach is considered to be one of the most picturesque beaches. Set in a cove between the hilly landscapes, home to sparkling white sand and crystal clear water. Lining the beach, you will find local restaurants as well as bamboo loungers to relax on.