Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: LOMBOK
BY PLANE
Bandara Internasional Lombok (BIL)
Lombok's new international airport ( 0370 615
7000,
lombok-airport.com
) is 40km southeast of Mataram, near Praya. There are direct
international flights from Singapore on Silk Air and Tiger Air, Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia
and Malaysian Airlines, Perth on Air Asia and Jetstar Airways, and domestic flights to half a
dozen Indonesian airports, including a dozen daily flights to Bali, a 30min hop on either IAT,
Garuda, Lion Air, Merpati, Sky Aviation, TransNusa, Trigana or Wings. The departure tax for
domestic flights is Rp45,000; for international flights it's Rp200,000. When booking flights,
use the IATA code LOP instead of Mataram's old airport code AMI. Along the roads, the
airport is signposted as Bandara Internasional Lombok or BIL. There's a currency exchange
office (daily 9am-11pm), an ATM centre with five machines, a tourist office desk and hotel
and tour desks.
Destinations
Denpasar (Bali; 10 daily; 30min); Jakarta (Java; 8 daily; 2hr); Kuala Lumpur
(4 weekly; 3hr); Labuan Bajo (Flores; 2 daily; 3hr); Perth (11 weekly; 3hr 30min); Singapore
(1 daily; 2hr 30min); Surabaya (Java; 9 daily; 1hr).
Taxis
The taxi counters all charge approximately the same rates for the most popular des-
tinations: Mataram Rp75,000; Senggigi Rp200,000; Bangsal Rp250,000; Lembar Rp75,000;
Kuta Rp100,000.
Buses
Every 60-90min, DAMRI public buses run from the airport via Mataram (stopping at
the Mandalika bus terminal, Rp20,000) to central Senggigi (Rp30,000); the DAMRI inform-
ation desk at the exit sells tickets.
BY BOAT
Depending on where you want to go on Lombok, and how well you can cope with the rough
seas, flying from Bali is often a much more comfortable option, at approximately the same
price.
By ferry
An hourly slow ferry operates 24hr between Padang Bai and Lembar, taking
4hr. Tickets are Rp40,000/person; motorbikes Rp112,000 (including two people); cars from
Rp733,000 (including passengers). Perama (
peramatour.com
)
runs a cheap and hassle-free
daily car ferry-and-bus combo from Senggigi to various destinations on Bali using this con-
nection (6-8hr; Rp100,000). The ferry from Poto Tano on Sumbawa takes 1hr 30min to reach
Labuhan Lombok in
east Lombok
and operates round the clock.
By fast boat
Fast boats run from Benoa, Sanur and Padang Bai on Bali, and from Nusa
Lembongan, to the Gili Islands, Bangsal, Teluk Nara/Teluk Kodek (both near Bangsal) and
Senggigi. Tickets for most fast boats to Lombok include road transfers from major Bali re-
sorts; the average price is Rp660,000 and the sea crossing takes 1-2hr; the calmest condi-
tions are usually in the morning. It's a good idea to check the safety record of unknown
