5 Days Itinerary in Lombok - Make The Most of Your Lombok Holiday

Alhowor - The beautiful island of Lombok can be accessed via air (20 minutes flight from Bali, 90 mins flight from Jakarta) or by sea (2 hours by speedboat from Bali). As the airport and the harbor are located at different parts of the island, we have came up with 2 different itineraries that will best utilize your time while you’re here.

Lombok Itinerary, arriving by air.

Day 1: Kuta beaches & Horse Riding

Arrive to Kuta in South Lombok, also known as a popular area for surfing and kite surfing. However, if you are not into these sports, Kuta has a lot to be discovered. We recommend that you get on a horse and explore the beautiful surroundings that make Kuta a must visit in Lombok.

With your horse, you may pass by traditional villages or discover some hidden beaches, or even both!

Book here for Horse Riding

Horse Riding in Kuta Lombok

Day 2: Land Rover Tour to Pink beach & Inhabited islands.

On your next day we highly recommend you to go on a Land Rover tour, travelling to some hidden beaches. Your guide will show you the secret Pink Beach and hidden islands to dosnorkeling. Enjoy incredible views and make sure to bring your camera!

Book here for the Pink Beach Land Rover Tour 

Pink Beach Land Rover Tour

Day 3 to 5: Trekk the Mountain Rinjani or enjoy 2 days Land Rover expedition to the sources of Mount Rinjani.

After you’ve enjoyed the beaches, now it’s time for some trekking at the Mount Rinjani. Make sure that you are in good physical conditions for this trek. You will experience camping on the volcano, swimming in a lake in the middle of the crater and enjoy one of the most majestic sunrise from where you can admire Sumbawa on the East side and Bali on the West side.

Alternatively, if you are not planning to trek but still want to enjoy the beauty of Mount Rinjani, the Land Rover expedition will bring you as close as the source of the mountain. Additionally, you will also get to visit some impressive waterfalls, meet the black monkeys and spend a night  in a local village. For those who are more adventurous, a tent can be set up on the roof of your Land Rover where you can spend a quiet night in the wild. FYI, the Land Rover is also equipped with its own whisky bar!

Book here for Rinjani Trekking 

Rinjani Trekking

Lombok Itinerary, arriving by boat.

Day 1: Stay in Senggigi area & Sasak Tour

Senggigi is a convenient place for visitors; you may find an array of hotels from budget to high-end, and the more you go towards the North of Senggigi, the nicer the hotels are. Jeevaklui & Puri Mas are among the fancy ones, including spa treatments and romantic settings.

Discover the Sasak Cultural Tour, Sasak being the culture of Lombok people. You will see the tradition of weaving and pottery villages on your way, also passing by some incredible beaches.

Book here for Sasak Cultural Tour 

Sasak Cultural Tour Lombok

Day 2:  Visit traditional villages & experience river tubing with a Land Rover Tour or enjoy a full day yacht cruise around the Gili islands.

During your second day, we recommend that you get the Nature Safari Tour in the Land Rover. You will be discovering some of Lombok’s hidden waterfalls and enjoy river tubing as well. The tour is also culturally enriching as you will visit the locals in their villages and be entertain to a performance of traditional music by the villagers.

If you are in the mood to be at the seaside instead, we have another option for you; that is to take the day off and chill on a yacht that will bring you around the 3 Gili islands. Be the captain of the ship for a day and make a stop to snorkel wherever you like, or simply stay on the boat and sip some cocktails while watching the sun sets into the beautiful sea.

Book here for the Full Day Cruise 

Full day yacht cruise around the Gili islands.

Day 3: Depart to Kuta area & South Lombok Beaches

Treat yourself to a good time just by chilling at one of Kuta’s breathtaking beaches, try the local food or enjoy  a relaxing massage. A sunny day spent in Kuta’s beach is a day to chill indeed.

If you want and know how to surf, we suggest you to head to Gerupuk, otherwise you can easily negotiate a surf class around the area.

See here for more things to do in Kuta Lombok. 

Things to Do in Kuta Lombok

Day 4 & 5 - Diving in Sekotong area or Surf & Fishing in Ekas Bay

Being located in Kuta is like being in the middle of a paradise for beach lovers :

Driving 2 hours West or East will bring you to the most remote and beautiful beaches of Lombok.

Sekotong area on the West side is well known for its diving and snorkeling in pristine transparent water. A bit further, you’ll see the famous desert point for surf addicts.

While Ekas Bay, on the East side facing Sumbawa gatherers fishermen villages where you can enjoy surfing, adventurous photography & quietness.

Book here for activities in Sekotog Bay 

Diving in Sekotong Lombok

If you need any further advice about this magical island, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Wishing you a great trip in Lombok and a lot of fun!

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Things To Do In jakarta In Two Days

Alhowor - Jakarta, the busy and vibrant capital of Indonesia, and also a popular city for stopover for many of you travelling or living in Asia. For this reason, we did a complete guide of , whether it be for cultural and historical visits, or also where to go to get an insight on Jakarta’s lifestyle.

Day 1: Cultural and Historical tour of the City

• Glodok, Chinatown of Jakarta

Glodok (Chinatown) is the biggest Chinatown of Indonesia. We recommend you to check out this place for some delicious Chinese food.

A good time to visit would be around Chinese New Year, beginning of February. This is a good way to have an insight on their culture and you’ll be taking part in their colourful and extravagant celebrations as well.

ChinatownThings to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Liong.

• Kota Tua/Old Batavia

Kota Tua was once the business and central government area during the Dutch colonial era. It is easy to see why this place is nicknamed “Tropical Amsterdam” with its array of preserved Dutch colonial buildings.

There are a few things to look out for as you cycle or walk through this historical city. One of the most unique attractions in Old Batavia is their Jembatan Kota Intan (the Diamond City Bridge), a beautiful wooden bridge built to link the canal.

You should visit Old Batavia’s most famous attractions, which is the Café Batavia. The antique decoration will bring you back 60 years into the past, with a lot of Dutch influence.

Old Batavia is also home to a number of museums. We strongly recommend that you visit theMuseum of Bank Indonesia. Apart from its breathtakingly beautiful architecture, the museum has high tech videos and medias that are informative and interactive. It is also free of charge, but do note that they are closed on Mondays.

Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Kota Tua/Old Batavia. Courtesy of Prayitnophotography.

• Gedung Kesenian Jakarta (Jakarta Arts Theater)
  

The beautifully renovated Jakarta Arts Theater is home to not only local arts, but historical significance as well. Sir Stamford Raffles first built the Jakarta Arts Theatre in 1814 to provide entertainment for the British soldiers residing in Java during that period.

Do check out the updated events on their page and treat yourself to a day of cultural performance: Gedung Kesenian Jakarta

• Istiqlal Mosque

The Istiqlal Mosque is Indonesia’s national mosque, also the largest mosque in South East Asia. The word “istiqlal” means independence in Arabic, and was built to commemorate Indonesia’s struggle for independence.

Have a tour inside the spectacular mosque and be blown away by its size and architecture. There will be ‘free’ English speaking guides, but do take note that you have to tip them at the end of your tour, for about Rp. 30,000-50,000.

Day 2 – Explore the heritage part of Jakarta

• Taman Mini Indonesia Indah

Located in East Jakarta, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah is the perfect place for an introduction into Indonesia’s extensive culture. Here you will find the diverse architectures, traditional clothes and dances of the various cultures in Indonesia, from Aceh to Sulawesi.

You may join a 4-hour tour with an English-speaking guide as this place is huge! Book it with eOasia

• Ancol Dream Park

Ancol Dream Park is an all-in-one leisure park. Here you may visit the Seaworld, or spend and adrenaline-filled afternoon in their amusement park. Alternatively, you may also try thewakeboard, which is one of the most sophisticated cable parks in South East Asia.

Wakeboard in Ancol Dream Park. Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days.

What to eat in Jakarta – Best Traditional food

This vibrant city is home to thousands of restaurants. We have picked the three different options for you to immerse yourself into the Indonesian culture.

• Bofet Maknyus

This restaurant has a carefully selected menu of delicious dish from all around Indonesia. If you want to have the best dishes from different parts of Indonesia all in one place, this is where you should go.

• Lara Djonggrang

If you are looking for a romantic place with a good fusion of Indonesian food, head down Lara Djonggrang. Located inside a colonial house filled with Indonesian tribal designs, Lara Djonggrang is a popular place for a culturally rich gastronomical experience. Do remember to make a reservation!

Lara Djonggrang Restarant. Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Tugu Hotel.

• Skye Bar – Dine with a View

Located in the city centre and on top of the 56th floor of BCA tower, Skye Bar offers a clear aerial view of the vibrant Jakarta. Do place a reservation for dinner, and take note of the strict dress code of the restaurant.

Skye Bar. Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Skye Bar – Ismaya Group.

What to do during your free time in Jakarta?

• Shopping

If you want to see a different face of Jakarta, do visit their malls and be amazed at their sizes. TheGrand Indonesia is one dazzling mall where you will find everything you need for shopping and places to eat. You will also discover for yourself the local’s consumerism culture, an interesting insights to Jakarta’s modern lifestyle.

Another interesting place for shopping is Mangga Dua, a place where you will find cheap quality imitation goods. Block M is another place you can go to find shoes, clothes and bags.

Do note that Mangga Dua and Block M have no fixed prices for their goods, so make sure to bargain when making a purchase. Also, these places are very crowded on the weekends, so keep an eye on your belongings.

• Coffee Tasting
  

Jakarta is a caffeine haven for those of you who love coffee. Home to many gourmet cafés, you’d be spoilt for choice in tasting some the best coffees of Indonesia.

Read our article 5 Coffee shops you must visit in Jakarta to learn more about it.

Coffee Tasting. Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Tanamera.

• Indonesian Massage

Refresh your body, mind and soul with some traditional Indonesian massages. We handpicked two Spa salons where you will live through your most authentic Javanese massage experience:

Taman Sari Royal Heritage & Martha Tilaar Spa

Nightlife in Jakarta

You should head to the SCBD area to start your visit of Jakarta by night. Lucy in the Sky and Potato Head are two names you should remember, and this is where your night will most likely start.

To quote a few clubs and disco in Jakarta, Empirica, X2, and The Immigrant are places where the party is always on during the weekends.

If you are planning for an even bigger party, do not miss the Warehouse Project in December, one of the most famous electronic music festival in Jakarta.

Things to do in Jakarta in 2 Days. Courtesy of Joe-Joe.

Where to stay in Jakarta & How to get around?

Staying in the central area would be a good choice if you are planning to do the cultural visits.

South Jakarta, especially Kemang area is also a safe place to stay but it will be relatively far from the cultural sites, but closer to all lifestyle activities.

The airport is about 30 mins to 1 hour from both places on a Sunday morning , but for other times, plan 2 to 4 extra hours because of the heavy traffic.

Blue Bird Taxi should be your main way of transportation as they are the safest taxis in town, they do not speak much English though but they do know how to get around.

See Also : Spending Your Day at Parangtritis Beach

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Spending Your Day at Parangtritis Beach

Alhowor - Parangtritis beach is the closest beach from Yogyakarta, the artistic and cultural capital ofIndonesia. One hour away driving, this beach is a perfect spot if you are looking for somewhere to chill around Yogyakarta.

Celebration and traditions of Idul Adha

I have been travelling there last Sunday, being invited by my favourite Indonesian family to take part in the celebration of Idul Adha, one of the most important Muslim celebration, such as Christmas for the Catholics.

When I arrived early morning, people were gathering in the village, skinning a cow they’ve sacrificed as part of the ritual. I arrived just after the life of the cow was taken. This event happens only once a year and Muslim people do not mind investing a lot of money in buying a cow that will be sacrificed. Rich families are able to spend crazy fortunes, it can reach the amount of a Ferrari to get the healthiest cow for their family and guests.

The celebration is a moment of gathering where men take care of skinning the cow, and cutting the pieces of meat that were then divided into 7 families per cow. This was an interesting experience but after discussing a bit with the local people I preferred to wait home with the kids, as the smell of the dead cow was very strong.

Parangritis Beach – Yogyakarta. Idul Adha ritual.

Beef satay, very tasty!

Mas Memet and his family prepared some beef satay for lunch and we ate together with some rice, vegetables and a very spicy sauce, made of 28 chillies!

The beef is first marinated in a garlic sauce before being prepared on the barbecue, we then sat on a carpet in the garden and enjoyed a delicious lunch together.

Parangritis Beach – Yogyakarta. Beef Satay.

Stunning landscape

My host lives on a hill which offers an outstanding view of Parangtritis beach, in a really quiet place. Furthermore, it becomes quickly crowded on weekends with the locals arriving fromYogyakarta, wanting to spend their Sunday at the beach.

Parangtritis is also a famous place for the mysterious myth of the Queen of the South The Queen of the South loves the green colour and has for habits to take away with her people wearing green. As it would attract the Queen who is not friendly to visitors, Javanese people respect the tradition by not wearing green color when they visit this place.

Every year some people are drowning in the sea – as the current is strong, locals believe in the sacred powers of the Queen.

Once a year the sultan of Yogyakarta proceed to a ceremonial, locals making offerings to the Queen and ask for her guidance.

Parangritis beach – Yogyakarta.

One of the only sand dune in South East Asia

For my part, I felt very welcomed and went to visit the sand dunes of Gumuk Pasir, which are among the only sand dunes in South East Asia. This is very surprising to discover this desertic landscape in such a tropical area. The sand was actually brought by volcanic eruptions and carried away by the river which created sand dunes. Unfortunately, I did not have a sand board with me but I used a skimboard that I found on the beach which worked pretty well! :)

Parangritis beach – Yogyakarta. Sand dunes of Gumuk Pasir

Sunset on the beach and surfing

Seeing the waves without a real potential to being surfed I did not expect to find any surfers there, but at my great surprise I found some people renting surfboards on the beach. Being far from all the surfing spots that offers Indonesia, I was happy to catch some choppy waves. Lastly, we enjoyed a nice sunset with the local people.

Another activity you can enjoy on the beach is to rent an ATV and drive along the coastline, local people love it!

Parangritis beach – Yogyakarta. Renting Surfboards.

Sop Kikir, to finish the day.

Back home, Mas Memet’s family insisted to invite me to drink a soup made of the cow’s feet (Sop Kikir), I was not extremely enthusiast about it, but this was difficult to refuse coming from such a nice family.

Well, the taste is not that bad. The soup is mixed with many spices so you don’t really realise what you are drinking, plus this is supposed to be very healthy.

Parangritis beach – Yogyakarta. Sop Kikir.

I recommend visiting Parangtritis beach if you are passing by Yogyakarta and looking for a break at the beach. This is a quiet spot where locals are very friendly with foreigners since they are not used to meet many.

Parangritis beach – Yogyakarta.

Getting there.

Parangtritis beach is located 30km away from Yogyakarta city. For a fun ride you may go by scooter following Jalan Parangtritis (south of Yogyakarta), until you reach the beach, around 40 minutes later. You can also rent a car for the day if you are looking for a more comfortable trip. This is an easy place to find, as road signs indicate the way to go.

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