travel in lombok...

Get in to
By plane

Lombok's only airport is Mataram's Selaparang Airport (AMI), which occasionally also shows up in flight schedules as "Ampenan" (hence the seemingly odd airport code). There are frequent connections to Denpasar on Bali (20 min) and Surabaya (1 hour) on Garuda, Merpati and Germania Trisakti ("GT Air") but lately Merpati cancelled ocasionally some flights so check upfront. Garuda flies daily to Jakarta. A flight offered from and to Yogyakarta (on Garuda) is currently not being scheduled anymore. Sometime flights to Sumbawa are scheduled. New Airport is being constructed. International flights are limited to Kuala Lumpur daily on Merpati (via Surabaya) and Singapore thrice weekly on Silk Air, with visas available on arrival. Lombok Network maintains a useful, mostly-updated flight schedule listing all flights to the island.

By boat

Slow boats from Padang Bai on Bali leave about every hour( 24 hours )for the four- to five-hour trip to Lembar (Rp 32,000). The slow ferries are a bit rusty and dusty, with minimal restroom facilities, and are used mostly by locals, with few tourists on board. Access to the passenger deck is usually from the vehicle deck via steep and narrow stairs, so maneuvering heavy luggage is a challenge. Would-be porters wait by the docks, and will happily carry your stuff for Rp 10,000 per item. Sometimes they insist on doing so even when you don't ask. They can be a bit intimidating, and sometimes try to overcharge. Lots of Kuta travel agents offer end-to-end transport, including a van ride from your Bali hotel to Padang Bai, the ferry ticket, and a ride from the dock on Lombok to your ultimate destination, for Rp 130,000 and up depending on where you are going in Lombok. If you're going to the Gili Islands, there are many speedboat services directly from Bali; see Gili Islands for details. A few services continue on towards mainland Lombok. Direct fast ferries from Benoa to Lembar have stopped running.

Get around

By bemo
Bemos (converted passenger-carrying minivans) are the main means of long-distance transport on Lombok. They can be hailed down on all larger streets, and will happily take you even short hops around Senggigi. Fares are cheap: for example, as of November 2005 the official fare from Mataram to Senggigi is Rp. 1500/person, but tourists tend to get charged a bit extra and empty bemos will expect you to charter them for a higher price yet. Travel agents can also get you on semi-regular shuttle services, which connect Senggigi, the airport, and the harbors of Lembar (for Bali) and Bangsal (for the Gilis).

By taxi

Metered taxis are a fairly new development on Lombok, but they have become quite common in Mataram and Senggigi. The largest operator is Blue Bird, although there are a few other companies competing for your custom. As of November 2005, flag fall is Rp3,850 and the meter ticks up a few hundred rupiah for every hundred meters past 2 km. Figure on Rp10,000 for hops around town and around Rp30,000 from Senggigi to Mataram.

By car

Renting a car is also an option and there are several places in Senggigi and Mataram to rent from. Expect to pay 150,000 (low end Suzuki mini jeep) to 400,000 (Toyota 4x4). Petrol is not cheap but it is less expensive than in some countries.

By horse cart

Horse-pulled carts known as cidomo are very common on Lombok, and while a bit touristy in Senggigi, they're still a serious method of transportation. Make sure that you bargain the rate before the journey. In the Gilis there are no cars or motorbikes, so cidomo or bicycle is the only way to go.

By boat

Traditional fishing boats known as perahu ply the waters around Lombok, and are instantly recognizable due to their outriggers, two logs attached by bars on both sides like a catamaran, for greater stability in heavy swells. They can also be chartered, either directly from owners (in which case some knowledge of Bahasa will come in handy) or via any travel agent, who will of course take their cut.

By bicycle

Traffic is relatively light throughout the island so travel by bicycle is quite possible, and provides a very different cultural experience to other means of transport. You should bring your own touring bike, as local bikes are of a very basic quality although there is one biking tour operator (Lombok Biking)that has decent bikes and guides.