East Lombok

East Lombok is the region that most visitors never reach, and for those who do, that is precisely the point. The coastline here is rugged and largely undeveloped, a succession of limestone headlands, sheltered bays, and remote islands sitting in water that is, by any measure, some of the clearest and most biodiverse in the archipelago.

 

The snorkelling off East Lombok's coast and islands is consistently described by those who know it as the best shore-based snorkelling on the island, the reefs largely intact, the fish life abundant, and the crowds absent. Pink Beach, also known as Pantai Tangsi, draws visitors with its blush-coloured sand, one of only a handful of truly pink sand beaches in the world. Gili Kondo sits further north in the Alas Strait, an uninhabited island ringed by healthy coral. And floating on the water near Tanjung Luar, seafood warungs serve the catch of the day with Sumbawa as a backdrop. The east rewards patience and a full tank of fuel.