DISCOVER LOMBOK / REGIONS
East Lombok
Pink sand beaches, world class snorkelling, remote island, dramatic limestone headlands and the freshest seafood on the island. Lombok's least visited coast rewards every kilometer of the drive.
Pink Beach
SIGNATURE DRAW
Gili Kondo
REMOTE ISLAND
1.5 to 2 hrs
FROM KUTA
Apr - Oct
BEST TIME
OVERVIEW
Lombok's Undiscovered East
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.
WHY COME HERE
What Makes East Lombok Special
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Pink Beach
One of only a handful of genuinely pink sand beaches in the world. The blush colour comes from crushed coral mixed with white sand, and it is most vivid in the soft light of morning and late afternoon. The water is calm, clear, and excellent for snorkelling directly from shore.
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The Best Snorkeling on Lombok
The east coast reefs see a fraction of the pressure of the Gilis. Shore snorkelling at Pink Beach, off the rocks at Tanjung Ringgit, and around Gili Kondo and the surrounding East Gilis delivers some of the most intact coral and abundant marine life in Lombok. Turtles are common.
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Gili Kondo and the East
Gilis
An uninhabited island in the Alas Strait with white sand, clear water, and a reef that the snorkelling operators who know it call the quietest and most colourful on Lombok. Gili Bidara, Gili Petagan, and Gili Kapal cluster nearby for island hopping.
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Gili Pasir, the Disappearing Sandbank
A tidal sandbank that emerges from the sea for just a few hours around low tide, a narrow strip of white sand surrounded by turquoise water with no land in sight. One of the most photogenic and most unusual natural phenomena on the island.
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Floating Seafood Warungs
The east coast fishing communities around Tanjung Luar operate floating warungs on the water where the day's catch is grilled and served with rice and sambal. Lobster, tuna, snapper, and prawns at local prices with Sumbawa visible across the strait.
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Raw, Uncrowded, Unhurried
The east coast has no resort strip, no surf schools, and no crowds. The roads are long and sometimes rough, the infrastructure basic, and the rewards genuine. For travellers who have done the south and west coasts, this is where Lombok still surprises.
DESTINATIONS
Five Places Worth the Drive
East Lombok's highlights are spread along a coastline that takes commitment to explore. Each stop is worth it.
01
Pink Beach (Pantai Tangsi)
SOUTHEAST COAST · JEROWARU · 2.5 HRS FROM MATARAM
Pink Beach is genuinely pink, and the colour is genuinely surprising when you first see it. The blush tones come from crushed fragments of red coral mixed with the white sand, a result of the specific marine ecosystem offshore. The beach sits in a sheltered bay, the water calm and clear, with healthy reef accessible without a boat from the northern end of the bay. Sea turtles are regular visitors. The colour is most vivid at high tide in the early morning or late afternoon when the light is soft. There are basic warungs at the back of the beach and simple facilities, but no development to speak of. The nearby headland of Tanjung Ringgit is visible from the beach and easily combined on the same day.
02
Gili Kondo
NORTH EAST LOMBOK · ALAS STRAIT · BOAT FROM PADAK GUAR OR TANJUNG LUAR
Gili Kondo is an uninhabited island in the Alas Strait between Lombok and Sumbawa, fringed by white sand and surrounded by one of the most intact and colourful reefs in the region. The snorkelling here is exceptional by any standard, with clownfish, starfish, turtles, and a diversity of hard and soft coral that the more visited Gili Islands to the north can no longer match. The island is reached by boat from Padak Guar harbour, around 15 to 20 minutes by local outrigger. It sees very few visitors by Lombok standards, which is a significant part of its appeal. Combine it with nearby Gili Bidara, Gili Petagan, and Gili Kapal for a full day of island hopping on the east coast.
03
Gili Pasir (Pulau Pasir)
NEAR TANJUNG LUAR · TIDAL SANDBANK · BOAT FROM TANJUNG LUAR
Gili Pasir is a sandbank that rises from the sea for just four to five hours around low tide in the dry season, a narrow ribbon of white sand surrounded entirely by turquoise water with no land visible in any direction. Getting there involves a 20-minute boat crossing from Tanjung Luar harbour, and the timing of your arrival matters: the sandbank appears and disappears with the tide. Bring a waterproof camera. The surrounding water is shallow enough to stand in for a considerable distance, and the setting for photographs, particularly from above with a drone, is extraordinary. One of the most Instagrammed natural features in Lombok for good reason.
04
Tanjung Ringgit
SOUTHEAST PENINSULA · NEAR PINK BEACH · 2.5 HRS FROM MATARAM
Tanjung Ringgit is a wild limestone headland at the southeastern tip of Lombok, facing the Indian Ocean to the south and Sumbawa across the Alas Strait to the east. The coastline here is dramatic: high cliffs dropping to clear water, small hidden beaches accessible only by boat, and a convoluted shoreline that rewards exploration by scooter and on foot. The headland also carries genuine historical weight: during World War II, Japanese soldiers used the caves in the limestone cliffs as a defensive outpost, and a cannon and bunker remains are still visible on the headland. A Dutch colonial-era lighthouse adds another layer of history. The views from the cliff top, with Rinjani rising inland and Sumbawa across the water, are among the finest on the island.
05
Ekas Bay
SOUTHEAST COAST · SURF AND DIVE HUB · 2 HRS FROM KUTA
Ekas sits on the southeastern peninsula and is covered in more detail on the South Lombok page as part of the island's surf circuit, but it earns a mention here as the east coast's most established hub for surf camps and dive operators. The right-hand reef break at Ekas is one of Lombok's finest and draws experienced surfers seeking a less crowded alternative to the south coast breaks. Several well-regarded surf camps operate directly on the bay, making it a natural base for exploring both the east coast and the far south. The bay itself is beautiful, sheltered, and largely undisturbed.
EAST COAST FOOD CULTURE
Floating Warungs and Fresh Seafood
TANJUNG LUAR AND SURROUNDING FISHING VILLAGES · EAST COAST
The east coast of Lombok is fishing country, and the quality and freshness of the seafood here reflects it. The fishing communities around Tanjung Luar and the surrounding villages bring their catch in daily, and what doesn't go to market often ends up on the grill at one of the floating warungs moored in the bay. These are exactly what they sound like: simple bamboo and timber structures built on pontoons, moored offshore, reached by a short paddle or wade, serving grilled fish, lobster, tuna, snapper, and prawns with rice, sambal, and cold drinks.
The experience of eating grilled lobster over the water at local prices, with Sumbawa visible across the strait and the fishing boats returning in the afternoon, is one of those east coast moments that visitors consistently describe as a highlight of their entire Lombok trip. There are no menus, no reservations, and no English translations. Point at what looks good and let the cook do the rest.
The morning fish market at Tanjung Luar is also worth an early visit for those interested in seeing the scale of the east coast fishing industry up close, though be aware it is a working industrial market rather than a tourist attraction and the scenes can be confronting.
MARINE LIFE · SHORE AND BOAT SNORKELLING
The Best Snorkelling on Lombok
PINK BEACH, GILI KONDO, TANJUNG RINGGIT, EAST GILIS
The east coast reefs are widely regarded among snorkellers and dive operators as the healthiest and most intact on Lombok, precisely because they see so few visitors. Shore snorkelling at Pink Beach is accessible without a guide or equipment hire if you bring your own mask and fins, with good coral starting close to the northern headland of the bay. The waters around Gili Kondo and the surrounding East Gili islands are consistently described as exceptional, with multicoloured hard and soft coral, abundant fish life, and regular turtle sightings.
The rocky points around Tanjung Ringgit also reward snorkellers willing to enter from the rocks rather than a beach. All snorkelling is best in the dry season, April through October, when visibility is highest and conditions calmest. Bring your own equipment from Kuta or Senggigi; reliable rental gear is not consistently available on the east coast.
EXPERIENCES
What to Do on the East Coast
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Sunrise at Pink Beach
The colour of the sand is most vivid in the early morning light. Arrive before 8am, swim in calm water with almost no one else there, and watch the colour shift as the sun climbs. The best version of the east coast's signature destination.
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Snorkel the East Gilis
Book a day boat from Tanjung Luar or Padak Guar to hop between Gili Kondo, Gili Bidara, Gili Petagan, and Gili Kapal. Four islands, one day, virtually no other tourists, and reef that rivals anything in Lombok.
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Stand on Gili Pasir at Low Tide
Check the tide tables, book a boat from Tanjung Luar, and time your arrival for when the sandbank is fully emerged. Bring a drone if you have one. The aerial view of the white sand strip surrounded by turquoise water is extraordinary.
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Eat at a Floating Warung
Find one of the floating seafood warungs near Tanjung Luar in the early evening, point at the freshest fish or lobster, and eat it grilled over the water as the sun goes down over the hills of Lombok behind you.
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Explore Tanjung Ringgit by Scooter
The road onto the Tanjung Ringgit peninsula is rough and rewards slow exploration. Stop at the cliff tops, find the WWII cannon and bunker caves, look for the lighthouse, and pick your way down to any accessible beach below.
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Surf Ekas Bay
The right-hand reef break at Ekas is one of Lombok's finest for experienced surfers and far less crowded than the south coast. Several surf camps on the bay offer guiding, board hire, and accommodation in one package.
GETTING THERE
How to Reach East Lombok
East Lombok is a commitment. The distances are real and the roads in the far southeast require a good vehicle and patience. The reward is a coast that most visitors never reach.
FROM MATARAM
The main city of Mataram sits on the west coast. Pink Beach and Tanjung Ringgit are around 2.5 hours by car via the southern route through Praya and Jerowaru. Allow 3 hours with stops.
FROM KUTA LOMBOK
South Lombok's surf hub is the most convenient base for day trips to Pink Beach. The drive east through Jerowaru takes around 1.5 to 2 hours. Ekas Bay is around 1 hour from Kuta on the same road.
FROM SENGGIGI
The west coast to the far east is a long drive, 3 to 3.5 hours minimum to Pink Beach. Better done as part of a multi-day loop combining south and east Lombok rather than a day trip from Senggigi alone.
GETTING ARAOUND
A car with driver is the most practical option for east Lombok, particularly for Tanjung Ringgit where the final road is rough. Confident scooter riders can manage most of the route. Boats to the East Gilis depart from Padak Guar and Tanjung Luar harbours.
ONWARD TO SUMBAWA
Kayangan Port, also known as Labuhan Lombok, in Pringgabaya sits at the northern end of the east coast and runs a public car ferry to Poto Tano on Sumbawa, the standard overland route toward Flores and Labuan Bajo. Ferries run around the clock and depart roughly hourly, though in practice on a "when it's full, we go" basis rather than a fixed timetable. The crossing takes about 1.5 to 2 hours and tickets are bought at the port, no advance booking. This gets you to Sumbawa only, reaching Labuan Bajo itself requires a further ferry from Sape, on Sumbawa's eastern tip.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
Tips Before You Go
01
Start early and plan for a full day. The distances in East Lombok are deceptive on a map. Pink Beach alone is 2.5 hours from Mataram. If you want to combine it with Tanjung Ringgit, Gili Pasir, and a floating warung dinner, you need to leave before 7am and stay overnight or accept a very long day.
02
Check tide times for Gili Pasir. The sandbank only appears for a few hours around low tide in the dry season. Check a tide table before booking your boat, and aim to arrive when the sandbank is fully exposed for the best photographs.
03
Bring all your snorkelling equipment from Kuta or Senggigi. Rental gear exists on the east coast but availability and quality are inconsistent. A mask and fins from a dive shop in Kuta will make the difference between a good snorkel and a great one.
04
The road to Tanjung Ringgit is rough. The final section of the road onto the peninsula is unpaved and potholed. Scooters can manage it with care but a 4WD or sturdy hire car is the comfortable option. Do not attempt it on a small automatic scooter after rain.
05
Pink Beach is most vivid at high tide. The pink colour is most visible when the water is deeper and the tide is in. At low tide, the sand can look pale and washed out. Time your visit for a few hours either side of high tide for the best colour.
06
Ekas is the best base for exploring the southeast. If you want to spend more than a day in this part of Lombok, one of the Ekas surf camps offers the most comfortable and well-positioned accommodation. From Ekas you can day trip to Pink Beach, Tanjung Ringgit, and Gili Pasir without the punishing drive from the west coast.
KEEP EXPLORING
More from Lombok's Coast and Interior
Continue around the island or head back to the coast.
PART OF DISCOVER LOMBOK, A PREMIUM TRAVEL GUIDE TO LOMBOK, INDONESIA