Discover the region of Sekotong in this travel guide featuring the top things to do in one of Lombok’s most underrated regions.
Sekotong, located on the southwestern coast of Lombok Island in Indonesia is a hidden gem with amazing beaches, beautiful small islands (including the Secret Gilis), and rich marine life, making it a must-visit destination for those seeking tranquility and natural beauty.
Although only a short hop from popular Senggigi and Kuta Lombok, Sekotong is relatively untouched by tourism. As a result, those who make the trip will be rewarded with an authentic Lombok travel experience! I’ve spent several weeks exploring this peninsula and wrote this helpful travel guide to help you visit this amazing destination.
Where is Sekotong?
Sekotong Barak is located in the southwest corner of Lombok Island, Indonesia. It makes up a large section of the southwest region and has some unique coastlines and epic islands to explore.
Distances to Sekotong from popular places in Lombok:
- Mataram City Center: Approximately 50 km, with a travel time of around 1.5 hours by car.
- Lombok International Airport: Roughly 60 km, about a 1 hour and 30 minutes drive.
- Senggigi Beaches: About 70 km, a journey of approximately 2 hours by car.
- Kuta Lombok: About 80 km, with an estimated travel time of 2 hours.
This region occupies a significant portion of Lombok's southwestern coastline, stretching from the scenic bays near Lembar in the north down to the remote and less explored areas on the southern coast.
How to Get to Sekotong?
Since solid tourism infrastructure isn't established in Sekotong yet, you'll need to organize the transport yourself. There are several options for getting to Sekotong including.
- Taxi or Grab/Gojek: We paid approximately $17 USD from Senggigi for a Blue Bird Taxi which we split. This is probably going to be the cheapest and easiest solution to get to Sekotong but you can also contact a reputable tour company to arrange your transport.
- On a tour: Most people visit Sekotong to see the Secret Gili islands and camp on Gili Kedis. I've done this twice now on different trips to Lombok and it's a good way to cut out transport costs since the fees are included.
Things to Do in Sekotong Lombok
Below is a helpful list of activities and attractions worth checking out in Sekotong. For first-time visitors who love adventure, I recommend everyone check out the Secret Gilis and the awesome hike to Orong Bukal!
1. Secret Gilis Snorkeling Trip
Arguably the most popular thing to do in Sekotong is to visit the epic Sekotong Secret Gili Islands.
This island is famous for its healthy coral reef and huge schools of fish. While you won't find clubs and bars here like in Gili Trawangan, you'll instead get to explore a quiet tropical island surrounded by epic coral reef and marine life.
This island is only a short 20-minute hop from the small boat harbor near Lembar in Sekotong. To get here, you can try to barter a boat price at the ferry terminal. Typically, these boats take between 6-10 people and can stop at some of the other Sekotong islands on the way.
The Gili Nanggu boat price will vary depending on the boat and where you book it. However, will generally range between 250,000 to 300,000 Rupiah per person. However, if you want to go snorkeling, I recommend booking a snorkeling trip that visits all the best islands in the Sekotong region in a single day.
Book: Secret Gilis Snorkeling
2. Sekotong Secret Gili Camping Trip
One of my absolute favorite adventures in Sekotong was an epic overnight island hopping and camping trip to Gili Kedis. I loved it so much that I decided to partner with my friend Dayat (who was the first to make this trip) to start running them weekly with him.
This trip includes a full day of snorkeling around the secret Gilis before finishing with a fun night of camping on Gili Kedis Island, complete with an island BBQ, a campfire, and music.
Contact Our Local Team on WhatsApp to book: +62 815-2923-1971
We run these group trips weekly on Sundays but can also arrange private camping trips throughout the week. Transport and dinner is included! Contact our local team today to find out more.
Contact: Island Camping Trip
3. Explore the Epic Sekotong Beaches
Not only does Sekotong have 12 "Secret Gili" islands to explore, but you'll also find some of the best beaches in Lombok in this southwestern region!
The best way to explore the beaches and coastline is to rent your own motorbike. However, this can be a little harder to organize than in places like Kuta Lombok. One of the only places I found that was willing to rent a motorbike was located next to Krisna Bungalows.
The price ranges between 100,000 to 150,000 IDR per day.
Once you've got your two wheels, I'd suggest heading west on the northern coast to Elak Elak Beach. This is an epic, white sand beach with a small island that you can walk out to on low tide!
Another one of my favorite beaches in the area is Mekaki Beach. To get here, you'll need to ride over the mountains through the Central Sekotong interior until you reach the southern coastline. Visiting Mekaki Beach is easily one of the best things to do in Sekotong and arguably one of Lombok's best-kept secrets!
It's an epic beach for both surfing and just chilling out. The best part is, we had the entire stretch of beach all to ourselves.
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4. Explore the New Mountain Roads By Motorbike
On the way back from Mekaki Beach, you'll find a newly constructed road that winds its way along the hilly southern coastline of Sekotong. In my opinion, riding a motorbike through this mountain road is easily one of the best things to do in Sekotong and in all of Lombok!
The road is in incredible condition, which means you'll be excused if you divert your eyes to enjoy the coastal views. There are plenty of opportunities to park your bikes and grab some panoramic shots from the mountains.
My advice is to take the road east after leaving Pantai Mekaki and following it all the way around before diverting North back to Lembar.
Tip: If you're up for an epic motorbike adventure in Lombok, make sure to check out the Lombok Loop!
5. Go Scuba Diving
Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to go Scuba Diving in Sekotong. However, Sekotong is known as one of the best diving locations in Lombok, especially if you're into macro life!
There are a few dive centers in Sekotong, and since the location is a little far from the main tourist beats, you'll get a great diving deal here!
Most of the dive shops are located near Pelangan, but if you book online most shops should offer free transport from Lembar or accommodation closer to the harbor.
6. Orong Bukal Hike & Cliff Jumping
The southern coast of Sekotong is one of the most underrated regions on the island. With crystal clear waters and jungle-covered limestone cliffs, this region is more reminiscent of Nusa Penida than the rest of Lombok.
One of the best ways to explore this region is to hike to Orong Bukal, an epic cliff-jumping spot! . The highlight here is a 10-meter cliff jump at the end of a hot, tiring hike. However, the views are absolutely worth it!
7. Pilling Beach
If you make the trip out to Orong Bukal, you can also visit Pilling Beach, an amazing pebble beach away from any crowds! The journey to reach Pilling Beach involves a challenging hike with steep descents through lush jungles.
I recommend paying for a local guide who you'll find at the trailhead to ensure you don't get lost!
Once you arrive, you'll find a beautiful, untouched beach with an amazing backdrop of lush jungle and limestone islands, one of the best beaches in Lombok!
Tip: Read my guide to Orong Bukal above to find out how to hike to both on one trip!
8. Desert Point
Desert Point, also known as Bangko Bangko, is renowned globally for offering some of the most spectacular and challenging waves for surfing in Indonesia. This spot, located on the southwestern tip of Lombok, is a magnet for surfers seeking the thrill of riding its long, hollow, and perfectly formed barrels.
The wave at Desert Point is considered one of the best left-hand barrels in the world, attracting surfers from all corners of the globe. The best time to surf here is during the dry season, from May to October, when the winds and swell are just right for surfing.
Getting to Desert Point can be quite an adventure, as it's relatively remote and access involves a lengthy drive from Mataram or Kuta Lombok through scenic yet rugged terrain. While I'm not a huge surfer, we did make the trip out here on a motorbike to find it. The road is very damaged and difficult on a motorbike but worth it if the swell is big!
Where to Stay in Sekotong
Offering secluded beachfront views and private luxury pet-friendly villa-styled accommodation. Located in an area perfect for diving and fishing.
2. Cocotinos Sekotong Lombok Top-Pick
The property overlooks the incredible secret Gilli islands, has a large outdoor beachfront pool, wellness center, and has its very own digital nomad video editing room. A great choice for those wanting a quiet location.
3. Krisna Bungalows and Restaurant
located in Pelangan, not too far from Sekotong Harbor. Each double room is equipped with a fan and bathroom and is conveniently located in a quiet area. You’ll also get a free breakfast.
More Lombok Travel & Adventure Guides
There we have it. That wraps up my list of the best things to do in Sekotong! If you have any recommendations or updates for this blog post, let me know in the comments below. I reply to every single one and it helps keep these blogs up to date!
For now, check out more inspiration for Lombok below.
- 4-Day Boat Trip to Komodo From Lombok - read about my favorite boat trip in Indonesia.
- Things to do on Lombok - My massive travel guide with 50+ epic things to do & see.
- 7-Day Lombok Itinerary - Visit the best of Lombok + epic hidden gems in my recommended travel route.
- Lombok Waterfall Guide - Discover all the best waterfalls in Lombok
- Best Beaches in Lombok - my favorite beaches across the island broken up by area
- Things to do on Gili Trawangan - Learn how to plan an epic trip to Gili T
- Accommodation: Find out where to stay in Lombok and read my guide to where to stay on the Gili Islands.
