Lombok’s Kuta offers spectacular scenery, awe-inspiring landscapes and jaw-dropping beaches. This coastal town located in southern Lombok still remains pretty untouched, drawing adventurous types to explore its fabulous beaches and fantastic natural attractions.
Kuta is almost a world away from the namesake town in Bali, featuring with the untouched nature, empty shorelines and the absence of mass tourism. The international resorts have put their eye on this paradisal retreat so in a subsequent year the large transformation can be expected, but now Kuta remains as rustic and alluring as it used to be when first backpackers and surfers have discovered it.
Kuta offers various accommodations to suit all budgets: from the affordable rooms in guest houses to the upscale beachfront villas ensuring the great holiday. There are numerous great restaurants set off the beach and several fashion shops and scooter rentals.
Today, Kuta still remains a sleepy fisherman’s village, and you will notice that the majority of locals lead a simple life unaffected by the fast development. Rent a motorbike to explore further afield, where the splendid stretch of blinding white beaches ringed by forest-clad hills and heights meet the postcard blue waters. This scenery will definitely leave you speechless.
Kuta houses several shops where travellers will find all basic necessities from the toiletries to the tropical clothing and souvenirs. Several street stalls offer the usual range of knick-knacks and mementoes, and you can always negotiate the price for the item, which you liked.
For the more serious shopping head to Mataram city, which is the capital of Lombok. Located approximately 50 minutes drive from Kuta, Mataram provides the abundant shopping opportunities.
The clothes, shoes, accessories and gemstone jewellery stores offer the great variety of quality items to purchase. The craft shops and local markets selling housewares, authentic sarongs and handicrafts are great places to hunt out some traditional souvenir or gift.
You will never get enough of the stunning Kuta beaches seducing with its fantastic aqua blue waters and incredible sandy beaches. Here, you will find the idyllic white-sand bays fringed with swaying palms and towering verdant hills and the unique pink sand shores made of corals.
Kuta beach is ideal for swimming and snorkelling as the water is calm here and the visibility is fantastic. If you are in Lombok for relaxation, and exploring other areas does not appeal you, Kuta beach is a perfect place to simply lay around and soak the sun.
A couple of world-famous surf breaks nearby Kuta attracts both locals and tourists to improve their skills, as waves are very fast and challenging there. Divers are rewarded with several dive spots in and around Kuta offering to admire the spectacular marine life and beautiful coral reefs. Kuta boasts the most photogenic beaches offering the great variety of relaxation options so you can be sure that you will always find your preferred way to unwind while in staying Kuta.
Kuta hosts numerous great restaurants serving the typical range of local dishes along with the European and international cuisines.
As the majority of locals are engaged in fishing, fish and seafood plates are always a great dinner option. It can be cooked to your liking: fried, grilled or steamed with a minimum of spices added keeping the seafood as fresh as it’s possible.
The fine-dining in Kuta is represented by a few excellent venues serving not only the usual range of Indonesian dishes and fresh seafood but also delicious vegetarian meals. Most of the fine-dining are set along the beach providing the unparalleled views over to the Indian Ocean.
The number of bars in Kuta grows fast catering to the young travellers and surfers on holiday. In order to attract the clientele, some bars offer diverse events and entertainment from the campfire on the beach to movie nights.
While walking along the boardwalk, you will find a fair number of drinking establishments inviting to come over and have a few beers, and a friendly chat with locals and other visitors.
Even though the nightlife in Kuta serves a laidback and relaxed atmosphere, the transformation to a kind of bustling Balinese Kuta is inevitable. As for now, Kuta is an excellent retreat with just right number of friendly bars, so whether you are a party-goer or recluse, you can be sure Kuta has something to offer you.
Kuta is situated in the South of Lombok island, and it’s the ideal base to take in all the sights of the southern region and explore the magnificent beaches standing out the area.
Tanjung is the capital of North Lombok and is the closest port to the Gili Islands – ideal for those that want a relaxing base to explore Lombok.
Being the main Lombok seaport, Senggigi welcomes thousands of tourists every year, travelling from Bali and other islands by ferry.
Gili Gede is a tiny island, just four kilometres long, and you can easily explore the island on bicycle.
There are no Ministry Approved villas in Kuta, however, you can find a plethora of affordable guest houses and hotels strung over along the coastline. The wide range of accommodations from the homestays with basic facilities perfect for backpackers to the upscale hotels for more wealthy travellers will meet demands of all visitors.
During the low season, you can simply stroll along the beach inspecting rooms, and opt the one, which you like the most. Although, in high season a booking is recommended.
Numerous fast boat services bring tourists from Bali to Lombok. The voyage takes between 2 to 2.5 hours, and it’s a great getaway from the frantic Bali especially appreciated by surfers from all over the world. Depending on the travel agent, season and the route the ticket price can vary.
Although it is possible to get to Kuta, Lombok over land or water, the best way is to fly.
It can take anywhere between 30 minutes to 45 minutes to reach Kuta from Lombok International Airport (a.k.a. Bandara Udara Internasional Airport) depending on traffic. Ministry of Villas can arrange a chauffeur to greet you upon arrival and escort you to your villa.
Alternatively, there are several taxi companies available at the arrival level: Airport Taksi Koperasi, Blue Bird and Express Taxi. Make sure you have agreed on a price or metered rate with a taxi driver before getting into the vehicle.
There are plenty of options, so we’ve ranked them according to our recommendations for first-time travellers:
Ministry of Villas can arrange a private car and chauffeur for you. Depending on which villa you are staying in, the cost for the private car and chauffeur can vary, so it’s recommended to contact our Ministry of Villas team to get the complete information about the private transfers.
You can get from Kuta beach to the nearby Tanjung Aan, Mawun, Mawi, Seger and Selong Belanak beaches by Arfatatourindo transport operating in the town. It is reasonably priced and convenient way to move from one beach to another without the necessity of hiring a car or renting a motorbike.
The preferred way of exploring Kuta and the nearby areas by most of the visitors in on rented bike. There are numerous scooter rental shops spread around Kuta so opt a trustworthy company, and make sure the bike is in a proper mechanical condition. There are no scooters with insurance in Kuta so be careful while riding the motorbike, as for any damage the over the top compensation will be required. Always make sure that you have an international drivers license on your person, otherwise, the local police can issue you a ticket with a summons to appear in court. And, of course, make sure you wear a helmet.
Car hire in Kuta is widely available at most hotels, and it’s the most efficient way to get around the southern area as the traffic here is light and finding a parking place is not a problem.
Local boatmen are available to bring you to the cruise but before boarding a vessel ensure that you have meticulously negotiated the price and other details. Boat trip is an amazing way to take a look at Kuta from the other side.
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