We get this question all the time: does Bali or Lombok make a better getaway? The truth: it really depends on what you’re looking for on this vacay. We pitted these two Indo islands against each other.
Culture vs. Nature
Spirituality is a big part of Balinese daily life. Drink in the island’s rich spiritual culture by exploring the many temples dotting the island, like the Tanah Lot Temple and the Uluwatu Temple. What’s more, Bali is also home to Southeast Asia’s best spas, yoga retreats, and spiritual gurus – perfect if it’s time for total mind and body rejuvenation.
Tanah Lot Temple
With Mount Rinjani as its crowning jewel, Lombok is a haven for nature lovers. Besides this active volcano and its beautiful crater lake Segara Anak (which has a natural hot spring!), there are enchanting waterfalls (check out the Sindang Gila and Tiu Kelep), unspoilt forests, as well as gorgeous beaches (hop to Tanjung Aan and Mawun).
Party vs. Peace
The nightlife in Bali runs the gamut of the loud, rowdy watering holes in Kuta to the chic, sophisticated bars and clubs in Seminyak and Petitenget (think Barbacoa, Ku De Ta, Hu’u Bar, and Potato Head). Watch out for announcements of special events like Full Moon parties, music festivals, Body Painting parties and so on that are open to the public, and don’t be shy to check them out.
The less-crowded, less-developed (and consequently less-touristy) Lombok definitely makes the more peaceful retreat of the two islands if you’re intending to go off the grid. Public transport in Lombok is generally restricted to the main roads; so you’ll have to walk, charter an ojek (motorcycle taxi), a bemo (microbus taxi), or a cidomo (horse-drawn cart). Expect a slower, more tranquil sojourn.
Potato Head Beach Club
Gastronomical vs. Traditional
While Bali has its fair share of traditional dishes like babi guling (roasted suckling pig) and bebek betutu (smoked duck), its dining scene satisfies the most refined gourmand – and often at a cheaper rate than back home. Restaurants like the modish Mozaic in Ubud, Potato Head Beach Club and Sarong in Jalan Petitenget, plus Rock Bar in Jimbaran make Bali one of Asia’s most dynamic dining destinations.
But if you dig spicy food, Lombok (the word itself means chili in Bahasa Indonesia) is calling your name. Their fiery sambal frequently accompanies local dishes like ayam Taliwang (grilled wild chicken) and sayur nangka (jackfruit curry). Other local favourites include Satay Rembiga (skewered grilled beef cubes), Bebalung (beef or mutton ribs soup), and plecing kale (a cold dish of kale and spinach with fresh tomato sauce). So you can still feast up a storm in Lombok but there are fewer options.
Snorkelling in the Gili Islands
Gods Islands vs. Gili Islands
How Bali got its title is the stuff of myth and legend: according to the writing in the Purana Sada Temple of Kapal Traditional Village, the Gods gathered to create an island where all Gods will be worshipped until the end of time – and the island shined with extraordinary holiness. When foreigners arrived in Bali, they spread the word about the paradise they found there – something that lives on today.
Lombok might not be the Island of the Gods, but it does have three shimmering gems of islands located off its Northwest tip! Often described as pearls in the ocean, the Gili Islands (Gili Trawangan, Gili Meno, and Gili Air) offer pristine waters that are absolutely perfect for diving (with almost 20 dive sites spread across the waters of the three islands) and snorkeling. This place has a dazzling array of aquatic life.
Oberoi Bali vs. Oberoi Lombok
This is the easy part! If you really can’t decide between the two islands, why not do a bit of both? The Oberoi’s Best of Indonesia Offer includes complimentary inter-island transfers by sea or air and airport/harbor pick-up and drop-off when you combine your stay at Oberoi Bali and Oberoi Lombok (valid till 30 September 2014).
Built in traditional Balinese style, The Oberoi Bali is a garden oasis set in the heart of bustling Seminyak, right on the beach. Location aside – although it does put you right in the heart of the best shopping and dining, you would most likely be content not to actually leave the confines of the snaking resort walls. The Oberoi Spa is still one of the best, with therapists trained in a fusion of traditional healing practices drawn from Ayurveda, as well as international therapies that soothe and restore. The treatment rooms are utterly charming inside authentically Balinese thatched pavilions.
If you want to get away from the outside world more comprehensively, check into your personal sanctuary at The Oberoi Lombok, a hideaway with acres of tropical gardens and a private beach. The spa here is also sensational – and one of the defining spas on the island. At the restaurant, experience local and international fare garnished with vegetables and herbs grown on the grounds. We think the fact that snorkeling is possible in the safe waters around the hotel’s private jetty is pretty cool. Tip: have dinner outdoors because the sunsets are nothing short of spectacular.
Top Image: The Oberoi Lombok
The Luxe Nomad, is our go-to when booking and sourcing for great deals on Bali or Lombok resorts.
Thanks to The Oberoi Bali and The Oberoi Lombok for hosting us for this review.