Hunting the Best Beaches in Indonesia’s West Nusa Tenggara Province

The Indonesian province of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) stretches from Lombok to the east of Bali to the large island of Sumbawa. Less developed than Bali, NTB is an excellent place for those who want to get off the beaten path a bit and hunt for some of the best beaches in the whole archipelago. Read on to find out where our best beaches in West Nusa Tenggara are.

Gili Trawangan, Lombok

The most developed beaches on this list comes first but Gili Trawangan’s soft white sands extend around almost the whole of the island so there is room for everyone. For a quiet, less touristy beach head north from the main jetty to the area in front of Villa Almarik. There is plenty of space here and the water is perfectly calm. It is also the best beach for spotting sea turtles so make sure you bring snorkel gear or rent from a beach vendor.

Kuta, Lombok

Not to be mixed up with Kuta, Bali, Lombok’s Kuta is a much more relaxed affair. This long stretch of white sand on the south of the island is an absolute gem of a beach for sunbathing, swimming, and surfing. The area is getting more developed but quite slowly so far. Hopefully, the development will be done carefully and the beach will retain the huge amount of charm it has now.

Mojo Island, Sumbawa

3km to the north of Sumbawa by public boat you will find Mojo Island. This is a small island ringed by pristine white sands that will make you think you’ve found paradise. There are a few places to stay on the island but you can also stay on the mainland of Sumbawa and make the boat trip across to Mojo for the day.

Gili Bola (Bedil Island)

Close to Mojo Island to the north of Sumbawa is Bedil Island, which is often called Gili Bola because of its round ball-like shape. This is basically a sandy coconut grove in the water so you can’t stay there, but for a daytrip to a gorgeous beach it is ideal. You won’t need anything but a picnic and your snorkeling gear for an incredible day to remember.

Lariti Beach

On the far western side of NTB facing Komodo National Park you’ll find Lariti Beach. This area of Sumbawa Island is called Bima regency and is often skipped over for the more famous Komodo Island next door. Lariti Beach is a favorite for its unique formation with a long sandbar reaching out to a small island that can be reached in low tide. Because it is a local tourist attraction it can get very busy in the afternoons and evenings but during the day it is possible to have the whole beach almost to yourself.

Are you a beach lover? If you are, it could be time to get out and explore Nusa Tenggara Barat’s beaches. We’d love to hear from you if you’ve visited the area and have any beaches to add to our list so leave us a comment in the box below.