A while ago, I made a snap decision to fly from New York City to South Africa. It was one of those spontaneous trips that happened between too many meetings and not enough sunlight. On one evening in Johannesburg, I found myself in a moody café that could’ve easily existed in Brooklyn—macrame wall hangings, flat whites, artisanal everything. I marveled aloud at how “cheap” the beers were compared to home. My South African friend grimaced. That one offhand comment taught me more about travel humility than any guidebook ever could.
Flash forward to today. I’m sitting at a cozy café in Canggu, Bali, where a table of Aussies are laughing boisterously about how cheap their brunches and lattes are. The déjà vu makes my stomach twist. That moment in Jo'burg rushes back—the inadvertent insensitivity of perceiving someone else's home through a tourist's lens. And it got me thinking about how to travel not only wide-eyed, but wide-hearted, too.
That brings me to Lombok, Indonesia’s rising star and arguably one of the most trending destinations in Southeast Asia right now.
Why Lombok Is Trending (and Rightfully So)
Lombok is like Bali’s chill, less Insta-saturated sister—but don’t let that fool you. With dreamlike rice terraces, volcanic peaks, and shockingly turquoise waters, the island offers just as many brag-worthy views without Bali's crowds. Newsflash: the Tiu Kelep waterfall might just outshine anything in Ubud, and you could have it all to yourself.
More travelers are heading to places like Kuta, Lombok and the island’s eastern coast, which feel like a return to what Bali used to be decades ago—raw beauty, smiling locals, and rugged adventure. From surfers chasing uncrowded waves to digital nomads swapping Canggu cafés for Mandalika hideaways, this place is blowing up on Instagram... fast.
And yet, amidst all the picture-perfect backdrops is the reminder that locals in Bali and Lombok live on a monthly minimum wage of about $162 USD. That’s why it’s essential to soak in the magic mindfully, not just aesthetically.
Instagram-Worthy Photo Spots (You’re Gonna Want a Bigger SD Card)
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Tiu Kelep & Sendang Gile Waterfalls – Hidden beneath the Rinjani volcano, these twin falls feel ripped from a fantasy novel. Go early (think 7 AM) for golden light rays bursting through misty jungles. Use a slow shutter to capture that silky water flow.
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Bukit Merese – Sunset here turns the hills into a sea of gold. Bring a drone or better yet, check out FlyLombok.id to capture the cliffs from above and zoom over beaches most people miss!
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Pink Beach (Pantai Tangsi) – Yes, the sand is actually pink! The hue pops just after sunrise or during golden hour. Use a polarizing filter to enhance the ocean’s surreal green-blue color.
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Sembalun Village – Fields of scalloped greens against Rinjani’s massive silhouette… Stop here during sunrise hikes for symmetrical Instagram grid shots.
Hidden Gems That Still Feel Undiscovered
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Semeti Beach – Dramatic rock formations that look like they belong on Mars. Hard to access (expect a bit of scrambling), but worth it for panoramic shots and crowd-free solitude.
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Gili Nanggu – Skip the overhyped Gili T and head here instead. Soft sands, clear snorkel waters, and barely any tourists. A local fisherman even helped me fix a broken sandal with banana leaf twine—true island magic.
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Benang Stokel & Benang Kelambu – A lesser-known group of waterfalls cascading down through walls of rainforest. No Instagram mob, just nature and drizzle on your skin.
Photography Tips and Angles That Pop on Feed
- Get low: For rice terrace or beach shots, crouch or lie flat to elongate foregrounds.
- Use natural frames: Palm trees, doorways, even a hanging sarong can softly frame your subject.
- Go wide: When shooting places like Merese Hill or the crater rim of Mount Rinjani, wide-angle lenses exaggerate depth and make your scale stand out.
- Drone smart: For aerial shots, don’t just go high—tilt your camera angle to show perspective. Or better yet, leave it to the pros with FlyLombok.id—their drone tours give you cinematic footage without needing to lug gear.
Best Times to Visit
Plan your trip between May and September, aka dry season. You’ll have blue skies for mountain hikes and soft lighting for beach photography. Avoid December through February if you hate rain-drenched camera lenses.
Well-timed photos require well-timed days. Hit major spots right after sunrise (6–7 AM local time) when natural lighting is warm and shadows are long. Bonus: you’ll dodge Instagram influencers staging questionable yoga poses with drones buzzing.
A Small Faux Pas… and a Bigger Takeaway
On my third day in Lombok, I tried ordering by pointing to something on a local warung menu. What I didn’t realize was I’d just confidently asked for soap instead of soup. The owner laughed kindly—and brought me both. It was humbling and hilarious, and underscored how generous and patient the locals are amid our many traveler missteps.
Travel With Intention (and a Good Perspective)
So yes, eat the nasi campur. Countdown your sunset moments. Snap that perfect waterfall shot. But while doing so, remember the people who call these places home. Tip generously. Learn a few phrases in Bahasa. And maybe keep your “wow, everything is soooo cheap!” declarations to your IG captions (or better yet, skip them altogether).
If you're truly ready to see Lombok differently—from a jaw-dropping aerial view that captures its grace and grandeur—then book a flight with FlyLombok.id. Because the only thing more breathtaking than standing atop Bukit Merese… is soaring above it.
Catch you in the clouds 🌤📸