CategoriesSouth Lombok By Discovering Lombok

Mandalika MotoGP track open for visitors

Indonesia Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) opened Mandalika Circuit in Central Lombok of West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) for the public starting Friday, July 1, 2022, as part of the Mandalika Track Walk program.

ITDC Director of Operations and Business Innovation Arie Prasetyo said the Mandalika Track Walk is aimed at opening up opportunities for the public to experience visiting the Pertamina Mandalika Circuit.

“We want people to enjoy being on the circuit while raising their sense of belonging to this circuit,” said Arie on Wednesday, June 29, 2022.

The Mandalika Circuit is open every day at different time sessions;

06:30-09:00 local time on Monday to Sunday and

16:30-18:00 local time on Saturday and Sunday.

One session is limited to a maximum of one hundred visitors. Tourists are allowed to do sports activities on the circuit, such as running, walking, and cycling.

The ticket on Monday-Friday is Rp150,000 per person for domestic tourists and Rp250,000 for foreign tourists.
The ticket on Saturday and Sunday is Rp200,000 per person for domestic tourists and Rp300,000 per person for foreigners.

Ticket purchases and payments can only be made via the Xplorin application.
Visitors who bring two-wheeled vehicles made of rubber, such as bicycles and segways, will be charged an additional fee.

When registering, would-be visitors are required to fill in their ID number and e-mail address. Those bringing private vehicles are also required to register their vehicle numbers on the application.

Visitors are prohibited from wearing sandals, riding vehicles with wheels made of other than rubber, and throwing trash on the circuit.
Children under 12 years old and pregnant women must come with a companion.

ITDC as the operator of the Mandalika Special Economic Zone also bars visitors from carrying out activities that have the potential to damage the asphalt circuit, such as spilling lubricant, oily liquid, or other materials.

“Mandalika circuit is one of the nation’s assets and is a vital national object,” said Arie.

“We attempt to preserve this area well, especially in terms of order and security.”

CategoriesSouth Lombok By Badminrt

Why visit Mandalika in South Lombok

Located near to Bali Island, Mandalika is chosen as the next hidden gem of Indonesia tourism. It belongs to West Nusa Tenggara Province and has attracted lots of tourists over time. Consisting of beautiful beaches and lush hills, it becomes a nice place to enjoy nature and find peace. Even the government has provided various facilities and accommodations to support those who visit the site. No wonder, several resorts can be found there, offering a comfortable place to stay when visiting Mandalika. Not to mention some couples choose it as their honeymoon site.

The Nuance
As mentioned before, Mandalika has the best features which are the beaches. The crystal clear sea water and the breezy wind never fail to satisfy those who visit those coastal areas. In fact, there is a resort operating in that area so tourists can rent it for numerous purposes like a honeymoon, family vacation, etc. In the back, hundreds of trees and a majestic hill are seen clearly. Somehow, they create a peaceful atmosphere there. In terms of nuance, it is a bit similar to that of Nusa Dua Bali!

Exploring Mandalika
In a nutshell, Mandalika is a good nature sanctuary and a great place to get closer to nature. Many tourists come to the site to enjoy its beauty and learn a bit of Lombok culture. According to legend, the name Mandalika derives from a beautiful princess of Sasak Tribe. No wonder, lots of princes would like to marry her despite her indecisiveness. As she didn’t want to hurt any man’s heart, she decided to plunge into the sea. At the time, tons of sea worms appeared miraculously.

The best thing to do in Mandalika is exploring its beaches, including Tanjung Aan, Seger, Gerupuk, and Serenting. All of those beaches are indeed amusing, featuring flawless sea scenery and excellent waves. It is safe to say that they share similar characteristics to each other. The thing is only some of them are suitable for surfing. For instance, there is Ubrug Beach which becomes surfers’ favorite spot to enjoy the hobby. For those who don’t like surfing, they can come to other beaches that have calmer waves and softer sand.

Mandalika is not only famous for its nature beauty, but it also offers an interesting culture to learn. The most famous one is called Bau Nyale Festival, which is a merry local event done regularly on a particular day. Even tourists are allowed to join it and enjoy the festival with the locals. So, what is it about? People who live in Mandalika would gather in a specific land and hunt earthworms. It is said those worms have been there since hundreds of years ago and the locals consider them sacred and blissful.

Nearby Attractions

  • Narmada Park
  • National Museum of NTB
  • Ratu Bolong Temple

How to Get There
The first checkpoint is in Mataram City and it can be done either by plane or ferry from Bali Island. Once travelers get there, the next destination is Mandalika Bus Station. From there, they can take a minibus to nearby tourist spots which take about 1 hour. Make sure to carry some money to rent a hotel room, though.

CategoriesSouth Lombok By Discovering Lombok

Gerupuk Bay

Gerupuk Bay is considered to be one of Lombok’s surfing hotspots. No matter what skill level you are at, the waves are consistent throughout the year. The bay offers a variety of spots to surf at, perfect for beginner to advanced levels. Gerupuk Bay is a beautiful place to spend the day learning to surf. After some time in the water, visit the incredible vantage point from the bay to access views across the coastline.  

Providing an incredible glimpse into the local culture, Gerupuk is a fisherman’s village set seven kilometres from Kuta. Gerupuk brings an insight into the local Sasak culture and how they live off the land through fishing. Surrounding the town are hotels and cafes, as well as homestays. The area can be located by car or motorbike from Kuta. The locals have a relaxed nature, and the town provides necessities for travellers to utilise.

CategoriesSouth Lombok By Badminrt

Seger Beach

Seger Beach is just a short drive to the east of Kuta Beach and shares the same coastline. The easiest way to access the beach is by hiring a scooter for the day, with clear signs leading you there. Seger Beach brings an array of colourful and active underwater life, making it a hotspot for snorkellers.

On any given day, you will see surfers, swimmers and sunbathers scattered across the beach. Seger Beach is a quieter alternative to Kuta Beach with a different aspect and view of the water. The beach has a local warung (cafe) beside it and other restaurants nearby so you can easily spend the day there.

Should you visit during February, there is the Bau Nyale ceremony where locals go out to catch sea worms (Nyale) along the beach. The purpose of this is believed to be part of the incarnation of Princess Mandalika.

There are a number of accommodation options in Kuta, making it easy to plan your stay. The hills surrounding Seger Beach bring an incredible vantage point over the water. Take a short walk up one of the many hills and experience a new outlook of Seger Beach and other surrounding shores. The sunset from here is also a spectacular sight.

During your visit to Lombok, indulge in Seger Beach’s quieter pace, and stunning turquoise water as an alternative to Kuta Beach.

CategoriesSouth Lombok By Discovering Lombok

Tanjung Aan

Tanjung Aan Beach

The Tanjung Aan Beach is located in the south of Lombok, not far from the city of Kuta and can be easily reached by scooter or car in about 10-15 minutes. It is located in the immediate vicinity of the also well-known Aan Beach and the surfer beach Seger Beach. As on almost all beaches on Lombok, a small parking fee is charged, but you can also park directly on the beach. Due to the enormous length of 2 km, it also has several parking spaces. One in the very west, one in the middle and one in the east, which is also the largest of all. Here also gladly times whole coaches with tourists stop for a beach attendance.

Cleanliness at Tanjung Aan Beach

The Tanjung Aan Beach can score mostly with very fine, white sand, as well as with crystal-clear water. However, it must be mentioned that the beach can also be found in sections with some rubbish. The amount can vary by the day as the garbage, which in the case of Tanjung Aan Beach is often mixed with algae, is washed up more or less vigorously under certain conditions. The locals always try to get rid of the garbage as best they can. Thanks to the enormous size of Tanjung Aan Beach, fortunately you have more than enough alternative possibilities and should be able to discover many very clean and very beautiful beach sections without problems.

The viewpoints

The Tanjung Aan Beach has two particularly beautiful viewpoints to offer. A hill is located about the middle of the beach. It has a flat plateau and is therefore often used for events such as weddings. The somewhat steeper but also higher mountain lies at the western end of the beach. The ascent here is not as comfortable as on the hill in the middle, but here you are rewarded with a fantastic view. The height of the mountain also allows you for the first time to capture the great Tanjung Aan Beach in its entire size. It also offers views of many other nearby beaches such as Aan Beach and Seger Beach.

Culinary delights at Tanjung Aan Beach

When you climb this mountain in the west, you will inevitably pass the only warung of the beach, Warung Turtle. This restaurant invites you with its cosy beach furniture, which is free for guests, to stay and knows how to spoil you with local specialities. Here you can choose fresh seafood in addition to the famous Indonesian classics such as fried rice and noodles. Cocktails and alcoholic beverages are offered as well as soft drinks and juices. In the middle of Tanjung Aan Beach, where the large parking lot and the other lookout hill are located, you will find a few small kiosks, which provide you with snacks and chilled drinks.

No designated surf beach

Sports cannons are rather moderately served at Tanjung Aan Beach. Surfing is possible, but the beach is generally not known for its surfing conditions. Due to the mostly shallow water it is more suitable for kiting or sailing. Own equipment is required, because there is no rental of sports equipment on this beach. The beach is also ideal for activities outside the cool water, as it has sand that is sometimes so hard that some scooter riders even use it as a shortcut.