If you’re planning a trip to Indonesia, you might be tossing up between Bali, Lombok, and Flores — the gateway to the Komodo Islands. Each region has its own draw, and the one that’s best for you will depend on your travel style. Here’s how to decide between Bali vs Lombok vs Komodo Islands.
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Key takeaways
- Bali has the most variety. Depending on which area you go to, it’s perfect for nightlife, yoga, adventure activities, and spiritual experiences. You’ll find lots of luxury villas, chain hotels, and malls contrasted with markets and ancient architecture.
- Lombok is chill and outdoorsy. You’ll find empty beaches, epic waterfalls, and the challenging multi-day hike up Mt. Rinjani. It also gives you easy access to the Gili Islands.
- The Komodo Islands are best for off-shore adventures. Beyond seeing the Komodo dragons, you can also do some epic snorkelling and diving from live-aboard boats. There’s also an ancient village in-land that’s worth the journey to get there.
No matter where you go in Indonesia, you’ll find affordable food and activities and meet friendly people. I felt safe everywhere I went, and I don’t think you can go wrong with any choice! But keep reading and I’ll get into the details to help you make a decision.
Bali vs Lombok vs Komodo Islands
Depending on how much time you have, you could and should visit all three! But if you only have a couple weeks and don’t want to be bouncing around all over the place, you can safely pick one of these destinations and have an epic adventure. I’ve been to all three, and here’s how I see the key differences between Bali vs Lombok vs Komodo Islands.
You'll love Bali if you want variety
There’s a reason Bali is on nearly every traveler’s bucket list! (And why it’s struggling from overtourism…) But it’s not a one-size-fits-all destination. The vibe changes dramatically depending on where you go on the island.
Some hotspots in the South of Bali:
- Canggu: Nightlife, digital nomads, smoothie bowls, and traffic.
- Kuta: Nightlife, a busy beachwalk, big mall, and surfing.
- Uluwatu: Dramatic cliffs, surfing, kecak performances. Was quieter but is quickly becoming more crowded.
- Nusa Islands: Insta-famous beaches, snorkelling (with manta rays!), and a quieter vibe.
Hotspots in the North & Central areas of Bali:
- Ubud: Cultural/spiritual centre with temples, stunning architecture around every corner, traditional dance performances, rice terraces, waterfalls, and yoga retreats. Lots of tour companies that will take you to hike Mt. Batur.
- Lovina: Dolphin-spotting, black sand beaches, and just generally more under-the-radar.
- Amed: Lesser-visited, so it isn’t yet spoiled by mass tourism. Great for beaches, snorkelling, and diving.
Tegalalang Rice Terrace & Goa Gajah in Ubud
Go to Lombok for chill vibes and outdoor adventure
Lombok is perfect if you want quieter beaches, adventurous hikes, and an authentic Indonesian experience without the crowds of Bali. That said, it’s slowly becoming busier as people look for alternatives.
Activities you can look forward to in Lombok include:
- Mount Rinjani. An active volcano with a challenging two or three-day hike to summit. A good level of fitness is required for this one.
- Waterfalls. We loved Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile in the north near Mt. Rinjani. Benang Stokel, Benang Kelambu, and Tetebatu are other must-visits if you love to go chasing waterfalls.
- Surfing. Beginner-friendly options and affordable lessons.
- Kuta Lombok. A little beach town that’s quite touristy but we found it really cute. Look for the secret bar: Captikus!
- Gili Islands. Off the coast of Lombok, these 3 little islands are great for snorkelling, diving, and just straight up chillin’. We went to Gili Air where there are no cars, just horse-drawn carts.
- Local culture. Make sure you visit the Sade Village just outside of Kuta — we absolutely loved this experience.
It’s easy to get around because the roads aren’t as hectic as Bali. We rented a car, but you can also easily get around with a scooter.
Tiu Kelep and Sendang Gile in Senaru, Lombok
The Komodo Islands are more than the dragons
The Komodo Islands are perfect for adventure seekers, divers, and wildlife lovers. Labuan Bajo (on the main island of Flores) will be your home base. And honestly, as a city, it’s pretty meh. But the surrounding islands and activities it lets you access make it totally worth it.
- Komodo National Park. A bucket list destination where you can spot these fascinating endemic species — the largest lizards in the world!
- Live-aboard boats. I did a two-night island-hopping boat trip and had a great time snorkelling, hiking, and hanging out on a pink beach.
- Caves. Rangko Cave has a clear blue natural pool, and the Mirror Cave is in-land and easy to explore on your own.
- Diving. There are lots of day trips, but if you’re a hardcore diver you can also do multi-day excursions where sleep on the boat when you’re not exploring the ocean.
- Wae Rebo. This ancient village was probably my favourite activity in the Komodos. It’s a bit of a long drive plus a trek to get there, but totally worthwhile.
Komodo Dragon & Wae Rebo Village
Don't forget an eSIM for Indonesia
FAQs about Bali vs Lombok vs Komodo Islands
Here are some answers to frequent questions about choosing where to go in Indonesia: Bali, Lombok, or the Komodo Islands.
Which island is the most affordable?
If you’ve got euros, dollars, pounds, or any other strong currency, you’ll be able to travel comfortably anywhere in Indonesia. However, I found Bali to be the most expensive of the three islands. Lombok had the lowest prices, especially for activities, but was only marginally cheaper compared to the Komodo Islands overall.
Be prepared for activities to be expensive. Food, drinks, accom, and transport are all reasonably priced. But visiting Wae Rebo cost nearly 2,000,000 IDR and the Komodo National Park entry fee is 600,000 IDR. (And that’s not including the boat trip needed to get there.) While Lombok had the most free/affordable activities, a 2D/1N Rinjani hike will run you about 3,500,000 IDR.
That said, my daily average spend over two months in was about 800,000 IDR (or 40 USD). So it all balances out.
How to get to Bali vs Lombok vs Komodo Islands
Indonesia has like 17,000 islands, and some regions like Sulawesi and Raj Ampat are hard to reach. But when choosing between Bali vs Lombok vs Komodo Islands, you don’t have to worry.
If you’re coming from far away, you’ll likely fly into Bali or Jakarta. And there are direct domestic flights to Lombok and Labuan Bajo (Komodo Islands) from there. Flights are usually under 1,000,000 IDR (60 USD) one-way.
If you’re feeling more intrepid, several companies do a four-day boat trip from Lombok to Labuan Bajo. It makes lots of stops so it’s kind of a two-for-one accommodation and activity combo.
But which island did you prefer, Naomi?
The question on everyone’s mind, I’m sure. What about me? I honestly loved every single island, but I think my top pick has to be Lombok.
Kuta Lombok was a good hub for accessing some stuff nearby like the Sade Village. It was pretty busy and had lots of local food options. It’s a contrast with Senaru, in the north, where we were basically alone on our hike to the major waterfalls. Mataram is a city with more great food and we like the small West Nusa Tenggara State Museum.
We rented a car and it was easy enough to navigate the roads, and we snagged lots of great hotels & guesthouses for under 300,000 IDR (15 USD). I expect Lombok is going to get very busy very soon. So I’d suggest going there now if you’re looking for a slightly more authentic experience.