Unspoilt, Lombok is the "Bali of old" with lots of wide open space, miles of white sandy beaches, and quaint villages, each with craft specialties of their own like potter and weaving. The view at sunrise from your hotel room is that of fishermen launching their traditional perahus along nearby beaches, off to seek a fresh haul of fish for your table. Attractive with their multi-colored sails, they dot Lombok's seascape by the thousands - a spectacular sight indeed! Outside in the streets, there is no sound of heavy traffic, just the steady clip clop of horses' hooves as they pull traditional carts known as cidomo

Modern hotels are readily available, yet they don't dominate Lombok's natural surraoundings and easygoing atmosphere where friendly locals have plenty of time to enjoy a chat with their visitors.

Indonesia's second highest mountain, the revered Mount Rinjani, overlooks Lombok's west coast has a strong Balinese influence with numerous old Hindu palaces and sea temples that look across to Bali