Senggigi Princess of the West Coast

Senggigi, namedd after a princess in local legend, is the main tourist center on Lombok.
The resort area is about 10km north of Ampenan, and about 20 minutes drive from the island's
Selaparang Airport. Nowhere near as large or as busy as its Bali counterparts, Senggigi is
a great base for exploring the rest of the island. The pace is very laid-back, with activities
centered around the beaches and day trips to places of interest, which are all within a few
hours drive from the town. At night, dine in the many restaurants catering to all tastes and
budgets, listen to live music at the bars, or dance the night away at the nightclubs.

Senggigi Beach is the large bay that forms the centre of Senggigi, with the main road running
parallel to the beach, and large resorts accupying the space between. The beach provides
picturesque views at Bali's Gunung Agung to the west and stunning sunsets with the volcano
silhouetted on the horizon. Senggigi Reef, off the point coral for snorkelling and, in the
right conditions, some decent surf breaks. Canoes can be hired from the beach on the weekends
and during peak tourism times. Local outrigger boats (perahu) can be chartered from the
beachfront for trips along the coast or out the Gilis.

The main road in Senggigi is lined with small shops, tour agencies, restaurants, banrs and
nightclubs. There are a couple of supermarkets, numerous ATM's and moneychangers, a post office
and all the normal tourist facilities. Senggigi is a relaxing and attractive place to stay, with
a good range of luxury hotels and resort, as well as mid-range and budget accommodations.

Pasar Seni (Art Market)
The Pasar Seni (Art Market) is on the beach between the Sentosa and Sheraton resort. There are
numerous small stalls selling handicrafts and souvenirs from around Lombok, as well as tshirt,
sarongs and clothing similar to Balis market. On the beach, local sellers ply their wares-watches,
pearls and jewellery, as well as massages and manicures. Small restaurants line the beachfront
and are a nice place to catch the ocean breezes during the day, or to dine at night watching the
lights of the fishing boats across the ocean.

Batu Layar, ont the hill a couple of kilometres before Senggigi, has an important ancestral
grave (makam) where Muslims come to picnic and to pray for healts and success. Nearby Pura Batu
Balong (meaning "rock with a hole"), is an intreseting Hindu temple facing Bali across the
Lombok Strait. Built on a large rocky outcrop with a natural hole near the base, it is said that
virgins wehe once sacrificed to the sea from the seat-like rock at the outermost point. Colouful
Hindo Ceremonies are held here every month at the dark and the full moons, and at Hindu festival
times. Admission and loan of a compulsory temple sash are by donation. This is a great place to
watch the sunset, with fantastic vistas across to Gunung Agung on Bali.

Tourism development runs north along the coastal road for about 10 km, with many hotels and
restaurants positioned along the beautiful beaches that line the entire west coast. About 2 km
north is Kerandangan Valley, with a popular beach nearby and some nice hotels slightly out of town
in an pretty valeey. Futher north, Mangsit has developed as an accommodation alternative to senggigi,
with boutique style hotels positioned along the breathtaking bays of this section of coast.
Furthest north is Lendang Luar, with two hotels perched on the long stretcg of pristine beach fere.

Mainly desert white sand beaches, flanked by coconut groves and untouched by hotel development,
continue all the way north along the main coastal road.

Malimbu and Nipah are two picturesque bays less than half an hour from Senggigi, which are good for
snorkelling and getting away from it all. Teluk Nara and Teluk Kodek are on a large bay about 25 kms
north of Senggigi. All the main dive operators have boats here, as an alternative to nearby Bangsal
Harbour. The harbour itself is reached at the crossroads in Pemenang and from here it is easy to catch
the public ferries (actually large outrigger boats) out to the Gilis, or to charter boats for island
hopping.