South Lombok Beach Hopping Guide | Selong Belanak, Tanjung Aan & Bukit Merese

In short, southern Lombok isn’t “one beach” — it’s a collection of beaches, each with a completely different personality. Around Kuta Lombok you’ll find everything from a shallow, gentle bay to a full-on surf beach for serious wave riders, a beach with white sand and turquoise water that looks like a postcard, and a hill for watching the sunset. Even under the shared label of “southern beaches,” the color of the water, the texture of the sand and the whole atmosphere can be quite different once you’re actually standing there.

Because of that, deciding “this is what the beaches in south Lombok are like” after settling in at just one spot for the whole trip would be a shame. Hopping between two or three beaches over a half day or a full day lets you sample the whole range — the joy of playing in shallow water, the tension of a surfer facing down a wave, the time it takes to shoot photos on white sand, and watching the sun sink over the horizon — in a single trip. This article introduces the signature beaches that spread out east and west from Kuta, along with how to get around and roughly what to bring.

For anyone based around Kuta Lombok for a few days, the beauty of beach-hopping in the south is that it’s relatively light on travel, and even a day trip is plenty enjoyable. Splitting your days between “a day purely for the beach” and “a day combined with other sightseeing” gives your whole trip more of a rhythm.

The full picture of southern beaches | East and west from Kuta

Southern Lombok’s beaches are spread east and west around Kuta Lombok (Mandalika), where most of the accommodation and restaurants are concentrated. To the west are Selong Belanak and Mawun; to the east are Tanjung Aan and Bukit Merese. The road roughly hugs the coastline, so it’s easy to stop at each beach in order from the hub.

Figure: Where the southern beaches sit around Kuta

Each beach is about 20–40 minutes away by car, so trying to visit all of them thoroughly in one day is honestly a scramble. If it’s your first time in the south, it’s a good idea to split things into two half-days, like “surfing and shallow-water swimming on the west side” and “white sand and sunset on the east side.” If you have more days to spare, going all-in on the west one day and the east on another is also worth considering.

Organized broadly by what you want to do, it looks like this:

• Want to swim in shallow water / traveling with kids: Selong Belanak, Tanjung Aan
• Want to surf or watch waves: Selong Belanak (beginners), Mawun (intermediate and up)
• Want to take photos: the bamboo hut at Tanjung Aan, the view from Bukit Merese
• Want to watch the sunset: Bukit Merese

Keeping these four themes in mind makes it much easier to decide “which spot to prioritize today,” even with limited time. Depending on whether your goal for the trip is swimming, trying out surfing, or enjoying photos and scenery, the beaches worth prioritizing change quite a bit. Start by picking your own top priority, then build a plan around the nearby beaches that fit it. Combining the four beaches with rough travel times from Kuta gives you this:

Beach	From Kuta	What it’s best for
Selong Belanak	30–40 min by car (west)	Swimming in shallow water, beginner surfing
Mawun	Around 40 min (west)	Intermediate-and-up surfing, scenery
Tanjung Aan	15–20 min by car (east)	Photos on white sand, family swimming
Bukit Merese	A few minutes from Tanjung Aan (east)	Sunset viewing

As the table shows, the two beaches to the west take a bit longer to reach, and pair well as a combo focused on enjoying the sea itself. The two beaches to the east are close to each other, and their strength is that you can flow easily from white-sand beach to sunset spot.

Selong Belanak | A shallow, gentle beach for beginner surfers

About 40 minutes west of Kuta by car, Selong Belanak is one of the gentlest beaches in the south, with shallow water and mild waves, and it’s a favorite for beginner surf lessons. The white sand curving into a crescent moon shape is highly rated as scenery too, and the view from the raised viewpoints along the beach is popular. As you walk out toward the surf, the fine, powdery sand underfoot is one of the memorable points in the south.

Small shacks renting surfboards and lessons line the beach, and bundling a board and a lesson for a flat fee is common. The amount varies by shop, negotiation and season, so it pays to look around and compare a few shops’ signs and how the staff seem before deciding. Even for first-time standers, the gentle waves here make it an easy place to get your first ride out of the way.

Lessons typically run about an hour, and the standard style has an instructor reading the rhythm of the waves and pushing the board for you. Plenty of people catch the feeling of riding a wave after a few tries, and it’s a beach that tends to make you want to give it another go as a memory of your trip. The cafés on the surrounding viewpoints have great sightlines and are handy for a break while waiting for your lesson or after a swim.

Even for non-surfers, it’s a beach where just swimming is plenty satisfying when the waves are calm. Small warungs serving light food dot the beachfront, so it’s easy to squeeze in a break with a coconut drink after a swim. Mornings tend to be relatively quiet, so if you’re after a calmer atmosphere, aim for that window.

• Character: shallow, gentle waves, a crescent-moon-shaped white sand beach
• Best for: first-time surfers, those who want to swim in shallow water, photos
• Travel time: 30–40 minutes by car from Kuta
• Best time to visit: relatively quiet mornings

Mawun | Great for surfing, but mind the swimming conditions

Further west from Selong Belanak, Mawun sits in a well-defined bay where solid waves roll in. It’s popular with intermediate and above surfers, but on days with strong waves and currents, it’s not really a swim-friendly beach. If you’re planning to swim, it’s safest to first check conditions on the day with locals or shop staff on the beach. During windy periods or when the tide is moving heavily, exercising a bit more caution — watching from a short distance away from where the waves break — is a good idea.

The contrast of green hills wrapping the bay against the turquoise sea is a standout even by southern standards, and it’s worth the trip for the view alone even without going in the water. Small rocky outcrops at either end of the beach give you a full view down over the bay. Crowds are lighter than at Selong Belanak or Tanjung Aan, so it also suits anyone after some quiet time.

If you’re into surfing, checking our guide to surf spots on Lombok Island alongside the other southern spots will make it easier to find waves matched to your level. Beginners at Selong Belanak, experienced surfers at Mawun once they’ve settled in — matching the beach to your level is one way to approach it.

You’ll need to walk a little way from the beachfront parking area, but that stretch of quiet time is part of Mawun’s appeal. Even without going into the water, you can sit on the rocks, listen to the waves, and it’s a satisfying enough stretch of time on its own. Tide conditions change day by day, so checking in with your accommodation or a tour operator on how the previous day went makes it easier to judge on the day.

• Character: solid waves roll into a well-defined bay
• Best for: intermediate-and-up surfers, those after scenery
• Caution: don’t force a swim on days with waves and currents
• Atmosphere: quieter crowds than other southern beaches

Tanjung Aan | White sand and a bamboo hut make this a popular beach

About 15–20 minutes east of Kuta by car, Tanjung Aan is known for its fine white sand and a shallow, calm sea. A bamboo hut standing out over the water has become a signature photo spot in the south, and it’s popular with travelers taking photos throughout the day. Sitting on the hut with the blue sea behind you makes for a shot people love keeping as a memory of their visit to the south.

Just behind the beach is a low hill, and from up there you get a great view of the white sandline tracing the arc of the whole bay. Because the waves are calm, it’s a relatively reassuring beach for families with small kids too. The sand is wide, so it’s also easy to find some open space to lay out a parasol or a mat and settle in.

There’s a warung nearby, and you can take a light meal while lounging around. Local vendors sometimes offer drinks or small items, but a firm, polite decline is fine if you don’t need anything. If you want to avoid the crowds, either aim for early morning or the window right after tour groups have pulled out — that tends to give you a calmer atmosphere.

The shallows are wide too, making this a good spot for beginner snorkelers to practice within their depth. Walking toward the far end of the beach thins out the crowds and gives you a hideaway spot to take in the sea quietly. There’s little to block the sun during the day, so it’s more comfortable if you scout a spot where you can rent a parasol before you settle in.

• Character: white sand beach, shallow water, a bamboo hut over the sea as a photo spot
• Best for: those wanting photos, families, casual swimmers
• Travel time: 15–20 minutes by car from Kuta
• To avoid the crowds: aim for early morning or right before sunset

Bukit Merese | The spot for a southern sunset

Just next to Tanjung Aan, Bukit Merese is the go-to sunset spot in the south. From the hill, you get a full view of the sun sinking into the South China Sea, the rolling green hills, and the coves dotted below, and a lot of travelers gather right around sundown. During the dry season the grass turns a golden-brown, and in the wet season it deepens into green, so the hill’s character changes with the season you visit — that’s part of its charm too.

Some sections of the path up aren’t paved, so it’s reassuring to wear shoes you can walk in comfortably, whatever the weather or time of day. Dry, sandy slopes can also get slippery, so it’s worth taking your time and not rushing up. Near the top it opens up and there’s little blocking the direction of the sunset, so a day with few clouds makes for especially good views.

If you’re aiming for the sunset, arriving 30 minutes to an hour beforehand, securing your spot, and slowly watching the sky change color is the way to go. It gets dark quickly underfoot right after sunset, so having a light with you for the way down is reassuring. Spending the day at Tanjung Aan and then moving straight to Bukit Merese for sunset has become a signature flow for covering the eastern side of the south.

There are also stalls and simple food counters up on the hill, so you can pick up a drink and settle in while you wait for sunset. Since the location catches the breeze, sunset should feel more comfortable than the midday heat. As it’s a popular spot, the area right before sunset can get crowded, so arriving a bit early is reassuring if you want a good angle.

• Character: a sunset spot with a full view of the southern hills and sea
• Best for: those chasing sunset, scenery lovers
• Best time to visit: 30 minutes to an hour before sunset
• Bring: shoes you can walk in comfortably, a light for the way down

Getting around | Bike, chartered car and rough travel times

Getting around for southern beach-hopping largely splits into two options: a rental motorbike, and a chartered car (ride-hailing apps like Grab can be unreliable in the southern area, so it’s reassuring to check with your accommodation or the charter company beforehand). A bike gives you the freedom to duck down side lanes at your own pace, but if you’re not used to the roads or the local traffic rules, it’s better not to push it. Take it easy on the throttle around the hills and unpaved roads, which can be slippery with sand and gravel.

A chartered car takes the driving burden off you, and it’s a good fit for days when you have a lot of luggage or when the heat is severe. If you want to cover several beaches in one day, or you’re moving as a family or a group, it tends to work out more comfortably overall to charter a car for a set fee by time or by day. The characteristics and booking style for each transport option are covered in more detail in our guide to getting around Lombok Island, so it’s worth checking alongside your overall island transport plan.

As a rough guide to travel time, from Kuta: allow half a day if you’re just doing “the west side” (Selong Belanak, Mawun), and half a day to 2–3 hours if you’re just doing “the east side” (Tanjung Aan, Bukit Merese). Travel time in and out on the west side runs a bit longer, so heading out in the morning is recommended if you’re planning to spend real time there.

If you’re covering both west and east in a single day, expect around 2 hours total just for travel out and back, and keeping your time at each beach on the shorter side builds in some margin overall. As an example: swim or surf at Selong Belanak in the morning, head back to Kuta around midday for a break, move to Tanjung Aan a bit later in the afternoon, and stay on for sunset at Bukit Merese as the day winds down — a flow like that covers both west and east without pushing too hard in a single day.

If you’d rather have more breathing room, splitting things across two days is also worth considering. Day one: stick to the west, catch a surf lesson at Selong Belanak, then take in the scenery at Mawun, and unwind back at Kuta in the evening. Day two: stick to the east, swim and take photos at Tanjung Aan in the late morning, rest at your accommodation in the afternoon, then head to Bukit Merese for sunset. Spreading out the fatigue of moving around this way also gives each beach more breathing room.

With either plan, giving yourself enough downtime during the hottest part of the day (roughly noon to 2pm) for travel and rest, and resuming activity from mid-afternoon once things cool off, keeps your energy from draining too fast.

What to bring and things to watch for | Little shade, and vendors at parking spots

Southern beaches tend to have open terrain, and some have little shade from trees or parasols. Along with sun protection, a hat and sunglasses, it’s reassuring to bring plenty of drinking water so you can rehydrate as needed. On days with intense sun, avoid lingering too long at any one beach, and building in breaks at a warung helps too. Being more generous with sunscreen than you think you need helps you enjoy the sightseeing the next day too.

Arriving by bike or car, you’ll often find locals at the entrance to a beach handling parking guidance or basic upkeep, and they may ask for a set parking fee. Rather than ignoring anyone who speaks to you, staying calm and responding keeps things from turning into trouble. If you’re unsure about the amount, it’s reassuring to confirm before paying. Carrying small change makes transactions go smoothly.

At beaches like Mawun where there can be waves and currents, it’s a good habit to check conditions and get advice from locals before swimming. At beaches with rocks or coral, going in barefoot can cut your feet, so water shoes give you peace of mind. Take your trash home with you, or use whatever bins are provided — keeping the beach clean is part of it too.

How comfortable things feel also shifts with the season. During the dry season the sun is intense and the sea’s clarity is at its best, giving you the finest scenery, but sun protection needs to be a priority. In the wet season, short bursts of rain can pass through, so carrying a folding umbrella or a thin raincoat is reassuring. Since plans can shift depending on the weather, leaving a bit of slack in your day’s schedule is recommended. For a round-up that includes sightseeing beyond the south, see our guide to Lombok’s sightseeing spots for the full picture.

Frequently asked questions

Which beach is most efficient to make my base for the southern beaches?

Basing yourself around Kuta Lombok, where most accommodation is concentrated, is the way to go. Splitting the area into two groups — west (Selong Belanak, Mawun) and east (Tanjung Aan, Bukit Merese) — and covering each in a half day keeps the travel burden manageable. If you have extra days, splitting them across separate days lets you enjoy it with more room to spare. Trying the closer east side first to get a feel for things, then heading further west on a later day, is also a logical, low-friction order if you’re not sure of the lay of the land yet.

Which beaches are good for beginners to swim at?

Selong Belanak and Tanjung Aan, with their shallow, gentle water, are relatively easy beaches to swim at. Mawun, on the other hand, has days with waves and current, so check with locals or staff on the day and use your judgment on whether it’s swimmable. For families with kids, Tanjung Aan, with its shallow water that’s easy to keep an eye on, is a particularly reassuring beach.

Which beach is best for watching the sunset?

If you’re chasing a sunset in the southern area, Bukit Merese, right next to Tanjung Aan, is the go-to spot. Arriving 30 minutes to an hour before sunset and taking in the sea and green hills from the top of the hill while you wait for the sun to sink is the way to go. It gets dark quickly underfoot after sunset, so bringing a light is reassuring.

Summary

Southern Lombok is an area packed with beaches, each with a different face — Selong Belanak with its shallow, gentle water for swimming, Mawun for enjoying the waves, the popular white sand and bamboo hut at Tanjung Aan, and Bukit Merese for the sunset. Split east and west from Kuta, and beach-hop within a pace that doesn’t push you too hard, and you can sample a full range of the southern coast’s character in a single trip.

Pay attention to the small details, like there being little shade or how people ask for a parking fee, and choose bike or chartered car to match the situation, and even a first-timer’s southern beach-hop shouldn’t run into major trouble. If you’re stuck on which beach to prioritize, use this article’s comparison table as your guide and work through them in order of what’s closest to your own goal.

If you’d rather swim somewhere with fewer people, Sekotong, on the opposite southwest side of the island, is worth considering too. See our complete guide to Sekotong, with its many quiet beaches, and our guide to the hidden gems of the south Gili islands, easy to reach from there, as references when planning your next stop.