Getting Around Lombok | Grab, Chartered Cars and Motorbikes

This information is current as of August 2026. Once you arrive on Lombok, how you get around the island comes down to three options: ride-hailing apps, a chartered car, and a rental motorbike. But you cannot simply choose among the three by preference. It has actually been reported that in some tourist areas such as Senggigi and Kuta Lombok, ride-hailing apps are restricted because of friction with local drivers’ associations, and some travellers end up stranded without knowing it. Writing from our position as Semelar Beach Village, based in Sekotong, we have set out how to choose practically for getting around the island, based on official information and local news reports. US dollar amounts in this article are approximate, converted at US$1 ≈ Rp17,800 (September 2026). Actual rates change daily, so please treat them as a guide.

The short answer | Getting around the island comes down to using the right option in the right place

First, get the overall picture from the quick-reference table. We explain the details one by one after that.

← The table scrolls sideways

Transport	Where it works	Typical time and waiting	Typical cost	Best for
Ride-hailing apps (Grab, Gojek, etc.)	Mainly Mataram city and the airport. Pick-ups are restricted in Senggigi and Kuta Lombok	A few to a dozen minutes’ wait plus travel time. Outside the service area you cannot get a car	A fixed price is shown in the app before you ride (varies with distance and time of day)	People with little luggage and mostly short trips
Chartered car (full-day hire)	Almost the whole island (advance booking needed)	Plans that tie up 10 to 12 hours a day are the norm. Same-day booking is hard	From the equivalent of Rp500,000 to 700,000 per vehicle (about US$28 to 39)	People who want to cover several areas in a day, and groups of 3 or more
Metered taxi (Blue Bird, etc.)	Mainly the airport and Mataram city. Restricted in places inside tourist areas	You can get in straight away at the airport counter or a hotel	Metered (the flag-fall differs by region and vehicle type)	People who value the reassurance of a meter
DAMRI airport bus	Airport to Mataram / Ampenan / Senggigi / Selong	Runs daily 7:00 to 17:00. It cannot be used outside those hours	Rp25,000 to 35,000 (about US$1.40 to 2.00)	People who put budget first and have little luggage
Rental motorbike	The whole island (self-driven)	Rental in 24-hour units is the norm. Travel time depends on your own riding	About Rp75,000 to 150,000 a day (about US$4.20 to 8.40)	People who want to go at their own pace and get around nimbly (be sure to read the notes on licences and insurance below)
Bemo (shared minibus)	Mainly within Mataram and between main terminals	Departs as soon as passengers gather, so the wait is unpredictable	A few thousand rupiah (well under US$1) for short distances	People with time to spare who want a taste of local life

* DAMRI bus fares and operating hours are those on the Lombok International Airport official website (as of August 2026). The rest are guides based on prices listed by each operator and booking site, and vary with the season, negotiation and how busy it is. For the latest information, check each service’s app or official counter.

A rough travel-time map | Get the main areas in mind from the airport

Lombok is long north to south, and the airport (Lombok International Airport / Praya Airport) is in the south-central part of the island. On the west coast Senggigi and Mataram line up from the north; on the south coast is Kuta Lombok, and in the southwest is Sekotong, where we are based. Bangsal Port, where the boats to the Gili Islands leave, is even further north than Senggigi. We have set out the positions and rough travel times in a figure.

Figure: Lombok’s main areas and rough travel times

* The figure is a schematic showing positions and rough travel times (as of August 2026). Travel times are guides based on driving estimates from the route-search service Rome2Rio and vary with actual road conditions, traffic and starting point.

From the airport to Mataram is about 32 km and about 30 to 45 minutes by car, and from Mataram to Senggigi is about 16 km and about 20 to 30 minutes. Senggigi is not “right next to Mataram”, so on days when you visit both, estimate the travel time for each leg separately. Going directly from the airport to Senggigi is about 46 km and around an hour. Sekotong lies southwest of the airport, so think of visiting it on the same day as the Senggigi side as too far for one day.

Can you use ride-hailing apps (Grab and Gojek)? | The reality splits by area

The local newspaper Republika reported that Gojek began operating in Mataram around March 2017 (dated May 5, 2017), and Grab expanded there later. At Lombok International Airport, Grab Car has been allowed to pick up since June 28, 2021, and Go Car since December 23, 2024. Using them in Mataram city and around the airport is not a big problem, but the situation changes once you enter tourist areas.

In Indonesia, since the early days of ride-hailing apps, friction with existing taxi and motorbike-taxi operators has arisen in many places. On Lombok (NTB province) too, it was reported that in 2016 several hundred local taxi drivers held a demonstration against the entry of Uber and Grab. This pattern still remains in tourist areas, and it is the “most important practical caution”.

In areas like these, the advice given is sometimes to walk a little way outside the hotel grounds (to the public road) before calling a ride-hailing app, or to ask the hotel front desk to arrange a transfer. Either way, it is safer to avoid forcing a ride-hail pick-up inside the hotel lobby or at the porch. The surest way to know whether it works at your destination is to ask your accommodation directly before you leave.

Getting from the airport | Chartered car, metered taxi and DAMRI bus

Prices and booking for a chartered car (full-day hire)

If you want to cover several areas in a day, are a group of 3 or more, or have large luggage, a chartered car with a driver is a realistic choice. On major booking sites (Klook and GetYourGuide), 10 to 12 hour charters including a driver and fuel are listed from the equivalent of Rp500,000 to 700,000 per vehicle (roughly US$32 to 43 as listed; about US$28 to 39 at our reference rate) (as of August 2026). However, if you go further afield, extra fuel charges may apply, and prices also move with the exchange rate and vehicle type. There are mainly three ways to book.

• ✅ Ask your accommodation’s front desk or concierge
• ✅ Ask a local travel agency or driver directly
• ✅ Book in advance on a booking site such as Klook, GetYourGuide or Traveloka

We have not found reports of area-wide refusals of pick-ups like those for ride-hailing apps, and its biggest advantage is that you can use it late at night after arriving at the airport, and for trips to rural areas like Sekotong where ride-hailing apps offer thin coverage. On the other hand, keep in mind as a downside that booking on the spot is difficult and advance booking is assumed.

Metered taxis (Blue Bird and others) and transport conditions at the airport

Ground transport at Lombok International Airport is handled by five local cooperatives as official partners: CV BIL Lokal Trans, Mandalika Tour and Travel, KSU Sumber Karya, PT Dharma Lestari and KSU Lombok Baru. The taxi counter shown on the airport’s official website is KSU Lombok Baru, and its operating hours are daily 7:00 to 17:00. In addition, Grab Car has been allowed to operate at the airport since June 2021 and Go Car since December 2024, and on February 1, 2025 Blue Bird (Lombok Taksi Bluebird), Indonesia’s largest taxi operator, joined them (Radar Lombok and the airport’s official news).

The taxi counter and the DAMRI bus both stop at 17:00, so if you arrive on a later flight it is more reliable to prepare a pre-arranged transfer or a chartered car. Metered taxis give the reassurance that you can “hail one on the spot”, but as noted above, even licensed taxis have been reported to run into friction with local driver groups in tourist areas like Kuta Lombok. If you are unsure about pick-ups inside an area, arrange a ride through your accommodation as the basic approach.

The DAMRI airport bus | The cheapest way into town

The cheapest way from the airport into town is the airport bus run by the state-owned bus operator DAMRI. According to the Lombok International Airport official website, fares are Rp25,000 (about US$1.40) to Mataram, Rp35,000 (about US$2.00) to Ampenan and Senggigi, and Rp30,000 (about US$1.70) to Selong, and it runs daily 7:00 to 17:00. If you have little luggage, arrive in the daytime and have a little time to spare, it is the first candidate. Conversely, if you have a large suitcase or arrive in the evening or later, choose a taxi or a pre-arranged transfer.

Motorbike rental: prices, licences, the helmet rule and checkpoints

A rental motorbike is also an option for people who want to go at their own pace and get around nimbly. According to prices published by local rental operators, a 110cc class starts from Rp75,000 for 24 hours (about US$4.20) and a 155cc class is around Rp150,000 for 24 hours (about US$8.40) as a guide (as of August 2026). However, there are two important cautions that many travel articles do not go into much.

Is an international driving permit valid? It is not clear

You often see the explanation that “with an international driving permit you can ride a motorbike on Lombok too”, but this is not accurate. The Japanese Consulate-General in Denpasar states on the safety information of its official website that “international driving permits issued in Japan are not valid within Indonesia” (as of August 2026). It also notes that traffic conditions in Indonesia are very different from Japan’s and accidents are frequent, and says “we recommend that you avoid driving yourself as far as possible”.

On the other hand, Indonesia’s traffic law (UU No. 22 Tahun 2009) also contains a provision recognising international driving permits under international treaties, so how it is handled locally is an area where judgements differ. We cannot state on our side that a permit is “valid” or “invalid”. If you drive, please decide with the understanding that you will be riding at your own risk with an unclear legal position. We recommend always checking the latest handling on the Japanese Consulate-General in Denpasar’s safety information page before you travel.

Most local motorbike rental shops lend on the presentation of a passport alone, without checking that a driving licence is valid. This is the shop’s business practice and does not mean it is legally valid. In neighbouring Bali province, regulations restricting motorbike rental to foreign tourists were considered, and there was a reported case in which the transport authority said “you cannot ride without the proper licence”. Lombok is under the same national law, so similar tighter enforcement may spread in future.

The helmet rule and checkpoints

Article 106, paragraph 8 of UU No. 22 Tahun 2009 requires both the rider and the passenger to wear a helmet that complies with the Indonesian National Standard (SNI). A violation is subject under Article 291 to up to one month’s imprisonment or a fine of up to Rp250,000 (about US$14), and a separate similar provision applies to a rider who does not have the passenger wear a helmet. Police checkpoints (razia) are sometimes set up on main roads and around tourist areas, where licences and helmet use are subject to checking.

That covers the premises you should know before renting a motorbike. We ourselves do not actively recommend riding a motorbike yourself on a first visit to Lombok. If you still decide to rent, check the following five points at the counter before you take the key. If you skip these, you will have nothing to negotiate with if an accident happens.

Five things to check before renting a motorbike

• Are you carrying your passport and your driving licence documents?
• Can you borrow an SNI-standard helmet, including one for your passenger?
• Have you checked the rental operator’s insurance terms and exclusions?
• Does your own overseas travel insurance cover motorbike accidents?
• Have you visually checked the brakes, lights and tyres before setting off?

Bemo and road conditions | Two realities worth knowing

What bemo are really like

A bemo is a shared minibus that runs a fixed route and departs as soon as passengers gather, used for getting around within Mataram and between main terminals. Fares for short distances are very cheap at a few thousand rupiah, but no official fare table or timetable for travellers is published, and there is almost no signage in English. The surest thing is to confirm your destination and the fare with the driver before you board. Direct routes to tourist areas such as Senggigi, Kuta Lombok and Sekotong are limited, so think of it as transport for people who want to experience the local atmosphere, and it is safer to avoid it when you need to be somewhere on time for certain.

Road conditions and the risks of driving at night

The main roads linking the airport with Mataram, Senggigi and Kuta Lombok are paved with one lane each way and are in relatively stable condition. Once you enter the southwest, including Sekotong, or the hilly interior, however, there are sections where the road is narrow and winding, or where the paving is rough. Street lights are sparse except in central Mataram and the centres of Senggigi and Kuta Lombok, and at night the edges of the road and what lies beyond bends are hard to see.

Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs overseas safety website points out that traffic conditions in Indonesia are very different from Japan’s and that accidents are frequent, and the Japanese Consulate-General in Denpasar also advises “we recommend that you avoid driving yourself as far as possible”. At night, risks that are hard to notice in the daytime pile up: livestock on the road, stretches with no street lights and rough paving. If your arrival is late at night, or your trip to an outlying area such as Sekotong will run into the night, it is safer to arrange in advance a chartered car driven by a driver who knows the roads than to ride a motorbike yourself or wait for an unfamiliar ride-hail.

Distances and travel times for the main routes

Here are the five routes shown in the figure, set out in numbers along with distances. Airport to Kuta Lombok is about 18 km, airport to Mataram about 32 km, Mataram to Senggigi about 16 km, Senggigi to Bangsal Port about 25 km, and airport to Sekotong about 38 km. Because Sekotong is a long area running east to west, getting to settlements in the west takes further time on top of this.

Connections that involve boats | Towards the Gili Islands and the southern Gilis

To go to Gili Trawangan, Gili Air or Gili Meno, most travellers board a boat at Bangsal Port in the north. From Senggigi to Bangsal Port is about 25 to 30 minutes by car, but ride-hailing apps cannot be relied on to serve the port’s drop-off spot, so the basic flow is to go to the port by a pre-arranged transfer or a chartered car and change to a boat there. Please allow in advance that whether ride-hailing works at the port depends on the situation that day.

Note that cars and motorbikes are in principle not allowed on the Gili Islands, and getting around the islands is basically on foot, by rental bicycle or by cidomo (horse cart). There is some information that electric bikes have been seen in recent years, but in any case assume you cannot get around by ride-hailing app as on the main island.

To go to the southern Gili Islands (Gili Nanggu and others) off Sekotong, where we are based, the usual way is to take a boat from a small landing within the Sekotong area, not a big port like Bangsal. This leg is often outside the coverage of ride-hailing apps, and the flow is to arrange the boat through your accommodation or a tour company.

Which transport suits you?

Figure: A flow chart for choosing transport

* A simplified flow of what is explained in the text. Some areas, such as Senggigi and Kuta Lombok, restrict ride-hailing apps, so always check the cautions for each destination too. Rental motorbikes are not included in this branching. Because of the licence and insurance issues, please read the relevant section of the text and treat it as an option to judge at your own risk, only for short daytime trips.

Frequently asked questions

Summary

For getting around Lombok, the practical conclusion is to layer the local reality that “ride-hailing may be restricted at tourist spots” on top of the basic rule: “ride-hailing apps for short trips with light luggage”, “a chartered car if you cover several areas in a day”, and “the DAMRI airport bus for the daytime and a tight budget”. In particular, how ride-hailing apps are treated in Senggigi and Kuta Lombok, and the licence and insurance issues for rental motorbikes, are points that many travel articles say little about yet are likely to lead directly to trouble. When you make your travel plans, first check whether your accommodation area and the areas you plan to visit are inside ride-hailing service areas, and if you are unsure, we recommend building your plan around a chartered car or your accommodation’s transfer.

Sources

Information this article is based on

• Consulate-General of Japan in Denpasar, “Safety Information” (guidance on how internationally issued driving permits from Japan are treated, and on traffic conditions)https://www.denpasar.id.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_ja/04_02safe.html
• Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Safety website, “Indonesia”https://www.anzen.mofa.go.jp/manual/indonesia_manual.html
• Lombok International Airport official website, “Public Transport” (DAMRI bus fares and taxi counter operating hours)https://www.lombok-airport.co.id/en/public-transport/index
• Lombok International Airport official news, “Bandara Lombok Tambah Pilihan Transportasi Darat Dari Bandara” (February 3, 2025; when Bluebird, Grab Car and GoCar began operating at the airport)https://www.lombok-airport.co.id/en/news/index/bandara-lombok-tambah-pilihan-transportasi-darat-dari-bandara
• Radar Lombok, “Bluebird dan Taksi Online Mulai Beroperasi di Bandara Lombok” (February 4, 2025; the five cooperatives that handle the airport’s ground transport, and the start dates of Grab Car and Go Car)https://radarlombok.co.id/bluebird-dan-taksi-online-mulai-beroperasi-di-bandara-lombok.html
• Republika Online, “Gojek Mulai Beroperasi di Pulau Lombok” (May 5, 2017; Gojek begins operating in Mataram)https://news.republika.co.id/berita/opgg5f384/gojek-mulai-beroperasi-di-pulau-lombok
• Republika Online, “Taksi Online tak Diizinkan di Lombok, Sopir Tetap Gelar Demo” (report on the demonstration against ride-hailing services)https://news.republika.co.id/berita/o4h0pp382/taksi-online-tak-diizinkan-di-lombok-sopir-tetap-gelar-demo
• TransPublik.co.id, “Selain dari Grab Car Senggigi, Transportasi Online Lain Diduga Ditolak Masuk ke Kawasan Wisata Senggigi” (June 2025; report on ride-hailing restrictions in Senggigi)https://transpublik.co.id/selain-dari-grab-car-senggigi-transportasi-online-lain-diduga-ditolak-masuk-ke-kawasan-wisata-senggigi/
• ANTARA News Mataram, “Sopir Lombok Taksi Diduga Dianiaya saat Jemput Wisatawan di Mandalika” (July 2026; incident in which a taxi driver was injured in Kuta Lombok)https://mataram.antaranews.com/berita/562251/sopir-lombok-taksi-diduga-dianiaya-saat-jemput-wisatawan-di-mandalika
• Lombok Post, “Taksi Bluebird Buka Layanan di Bandara Internasional Lombok” (February 2025; Blue Bird begins operating at the airport)https://lombokpost.jawapos.com/ekonomi-bisnis/1505610257/taksi-bluebird-buka-layanan-di-bandara-internasional-lombok
• hukumonline, “Undang-Undang yang Mewajibkan Penggunaan Helm Standar” (explanation of the helmet rule, UU No. 22 Tahun 2009 Article 106 paragraph 8 and Article 291)https://www.hukumonline.com/klinik/a/undang–undang-yang-mengatur-penggunaan-helm-standar-kendaraan-roda-dua-cl4957/
• Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, “Overseas Travel Insurance: Main Cases Where Benefits Are Paid” (statement that accidents while driving without a licence are not covered)https://www.tokiomarine-nichido.co.jp/service/travel/kaigai/attention.html
• Liputan6.com, “Turis Asing Sewa Motor di Bali Wajib Punya SIM Internasional” (moves to tighten rules on motorbike rental to foreigners in Bali province)https://www.liputan6.com/lifestyle/read/5283245/turis-asing-sewa-motor-di-bali-wajib-punya-sim-internasional
• Lombok Motor Bike (motorbike rental operator), published price listhttps://www.lombokmotorbike.com/motorbike-price
• Klook, “12 Hours Lombok Private Car Charter with Driver” / GetYourGuide, “Lombok: Private Car/Van Charter with Driver”, listed prices (as of August 2026)https://www.klook.com/activity/125736-12-hours-lombok-private-car-charter-with-driver/
• Rome2Rio (estimates of route distances and driving times)https://www.rome2rio.com/