Desert Point: Where to Stay by the Wave, Sekotong or South Gilis

17 October 20261 November 2026

“I want to surf Desert Point, but is there anywhere to stay nearby?” “What is the difference between staying in front of the wave and coming in from elsewhere in Sekotong or from the South Gili islands?” Search for answers and you mostly find lists of “hotels nearby” on booking sites, and surf reports.

In short, places to stay fall into three types: simple lodgings in front of the wave, lodgings on mainland Sekotong, and lodgings on the South Gili islands. The wave breaks on only a limited number of days, and the waiting days tend to be long, so you choose between being close to the wave and being comfortable while you wait. The lodgings in front of the wave are mostly huts that open only in the season. If facilities and food matter to you, the realistic plan is to stay on the mainland or an island and head over on days when a swell is forecast.

We could not find any lodging near Desert Point that we could confirm on an official website, so we do not give names or prices. Instead, this article covers how to choose and what to check before you book. It is written for experienced surfers and the people travelling with them. This is not a wave for people who are new to surfing.

As of October 2026

What this article covers

✓Where Desert Point (Bangko-Bangko) is, and which road leads there
✓When the waves come, and why the waiting days tend to be long
✓The three types of places to stay (in front of the wave, mainland Sekotong, the South Gili islands) and the drawbacks of each
✓How non-surfing companions can spend their time
✓What to check before you book

In short

If being close to the wave comes first, stay in the simple lodgings in front of it (many close outside the season, and we found none we could confirm on an official website). If food and facilities on waiting days, and somewhere for your companions, matter more, stay on mainland Sekotong or a South Gili island and head over on days when a swell is forecast (October 2026).

Contents

Where is Desert Point?

Desert Point is at the southwest tip of Lombok, in the area known locally as Bangko-Bangko. Jadesta, run by Indonesia’s tourism ministry, gives its location as “Dusun Bangko Bangko, Desa Batu Putih, Kecamatan Sekotong”: a hamlet of Batu Putih village in the Sekotong district of West Lombok. The beach is about 1km long, and the name “Desert” is said to come from the dry, barren-looking landscape.

According to the environmental news site Mongabay Indonesia (October 2021), the Bangko-Bangko area is a 2,169-hectare protected area, designated a nature tourism park (Taman Wisata Alam) in 1992, and about 60 households live in the fishing village on the bay. The lighthouse marks Lombok’s “kilometre zero”. It is less a tourist spot than a fishermen’s bay and a protected area that happens to have a wave.

From Mataram, the provincial capital, both Jadesta and Koran Jakarta (November 2025) put the drive at about 2 hours (they give the distance as 50km and 73km respectively). From Kuta Lombok, Surf Indonesia gives about 2.5 hours by car, while our Lombok surf spots guide, based on LMBK Surf House, gives 3 to 4 hours. It looks close on a map, but the road takes a long way round.

Which road do you take from the airport or Lembar Port?

There is no public transport, so you will go by car. From Lombok International Airport, or from Lembar Port where the public ferry from Bali arrives, you go via Lembar and head west along the Sekotong coast road. Indonesia’s official tourism site says the road passes through Pelangan village. According to Travelfish, boats to Gili Gede leave from Tembowong, near Pelangan.

Further west, Travelfish says, the road turns inland and becomes a dirt track, then forks: right to the Bangko-Bangko fishing village, left to Desert Point. Our surf spots guide recommends a four-wheel-drive vehicle because of the unpaved last stretch.

In November 2025, the West Lombok regency announced a plan to pave about 15km of dirt road from the hamlet of Selegong to the Bangko-Bangko junction (Koran Jakarta, Good News From Indonesia). We could not confirm whether the work has been finished.

Figure: The road to Desert Point (the order of places, not a map)

Figure: The order of places follows Indonesia’s official tourism site, Travelfish and our surf spots guide. About 2 hours by car from Mataram (Jadesta, Koran Jakarta). We could not confirm the time for each leg, so none is shown.

We compare the ways of getting from the airport to Sekotong in Getting from Lombok Airport to Sekotong. We could not confirm from our sources how long it takes from the airport or from Sekotong to Desert Point, so ask the driver when you book a car.

When do the waves come, and how long should you be ready to wait?

The wave season is the dry season. The sources differ: The Surf Atlas says the swell is strongest from May to August, Indonesian Surf Guide and Mondo Surf say May to October, and Surf Bugle (June 2024) says May to September. Jadesta and Indonesia’s official tourism site single out July and August as the months surfers wait for. Across Lombok as a whole, the rainy season runs from November to March and the dry season from April to October.

There are not many days when the wave breaks. The Surf Atlas says it breaks only at low tide and all but disappears at high tide. Surf Bugle says it needs a large southwest swell to coincide with tides that come only a few days a month. Mondo Surf and Indonesian Surf Guide also say you may wait for days until conditions line up.

It breaks over shallow, sharp reef, and The Surf Atlas calls it “experts only”. On crowds, the sources disagree: Indonesian Surf Guide and Surf Bugle say it gets crowded, while Mondo Surf says it is not.

What matters for choosing where to stay is that the days you wait tend to outnumber the days you surf. What you eat and where you spend those waiting days is the heart of the decision.

What types of places to stay are there?

People who surf Desert Point stay in one of three broad types of place.

The first is simple lodgings in front of the wave. Surf Indonesia says there are a few basic places to stay at Desert Point, mostly huts, which you can book when you arrive. Surf Bugle (June 2024) says there are losmen (simple guesthouses) at Bangko-Bangko and that there are now more clean, comfortable ones than before. Mongabay (2021) describes local people offering three bungalow rooms and an open-sided shelter.

Travelfish, on the other hand, says that while you can stay in front of the wave during the season, most places close outside it. The advantage of this type is that it is easy to be in the water for the short window around low tide.

On camping, Surf Europe (April 2013) reports that surfers camping there were once attacked during local unrest, and that the option of sleeping on the beach dwindled after that. We could not confirm the current safety situation. It is safer not to plan on camping in a tent.

The second is lodgings on mainland Sekotong. Along the Sekotong coast there are resorts, villas and guesthouses. The Surf Atlas suggests staying in Kuta Lombok or at a guesthouse along the way and heading over when there is talk of a strong south to southwest swell. We list the mainland and island lodgings we could confirm on official websites in Sekotong hotels and villas.

The third is lodgings on the South Gili islands. There are places to stay on Gili Gede and Gili Asahan off Sekotong, and The Surf Atlas gives an example of crossing to Desert Point on a local fisherman’s boat from a lodging on a small offshore island. Travelfish says one of the lodgings at Desert Point is almost opposite the landing for boats to a lodging on Gili Asahan. We could not confirm the time or the fare for the boat from the islands.

Figure: Three types of places to stay around Desert Point

Figure: Based on Surf Indonesia, Surf Bugle, Travelfish, The Surf Atlas, and our guides to Sekotong hotels and villas and to Gili Gede (October 2026). Lodgings vary a lot, so read this as a general pattern for each type.

Some people also stay in Kuta Lombok and drive over only on forecast days, and some come across the sea from the Bali side. Koran Jakarta (November 2025), quoting the head of the West Lombok regency, reported that foreign visitors come to Bangko-Bangko every day, many of them from Nusa Penida in nearby Bali.

Power, water, food, roads and cash: how basic is it?

There is almost no official information on facilities at the lodgings in front of the wave. On the Jadesta page, the facilities field says “Tidak tersedia” (not available), and we could not confirm the situation for power, water or mobile signal. Mongabay (2021) reports local residents asking the government to provide clean water and roads.

Caution

Get cash on the way: we could not confirm anywhere to withdraw money near Desert Point. There is no ATM on Gili Gede in the South Gilis either. Get the cash you need at the airport or around Mataram before you set off.
Eat at your lodging or bring food: whether a lodging in front of the wave serves meals varies from place to place. When you book, check whether meals are provided and how drinking water is arranged.
Travel the road before dark: the last stretch is unpaved and is said to get muddy after rain (our surf spots guide). Avoid travelling at night and plan to arrive in daylight.
Hospitals are far away if you get hurt: hospitals with full services are concentrated in Mataram. Bring reef boots and a first aid kit, and take out travel insurance.

Lodgings on mainland Sekotong and the South Gili islands are often better equipped than those in front of the wave, but you have to travel to the wave every time.

How can non-surfing companions spend their time?

If your companions do not go in the water, there is little for them to do at the lodgings in front of the wave. The Surf Atlas says it is a good place to watch on days when the wave is breaking, and Indonesia’s official tourism site mentions the sunset and, on clear days, views of Bali and Nusa Penida in the distance. Beyond that, there is not much to do.

If your companions will spend several days there, mainland Sekotong or a South Gili island suits them better. There is snorkelling in the shallows around the islands, island hopping by boat, and Mekaki Beach in Pelangan village, so there are things to do on waiting days too. We also cover how the South Gili islands differ in our Gili Gede guide.

Bangko-Bangko is a fishing village inside a nature tourism park. When you walk through the village, dress modestly and keep out of the way of the fishing work.

What should you check before you book?

The “hotels nearby” lists on booking sites include places some distance away. Do not decide on map position alone; ask the lodging directly about the points below.

✓How you get from the lodging to Desert Point, and how long it takes (car or boat, minutes each way, and who pays)
✓Whether it is open on your dates (many close outside the season)
✓The hours when there is power, water, mobile signal and Wi-Fi
✓Whether meals are served, or there is somewhere nearby to eat
✓Whether there is a pickup from the airport or Lembar Port, and roughly when you will arrive
✓Whether payment is cash only, or cards are accepted
✓Whether you can extend your stay if the wave does not come, or leave early

As we note in our surf spots guide, we could not confirm from public information how much is actually charged to enter the nature tourism park. Bring cash on the assumption that you will be charged, and ask your driver or lodging beforehand.

A note from Sekotong

In Sekotong, the location of lodgings and harbours on Google Maps sometimes does not match the actual entrance. After you book, message the lodging to confirm its exact location and how far a car can get. That way you will not get lost on the day you arrive. On a trip where you are waiting for waves, keep one spare day before the day of your flight home, so you are not caught out if a good swell arrives on your last day.

The drawbacks of staying near Desert Point, and who it suits

The area around Desert Point is not an easy place to stay. We found no lodging we could confirm officially, many places close outside the season, and it is hard to know about power and water in advance. If you are new to surfing, or on a family trip where most people will not go in the water, other areas such as around Kuta in south Lombok will suit you better.

Still, if you enjoy spending the waiting days by the sea in a quiet fishing village, the Sekotong area is worth considering as a base. We are Semelar Beach Village. In a fishing village in Sekotong, we run a beach cafe (SAKURA CAFE, 10:00 to 22:00, closed Mondays), a market and a beach club together with local Sasak people. The village is about 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport and about 40 minutes from Lembar Port.

Our 13 private villas are under construction, and the first is due to be completed in early 2027 (plan as of August 2026). What you can book now is a stay programme of 3 nights to 5 nights (Rp4,800,000 per person, about US$270, including airport transfers, transport during the stay, a guide, a welcome dinner and a massage; flights and accommodation are not included). If you are planning things to do besides the waves, such as island hopping for your companions, see also The South Gili islands off Sekotong.

Frequently asked questions

Q. Are Desert Point and Bangko-Bangko the same place?

They refer to the same area. Indonesia’s official tourism site describes it as “Bangko-Bangko, commonly known as Desert Point”. Past the fork, the road splits between the fishing village and the surf point.

Q. Can I book the lodgings in front of the wave in advance?

Surf Indonesia says they are mostly huts that you can book when you arrive. If you plan to look for one on arrival, decide in advance on somewhere to stay on the mainland in case nothing is free.

Q. How many nights should I allow?

We found no source that gives a set number of days. Several surf guides say you may wait for days. Allow extra nights, or choose a lodging where you can extend your stay.

Q. Is there any point in a beginner staying at Desert Point?

Not for surfing. To practise, choose south Lombok, where there are beach breaks over sand. If you want to watch or see the sunset, it is more comfortable to visit as a day trip from a lodging on the mainland or an island.

Q. Are there waves in the rainy season?

All the sources give the dry season as the wave season. The Surf Atlas says it can break in the rainy season too, but you will wait even longer. In the rainy season the unpaved road gets muddy and many lodgings are closed, so if Desert Point is your goal, plan for the dry season.

Summary

Desert Point (Bangko-Bangko) is an experts-only wave at the southwest tip of Lombok. Places to stay fall into three types: simple lodgings in front of the wave, lodgings on mainland Sekotong, and lodgings on the South Gili islands. Lodgings in front of the wave have the advantage of being close, but many close outside the season and it is hard to know about facilities in advance (October 2026).

The wave breaks only on days when a large southwest swell meets low tide in the dry season, so waiting days tend to be long. Choose your lodging with food and things to do on waiting days in mind, and somewhere for your companions, and before you book, ask the lodging directly about transport, opening season, facilities and payment.