“Where is Sumbawa?” “How do I get there from Lombok?” “What is there besides surfing and whale sharks?” If you are planning a trip to Lombok, you may find yourself curious about Sumbawa, the next island to the east. The short answer is that the standard ways to get there are the public ferry from Kayangan Port in east Lombok, which takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, or a domestic flight from Lombok International Airport to Sumbawa Besar or Bima. The highlights are spread across the west, centre and east of the island, so choose your entry point according to what you want to do.
This guide is based on sources we could actually open and read: news reports on ferry fares, a survey by the UN-led logistics support team, official volcano information, the environmental news site Mongabay, the British travel guide Rough Guides and others. Where we could not confirm something, we say so at that point.
It is written for people wondering whether they can add a few days in Sumbawa to a Lombok trip, and for anyone interested in the waves of West Sumbawa, the whale sharks of Saleh Bay or Mount Tambora.
Information as of October 2026
What this guide covers
- ✓Where Sumbawa is, and how its main towns, airports and ports fit together
- ✓The Kayangan to Poto Tano ferry: crossing time, fare and how to buy tickets
- ✓Flights from Lombok to Sumbawa Besar and Bima
- ✓The surf of West Sumbawa and Hu’u, the whale sharks of Saleh Bay, Moyo Island and Mount Tambora
- ✓How many days you need, and what accommodation and getting around are really like
IN SHORT
Sumbawa is the island immediately east of Lombok and part of the same province, West Nusa Tenggara. By sea, the public ferry from Kayangan Port in east Lombok to Poto Tano Port at Sumbawa’s western tip takes about 1 hour 30 minutes; the adult fare was Rp18,800 (about US$1) as of the March 2022 fare revision. By air, flight records for October 2026 show Wings Air flying Lombok to Bima daily and Sumbawa Besar to Lombok five times a week. West Sumbawa’s well-known waves are for experienced surfers, and the Saleh Bay whale sharks are visited on village tour packages. The highlights are far apart, so narrow your aims to one or two and allow the 3 to 5 days that Rough Guides suggests.
Where is Sumbawa? Next door to Lombok, in the same province
Sumbawa is the island that follows Lombok to the east, and it belongs to the same province, West Nusa Tenggara. According to Rough Guides, it is larger than Bali and Lombok put together, and islanders call the west “Sumbawa” and the east “Bima”. For the location of Lombok’s ports, see our Lombok island map.
From west to east, the main towns are Taliwang near the west coast, Sumbawa Besar in the middle of the north coast, Dompu and Bima in the east, and Sape on the east coast. There are airports at Sumbawa Besar and Bima, and ferries from Lombok arrive at Poto Tano Port at the western tip.
Most residents are Muslim, and Rough Guides recommends dressing modestly away from the beach.
How do you cross by ferry from Lombok? Kayangan to Poto Tano: time and fare
The standard sea crossing from Lombok is the public ferry from Kayangan Port in east Lombok to Poto Tano Port at Sumbawa’s western tip, operated by the state ferry company ASDP. According to a survey by the UN-led Logistics Cluster, the distance is about 19km and the crossing takes about 1 hour 30 minutes, on a route affected by the rainy season and wind.
The business daily Bisnis Indonesia reported that from the fare revision of 1 March 2022, the adult fare was Rp18,800 per person (about US$1.06) and Rp5,200 for infants aged 2 and under. In the same revision, cars (up to 5m long) were Rp505,700 (about US$28) and motorbikes under 500cc Rp68,100 (about US$3.80). During the discount period from 10 June to 31 July 2025 the adult fare was Rp14,800 (about US$0.85), according to Bisnis.com (13 June 2025). We could not confirm the regular fare as of October 2026.
Tickets can be bought through ASDP’s booking service Ferizy, via its app or website (trip.ferizy.com). According to a July 2024 report, Kayangan and Poto Tano are among the 28 ports that accept online booking, and you can book from 60 days before departure. Antara reported in July 2024 that tickets are no longer sold at the port at these harbours. We could not confirm how many sailings there are a day and at what times, or how long the drive from the airport or Sekotong to Kayangan Port takes. Check sailings and fares in the app, and driving times with whoever arranges your car.
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| Item | Ferry (Kayangan to Poto Tano) | Flight (Lombok to Sumbawa Besar) | Flight (Lombok to Bima) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time | About 1 hr 30 min | About 40 min scheduled | About 1 hr 5 min scheduled |
| Frequency | Could not be confirmed | 5 a week from Sumbawa Besar (Tue, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun) | 1 a day from Lombok |
| Approx. cost | Adult Rp18,800 (March 2022 revision) | Not given, varies by date | Not given, varies by date |
| Best for | West Sumbawa (waves at Maluk and Sekongkang) | Central Sumbawa, Moyo Island, Saleh Bay | East Sumbawa, Mount Tambora, Hu’u |
*Ferry from the UN Logistics Cluster survey and Bisnis Indonesia; flights from the records of the flight-tracking site Airportia (as of October 2026). US$ at US$1 = about Rp17,800 (September 2026).
Flying there: Sumbawa Besar and Bima airports
By air, there are flights from Lombok International Airport to Sumbawa Besar Airport (SWQ) and Bima Airport (officially Sultan Muhammad Salahuddin Airport, BMU). According to records on the flight-tracking site Airportia, as of October 2026 Wings Air flies Lombok to Bima once a day (scheduled 14:20 departure, 15:25 arrival) and Sumbawa Besar to Lombok five times a week (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday; scheduled 10:30 departure, 11:10 arrival).
A Wings Air route from Bima to Labuan Bajo (four flights a week) was launched on 11 June 2025, and daily flights between Bima and Denpasar were also reported, but we could not confirm whether these were still operating as of October 2026. Fares vary widely depending on when you book, so they are not given here. The same flight records also show days when the Lombok to Bima flight left almost an hour late.
Figure: Two ways from Lombok to Sumbawa
Where to surf: West Sumbawa and Hu’u (Lakey Peak)
Sumbawa’s surf falls broadly into two areas: West Sumbawa (around Maluk and Sekongkang) and Hu’u, south of Dompu. According to Rough Guides, in West Sumbawa Supersucks is near Maluk, Yo-Yo’s is off the beach at Sekongkang and Scar Reef is near Jereweh, while Hu’u has Lakey Peak, Lakey Pipe, Periscopes, Nungas and Cobblestones.
Introducing an international contest held in West Sumbawa in 2018, Indonesia’s official tourism website describes Yo-Yo’s as “a hollow right that picks up plenty of swell and reaches around 3m”, Scar Reef as “a fast left that needs a big swell and breaks over shallow live coral”, and Supersucks as “a heavy left that demands a high level of skill”. None of these are waves for beginners to practise on. For beginner to intermediate waves on Lombok itself, see our Lombok surf spots guide, organised by area.
The same site describes the route as a taxi from Lombok International Airport to Kayangan Port, the ferry to Poto Tano Port, and then a car to the beaches at Maluk or Ratung. We could not confirm the travel time from Poto Tano Port to Maluk. Rough Guides gives April to October as the best season for waves and says there are budget surfer lodgings in Maluk, Benete and Hu’u.
Can you see the whale sharks of Saleh Bay?
Saleh Bay (Teluk Saleh) is a large bay on the north side of Sumbawa. According to Mongabay, around the village of Labuhan Jambu on the bay, whale sharks can be seen every day, coming to feed on the small fish that gather at the bagan, fishing platforms dotted across the bay.
In a 2019 report on the same site, 49 individuals were identified between September 2017 and August 2018, and 8 of the 12 fitted with satellite tags stayed in the bay throughout the study period. Saleh Bay was said to be the only place in Indonesia where this kind of year-round residence had been confirmed.
Visits are made on packages that the village launched in September 2018, run by the village tourism group (Pokdarwis). According to the 2019 report, there were two types: one where you travel overland to the village and stay in a villager’s home, and one where you go by boat, with the whale sharks viewed from the bagan. The price included a conservation contribution of Rp100,000 (about US$5.60) per package, used to repair fishing nets torn when whale sharks get tangled in them. We could not confirm prices as of October 2026, the best times of day, or the travel time from Sumbawa Besar.
Because the whale sharks are drawn by small fish gathered around the fishing platforms, relying on food concentrated by human activity, there is some overlap with the debate over whale shark feeding at Oslob in Cebu. We could not confirm the rules for swimming at Saleh Bay, so ask whoever you book with.
What are Moyo Island and Mount Tambora like?
Moyo Island (Pulau Moyo) lies off Sumbawa’s north coast. According to Mongabay (2019), a 1986 forestry minister’s decision designated it a hunting park and marine nature park (22,250 hectares in total, including 6,000 hectares of sea), and the Mata Jitu waterfall is about 7km from the landing at Labuan Aji village in the south.
Sources differ on the boat to the island. Mongabay says it takes about 2 hours from Jempol beach on the Sumbawa side with no fixed timetable, while a 2023 local report (detik) says about 30 minutes from the Jembatan Polak pier in Sumbawa Besar. Check with whoever arranges your trip. The island has the luxury resort Amanwana (detik), while poor roads and a lack of signs have been raised as problems (Mongabay).
Mount Tambora (Gunung Tambora) is a volcano on the Sanggar peninsula in northern Sumbawa, straddling Bima and Dompu regencies. According to the Smithsonian Institution’s Global Volcanism Program (GVP), it is 2,850m high, and its 1815 eruption was a major eruption rated 7 on the Volcanic Explosivity Index. Ashfall destroyed farmland and an estimated 60,000 people died, leaving a caldera about 6km wide and about 1,250m deep. Rough Guides notes that the eruption caused the “Year Without a Summer” in 1816. The area became a national geopark in 2017, and it was reported to have been put forward in 2026 as a candidate UNESCO Global Geopark.
According to Antara in April 2025, there are four official trails, two on the Dompu side and two on the Bima side. That year they were closed for about three months from 2 January because of bad weather and reopened on 13 April. In October of the same year, the national park office closed four unofficial trails. Indonesia’s official tourism website recommends going with a local guide, and Rough Guides allows 2 to 3 days to reach the summit.
Volcanic activity is the thing to watch. According to the GVP weekly report, on 10 March 2026 Indonesia’s Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) raised the alert to level 2 of 4 after an increase in volcanic earthquakes, and asked people to stay more than 3km from the centre of the crater. We could not confirm the alert level or whether the trails were open as of October 2026, so check with the national park office and official volcano information before you climb.
How many days do you need? Accommodation, getting around and safety
Rough Guides suggests 3 to 5 days for Sumbawa. For surfing in West Sumbawa, cross by ferry and stay there; for Moyo Island or Saleh Bay, approach from the Sumbawa Besar side; for Mount Tambora, allow 2 to 3 days for the climb alone. Combining several of these adds up to a lot of days just in travel.
Figure: Sumbawa’s highlights from west to east (schematic)
According to Rough Guides, the main road from Taliwang to Sape is generally in good condition, cars are usually hired through hotels, and motorbikes can be rented in the larger towns. We could not confirm travel times between towns. Apart from Moyo Island, accommodation is mostly simple. Rough Guides gives the rainy season as November to April, when some shops and tourist facilities close. That is one month longer than the division we use for Lombok (rainy season November to March, dry season April to October).
On safety, we could not confirm any recent official information specific to Sumbawa for this guide. Check your government’s travel advice for Indonesia before you go.
- ✓Have you checked ferry sailings and fares in the Ferizy app?
- ✓If flying, have you checked that there is a flight on the day of the week you want?
- ✓If climbing Mount Tambora, have you checked the alert level and whether the trails are open?
- ✓For Saleh Bay, have you asked the operator about the package price, timing and swimming rules?
- ✓Is there enough time between returning to Lombok and your international flight home?
A word from us in Sekotong
It is safer to keep the day you return from Sumbawa separate from the day you fly home from Lombok. The ferry is affected by the weather, and the small planes have few flights and do run late, so a one-day slip can mean missing your international flight. If you hire a car to Kayangan Port, set the departure time allowing for check-in at the port, and make sure your phone is charged and connected so you can show your Ferizy booking straight away. Note that Sekotong is in southwest Lombok, on the opposite side of the island from Kayangan Port, so it is not a good base for crossing to Sumbawa.
Who Sumbawa does not suit, and the option of staying on Lombok
The downsides first. Getting around Sumbawa takes time, and much remains hard to confirm from official sources, including frequencies and journey times. Accommodation is mostly simple, the well-known waves are for experienced surfers, and there may be times when Mount Tambora cannot be climbed because of volcanic activity. Lombok itself also has fewer transport and accommodation options than Bali.
Even so, if you have a clear aim (advanced waves, whale sharks or Mount Tambora), can fill gaps in the information yourself and have time to spare, Sumbawa is worth the extra journey from Lombok. If you have a short break and want to travel less, or it is your first trip to Indonesia, staying on Lombok is the easier choice.
If you want a quiet coast on Lombok itself, Sekotong in the southwest is one option. It is a fishing village about 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport and about 40 minutes from Lembar Port, where we run a beach cafe (SAKURA CAFE, 10:00 to 22:00, closed Mondays), a market and a beach club with local Sasak people. What you can book now is a stay program of 3 nights/4 days to 5 nights/6 days (Rp4,800,000 per person, about US$270, including airport transfers, transport during your stay, a guide, a welcome dinner and a massage; flights and accommodation not included).
Frequently asked questions
Q. Can I buy ferry tickets at the port?
Kayangan and Poto Tano are among the ports that can be booked through the Ferizy app or website (July 2024 report). According to a July 2024 report, tickets are no longer sold at the port at these harbours, so buy in advance in the app.
Q. Can beginner surfers surf on Sumbawa?
The well-known waves, Supersucks, Yo-Yo’s and Scar Reef, are for experienced surfers, needing big swells or breaking over shallow coral. Beginners are safer starting on Lombok’s beginner-friendly waves.
Q. Is there a season for the Saleh Bay whale sharks?
According to Mongabay, the whale sharks of Saleh Bay tend to stay in the bay all year round and can be seen every day. Sightings are not guaranteed, though, and we could not confirm the best time of day.
Q. Can I climb Mount Tambora now?
On 10 March 2026 the alert was raised to level 2, and people were asked to stay more than 3km from the centre of the crater. We could not confirm the level or whether the trails were open as of October, so check official information before you go.
Summary
Sumbawa is the large island immediately east of Lombok. You can cross by ferry from Kayangan Port to Poto Tano Port in about 1 hour 30 minutes, or take a domestic flight from Lombok International Airport to Sumbawa Besar or Bima. Check the latest ferry fares and sailings on Ferizy.
The highlights, West Sumbawa’s advanced waves, the whale sharks of Saleh Bay, Moyo Island and Mount Tambora, are spread across the west, centre and east of the island. Mount Tambora’s alert level was raised in March 2026. Narrow your aims, allow 3 to 5 days, and plan to be back on Lombok the day before your flight home.
Related reading
- Getting Around Lombok: Grab, Chartered Cars and MotorbikesA comparison of Grab, charters and motorbikes, useful for arranging a car to Kayangan Port
- Mount Rinjani Accidents and EruptionsHow to check volcano alert levels and trail closures before you climb
- Best Time to Visit Lombok: Month-by-Month Weather and What to PackThe rainy and dry seasons, weather by month and what to wear
SEMELAR BEACH VILLAGE
Come and spend some time in the Sekotong village we call home
About 1 hour 10 minutes by car from Lombok International Airport. We offer a stay programme of 3 nights/4 days or more, with island trips by local boat and sunsets at SAKURA CAFE. The villas are due to be completed in stages from 2027.
Sources for this guide
- Logistics Cluster, “Indonesia Nusa Tenggara Barat (NTB) Waterways Assessment” (Kayangan to Poto Tano distance and time)https://dlca.logcluster.org/node/2644
- Bisnis.com, “Lombok to Sumbawa crossing fare revision” (1 March 2022)https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20220301/98/1505581/penyesuaian-tarif-penyeberangan-di-lombok-sumbawa-berlaku-hari-ini
- Bisnis.com, “ASDP makes online ferry ticket purchase compulsory” (8 July 2024)https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20240708/98/1780252/asdp-basmi-calo-tiket-feri-kini-penumpang-wajib-beli-tiket-online
- Airportia, “IW1861 Sumbawa Besar to Lombok” (flight records as of October 2026)https://www.airportia.com/flights/iw1861/sumbawa-island/mataram/
- Airportia, “IW1864 Lombok to Bima” (flight records as of October 2026)https://www.airportia.com/flights/iw1864/mataram/bima-sumbawa-island/
- Bisnis.com, “Bima airport opens direct route to Labuan Bajo” (12 June 2025)https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20250612/98/1884593/bandara-bima-ntb-buka-rute-langsung-ke-labuan-bajo-simak-jadwalnya
- Rough Guides, “Sumbawa, Indonesia”https://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/indonesia/sumbawa
- Indonesia’s official tourism website, “West Sumbawa AMNT Pro 2018” (West Sumbawa surf spots and how to get there)https://indonesia.travel/my/en/event-festivals/world-s-top-surfer-s-compete-to-conquer-challenging-waves-at-west-sumbawa-amnt-pro-2018.html
- Mongabay Indonesia, “Sustainable whale shark ecotourism in Saleh Bay” (19 September 2018)https://mongabay.co.id/2018/09/19/ada-ekowisata-berkelanjutan-untuk-hiu-paus-di-teluk-saleh-seperti-apa/
- Mongabay Indonesia, “Whale shark movement in Saleh Bay and Triton Bay” (27 June 2019)https://www.mongabay.co.id/2019/06/27/uniknya-pola-pergerakan-hiu-paus-di-teluk-saleh-dan-teluk-triton/
- Mongabay Indonesia, “A new tourism draw in Saleh Bay” (2 July 2019)https://mongabay.co.id/2019/07/02/ini-magnet-pariwisata-baru-di-teluk-saleh/
- Mongabay Indonesia, “Moyo Island, a destination with problems” (26 May 2019)https://mongabay.co.id/2019/05/26/pulau-moyo-destinasi-wisata-unggulan-dengan-berbagai-permasalahan/
- detikBali, “The appeal of Moyo Island” (4 March 2023)https://www.detik.com/bali/nusra/d-6600504/pernah-dikunjungi-putri-diana-ini-sederet-eksotisme-dan-keindahan-pulau-moyo
- Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program, “Tambora” (height, the 1815 eruption, the March 2026 alert level)https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=264040
- ANTARA, “Mount Tambora trails reopen” (15 April 2025)https://jabar.antaranews.com/berita/598897/jalur-pendakian-gunung-tambora-kembali-dibuka
- detikBali, “Four illegal trails on Mount Tambora closed” (18 October 2025)https://www.detik.com/bali/wisata/d-8166458/empat-jalur-pendakian-ilegal-di-gunung-tambora-ditutup
- detikBali, “Tambora area proposed as a UNESCO Global Geopark” (28 June 2026)https://www.detik.com/bali/nusra/d-8550780/kawasan-tambora-ntb-diusulkan-jadi-geopark-dunia
- Indonesia’s official tourism website, “Mount Tambora” (trails, going with a guide)https://www.indonesia.travel/id-id/destination/bali-nusa-tenggara/west-nusa-tenggara/tambora-mountain/
- Antara (East Java), “ASDP cegah calo, 28 pelabuhan di Indonesia terapkan tiket online” (8 July 2024; no ticket sales at the port at 28 harbours including Kayangan and Poto Tano)https://jatim.antaranews.com/berita/799557/asdp-cegah-calo-28-pelabuhan-di-indonesia-terapkan-tiket-online
- Bisnis.com, “ASDP Tebar Diskon Tiket Kapal Feri, Cek Daftar Rute dan Harganya” (13 June 2025; discounted fares on Kayangan to Poto Tano)https://ekonomi.bisnis.com/read/20250613/98/1884735/asdp-tebar-diskon-tiket-kapal-feri-cek-daftar-rute-dan-harganya
