The Senggigi coast road and Batu Bolong at sunset
A winding coastal road of palm-fringed bays and viewpoints from Senggigi towards the Gilis, ending at a Balinese temple on a rock with a hole through it, facing the sun setting behind Bali.
- Area
- West & the southwest Gilis
- Start from
- Senggigi
- Distance
- about 25 km along the coast
- Time needed
- half a day
- Best season
- All year; clearest views in the dry season
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Transport
- Scooter or car
- Tickets & rules
- Small donation at Batu Bolong; sarong for the temple
Why go
Senggigi was Lombok’s first beach resort, and for a while in the 1980s and 1990s it was the island’s main tourist strip. Today it is quieter than in its heyday, but the coast road north of it is one of the prettiest drives on the island. It winds over headlands and down into bays, past fishing boats and palm groves, with views across the strait to Bali and Mount Agung.
A few kilometres along, the Malimbu viewpoints look down over curving bays towards the three Gilis, which appear as small green patches on the water. Further on, Nipah beach has a row of simple warungs grilling fish caught that morning.
The highlight is at the southern end of Senggigi: Pura Batu Bolong, a Balinese Hindu temple built on a rocky outcrop above the sea. The rock has a natural hole through it, and the temple faces west towards Bali. At sunset it is a magical place.
The story
Pura Batu Bolong means ‘temple of the rock with a hole’. It is one of several Balinese temples along Lombok’s west coast, a reminder of centuries of Balinese influence in the west of the island. Local stories say the temple faces Mount Agung, Bali’s holiest mountain, and that the rock has spiritual significance.
One legend says that young women were once thrown into the sea here as sacrifices, and that the sharks in the water below were waiting for them. Most locals consider it a story rather than history, but it adds a shiver to the view.
Senggigi grew as a tourist strip in the 1980s, with the first beach hotels in Lombok. The 2018 earthquakes and the shift of attention to the Gilis and the south coast hit it hard, and some old buildings stand empty. Recently, cafés and small hotels have begun to reappear.
The coast road continues north to Pemenang and Bangsal, the harbour for the Gilis, making it a scenic way to travel between Senggigi and the islands.
Getting there
Senggigi is about half an hour from Mataram and an hour from the airport. A scooter or car is the best way to explore the coast road.
Batu Bolong is at the southern edge of Senggigi, right on the main road. If you are heading to the Gilis, you can follow the same coast road north to Bangsal the next morning and see the bays again in the early light.
A suggested plan
- AfternoonRide north from Senggigi to the Malimbu viewpoints.
- Late afternoonGrilled fish at Nipah beach.
- Before sunsetReturn south to Batu Bolong.
- SunsetWatch the sun go down behind Bali from the temple.
- EveningDinner in Senggigi.
Where to stay
Senggigi has a range of hotels and guesthouses, many with sea views. It is a convenient base for Mataram and the Gilis.
Good to know
- Wear a sarong at the temple.
- The road has many curves; drive carefully.
- Come early for a good spot at Batu Bolong.
- Bring a donation for the temple.
- Monkeys at some viewpoints can be bold.
- Traffic on the coast road can be fast; take care.
- Don’t climb on temple structures.