Rising Higher After Setbacks: My Epic Return to Adventure in Lombok, Indonesia
After a month of Murphy’s Law-level chaos in Bali, Gili Trawangan, and Komodo — including a random dog bite, a canceled cruise, and a volcanic eruption that stranded me on Flores — I knew I needed a reset. Enter: Lombok, Indonesia, the island that turned it all around with wild treks, world-class surf, and aerial thrills that made my soul leap. If you've been thinking about adventure therapy, this is your sign.
🏔️ 1. Conquer Mount Rinjani: Lombok’s Crown Jewel
Difficulty: Challenging — Requires excellent physical condition
Duration: 2D/1N or 3D/2N multi-day trek
Season: Best from April to December (dry season)
Operator Suggestion: Rinjani Dawn Adventures; highly trained, eco-conscious guides
Everything else falls away when you’re standing on the rim of Mount Rinjani, staring down into its turquoise crater lake with clouds whipping past your cheeks. Climbing Indonesia’s second-highest volcano (3,726m) was brutal but healing. On day two, my legs screamed as we ascended predawn to reach the summit at sunrise — the wind bit hard, but the glowing lava palette across the sky lit something in me again.
🧰 Preparation & Gear Checklist:
- Broken-in hiking boots
- Headlamp w/ spare batteries
- Layers for 5°C summit temps
- Light waterproof shell
- Hydration pack (min. 2 liters)
Pro tip: Acclimate in Senaru or Sembalun village beforehand and inform guides of any past altitude sickness. Don’t skimp on travel insurance — the hike is non-technical but strenuous.
Emergency Contacts:
- Rinjani National Park Rescue: +62 818-0574-8970
- Senggigi Hospital (nearest major): +62 370 693577
🏄♂️ 2. Surf Lombok: From Chill Reefs to Barrels
Top Spots:
- Beginners: Selong Belanak
- Intermediate: Gerupuk Inside & Outside
- Advanced: Desert Point (Bangko-Bangko) — world-famous left-hander
Lombok's south coast dishes out uncrowded breaks and crystalline reef sets. After some stress in Gili T, hitting the waves at Gerupuk was exactly what I needed. I wiped out HARD on my first attempt at the Outside break — bounced off my board, lost a fin. It was awesome. Local surf instructors had me back up and catching green waves within an hour.
Best season: May–October (dry season = consistent swells)
Rental + Instructor Packages: Around IDR 300K–500K ($20–35 USD)
What You’ll Need:
- Rash guard
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Reef booties (must for shallow reefs)
- Travel insurance that covers water sports (trust me)
🪂 3. Paragliding Lombok Indonesia Alternative – or Go Ultralight!
If you’ve been craving flight after feeling stuck (hello, grounded flights in Flores), imagine this: birds-eye views of Sembalun Valley while riding thermals without an engine. Or go even higher in a motor-powered ultralight aircraft over Kuta’s coastal cliffs.
Difficulty: No experience required
Duration: 15–30 minute tandem flights
Best Time to Fly: April through November mornings for calm air
☀️ Sensory memory alert: I still remember slicing over Tanjung Aan’s electric blue bay during my ultralight flight — the wind roaring past my helmet, Lombok’s ridgelines glowing in golden light. I laughed out loud mid-air — actual joy bubbling up after weeks of stress.
Recommended Operator: FlyLombok.id — PADI-standard safety protocols, pro pilots with years of flying experience.
What to Wear:
- Secure sunglasses (with lanyard)
- Closed shoes
- GoPro mount (ask pilot before attaching)
Safety Tip: Avoid flying in heavy wet season months (Jan–March), and don’t forget your adventure insurance which covers air sports!
🏝️ 4. Alternative Recharge: Gili Islands Lombok Indonesia
After hardcore treks and high-altitude glides, I spent a couple of days chilling in Gili Air, the perfect middle ground between party-vibed Gili T and ultra-laid-back Gili Meno.
Here’s what you can do if you’re not chasing adrenaline every hour:
- Freediving class (Gili Air Freedivers)
- Bike the entire island in 40 mins
- Evening yoga + ocean-view massages
The waters here are warm, absurdly clear, and host to turtles, reef sharks if you snorkel or dive deeper — and zero cars or pollution.
🧭 Tips for Bouncing Back When Travel Goes Sideways
I chatted with another traveler en route to Java who told me he expects 3-5 serious travel hiccups per year. He maintains a contingency fund specifically for scrapped plans and makes peace knowing they’re part of the story.
What helped me? Getting physically active again in places like Lombok. It reconnects you with your body, pulls attention away from control-less chaos, and lets nature work some healing magic. Also: find your wall-of-wins — a moment where you DO something hard (like summit Rinjani or drop into a new wave) to fuel you forward.
✈️ Final Word: See Lombok from Above
Whether it's bouncing back from a streak of misadventure or just leveling up your bucket list, make sure your time in Lombok, Indonesia lifts you — literally. Add an aerial thrill to your trip with FlyLombok.id and touch the sky over volcanoes, coastlines, and lush valleys that make this island unforgettable.
After weeks of grounded chaos, nothing beats flying high over the island that reminded me why I started traveling in the first place. Go claim your sky. 🌤️