Kuta Beach

The best-known place on the south coast of Lombok Island is Kuta beach, a magnificent stretch of white sand and turquoise ocean with rugged hills rising around it. It is about one and half hours drive from Mataram or Senggigi to Kuta.

As a base for your exploration of the southern parts of Lombok, you can explore and discover traditional Sasak villages (like Sade), remote and beautiful beaches, mountains and cliffs in Kuta. There are also Putri Nyale in Kuta, Seger and Tanjung A’an beaches.

Kuta is also a laid back paradise for surfers and sun seekers.

On the 19th day of the 10th month in the Sasak Calendar which is generally in February or March, hundreds of Sasak people gather on the beach to take part in the Nyale Fishing Festival. When night falls, fires are built and the young people sit around competing with each other in rhyming couplets called Pantun.

At dawn the next day, the first Nyale worms are caught, after which it is time for the Sasak teenagers to have fun. In colorful procession, boys and girls sail out to sea- in different boats- chase one another with lots of noise and laughter. The worm which likes a nyale fish is eaten raw or grilled, and is believed to have aphrodisiac properties. A good catch is a sign that the rice harvest will also be good.