Peppercorn sand
A white bay between hills.
伊賀上野ニンニン — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Midori — CC BY 3.0 · Alexey Komarov — CC BY 3.0 · Ganendra Afritz — CC BY-SA 4.0
A beach on Lombok's south coast at the heart of the new Mandalika tourism zone, a broad bay of white sand with grains like peppercorns, green hills around it and fairly calm, clear water inside the bay. Unlike busy Kuta in Bali, it remains quieter and less developed, though new resorts are spreading around it. A modern promenade, gardens and restaurants now line the beach, and trips leave from the village to the south's other beaches, such as Tanjung Aan, Bukit Merese and Mawun, and to nearby surf breaks. The Mandalika International Circuit for motorcycle racing is close by. The beach is free and always open. Each year in winter the area hosts the Bau Nyale festival, when the Sasak go into the sea to gather colourful sea worms in honour of the legend of Princess Mandalika. The best times are morning and late afternoon; make Kuta a base to explore the southern beaches over two days. Small vendors on the beach are many and sometimes persistent, so decline politely if you do not want to buy.
A white bay between hills.
A new promenade and restaurants.
The Princess Mandalika legend.
Kuta, Central Lombok, south coast
Kuta Lombok is calmer, more scenic and far less crowded; Kuta Bali is livelier with more shopping. For nature and quiet, Lombok suits better.