Transport guide · How to get from Kuta Lombok to Selong Belanak
Selong Belanak beach is just 30 minutes west of Kuta Lombok via the scenic coast road. A private driver costs 150,000–250,000 IDR one-way, a scooter ride is the most popular option among surfers and day-trippers (25,000 IDR petrol), and round-trip driver packages with wait time run 400,000–600,000 IDR for a half-day.
| Method | Time | Cost | Comfort | Frequency | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private driver (half-day with wait) | 30 minutes each way + 3–4 hours at beach | 400,000–600,000 IDR half-day round-trip with wait | On demand, book the morning of | Families, groups, anyone with surfboards or luggage | |
| Self-drive scooter | 30 minutes | 25,000 IDR petrol (if already renting a scooter) | Anytime during daylight | Experienced riders, surfers carrying short boards | |
| Grab / shared taxi | 30 minutes | 120,000–180,000 IDR via Grab | Inconsistent Grab availability | Backup option only; not reliable for round-trip planning |
30 minutes each way + 3–4 hours at beach · 400,000–600,000 IDR half-day round-trip with wait
Tip: Round-trip with wait is the right call because afternoon return transport from Selong Belanak is limited. Driver packages include AC wait time and are rarely upsold further.
30 minutes · 25,000 IDR petrol (if already renting a scooter)
Tip: The road has a few steep short climbs between Kuta and Mawun; beginners on underpowered scooters struggle. 125cc or larger is fine.
30 minutes · 120,000–180,000 IDR via Grab
Tip: Return Grabs from Selong Belanak are unreliable — don't depend on one for the return trip unless you're prepared to wait.
Book a half-day round-trip driver (400,000–600,000 IDR) for Selong Belanak. The return transport problem is real — if you scoot out there without your own bike, you're at the mercy of whoever happens to be around when you want to leave. Drivers with AC waiting between beach sessions is the simplest solution.
# Kuta Lombok to Selong Belanak: The 30-Minute Beach Day
Selong Belanak is the white-sand crescent beach that makes tourists gasp the first time they see it from the road above. It sits 15 km west of Kuta Lombok via a winding coast road that passes Mawun Beach (itself a worthy stop), and the drive takes 30 minutes in a normal car, slightly longer if you stop at the viewpoint where most Instagram photos are taken.
Three reasons:
1. Surfing for beginners: Selong Belanak's gentle long wave is the ideal training ground, and a strip of surf schools operates from the beachfront with rental boards at 100,000 IDR/hour
2. Swimming: Unlike many Lombok beaches, Selong Belanak has calm swimmable water even at mid-tide, and the sand slope is gradual enough for kids
3. The view: The drive-in viewpoint above the beach is one of Lombok's defining scenes — a horseshoe of white sand between green headlands
The combination of all three in one beach is what earns Selong its reputation. If you only visit one non-Kuta beach on your trip, this is probably the one.
Morning arrivals (7am–10am) get the cleanest water and smallest crowds. Afternoon (11am–2pm) is peak surf lesson time and the beach fills with three or four dozen beginners under instructor supervision. By 4pm the beach mostly empties and late-light swims/walks are lovely.
The beach is exposed to afternoon wind from June through September — surf conditions shift from clean morning waves to choppy blown-out conditions by 1–2pm. Surfers plan around this.
A row of beach warungs offers basic Indonesian food (mie goreng, nasi goreng, fresh coconuts, fried bananas). Expect 30,000–80,000 IDR per dish. No high-end dining exists at Selong Belanak; if you want a real restaurant meal, drive 10 minutes back toward Kuta or 5 minutes forward to Mawun where a small upscale resort operates.
Toilets, showers, and changing rooms exist but are basic. The beach has no lifeguards. Bring your own water and sunscreen — kiosk prices are 2–3x town prices.
A typical day trip: leave Kuta at 9am, arrive Selong Belanak 9:30am, swim/surf until 12pm, beach warung lunch 12–1pm, more swimming 1–2:30pm, drive back to Kuta by 3pm. Six hours total, 400k IDR in driver cost, and the memories of the best beach in south Lombok.