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Are you looking for the best beach in Lombok? Then you’re in the right place. Tanjung Aan Beach is the epitome of a tropical paradise.
I have said it before and I’ll say it again, the south coast of Lombok is the place to be if you are on the hunt for tropical paradise beaches you can have almost to yourself. With countless white-sandy coves and bays within a 40-minute scooter ride from Kuta, beach lovers are spoilt for choice.
A perfect beach for me has white sand, palm trees, crystal clear water with little seagrass and reef, few people and some kind of food and drink vendor. And South Lombok actually has quite a few beaches that tick these boxes, Tanjung Aan being my absolute favorite.
I’ve already talked about Tanjung Aan Beach in my Kuta Lombok beach guide, but I thought it deserved a post of its own as well. So let’s take a look at how to get there and what to expect.
Article overview
How to get to Lombok From Bali
The easiest way to get from Bali to Lombok is via fast boat. The journey over to Lombok takes between 1 hour and 45 minutes to 3 hours, and pick-up from the main tourist hubs in Bali is often included in the price. You can read my complete guide about how to get from Bali to Lombok by fast boat here.
🌟 Check price & availability >> Fast boat between Bali and Lombok
The drive from Bangsal Harbor (Teluk Kodek Port) to Kuta and Tanjung Aan Beach takes about 2 hours, you can take a taxi or arrange for your accommodation to pick you up. I prefer to arrange transport in advance so I don’t have to haggle with all the taxi drivers when I arrive.
If I’m doing day trips or going longer distances like from the north to the south, I often book this driver. It is a customizable 10-hour tour, you choose where you would like to spend the time.
🌟 You can check price & availability here >> Lombok private driver
How to get around Kuta
The best way to get around the Kuta area (South Lombok) is by scooter. It is just the best feeling to be driving around by yourself, feeling the wind in your hair and the sun on your skin. Traffic is much less crazy than in Bali and if you encounter a traffic jam it is most likely caused by water buffalos.
Tanjung Aan and Mawun Beach are located just 10-15 minutes on a scooter from central Kuta.
Scooter rental is usually 70k a day, just ask your accommodation to arrange it for you. If you’re there for a longer period of time, you might be able to negotiate down to 60k a day. Remember to also ask for a helmet. Also, I like to take photos of the scooter when I get it so they can’t charge me for “damages” that were already there.
The scams you’ll encounter in Lombok are more or less the same as in Bali. So be sure to check out my list of the most common scams in Bali.
How to get to Tanjung Aan Beach
Head east out of Kuta and follow the road until you get to a large roundabout, take the third exit. Continue until you see a large green sign for “Pantai Aan” and follow the sign to Tanjun Aan Beach from there. If you’re new to driving a scooter you might find the road pretty bad once you get off the main road, but trust me this is an upgrade from what it used to be.
Right before you reach the beach you’ll see a large, ugly white wall that didn’t use to be there. This is now the parking area for Bukit Merese, one of the best sunset viewpoints in south Lombok. You can’t go to Tanjung Aan without also checking out Bukit Merese, the views are incredible during the day as well.
Continue driving until you see the sign for “Turtle Warung” and “Warung Surfer Beach”, almost in the middle of the first cove. This is where you’ll find some of my favorite warungs which you can read more about further down.
🌟 If you’re limited on time and want the explore the highlights of South Lombok, I highly recommend this guided tour of the Kuta area. It includes Kuta Beach, Tanjung Aan, Bukit Merese and several traditional villages known for their weaving and pottery. It’s super affordable for what you get!
Entrance fee
There are many entrances to the beach and you have to pay 10.000 IND for parking in most places. This is standard for all the best beaches in the Kuta area.
Opening hours
Tanjung Aan Beach is open 24/7, however, the warungs at the beach usually open around 10 am and close around sunset. Some days they might open earlier, later or not open at all. It’s all part of the island charm.
What to expect at Tanjung Aan
Tanjung Aan Beach is one of the most tropical-looking beaches in Lombok, with crystal clear turquoise water, white sand, those super cute straw parasols and colorful warungs, all set against a field of palm trees. When I was living in Lombok I spent 80% of my days here, I just love it.
During my first few visits to Lombok, I had Tanjung Aan almost all to myself, which I can’t believe since it’s the most picturesque beach on the island. These days, after Lombok became “Instafamous”, you’ll have to share it with a lot more people. But as you can see in the photos above, it’s nothing compared to some of the overcrowded beaches in Bali.
The western cove
Tanjung Aan Beach is divided by a large rock called Bukit Antara, a viewpoint you should check out for a breathtaking 360-degree view. The western part of the beach is where you’ll find most of the warungs and places to hang out.
Warung Turtle is the OG warung at Tanjung Aan Beach and my go-to hangout. It recently underwent a makeover and is now the picture-perfect pink shack you see below. I mean, does it get any better than a pink warung on a white beach surrounded by lush greenery and turquoise water? I don’t think so!
The sun loungers at Warung Turtle are free as long as you buy something to drink or eat. I can recommend the spring rolls which are rolled in coconut and comes with a coconut sauce. A little unusual but sooo delicious!
Another one of my favorite warungs on Tanjung Aan is called Warung Surfer Beach. They have colorful bean bags to lounge in which are suuuuper comfortable. I almost fell asleep! Like all the other warungs they don’t charge a fee for using the bean bags and umbrellas as long as you buy some food and drinks.
I can highly recommend the food there as well. My mum and I shared a vegetable stir fry with oyster sauce which was one of the best meals we had during our two weeks in Indonesia.
The eastern cove
The eastern part of Tanjun Aan is much less developed with only a few warungs. Even though it’s only a five-minute walk from the busyness on the other side, it feels like a totally different beach. Local Fishermen go about their day and the whole vibe is just much more chill.
I prefer this side for swimming, I think it is because it’s a bit more shallow and with less seagrass and reef in the water.
Hawkers on Tanjung Aan
The only negative thing I can say about Tanjung Ann and Lombok, in general, is that the hawkers are relentless. You will get asked to buy something at least every 10 minutes, mostly by kids selling bracelets and women selling sarongs and fabrics.
Some will not take no for an answer and sit down even though you shake your head and say no thank you repeatedly. Even though I know it is annoying, please be respectful. These people are only trying to make a living the best way they know how.
And one last thing….. you have to taste a mini pineapple while on the beach in Lombok. These little things are not only pretty to look at but they’re so sweet and juicy. A delicious and not to mention affordable snack! There is an older, very skinny man walking up and down the beach all day selling them for 20k / $1.4 each. He is so lovely so I made a point of buying one from him every morning. You should too!
Surfing at Tanjung Aan
Right in the middle of the bay, about 300m from the beach, you find a long A-frame wave that’s perfect for beginners and longboarders on smaller days. On bigger days the righthander gets more powerful and hollow, creating a nice wall, more suitable for intermediate to expert surfers.
Paddle out from the eastern side of the beach towards Bukit Merese, or catch a ride with one of the local fishermen often shuttling surfer in and out. I do not recommend going out on low tide as the reef can bang you up pretty badly.
You can rent everything from soft tops to paddle boards all along the beach. We paid 100.000 IND for an hour.
Tanjung Aan Travel Video
Here’s a little video of Tanjung Aan Beach I shared on my Facebook page
More Lombok travel guides
- Selong Belanak Beach Lombok: the ultimate first timer’s guide
- Bukit Merese in South Lombok: The best sunset viewpoint
- Discover the 17 best beaches in Kuta Lombok
- 5 incredible viewpoints in south Lombok you shouldn’t miss
- Island Life 04: Living in Lombok + House tour
- Top things to do in Lombok
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