The big draw is Mount Rinjani — the two- to four-day trek to the crater rim and Segara Anak lake is the most memorable experience on the island and requires some preparation. Book a guide through agencies in Senggigi, Mataram, or the trekking villages of Senaru and Sembalun.
The Gili Islands are the most visited part of Lombok. Gili Trawangan is the biggest and most developed, with beach bars and dive schools; Gili Meno is the quietest; Gili Air lies between the two in character. All three have excellent snorkelling with sea turtles a near-certainty in the shallows.
The south coast has Lombok's best surf. Kuta Lombok is the base for the crescent bays and breaks to east and west; Desert Point at the southwestern tip is one of the most celebrated left-handers in Southeast Asia. The interior has craft villages worth a half-day: Sukarara for traditional Sasak weaving, Banyumulek for pottery, and the waterfalls near Senaru at the foot of Rinjani.