If you’re planning to visit West Nusa Tenggara during your trip to Indonesia, don’t just set your sights on its beaches – although they sure have some breath-taking views! The main island of Lombok has a wide variety of diverse cultural and eco-conscious experiences inside its thriving tourism villages, just waiting to be explored.
Now, let’s venture into this unique side of tourism villages in West Nusa Tenggara!
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What is a ‘Tourism Village’?
Tourism villages are one of the Indonesian government’s core initiatives to empower local communities and showcase Indonesia’s awesome culture. It adopts a sustainable tourism concept, with the government working closely with local communities to ensure responsible development.
It works as a gateway to experience unusual tourism sights and discover more about sustainable practices and the rich cultural heritage, as well as forging genuine connections with the locals. The magic of these tourism villages is simply calling-out to be explored!
Tourism villages are packed with a variety of attractions, from unrivalled natural beauty to age-old traditions passed down through generations, offering a glimpse into the way locals used to live. To enhance these unique village experiences, the Indonesian government has provided comfortable facilities and easy access.
What’s more, the tourism village concept is a win-win for everyone! While you can get a taste of this authentic experience, locals also have the opportunity to interact with the outside world. This enables them to nurture their creativity and develop new business enterprises, whilst still staying connected to their roots and benefiting their village.
Tourism Villages in West Nusa Tenggara
West Nusa Tenggara, in particular, is notable for its tourism villages. The region goes beyond exotic landscapes like the majestic Mount Rinjani. It’s also home to fascinating cultures, with diverse ethnic groups and unique customs, such as the Sasak tribe.
Numerous indigenous communities have spread their traditions, cultural practices and stories across the archipelago, with one generation after another creating their own distinct identity. Therefore, exploring these villages lets you witness the richness and evolution of Indonesian culture firsthand!
The government website lists 20+ verified tourism villages. In this article, we will explore some of the most notable ones!
1. Sesaot Village
Where: West Lombok
Instagram: @insidesesaot_
Sesaot Village sits within the protected forest areas of West Nusa Tenggara. With an average temperature of 27-30⁰C, Sesaot Village is excellent for enjoying outdoor activities with families and groups. It’s also a delightful escape destination for solo travellers. Your journey from Mataram Province to this village will take around a 50-minute drive.
The village’s attractions include Vetong Hill, a camping ground that lets you slow-down beneath the tranquillity of the night skies in a Lumbung (the traditional house of the Sasak tribe). If you haven’t been inside one, this is the perfect excuse to try this unique cultural experience!
For beginner outdoor adventurers, don’t miss the perfect sunset and stunning views of Mount Rinjani situated on top of Mangga Hill. The trek to the vantage point is easily manageable for beginners! Another spot to visit is PUREKMAS – or the Community Recreational Centre. It’s the perfect place to take a cool dip in the natural spring bath after a busy day of village exploration!
Additionally, Sesaot Village is rich in natural resources, fuelling its thriving home industry businesses. There’s a local group that actively produces Sesaot traditional snacks, such as seaweed chips, rice crackers, candied fruit, banana chips and Sesaot coffee. While you’re in Sesaot, make sure to sample these tasty treats – and maybe buy a few extras as souvenirs to bring home!
2. Sembalun Lawang Village
Where: East Lombok
Instagram: @insidesembalun
Around 2.5 hours from Mataram Province, you will discover this beautiful village amidst the rolling hills below Mount Rinjani. Exciting outdoor adventures with a mountain view await you with open arms at Sembalun Lawang Village. As you step further into where the locals live, you will experience first-hand the village’s rich culture and traditions.
Sembalun Lawang Village has several waterfall spots, as well as the vast Savanna Dandaun, a camping haven located between Mount Telaga and Dandaun Hill. From the savanna, you can witness Mount Rinjani in its full grandeur. But if you wish for a closer encounter with the majestic beauty of Mount Rinjani, head to Selong Hill. All you need to do is pay the IDR 15,000 entrance fee and take a short walk to the designated, Instagram-worthy viewpoint.
Sembalun Village also offers organised guided tour activities. There’s the Panorama Walk, taking travellers around the village to learn about local farming practices, traditional housing sightseeing, and the Bamboo Garden – known as a must-visit photo spot. Alternatively, you can join a bike tour to explore Sembalun from a variety of different viewpoints.
Strawberry-picking agrotourism is a popular past-time in Sembalun Village. This activity allows you to roam around strawberry farms, getting hands-on with fun agricultural experience while breathing-in lungfuls of fresh air. As a reward, you can pick your own sweet berries, enjoy them fresh, and even bring some back to share with others!
Aside from the nature-based activities, Sembalun Village is well-known for its vibrant woven cloth that holds deep cultural significance for the Sasak tribe. The village is arguably the best in Lombok at producing these stunning traditional fabrics.
3. Sasak Ende Village
Where: Central Lombok
Instagram: @sasakende
Culture fans will be captivated by Sasak Ende Village’s distinct charms. Located near the Mandalika Special Economic Zone, a short flight away from Bali, this village sets itself apart with its traditional buildings and unique wedding traditions.
Sasak Ende Village is home to the indigenous Sasak tribe of Lombok. Here, the tradition of marrying men and women within the same extended family group helps to preserve the tribe’s heritage. Have you heard of the fascinating “kawin culik” tradition? In this village, a man should symbolically ‘abduct’ their bride to a relative’s house at night, before discussing the marriage with the women’s family.
Another tradition you can easily witness is the Peresean Dance. This performance takes to the stage whenever travellers visit the Sasak Ende Village. It features two men armed with rattan sticks and shields – called “ende”, who fight in three rounds until one of them wins.
Aside from their unique traditions, Sasak Ende Village maintains its authentic buildings: Bale Tani (for living), Lumbung Padi or rice barns, and Berugak, known as pavilions. The houses use bamboo walls and dry grass roofing for structure, and the floors are a mixture of clay, rice husks and cow dung.
Woven fabrics are significant for the Sasak tribe, so most women in this village work as weavers. As a tourist, you can join in the weaving activities with locals! Plus, there are many official village guides available to assist you while exploring the village.
4. Bonjeruk Village
Where: Central Lombok
Instagram: @desawisatabonjeruk
Unlike the previously featured villages in this listing, Bonjeruk Village offers a nostalgic experience. This village features a variety of historical buildings set amid lush greenery, rice fields and blissful mountain breezes.
If you’re into history and architecture, you will be captivated by the Dutch colonial-era buildings scattered throughout Bonjeruk Village. These old structures coexist with other attractions like Purba Cliff (a top spot for outdoor selfies), Lapak Kuliner Khas Pasar Bambu Bonjeruk (a traditional market serving-up local culinary delights), and Kantin 21 Live Music which provides entertainment in a scenic green open area. You also have the option to explore the captivating gems of Bonjeruk Village on a laidback bike tour.
For the foodies, you can try Bonjeruk Village’s unique specialities, such as roasted chicken with Sambal Monte (Lime) and Ayam Merangkat, a chicken dish usually served during “Merangkat,” a Lombok wedding ritual, as well as the iconic Bonjeruk coffees made with ingredients like cinnamon and rice.
5. Tetebatu Village
Where: East Lombok
Instagram: @tetebatu.village
Tetebatu Village has the vibe of a calm village which often features on social media travel posts. Representing Indonesia in the World Best Tourism Village UNWTO 2021, and being one of 300 villages in the Anugerah Desa Wisata Indonesia (ADWI) 2023, Tetebatu essentially offers the ultimate snap-shot of village life.
Nestled right on the border of Mount Rinjani National Park, Tetebatu Village maintains its natural beauty through farming traditions and its strong socio-cultural lifestyle. The village harnesses the traditional subak system to water the rice terraces, as well as the farms and plantations.
It’s a wise choice to stay in this village if you’re planning to climb Mount Rinjani. There are several trek options taking you to Rinjani with different difficulty levels, including one in this village. The village also offers a community-based homestay, allowing travellers from across the globe to experience friendly traditional accommodation instead of fancy hotels, living together with a local host and spending days just like the locals do.
Tetebatu Village also has many waterfall spots, along with various eco-conscious tourism experiences like the Eco Farm, which will take you through the process of harvesting palm sugar, as well as farming with villagers. For travellers seeking fun group activities, you can hop-on a cycling tour or spend a night under the stars at Ulem-Ulem camping ground. Don’t forget to grab some handmade bamboo crafts as souvenirs to cherish your time in this tiny slice of paradise!
6. Bilebante Village
Where: Central Lombok
Instagram: @dwhbilebante
The winner of the Desa Wisata Award 2017, Bilebante Village is known as a green village and is perfect for family getaways. This well-developed green haven presents lush surroundings, vibrant fruit and vegetable farms, as well as a wide range of facilities, making this village an experience that’s not to be missed!
Like other villages on this list, Bilebante Village features a camping ground, public bath and several homestay options. Amongst the attractions, Pasar Pancingan stands out, offering a traditional culinary experience in the Bilebante forest, along with fishing, live music and entertainment on Sundays. Additionally, there are a variety of activities to try for the more adventurous, such as archery, cycling tours and ATV riding.
Travellers can also get a closer look at Bilebante local life by visiting the seaweed processing centre. You can try Bilebante Village’s signature snack, dodol rumput laut – or the locally made seaweed candy, and learn how to make a herbal jamu drink through a cooking class. The village also has other specialities such as a lemongrass tea drink made by the local business and Sambal Cengeh, a family recipe passed down through the generations.
When visiting Bilebante Village, don’t forget to experience the uniquely rejuvenating Kebon Herbal – a beauty therapy and health centre set-up in partnership with the renowned Sari Ayu Martha Tilaar brand. Be sure to try a spa treatment carried out by their skilled therapists, as you’re surrounded by blissful rice paddies!
Final Word
Exploring beyond the coastline unveils a fascinating side of West Nusa Tenggara’s thriving tourism village scene. It offers a chance to connect with local communities, experience authentic village life, and be a part of the sustainable travel movement.
We’ve featured some of our favourites here, but there are even more amazing villages out there just waiting to be discovered!
Check out the official West Nusa Tenggara government website for a complete list – and plenty more hidden gems!
