The island of a thousand beaches — that is how people describe Lombok. Every district has its own beautiful, distinctive stretch of coast, and even though the island is small, no traveller could hope to see them all in a few days. Some beaches have white sand, some have pink sand, and some are covered in grains shaped like peppercorns. One beach, though, is unlike the rest. Along its long shoreline you will find a section of fine white sand and another where the sand looks like tiny peppercorns. That beach is Tanjung Aan. It sits close to Batu Payung, and the two are usually visited on the same day as part of a Lombok daily tour.
Still sketching out your Lombok itinerary? Tanjung Aan and Batu Payung both appear in our region-by-region guide to the 38 best things to do in Lombok.
Tanjung Aan lies inside the Mandalika Resort area of Central Lombok, only about 30 minutes from Lombok International Airport. It is the longest beach on the island, and it is split into three parts: Pantai Cemara at the western end, Pantai Batu Kotak in the middle, and Pantai Orong Pandan at the eastern end.
To take in the whole sweep of the bay from a distance, climb Bukit Mereseq (Mereseq Hill) at the western end of the beach. For a closer look at the entire beach, climb Batu Kotak, the square boulder that sits right in the middle of Tanjung Aan. The beach is made for sunbathing. Because it curves into a headland, the swell rolling in from the open sea stays gentle, so it is good for swimming too.
Once you have had your fill of Tanjung Aan, you can cross by boat to one of the most beautiful rocky beaches in Lombok. Batu Payung (Umbrella Rock) Beach has been popular for the past three years or so, after it was used as the location for a commercial shoot. Since then it has been busy on every public holiday. It is a gorgeous spot for sunrise, and you can also climb the hills around it. The boat crossing costs around Rp 35,000, depending on how you negotiate with the boat owner. At low tide you can simply walk around the hill at the eastern end of Tanjung Aan and reach Batu Payung on foot. So what are you waiting for? Come and enjoy your holiday with us..:)
