Lombok is the kind of island that rewards you just for showing up. Less crowded than Bali, with better surf and some of the most underrated beaches in Indonesia, it’s earned its place on the backpacker circuit.
I’ve spent a grand total of 6 weeks on and off in Lombok, slowing making my way through the hostel scene. I’ve surfed down in Kuta and hiked up Rinjani and consider myself a bit of a connoisseur when it comes to hostel hunting here. Tourism isn’t as developed here as it’s neighbour Bali and let’s just say some of the hostels show it…
Fear not, I’ve trawled through the grim and the golden to give you the best hostels in Lombok. Most hosteled are centred around Kuta Lombok, with options ranging from dedicated surf camps, social spots to quiet retreats in lush surroundings. This guide covers the best of them, so you can spend less time searching and more time in the water.
Photo: @joemiddlehurst
The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Clicking through our links may earn us a small affiliate commission, and that's what allows us to keep producing free content 🙂 Learn more.
In a hurry? Here are my top hostel picks in Lombok
Let’s take a closer look at each hostel
Most of these hostels are concentrated in Kuta Lombok as that’s where the main backpacker hub is for those backpacking Indonesia. I’ve chucked in one from the Gili islands for good measure…so long as you don’t stray far from these reccs, you’re in for a good’en.
1. Pipes Hostel – Best Overall Hostel in Lombok
- Price tier: $
- Best for: Surfers, solo travellers, backpackers after a social base
- Highlights: Concrete skate bowl, social vibes, on-site café
- Dorms from: $10
- Private rooms from: N/A (dorms only)
- Location: Kuta Lombok
Pipes has been Kuta Lombok’s go-to hostel since it opened as the first one in town, and it’s earned that status. The vibe is social without feeling too chaotic. You’ll meet people easily, but a decent night’s sleep is still very much on the cards.
The skate bowl is the standout feature, a proper concrete bowl you can skate all day until 9pm. Not a skater? Pull up a chair by the pool and watch people attempt it. Either way, you’re entertained. Movie nights and BBQs fill out the social calendar, and the pool and palm-shaded corners give you plenty of spots to decompress when you need a break from people.
Why you’ll love this hostel
- The skate bowl, swimming pool, and movie room
- Free brekky
- Communal kitchen – a rarity in SEA
Enjoy reading your book by the pool, or find some shade under the fronds of the tropical palm trees. The café runs from 7:30am to 11pm daily with espresso coffee and vegetarian and vegan meals, free breakfast is included with every booking, and there’s a communal kitchen on-site which is a rare find in Southeast Asia. Staff are local, friendly, and know the island well. They’ll sort you out with scooter rental and point you toward the best beaches. Surfers especially tend to end up here, and for good reason: Kuta’s breaks are a short ride away and you’ll have no trouble finding people to go with. Just make sure to check the best time to visit Lombok for surfing.
2. The Social – Begadang Gili Air: Best for Social Vibes
- Price tier: $$
- Best for: Solo travellers, social backpackers, digital nomads
- Highlights: Free all-you-can-eat breakfast, access to beachfront sunset bar, snorkelling tours
- Dorms from: $12
- Private rooms from: $31
- Location: Gili Air
If you want to venture off of mainland Lombok to something a little more exotic, let me introduce you to the mighty hostel that is The Social. The Social does what it says on the tin – a space in Gili Air designed for making connections that go beyond just drinking pals. Every part of your day is thoroughly thought out here, from free brekky in the morning, the huge tropical garden that make socialising inevitable to the outdoor cinema nights.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Mushroom Pooooool!!!
- Super social
- Taco nights, family dinners, outdoor movie nights
Now for the pièce de résistance…a mushroom-shaped pool. Yep, they claim it’s the first of its kind in the world. It’s surrounded by a deck and a garden where you can play Giant Connect 4 or work on your tan. But what would a mushroom-shaped pool be without the right people to bring the right vibes? It’s a task that the volunteers execute flawlessly, setting up morning yoga, evening games and ensuring any stray backpacker isn’t solo for long. They’re the bread and butter of the hostel’s social foundations, and probably the reason why you’ll extend again (and again).
As for location, you’re just a 15-minute walk from the somewhat noisy Gili Air harbour area, which is perfect for getting to Gili Meno. Plus, you’re only 200 meters from Gili Air’s Sunset Beach, where you can grab a drink (or three) and some tasty food to wrap up your day.
3. Botchan Hostel: Best for Chill Vibes
- Price tier: $
- Best for: Travellers after a quiet, laid-back base with a pool
- Highlights: Shared kitchen, free towels, free breakfast
- Dorms from: $7
- Private rooms from: $22
- Location: Kuta Lombok
Botchan is small, quiet, and exactly the right kind of social: the pool and garden naturally pull people together, but nobody’s going to drag you into a group activity if you’d rather float in silence. Choose between a dorm or one of the five garden villas if you want your own little corner of jungle to retreat to.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Super chill whilst staying social
- Free water refills
- Tropical gardens surrounding a 15m pool
The 15-metre pool is the centrepiece, surrounded by tropical gardens that make the whole place feel more like a resort than a budget hostel. Free water refills, towels included, and self-catering facilities on-site keep costs down. Staff are friendly and genuinely useful when it comes to sorting out what to do and where to go on the island.
4. Mad Monkey Kuta Lombok: Best Party Hostel
- Price tier: $$
- Best for: Party-focused backpackers, solo travellers, surfers
- Highlights: Secret Gili and waterfall tours, free towels, coworking space, airport transfers
- Dorms from: $15
- Private rooms from: $48
- Location: Kuta Lombok
Partial to a cheeky beer? Want to watch the sunrise with your new travel buddies? Go no further than the Mad Monkey Kuta Lombok. This hostel feels like it has been modelled off the Barbie Dreamhouse, with playful colours and Malibu vibes. The pool is the centrepiece, complete with jacuzzi and weekly pool parties. Social hour kicks off at 6:30pm daily with a free drink, there are DJs, karaoke, music bingo, and pub quiz nights throughout the week, and daily surf lessons for when you eventually make it to the beach. The tour desk handles everything else: Secret Gili trips, waterfall tours, transport. You won’t be short of something to do.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Pool with weekly pool parties and jacuzzi
- Free drink at social hour daily from 6:30pm
- Nightly events including karaoke, DJ nights, music bingo and pub quiz, daily surf lessons
With a variety of dorm and private rooms to choose from, you can work easily with your budget (aka save more money for the bar #priorities). The rooms are brightly lit and well-ventilated, with sufficient space for your bags and lockers for security. Mad Monkey Kuta Lombok has plenty of organised events and services to keep you entertained, including pool parties and surf lessons. Conveniently, the beach is just down the road within easy walking distance of the hostel and great restaurants and bars.
5. LoTide Surf Camp: Best for Surfers
- Price tier: $$
- Best for: Surfers and social backpackers
- Highlights: On-site bar, self-catering facilities, social events
- Dorms from: $14
- Private rooms from: N/A (dorms only)
- Location: Kuta Lombok
If surfing is the reason you’re in Lombok, LoTide is the obvious base. Lessons run daily and the camp organises regular surf day trips to beaches across the island, so whether you’re a first-timer or chasing better breaks than Kuta, you’re sorted. Non-surfers aren’t an afterthought either: jungle tours and beach excursions fill out the schedule for anyone who’d rather keep their feet dry.
Why you’ll love this hostel:
- Daily surf lessons
- Jungle tour
- 15-minute walk to Kuta Beach
After a day in the water, the on-site bar, pool, and self-catering facilities do the job. Towels included, decent bag storage, and social events in the evenings to get everyone talking. It’s a no-frills setup that keeps the focus where it should be: in the water.
Getting Insured BEFORE Visiting Lombok
Don’t be a kook to put it simply. Everyone needs good hostel travel insurance. Get yours!
ALWAYS sort out your backpacker insurance before your trip. There’s plenty to choose from in that department, but a good place to start is Safety Wing.
They offer month-to-month payments, no lock-in contracts, and require absolutely no itineraries: that’s the exact kind of insurance long-term travellers and digital nomads need.
SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it!
Click the button below to learn more about SafetyWing’s setup or read our insider review for the full tasty scoop.
Where I’d stay in Lombok
Even as I hit my 30s I still refuse to get off the hostel bandwagon, particularly when visiting places like Lombok. Unless you have been marooned, I don’t know anyone who spends their time on tropical islands alone. Lombok is a place that brings out the best in people. The hostels in Lombok aim to maximise that, so you leave with happy, happy memories.
I’ve given a fair few options so I feel ya if you’re on the fence. Here’s my top two that you can toss a coin over.
Amazing hostels like Pipes provide the perfect home away from home. Allowing you to become more involved with the local hospitality and find like-minded travellers who can stay with you for life.
While there isn’t a hefty price tag on Pipes, I know some people are counting those rupiahs hard. So book in at Botchan Hostel, my cheapest recommendation.
Of course, there are always horror stories and it is important to do your research before choosing your perfect Lombok hostel. Needless to say, anyone who has a bad word to say about a hostel clearly hasn’t used my Broke Backpacker recommendations before.
Let me know in the comments if you’ve been to Lombok and if you think I’ve missed anything, I’d love to chat!
- Check out our extensive guide to backpacking in Indonesia for a wealth of info!
- Not sure what to do once you arrive? We’ve got all the beautiful places to visit in Indonesia covered.
- Check out the best places to stay in Lombok before you arrive.
- Prepare for your trip with our backpacking packing list.
- Get ready for your next destination with our ultimate Southeast Asia backpacking guide.
