Staying Safe in Lombok and the Gili Islands
Part of the Lombok and the Gili Islands travel guide — see every topic in All Lombok and the Gili Islands Guides.
Lombok is a safe and relaxed island with very little crime affecting visitors, and a set of environmental risks that are more serious than Bali's. It sits directly on a seismically active boundary and was struck by a sequence of earthquakes in August 2018 that killed over five hundred people. Rinjani is an active volcano. The Lombok Strait crossing is genuinely rough. And medical infrastructure, particularly on the Gili Islands, is thin enough that anything serious means an evacuation.
Earthquakes and the volcano
The 2018 sequence — a magnitude 6.4 followed by a 6.9 and further large aftershocks — killed more than five hundred people, destroyed tens of thousands of buildings in the north, and triggered landslides on Rinjani that killed hikers and stranded hundreds. The island rebuilt but the hazard is permanent. Know your building's exit. If you feel a strong or long tremor near the coast, move inland and uphill immediately without waiting for a warning. Rinjani's activity is monitored and the park closes when the alert level rises.
The sea
The Lombok Strait is deep, tidal and genuinely rough, and the fast boats crossing it are small by the standards of open water. There have been fatal incidents. Take a morning departure, which is calmer; check that life jackets are visible and accessible before boarding; choose a larger vessel in poor weather; and do not board an overloaded boat. Around the Gilis, currents between the islands are strong — snorkel where the boat directs and never swim between islands. Sea urchins and dead coral at the waterline make reef shoes worthwhile.
Medical and the Gilis
The Gili Islands have small clinics and no hospital; anything serious means a boat to Lombok and then a drive to Mataram, or an evacuation to Bali or Singapore. Diving injuries need the chamber in Bali. Travel insurance covering evacuation and, specifically, diving and trekking above 3,000 metres is not optional. Bring any medication you need. There is a documented history of methanol poisoning from adulterated spirits in the Gili and Lombok bar scene — buy sealed bottles from reputable places, and be wary of very cheap cocktails.
Everyday
Crime is low; petty theft from unlocked bungalows and beach bags is the main issue. Scooter riding is the everyday physical risk — the roads are better than Bali's but unlit at night, and the licence rule that voids your insurance is identical. Lombok is conservative and Muslim, so dress modestly off the beach and be aware of Ramadan. And on the Gilis specifically, drugs are openly offered on Trawangan and Indonesia's penalties are severe regardless of how casual the offer appears.
Staying Safe at a glance
| Seismic | August 2018 earthquakes killed 500+ — hazard is permanent |
|---|---|
| Volcano | Rinjani is active; the park closes on raised alert |
| The crossing | Lombok Strait is rough — morning boats, check life jackets |
| Medical | No hospital on the Gilis; insure for evacuation |
| Alcohol | Methanol history — sealed bottles only |
| Drugs | Openly offered on Trawangan; penalties are severe |