Lombok – Selong Belanak & Mawi

Selong Belanak is  the second most popular holiday location on Lomboks’ south coast after Kuta. If you started your Lombok adventure in Kuta, Selong Belanak is about 40 minutes away by scooter/car. Mawi is the next beach to the east of Selong Belanak.
Best described as a mix of young relatively inexperienced surfers and a more discerning crowd that are attracted to its picture perfect landscapes and it's wide choice of higher-end accommodation options.   Apart from the beach itself there's many bars, cafes and restaurants to meet and hang out with like-minded travellers.
Accommodation wise, the area is on average more expensive than Kuta especially as there aren’t many budget friendly dorm options for backpackers and budget conscious travellers as in Kuta. (Luana and Wonderwaves (not listed) are the only two cheap dorm options I’m aware of) but as you'll see from the listings there are plenty of reasonably priced accommodation options, together with mid-priced and high-end options.
The breaks along Selong Belanak beach are for beginners/basic intermediates with nearby Mawi being a more challenging wave. There's heaps of choice if you're looking for a surf school or surf instructors. Unlike Kuta, the waves are at the main Selong Belanak beach so scooter transport is not required for those that choose accommodation options near the beach. To my knowledge Mawi doesn't have accommodation options within walking distance of its beach.   [SEE MAP]
The scenery around Selong Belanak is stunning, some of the best in Lombok for those keen to explore while the beach itself, although usually crowded, is also picturesque with heaps of deck chairs umbrellas etc available on the beach which is unusual for Indonesia.
If Selong Belanak is one of your favourite surf spots enjoy it while you can. It may be a completely different beast next time you return. My prediction is development will drastically change this surf location in the coming years.
Even if you don't do stay in Selong Belanak find the time during your time in Lombok to do at least a day trip to this picturesque location.