Far from driving south on Lombok you will eventually reach the small village of Kuta, about 54 km south of Mataram. This is the only area on the south coast, which has some tourism of any importance, but should not be compared to Kuta on Bali. This place is much calmer with only a fraction of the tourists and facilities, but there are plans to continue to develop the south coast, with some large luxury hotels. Kuta is great as a base for exploring the southern part of Lombok, here you find traditional Sasak villages (like Sade), remote and beautiful beaches, mountains and cliffs. The beaches are close to Kuta Putri Nyala, Seger and Tanjung Aan. This place has no nightlife, unless you arrange some. Kuta has a certain reputation among surfers as there are good surfing conditions on the reef and further west of Kuta.
Traditionally, a village of fishermen and fishing Nyala annual festival is held here in February or March. The festival attracts hundreds of people Sasak to the beach and began the 19th day of the tenth month of the Sasak calendar. The Nyala wormlike fish surface and then the festivities begin with great songs and fun activities. The first fish will normally be cached at nightfall, and eaten raw or roasted, it is considered an aphrodisiac, a good catch is also a sign of a good harvest of rice. The facilities are largely by the simple standard, maybe too simple for some, but two-three hotels are quite acceptable. Not far from Kuta, it is a new hotel built by Novotel Sasak in the traditional style of the exterior and luxurious interior. The location is beautiful in a remote, peaceful bay. This is the first large, high standard hotel built in the south of Lombok, and is probably a beginning of something that (unfortunately) in a few years, become an important tourist on Lombok. A new international airport is also planned not far from here, but is on hold because of the financial crisis. The roads here are low, especially in the rainy season. To be flexible is a good idea to rent a car to get around the region, but most major hotels also provide their own transportation to the most popular beaches.
Traditionally, a village of fishermen and fishing Nyala annual festival is held here in February or March. The festival attracts hundreds of people Sasak to the beach and began the 19th day of the tenth month of the Sasak calendar. The Nyala wormlike fish surface and then the festivities begin with great songs and fun activities. The first fish will normally be cached at nightfall, and eaten raw or roasted, it is considered an aphrodisiac, a good catch is also a sign of a good harvest of rice. The facilities are largely by the simple standard, maybe too simple for some, but two-three hotels are quite acceptable. Not far from Kuta, it is a new hotel built by Novotel Sasak in the traditional style of the exterior and luxurious interior. The location is beautiful in a remote, peaceful bay. This is the first large, high standard hotel built in the south of Lombok, and is probably a beginning of something that (unfortunately) in a few years, become an important tourist on Lombok. A new international airport is also planned not far from here, but is on hold because of the financial crisis. The roads here are low, especially in the rainy season. To be flexible is a good idea to rent a car to get around the region, but most major hotels also provide their own transportation to the most popular beaches.
