The Sumbawa Island Travel Guide
Katiebowl [CC BY-SA 3.0 Moyo Island, Sumbawa (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Sumbawa Island, Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia: Gaining popularity with backpackers and travelers looking to get of the beaten track. More religiously conservative island than most of Indonesia and mostly visited by surfers.
Poto Tano, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (Main ferry town to Lombok. No reason to stay here)
Taliwang, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (regional capital/transportation hub. No much happening)
Maluk, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (working-class commercial town with outstanding beach. One of the world’s largest copper mines is 30km inland – with scores of workers from the US, Australia and Java. There is a expat enclave for workers, but causal visits are discouraged)
Supersuck, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (Just south of Maluk lies another very nice beach with one of the best surfing spots in the world.
Sekongkang, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (3 superb beaches with good surfing. Nice range of accommodations and vibe. $30/night for nice room, as cheap as $13/night for decent bugalows)
- Ratung Beach (Pantai Runtung), Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (secluded bay framed by 300’ headlands)
- Tropical beach, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia
- Lawar Beach, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (tree-shaded, with white sand on turquoise lagoon. Great for swimming/snorkeling)
Sumbawa Besar, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (market town of the island. Not much to see here. Devoutly Muslim town)
Mount Tambora, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (9,350’ volcano; eruption 200 years ago changed the climate of the island. Caldera contains 2 lakes. In Europe the year after explosion became known as the year without summer as ash clouds covered the sun. Worth it to climb to summit and swim in crater lake)
Pantai Lakey Beach, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (crescent of golden sand with 7 world-class surf breaks. One of the top 10 kite surfing destinations in the world too. Paved beach walk lines the beach with bars/cafes and inexpensive accommodations lining it. $50/night for nicest rooms in town a 3+ star resort, otherwise $20/night gets you plenty of decent options)
Bima, Sumbawa Island, Indonesia (east Sumbawa’s largest city at 150,000. Few sights. Conservative Islamic, traffic choked streets)
Nihiwatu Beach, Sumbawa Island, (One of the top beach is the world, but relatively unknown)
