Lombok off the Beaten Track: A Day Trip to Tetebatu

Tetebatu is a hidden gem for those looking for a place in Lombok off the beaten track. This small village located in the central part of the island gives you the opportunity to see real everyday village life. After a few days on the beach, my friend Jamarcus and I wanted a change of scenery, and I discovered Tetebatu through a book. We found a taxi driver on the street and he agreed to take us to and from this town for just $40 total. From our hotel in Mataram it took a little over an hour to reach Tetebatu.

We when arrived, we were taken to small restaurant and given a cup of tea where we were later met by a young man who said he would show us the village for $20, which wasn’t a problem for us. After we finished our tea, we began our hike.

A Hidden Gem in Lombok

The scenery along the trail was spectacular; big palm trees, vibrant green rice fields, and blue sunny skies. The town almost seemed untouched by tourism. Our tour guide was extremely friendly and quite informative about world issues. As we trekked the village, we talked about a wide range of topics, ranging from gun violence  to the colonial history of Indonesia.

Later, we found a young girl in the village asking for a pencil, but neither of us had pencils, so Jamarcus gave her some money instead. The girl seemed in complete shock when she received the money, it was almost as if she didn’t understand why a stranger would give her money.

The Scenic Route

The three of us continued to pass through villages and rice fields, which was my favorite part. Just watching the people living their life was humbling. Along the trail, we even passed through a forest full of monkeys.

Hours later we reached the famous Tetebatu Waterfall, which was refreshing after being in the hot sun all day. The water wasn’t too deep, you could easily walk in without the water reaching your waist.

30 minutes or so after a quick dip, our tour guide took us back to his home. Here, we were able to meet some of his family members and have an early dinner. As a gift, his family sent us off with a few homemade snacks made from rice.

We set off and made the two-hour journey back to the restaurant where we met. Upon arrival, the three of us celebrated the day with a bottle of homebrewed Indonesian wine. This stuff was so potent I had to question its contents. The three of us shared the entire bottle and chilled until sunset.

We exchanged our facebook information with our guide and said our goodbyes. We thanked him for his hospitality and he kindly thanked us for visiting his village.

Tetebatu definitely exceeded my expectations and I give it a solid 9/10! This is an excellent day trip for those tired of the crowds at the beach.