Of all the places we visited in Lombok, Indonesia, Bukit Merese or Merese Hill was my favorite. Located at Tanjung Aan beach in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Bukit Merese offers the most stunning and jaw-dropping scenery. Prior to my trip, I didn’t really know much about Lombok except that it was being positioned as an alternative to the more popular island of Bali. Our brief visit to these scenic hills overlooking the beach was a pleasant surprise.

Ok I admit, I wasn’t exactly dressed for hiking up hills. Our itinerary that morning was supposed to be to a beach resort, so I wore a dress over swimwear and sandals. Wrong decision because we also visited a mosque and a temple which both required covering up. We also didn’t have enough time to freshen up in the hotel before a formal dinner with tour organizers and sponsors that night, so I felt kind of under-dressed. It was a relatively easy hike though and I had a scarf for covering up.

We came from Core Hotel in the Senggigi Beach area, but Bukit Merese can be accessed by a 30 to 45 minute-drive from the Lombok International Airport. From the jump-off point, you can get a peek at Tanjung Aan beach with its white sand and calm blue water. The actual hike is a very easy 10-15 minute trek up the hills and you immediately see the most rewarding views of the beaches on various sides of the coast.

The carpeted green hills and valleys reminded me of the landscape in Batanes, particularly Sabtang Island. Except for a lone tree which seemed to be popular with tourists for photo ops, there aren’t any other plants on top of the hill. It’s the type of place where you just want to sit on the grass, have a picnic and soak in the postcard-worthy views wherever you look.

On the western part of the hill, you can get a view of Seger Beach. On the eastern side, you get views of Batu Payung and Gili Anak Anjakan. Actually, walking to any spot reveals provides different vantage points all leading to amazing landscapes. Aside from the almost enclosed cove of Tanjung Aan beach, you can spot various beaches and coves. It’s kind of hard to know where to point the camera because of the rewarding scenery.

Bukit Merese is said to be one of the most Instagrammed locations in Indonesia. The place has become popular for pre-nup pictorials and group tours, so don’t expect to get the whole hill to yourself. My visit here was part of a media tour on Halal Tourism attended by tour operators and delegates from 10 different countries, so there were actually a lot of us on the hills. We also encountered students on group tours, and vendors selling traditional cloths and souvenirs, but the place still felt relatively uncrowded.

The best time to visit Bukit Merese is in the morning or in the afternoon (before sunset). The sun can get pretty harsh around noontime, as we soon found out. I only wish we had visited earlier in the day or had time to stay longer and explore the rest of the thriving coastal town of Kuta Lombok.

Aside from the Gili Islands, backpackers interested in surfing and beaches might want to stay a couple of days in Kuta Lombok. The town has a variety of cafes, bars, live music, markets, beaches and accommodation.

Location

Bukit Merese can be found in Jalan Kuta Lombok, Pujut, Lombok Tengah, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.

How to get there

Bukit Merese is about a 30-45 minute-drive from Lombok International Airport. From the Lombok International Airport, a taxi will cost about 100,000 Rupiah to get there. If you’re in a group, it’s best to rent a car or van to get around as it’s difficult to find public transportation around the location. Backpackers and solo travelers who know how to drive can rent motorcycles to go to Bukit Merese and get around.

For those based in the Philippines, Air Asia flies daily from Manila to Jakarta and Bali, Indonesia. Lombok can be reached by a 2-hour flight from Jakarta or 30-minute flight from Bali. Lombok can also be reached by fast boats (2 hours) and public ferries (4-5 hours) from various points in Bali. For flights, check out www.airasia.com

What to wear

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, because you will need to hike up a hill. There are no trees or shelter on Bukit Merese and it can get very hot during noon.

Lombok is a predominantly Muslim island and is marketing itself as a Muslim-friendly destination. If you want to visit other places like mosques, wear more conservative and appropriate attire.

READ MORE: Lessons from Indonesia: What makes Lombok a Muslim-Friendly Destination?

What to bring

• Bring a hat, sunglasses, and wear sun block
• Bring drinking water. There’s no place to eat or buy food on the hill though you can buy drinks and snacks from vendors before climbing.
• Camera, smartphone and powerbank.
• If you’re planning to swim at the beaches nearby, bring swimwear.

NOTE: My visit to Lombok, Indonesia was part of a Media Familiarization Tour organized by the Indonesian Islamic Tourism Association of West Nusa Tenggara in Indonesia, in partnership with the Embassy of Indonesia in the Philippines and supported by Air Asia Philippines.