When I planned my trip to Indonesia, I had not the slightest idea that I would end up in a remote village in one corner of Lombok. I’m talking about the lesser know Tetebatu village. Browsing through Airbnb, I found a homestay that seemed just perfect for me and had great reviews. I took a leap of faith and booked it.
Only much later did I realize, the homestay is located in a local village and far, far away from the beautiful beaches of Lombok. I had two choices, cancel and not get a refund or just go with the flow and go with the flow, I did.
That’s how I ended up in Tetebatu- a beautiful village located a few kilometres from the southern boundary of Mount Rinjani National Park.
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⏰ In a rush and don’t want to plan your trip to Tetebatu village because you don’t have time? Don’t worry! Just book this Tetebatu Village 3 Days 2 Night Package. It takes care of everything! ⛰️
Table of Contents
A Gorgeous First Impression Of Tetebatu Village
While riding in a cab from the airport, the first thing that struck me about Tetebatu is its simplicity and untouched beauty. Unlike Singapore, the trees were not shaped to look a certain way, the houses were not built all alike and life seemed to have remained strangely simple.
Of course, I am not trying to romanticize poverty but there was something about these people and their unpretentious life that made me want to give up my city life and move here immediately.
Meeting The Locals
A long ride from the airport finally dropped me off to my homestay where a lovely Indonesian family greeted me with smiling faces. Through the next few days, I met every member of their big family and they all took turns showing me around.
We rode through the lush green rice terraces while enjoying occasional glimpses of Mt. Rinjani and reached the neighbouring villages. I was shown how Sarong (a traditional Indonesian costume) is made and how rice wine is produced.
A lady in another village made a ring for me out of bamboo, right in front of me! When I told her thatI was previously travelling with my mother, she made one for my mother as well.
Although every local person stared at me like I am an alien, the warmth shown to a stranger deeply touched my heart. They don’t get tourists at their end of the world, a few backpackers from European countries once in a while but they are so excited when someone does visit their community.
It makes the Tetebatu village an interesting place to visit.
Waterfalls, Forests And What Not In Tetebatu village!
Tetebatu is blessed with abundant miracles of nature. From dense forests with black monkeys to hidden waterfalls and stunning rice fields, Tetebatu has it all. Best of all, the lack of tourists keeps this beauty absolutely pristine. My dream to beat the tourist trail and truly enjoy a local culture at last came true.
There is something about the air of Tetebatu that calms your soul and pulls you back every time you think of leaving. The surprised looks followed by big smiles, the modest lifestyle, the spectacular views of the mighty Rinjani, the fresh water from the waterfalls, the delicious Indonesian meals and the sound of chickens calling out every morning, beckons me to return even today.
The few days I spent in Tetebatu village was the highlight of my Indonesia trip and one of the greatest experiences I had till now. Sometimes, things don’t go as expected but if you go with the flow and make the best of whatever situation you face, you may be rewarded with a thousand unforgettable memories.
Tips For Tetebatu Village
Transportation In Tetabatu Village
Tetebatu is a village. The main mode of transportation is motor bike You can rent a motorbike and get around the village and the neighboring places. Don’t expect any other modes of transportation here other than motorbikes and walking. If you can’t drive, the locals are willing to show you around
Visiting The Beaches Near Tetebatu Village
The beaches of Lombok and Bangsal harbour (from where you get ferry to the Gili islands. From there you can even head to Bali) are really far from the village. 2-2.5 hours. Hence, it is wise to keep that in mind while planning an itinerary.
Budget For Visiting Tetebatu Village
Tetebatu is quite pocket friendly but the people do need money. Do tip generously if you can afford it. No hotels are available yet in these villages (fortunately or unfortunately) so homestays are your only option.
Safety In Tetebatu Village
The village is quite safe for solo travels but there is nothing to do after sunset, except chatting up the locals. Make use of this time to get to know the local lifestyle a bit more. Wifi connection may be quite weak. It helps if you purchase your own sim card and data plan.
Although the roads can get extremely bumpy and rough, the locals are great with their motorbikes, so if they are showing you around, don’t worry!
There are no ATMs here (as far as I remember), so carry enough cash.
Tours In Tetebatu Village
Despite the fact that the village seems pretty remote, it has loads of great things to do in Tetebatu. You can even book some of your tours online. That really helps because you don’t have to go searching in the village when you reach and you can plan your trip better.
Here are a couple that will really pique your attention.
Tetebatu Walking Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (59 Reviews) Price: $65 per person Duration: 7-8 hours 📍Meeting Point: Hotel Pick Up & drop off in Senggigi, Mataram, and Kuta Area Details: Read more on Viator!
The Tetabatu walking tour takes you beyond the popular highlights of Lombok. You will walk through lush green landscapes and rice terraces.
Be prepared to catch spectacular views of waterfalls, the monkey forest and even Mount Rinjani. Her you will get to see the black grey monkeys that are native to the area.
“I loved this trip! First, the driver was in the lobby on time and drove us to Tetebatu village. And then we met our tour guide Eddie, whom I would like to appreciate for the great job that he did. He was very helpful and professional.”
Asra (read more reviews now!)
That isn’t all. After walking through the spectacular landscape that surrounds the village, you will be treated to a traditional Indonesian lunch in a local home. This is another highlight of the tour. This is a private tour so you can be certain that you will get personalized attention along the way.
Tetebatu Cycling Tour
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (4 Reviews) Price: $75 per person Duration: 5-6 hours 📍Meeting Point: wherever you stay in Lombok Details: Read more on Viator!
The Tetebatu cycling tour takes you on a bike into the central part of Lombok’s lush countryside. The best part about it is that the tour is great for people of all ages.
It will take you through rice fields, lush forests, waterfalls, the monkey forest and more!
Here you will get a chance to see both the black and grey monkeys that are native to the region. I think that it is one of the coolest parts about visiting the forests in the region.
The tour also includes a stop for coffee and one for lunch. Yes lunch is included in the price.
Your mountain bike rentals are also covered in the price of the tour which is pretty cool. Just make sure to carry water when you head out. It can get pretty hot!
“Booked the cycling trip in tetebatu with jonny tour. It was a fantastic experience. Very beautiful village and we could have spent even more time there. Not sure how necessary the bikes were, we probably could have seen almost as much by just walking around.
Special thanks to Kiki the driver who picked us up at the hotel in kuta. And of course special thanks to Jalal our local tour guide in tetebatu. He was very welcoming and showed us around in his hometown. Very interesting and funny guy.
When we asked him if we could do a hike to the jungle he was all for it. It wasn’t part of the tour but we had the impression that he actually enjoyed to add an extra 1.5h! in order to guide us to the jungle. We would have not expected that. So it really was a 5/5 star experience.”
Samuel (read more reviews now!)
Tetebatu Village 3 Days 2 Night Package
⭐️ Rating: 5/5 (10 Reviews) Price: $170 per person Duration: 3 days and 2 nights 📍Meeting Point: wherever you stay around the island of Lombok, or wherever you arrive at the airport or at the port of Lombok. Details: Read more on Viator!
Don’t want to get into all the details of planning a trip to Tetebatu village? Don’t worry! There are options that will take that stress of your shoulders.
This Tetebatu Village 3 Days 2 Night Package takes you right into the heart of the island and takes care of your whole trip from the accommodation to the transportation which is pretty cool.
This tour is great for people who don’t have a lot of experience traveling into remoter parts of south east Asia. It gives them a chance to experience the countryside without worrying about safety. Plus its a private trip so you know that you will be able to go at your own pace.
The tour includes a lot of cool experiences from learning about local life to learning about woven fabric and bamboo crafts. You also get to walk through hiking trails, visit the rice fields, the monkey forests, waterfalls and visit tiny Sasak villages.
It is truly an experience worth indulging in. Plus for an all inclusive trip for 3 days and 2 nights, the price isn’t much either! Highly recommended!
“I took 6D/5N customized trip with Jonny: Tetebatu village, Sembalun-Senaru, and Gili Islands. Overall it was satisfying, because the guides really mastering the tour, and knows well what we want. It was an unforgettable experience visiting Tetebatu village.
Did not expect to be so fun blending with locals, i thought it would be just seeing a beautiful scenery, but turns out we can experience the day to day life of Tetebatu villagers as well.
I experiencing making coconut oil from scratch, cooking class, and separating the grain from rice in the fields. I was brought to the hidden waterfall as well. A bit challenging but worth to visit.
Jonny himself was my tour guide in Tetebatu and Benangn Setokel+Benang Kelambu waterfall. He has an excellent knowledge of everything in Tetebatu (history, habits, people, etc.), know almost everyone in Tetebatu village, know the hidden gems as well. So you’re in the right hand.”
Mita (read more reviews now!)
About The Author
Madhurima is a cultural purist at heart, for whom travelling has been a passion for as long as she can remember. She loves discovering off-the-beaten track places and delving into the unknown. She is never satisfied with visiting the top 10 attractions or staying in fancy hotels.
She believes in doing everything “the local way”. Eating local food, staying with the locals, understanding their culture &beliefs and celebrating local festivals is her motto while travelling.
After all, when we understand people’s views from different cultures, we become a bit more tolerant every day, thus leading the way to a harmonious society.
You can get read her work at The Other Side or get in touch with her on Facebook or Instagram
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** Photographs and pictures have been provided by the author for use in this post and do not belong to Globetrove.
Nuraini
Wednesday 2nd of August 2017
:) My friend had just gone to Lombok as well, and stayed in a village too through Couchsurfing - not this one I think. He's Australian, and seeing the poverty close to hand was a shock to him, even though he still had fun rushing down the canal aqueducts. Perhaps you're a bit more prepared for the conditions. :)
Penny
Thursday 3rd of August 2017
I think I'm really well equipped to handle and process somethings. That however is because I've seen poverty up close when we did our community service as student nurses. We had some amazing teachers who eased us into the whole process and taught us how to help. It's been long but you don't forget things like that. Probably why I want to volunteer again.
neha
Wednesday 2nd of August 2017
That first view is really impressive. And so is the interaction with locals. The food looks simple yet authentic. I will call it a wonderful journey
Penny
Thursday 3rd of August 2017
I fell in love with the idea. Madhurima has captured the essence of her journey so well. Wish I had known about this when I was in Lombok!
Lydia Smith
Tuesday 1st of August 2017
So interesting that you turned the lemons Airbnb offered you into lemonades. Glad you had fun and the locals were friendly to you at Tetebatu