New Lombok Flights Give Bali Tourists More Vacation Itinerary Options In 2026

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Indonesia is one of the most impressive travel destinations in the world. Bali, in fact, is the best destination in the world in 2026 according to TripAdvisor.

Here at The Bali Sun, we love all things Bali, but we also have just as much appreciation and respect for Indonesia as a whole and do everything in our power encourage our readers to explore as much of the archipelago as possible.

We have been talking for months now about the rising travel trend for the multi-stop vacation.

Whether it’s stopping off at multiple destinations in Bali, say Canggu, Ubud, and Uluwatu, or hopping from one island to another, say Bali to Gili Meno to Lombok, with so much to explore, it is hard to sit still!

Once upon a time, it was a real mission to travel to multiple destinations on vacation in Bali. But in 2026, connectivity and accessibility are easier and more affordable than ever. It really leaves tourists with no excuses. Whether traveling by fast boat or short-haul hopper flight, in 2026 we highly recommend organising a multi-island vacation in Indonesia, either starting or ending in Bali. 

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As the year progresses, it is clear that international travel to Bali’s neighbouring islands will become even easier, offering even more vacation itinerary options. Lombok has been listed as one of Indonesia’s five Super Priority Destinations.

These five hotspots have also been touted as the ‘five new Balis,’ and as such, tourists planning visits to Indonesia can expect to hear as much about Lombok as they do about Bali. 

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There is so much to explore in Lombok. Culturally different from Bali in many ways, yet sharing a wonderful amount of similarities too, Lombok has long been a destination loved by surfers and young backpackers.

In 2026 and beyond, Lombok is looking to welcome a new demographic of travellers and tourists to its shores. From natural wonders like Mount Rinjani to cultural gems like Sade Village, it’s hard to turn down the opportunity to travel to Lombok. The beaches here, FYI, are next level. 

For tourists traveling to Indonesia from Australia, connectivity with Lombok is set to become even easier. More direct flight services are set to be launched across 2026. Indonesia’s TransNusa Airlines will be launching a new Darwin-Maratam flight service this month.

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The service is set to operate four times weekly, and the new route has been met with praise from local leaders in Lombok. 

The Governor of West Nusa Tenggara, Lalu Muhamad Iqbal, spoke to reporters to share, “God willing, if all goes well, the direct Lombok-Darwin flight will be completed within the month.”

He added, “We hope people heading to Bali can fly via Lombok.”

Governor Iqbal noted that three international routes are set to be opened to Lombok in the coming months: first, the Darwin route; second, a direct service from Perth; and finally, a service connecting directly to Bangkok, Thailand.

He concluded, “We are pursuing direct flights to these three destinations, and hopefully they will be available this year.”

For now, however, tourists wishing to create a multi-stop itinerary visiting both Bali and Lombok’s top destinations are generally better off flying internationally in and out of Bali’s I Gusti Ngurah Rai.

While Lombok’s Zainuddin Abdul Madjid International Airport currently serves two international routes, between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore (and soon to be Darwin too), Bali currently serves 44 international routes connecting to twenty countries.

The most cost-effective way to travel between Bali and Lombok is via a fast boat. There are connecting services operating multiple times a day out of Sanur and Padangbai. Alternatively, short flights hop between the two provinces multiple times a day.