Cultural Day Trip Itinerary Senggigi to Mataram and Ampenan, Mataram, Indonesia

There is so much to see, do, discover and experience on Lombok, Indonesia. For those looking for an exciting day trip from Senggigi or Kuta, Lombok’s capital Mataram is one of the interesting possibilities. The capital is only a 30 minutes ride from Senggigi and offers many interesting cultural sites. I will share with you my travel itinerary.

Mataram is Lombok’s capital and consists of three major suburbs; Ampenan, Mataram, and Cakranegara. This itinerary will mainly cover the sights of Ampenan and Mataram. Ampenan is an old town, that was used by the Dutch colonial as a haven port. Nowadays you can still find old buildings with Dutch architectural shapes. When you visit Ampenan, you should not miss the traditional market known as Pasar Kebon Roek. Mataram is more known for the governmental and office buildings, but also has some nice parks, shopping malls, and many traditional restaurants.

This traditional market is located in Jalan Adi Sucipto. You just turn left at the main road Jalan Saleh Sungkar and you will see the market on your left. On the market, you can find a variety of vegetables, fruit, meat, animals, and other basic needs of the local’s daily lives. When you walk around the market, the local people greet you and ask you if you want to buy something. It might be good to bring a guide, so you have an idea about what price you should pay. I bought some typical Lombok pastries and tried some local fruits. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).